WEEK 72 CORONAVIRUS: THINGS ARE STARTING TO MOVE

Ishbel and I sometimes spend a few hours in the Braehead shopping mall which is on the other side of the Clyde from where we live. Travelling through the Clyde tunnel we pass by the big new Queen Elizabeth Hospital and then we drive the short distance to the large shopping area which is where there are chain stores, and a covered mall with a Waterstones bookstore, Apple shop etc.  Adjacent to this complex on our route is a very large IKEA store.

Monday July 26:  Azamara Quest departed for Spain. (Image: Made in Scotland)

However what has interested us en route to the shops is the fact that 3 very large cruise liners have been moored right next to it, in the King George V dock.  

On one of our visits we swung by to find out exactly what was the story here. The security guard simply said they were out of service due to to pandemic (which we had already figured out).  They were very smart looking ships as they lay alongside the quay in an area which I shall say "had seen better days".

Well it turns out this week one of the ships is now departing and the photo above shows it leaving its berth at King George V dock.  The Braehead shopping area where Ishbel and go is in the background.

It appears that these ships are based in Miami as the article by C Stewart in Monday, July 26th Glasgow Herald explains:

THE FIRST of three cruise ships docked in the River Clyde for more than a year during the Covid pandemic is to make her way back to sea today.

Miami-based Azamara Quest, and sister ships Azamara Pursuit and Azamara Journey, have been berthed at King George V Dock since June last year.

Now, Azamara Quest is to be the first to leave the city and sails for drydock in Cadiz, Spain to finalize preparations ahead of its return to service in the Mediterranean.

EVER GIVEN ARRIVES IN ROTTERDAM THIS WEEK

I have been following the fate of this ship for several reasons: (1) having gone aground ourselves we know how it can happen (2) there have been noticeable lack of some products in the shops or given as a reason for delay of, say, repairs due to goods not arriving from China and (3) I am fascinated by the maritime ships' position technology. It shows the global position of any vessel and also tracks their route.

This 400-metre-long (1,300 ft) ship was buffeted by strong winds and ended up wedged across the waterway with its bow and stern stuck in the canal banks, blocking all traffic until it could be freed.

Gone aground in Suez Canal in March 23

Freed in March 29th

Credit: Suez Canal Authority

Thursday July 29th: £425 billion worth of goods finally arrives in Rotterdam 

Credit: Hollandse Hoggle REX

WEEK 71 CORONAVIRUS: STILL IN LOCKDOWN WITH SUPPLY PROBLEMS BEING ADDRESSED

Ellie, 6 years old, is our star of the week this week.  Her hair is very long and she mentioned that she wanted it cut.  I put it to her: would she care to donate her hair to a charity? The charity is called The Little Princess Trust. They make wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment.  She was up for it.

Rachael at the 3MC Hairdressers at Bearsden Cross knew the procedure so we went along mid-week and had it cut.  There is a strict criteria for submission, e.g.  washed and over 12 inches in length. A plated 'rope' is made and I sent it off with the covering form which ensured that Ellie would be sent a special Thank You 'certificate'.  

One good turn deserves another: While we were gathering our things to leave, (and getting Ellie to give us a twirl!) a lady who had been getting her hair done in an (socially distanced) adjacent chair, came over and asked us to accept her  donation of £10.00 toward the charity!  [which we did....!]

Since 2006, we’ve provided more than 8,000 wigs and have given grants totalling more than £7 million towards research projects focussed on finding more effective treatments for childhood cancers.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

The good weather continues ... 3 weeks of blue skies and sunshine! (Not so good in other parts of the world where there are wild fires and flooding.)

Every Sunday evening this month we have managed to eat outside when Mairi and gang arrive.  At this time we continue our Zoom chats (and/or a Quiz) with Alastair and Melanie and sometimes Indy.

The above photo I call my Side Salad.  I planted lettuce seeds in various containers or in the ground.  The containers did well in terms of lush growth but I am afraid to report that the little leaves were quite tasteless!  So it's back to the crisp lettuces that I buy in the local supermarket! 

While on that subject ... there is a current problem of shelves being empty in some shops.  It is not panic buying; it is, apparently, a supply problem.  Hauliers have been 'pinged' by the NHS Track and Trace app which says they have been in contact with a Covid infected person and therefore must isolate for 10 days.  It has happened to so many people involved in various parts of the economy that there is talk of making some essential delivery people etc exempt.

On that exact subject ... I got chatting to a haulier who was sitting in his huge Tesco truck cab waiting for the delivery gate to open at the back of the store.  He delivers out of a depot in central Scotland. He said the problem is not that drivers are off self-isolating, nor is it because many European drivers have gone back to their own country (due to Brexit), it is because of the exceptionally good weather; they are simply not turning up!

 

WEEK 70 CORNOVIRUS: SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVIN AIN'T EASY

It's been a hot week. High summer!  However we read about flooding in Germany and worry about friends that we know there.

This week marks the week before England announces the lifting of all lockdown restrictions (except where they want masks to be worn in certain transport and inside areas). Scotland (plus Wales and NI) plans to do the same thing in another 3 weeks. 

The scientific community are very worried; it could lead to a bigger infection rate and hospitalisation amount the young (i.e. unvaccinated) in the winter. But the Prime Miniter points out "If you can't lift restrictions in the summer, when can you?" (as the vaccination programme is heading toward completion - the aim is to reach 'herd immunity').  It's a difficult balancing act as many areas of the economy are struggling. I see it is being called "The English Experiment".

At the weekend I was out helping with cleaning up the coast. All over the country various groups and individuals are making an effort to pick up litter.  There's a lot out there especially along the coast and rivers that flow into the coastal areas.

One such place is west of where we live: Dumbarton and the River Leven flowing into the Clyde.  In its day it has had various types of industry. It is now an area of post-industrial decline. Efforts are being made to try and regenerate the town centre (Dumbarton) and landscaping has recently been done in the parks and walkways along the river.  However  there are still a lot of wrecks lying in the mud.  

Here are photos of both.  First photos are of cleaning up:

This second lot are my early morning shots before the workforce arrived.

WEEK 69 CORONAVIRUS: SCOTLAND HAS RISING CASES + HOLIDAY PHOTOS

It is holiday time.  Iain was away with Mairi for a spell and then returned to our rather quiet time at home base.  I have been based at home, quite happily,  while Mairi and children have another week away.  No pets to feed this week however.

The weather has been  really rather pleasant so  this week it is more photos of the garden plus holiday snaps round up of the children ... getting bigger and bigger every week!

The covid situation is much the same, i.e. cases continue to rise, especially in Scotland, and, for some reason, especially in our particular corner of the greater Glasgow area.  It tends to be the unvaccinated, the younger age group and males that are driving the numbers up.  One doesn't have to look very far to see where that particular group might be found!

There is a big push to step up the vaccination programme ahead of the proposed lifting of restrictions soon (Scotland later than England).   The scientific community are not happy about the easing restrictions and feel it would lead to greater illnesses (of all types) in the younger population this winter... to say nothing of increasing the burden on the Health Service.

We live on the flight path to Glasgow Airport and there certainly are an increased number of planes flying in and, on some days, out.  Hey ho....

Recent photos:

WEEK 68 CORONAVIRUS: HOLIDAY WEEK

We carry on: sporting events are taking place with reduced numbers allowed into the stands, Wimbledon tennis matches are back on, again with reduced numbers of spectators. Set against this are, for example, the dentists, who still can only work at reduced capacity with reduced procedures when they are attending to their job of working on your teeth (no electric polisher, no water spray), the local  library is operating in a very limited way (no browsing, just a box to drop off books being returned).

The case numbers continue to double every week. The UK is showing the highest number of new cases in the English speaking nations.  But I suppose it would as there are testing centres in many places now (we have 2 locally); testing and vaccination programmes have been stepped up, e.g.  targeting 'hot spots'.  There is a QR ['Quick Response' black square bar code] Track and Trace system in place (but apparently it is giving problems).

* * * * * Sunday: Trip to Duone  * * * * * * 

We drove to the Antique Shop. En route had a young deer jump out in front of my car just before Dumgoyne Distillery.  Fortunately I was going the speed limit of 40 miles/hr and avoided hitting it.  Any faster and it would have been a dented Volvo and a dented/dead deer!  [Photo: Saltire Press]

* * * * * Monday: Trip to Edinburgh * * * * * * 

The plan was to check out the Science Festival. Outcome: there is no Science Festival other than half a dozen display boards outside the closed National Gallery buildings.  The Portrait Gallery was closed too...both places with banners outside "We're Back" and "We're Open".

Walter Scott monument from Princes Gardens

Whilst sitting in St Andrews Square eating our lunch (Ishbel - a whole baguette no filling, me -  2 wraps with filling) a sudden shwooosh occurred between us: a very large, very cheeky seagull snatched the last of my wrap held in my hand on its way to my mouth .... and took off!

[Later] After we returned from Edinburgh we got a message from Mairi saying Ishbel needed to get tested at a Covid centre as someone in her class at school tested positive.  This we did we ease at the centre located at the BR station car park in Milngavie.  (We knew the procedure as Iain and I had to get tested last week due to being in contact (outdoors) with a young neighbour.)  Her results came back 18  hours later (early next morning)... negative.

* * * * * Tuesday: Mugdock * * * * * * 

We visited with Inger, Marit, Arianna and Adam for a Birthday Picnic.

* * * * Wednesday: Bowling Harbour * * * * *

The Harbourmaster's House is to be a 7 bedroom B&B!

Peter's (former) boat has a For Sale on it.

 

* * * * Thursday:  Garden Photoshoot with Pentax Camera * * * * 

Liz's  Garden - back  

Liz's  Garden -view from her window

Liz's Dahlia's

Anne's Garden 1  

Anne's Garden 2  

Anne's Garden 3 - Delphiniums  

 * * * * * * Grandma's Garden * * * * 

Dahlia using Pentax camera

Barb's Dahlia using  iPhone

AND FINALLY

Ellie's Sunflower using Pentax camera