WEEK 67 CORONAVIRUS: RISING RATES LOCALLY

We are in a hot spot for number of cases of coronavirus just now. It seems to be in schools and among young adults.  We it is hardly surprising as they have now opened up football attendance, though modified number, and indoor socialising is taking place. I guess it will be ever thus.

CORONA LISA

We were informed, quite rightly, by our neighbour that her son who had been digging out some plants in our garden to take to his own family's garden up the street, has tested positive.  He had been over at his friend's house to watch the football and unbeknownst to him the siblings in the house were primary school children in a local school which was having an outbreak.

However there are test stations locally and we got ourselves down there and  exactly 24 hours later, we were informed that were were both negative. The system seemed to work well on the whole.

We are going to have to wait until end of July - early August to see if infection rate goes down enough to lift the rest of restrictions.  We are still wearing masks everywhere and maintaining social distancing.  Most places are open and people are out and about.  The weather is fine so that helps.  Schools finished this week.

Alastair and Indy (nearly 10 years old)

Ellie and Harriet on the Daly Bridge.

Ishbel and I had a picnic lunch here in the village of Gargunnock today.

WEEK 66 CORNOVIRUS: LOCKDOWN POSTPONEMENT OF PLANNED EASING OF RESTRICTIONS

It will be another 4 weeks before restrictions might be eased due to the rising rate of Delta (India) variant in the population.

Meanwhile we smell the flowers.  It has been lovely weather with evening rain so the flowers and other plants all have happy faces.

To start with there are 3 other happy faces with [Fashion Diva] Ellie, below, then further down Harriet in the blue sweater and Alastair at the back door with Ellie on their After-School at Grandpa and Grandma's Day.

Lots of blues and purples in the garden!

Violets which originally came from Kirsty are catching the late evening sun on my window sill.

Alastair has taken to helping me collect litter with he litter pickers I have been given courtesy of our local council.  The man who cuts the grass in the park behind us has given me all I need and the plan is to engage the children in picking up litter along the Clyde and/or in our local park(s).

WEEK 65 CORONAVIRUS: STILL IN LOCKDOWN LEVEL 3 - HARRIET'S 8TH BIRTHDAY PLUS SUMMER READING

While we are able to socialise now in other people's houses the lockdown levels look to be staying in place for a bit longer, i.e. to be extended we expect, due to rising number of India Variant (Delta Variant) cases.

 

 Harriet opening her Lego box.

 

Alastair is working out how to put together one of Harriet's presents, namely, a potato clock.  It worked!

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I've been reading ... such a joy with the garden now showing all the summer flowers.

* * * * * An Ellie 'photoshoot' * * * * *

 

WEEK 64 CORONAVIRUS: LOCKDOWN EASING FROM LEVEL 3 TO LEVEL 2

After 9 months of being at a high level of lockdown things have eased this week.  This means people can mix inside their homes and pubs and restaurants can serve alcohol.

There continues to be a rise in reported cases and vaccinations are also continuing with the younger age group now being called.  However the rate of hospitization and deaths is not going up as fast so the feeling is that the link is now broken between infection and vaccination.  Those who do get hospitalised tend to be younger age group and/or the unvaccinated.