WEEK 61 CORONAVIRUS: LEVELS EASING EXCEPT FOR GLASGOW - FAMILY PHOTOS

This week was written up but not posted. So here are recent photos.

Harriet

Mairi

I sign I saw in a fabric store.

Saving the panda from the washing machine deep clean.

Ellie made me laugh: sitting at the table after school on Tuesday we were having our juice and biscuits in the form of granola bars and Jaffa cakes. When I bit into a granola bar I broke my dental plate.  When I picked the broken piece out of my mouth and put it on my plate Harriet said: "But there's no blood!"...and Ellie, who is desperate to have her first baby tooth come out, said "If I eat a granola bar will it make my wiggly tooth come out?"!!!!  Don't you just love the logic of that?!

WEEKD 63 CORONAVIRUS: MY WEEK (STILL IN LEVEL 3 LOCKDOWN0

Everywhere else in Scotland has now had restrictions lifted to one lower level... except for us, i.e. Glasgow.  We all understand the reason (continuing to have more cases reported, although hospitalisation and deaths not rising in the same manner as previously).  Glasgow, unfortunately has big problems with poverty and poor housing (let alone poor healtH) so not moving restrictions from Level 3 down to Level 2 is probably the right decision.  However it is hard for restaurants and pubs as they are all now open (with social distancing) and starting to recoup their lost income.

We live on the north side of the city in a different local government area so are allowed to travel outwith our area. To that end Ishbel and I took the train to Edinburgh to pay a visit to 2 of their lovely bookshops.  This is a carrier bag for sale in Waterstones.

We had a very successful trip: enjoyed a train journey (first in about a year!) even though everyone still must wear masks; bought books, ate out at an Italian restaurant and walked back to Waverley Station in Edinburgh through the park. 

What a joy to see people out on the street and sitting the parks again!

And finally back in Glasgow...

... it's been 7 months since I visited my friend's lovely garden.

WEEK 62 CORNAVIRUS: STILL IN LEVEL 3 OF RESTRICTIONS BUT A TRIP TO LOCH LOMOND DOES WONDERS!

Saturday was a lovely day and thank goodness as we had a picnic planned for the day.  We headed out to Ross Priory on the shores of Loch Lomond with Mairi and gang plus little friends.

We are still in Lockdown, of course, but allowed to visit in our surrounding area.  The number of people testing positive is rising but not the hospital admissions nor the death rate.  Factors operating here are: more tests taking place especially in 'hot spots' (Indian variant) and Lockdown in easing in most of the country.  The good news is that the vaccination programme is working, namely, those who get infected, particularly the most vulnerable w.g. older aged group, if they get infected, are not ending up so ill and requiring hospitization.

The 30 year olds are now being called but it will be many weeks before they will be fully vaccinated.  Meanwhile venues for young people are opening up so hopefully this area will not become a 'super-spreader' (like weddings, religious gatherings and funerals have in the past).

The elf in the glen aka Ellie (aged 6 years).

WEEK 60 CORONAVIRUS: RISE OF INDIA VARIANT

The rest of the country is to have their lockdown level eased but not our part, i.e. Glasgow.  There has been an outbreak of the Indian variant and therefore no easing will take place. In one week an assessment will be done.  Quite right, of course, but regrettable. I reluctantly have to take the stance of an auld Scottish wifey who, with a voice of doom would state: "Mark my word-r-r-ds, this is not going to bode well." It is set to become the dominant virus (as is the nature of viruses when they mutate). 

At the moment "The UK has seen the number of cases of this variant of concern [India varient] almost triple in the past week to 1,313 from 520 the week before."

It's a pity we did not have a few more weeks before this rise.  The vaccination of 38-39 year olds is just starting.  It means that with lockdown easing and the variant being 3 times as transmissible it is going to be the younger age group who will be catching it (and spreading it). 

It is simply not known if people will get sicker or not, or have any greater/ lesser 'long term' covid illness.

So for us in Glasgow (and also people in Morayshire) we have to continue to keep our 2 metre distance, wear masks, not socialise indoors, stay in our local area.

This joke came from Jane in Canada. It is a variation on the Schiller line in play The Maid of Orleans) (1801, Act II, Scene 4:

 "... Against stupidity the very gods 

Themselves contend in vain."

(The way I recite it to myself on all those occasions when I want to give someone a piece of my mind is

"Against stupidity event the gods struggle in vain."

Oh well ... the garden is getting a lot of attention.  The weather dry but is not particularly  warm; here are recent photos:

Always good company in the garden are the birds.  This blackbird is particularly vocal!

Not my flowers but ones in the garden centre - Calla lillies.

And the last word must go to this world-wise woman, again from Jane:

WEEK 59 CORONAVIRUS: BIRTHDAY AND BLOG 14th ANNIVERSARY

Another birthday, another year on the 'mile-o-meter'.  It is also the anniversary of this blog which I started in 2007.  

Narcissus 1

The birthday girl

 Sunday night dinner and Mairi's lovely Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte with Iain in the background

Narcissus 2

WEEK 59 CORONOVIRUS: JAMESON CORBRIDGE POTTERIES AND FAMILY TREE

We continue to live a quiet life while we await further easing of restrictions.  That being said I have managed to visit a few folk, not inside their house, which isn't allowed but out in the garden or street.

I do, however, watch the rising number of cases in India and Nepal. Flights from India are now banned but there is traffic coming from India through Turkey... and the stats show there are now 'clusters' of the Indian variant in the UK: 5 in one report giving way to 300 in a further report (don't know how long the time is between ? a week?).

Meanwhile I was reminded of some family history this week when I was shown an article about the Portobello Bottle Kilns.

These photos below are of similar kilns which are in Corbrige, west of Newcastle. I took the following photos in 2006.

 

The potteries were the Jameson Potteries and it was the business (and home) of my paternal grand-mother.  The one and only son inherited the business (early 20th century). In 1909 my grandmother (and I assume her 2 sisters) were shipped out to Canada where they established themselves on land purchased by the family for them.  All made a good life for themselves.* She was sent money regularly from ’the works’ but it stopped about the time I was at university in the mid-60s. (I visited her in Victoria and she told me that this had dried up.)

In the late 60s I settled in Glasgow and visited this pottery in the early 70s. I was saddened to see that  the business had declined because, I think,  the pottery drainage pipes they made were replaced by the pipes being made of non-pottery materials, e.g. plastic.  The business closed in the mid-70s (I attended the closing meeting.)

          The site  is now a housing estate.

The surrounding countryside.

* WHO'S WHO:

My grandmother was Gladys Jameson. The 2 other sisters who ended up in Canada were:  Ethel (the eldest) and Winnie.  There was a sister living in Corbridge when I visited in 1970s: that was Flo, the youngest. 

Their father is James Alfred Jameson. He had a son Fred Lee Jameson (therefore Gladys's brother and ran the business).  (There was one other sister,  Gwen who I think stayed in Corbridge.  I see from family tree Gwen and Flo were adopted.)

His son, Lee Jameson, [see photo below] was running the business in 1970s. He lived in the big house next to the works. His wife was Jean from Devon; they had 3 boys Tony, Bruce and Daniel.

Caption:[L] Lee Jameson, Son No 1/3, Son No 2/3, Frank White, Son No 3/3, (poss. not in order);  Heather White, Unknown woman in background with brown hair, Helen White in Front wearing red, Jean Jameson white hair behind and Unknown  man far right. (Could that be Lee's father who would therefore be Helen's uncle?) 

Bits and pieces:  Ethel was initially sent to a Catholic convent in Belgium. She eventually married Barney Harrington (in Montreal I think).  Winnie married Alf Gorse. Both lived in Salmon Arm at some point.  [Further details discovered... for including at a later date.]

My grand-mother married John Cousins Booth (from Downiehills Farm, Aberdeenshire - farmers whose descendants are still there). Married in Edinburgh. They lived in Salmon Arm. They had an orchard farm i.e. planted fruit trees... a different life from drawing room activities in big house next to a thriving potteries 'works'.

 

 

WEEK 58 CORONAVIRUS: SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS OPENING

Many shops, restaurants, pubs, other non-essential businesses have now opened up after being in Lockdown since the first week of January.  Not too many signs of businesses boarded up (thankfully).

Ishbel and I hit the malls, well actually Braehead Mall on Saturday.  Most shops were open. The cafes were pleasantly busy with socially distanced tables, masks worn by staff and customers, queue footprint marker positions glued in place on the floor, cleaning done between customers, and... impressive... spotless toilets (!).

I got myself up to speed on using the Track and Trace QR code... idiot proof!  Other establishments have paper and pencil for customer details. Everyone, staff and customers, are so-o-o-o-o glad to be returning to some kind of normality.  (However the rate of infection in India is very bad and that is a lurking worry now. Flights to the UK from India have not been stopped but, apparently, will be on Monday. 

* * * * * * In the meantime... spring colours are starting to show  * * * * * *

Mugdock Park Garden Centre

Mugdock Park Garden Centre

Our garden this week. Leaves starting to come out on plane trees in the park.

Alastair 13, Ishbel, 14, Harriet, 7 and Ellie 6 

Frost or very nearly frost temperatures every night for most of April and continuing. Pink camellia toughing it out...

Happiness is shelling peas!

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