JANUARY 2022

Saturday 1 January 2022

Happy New Year everybody. Went to North Berwick, walked for 6 miles in glorious weather and ate chips on the beach. What's not to like?

Sunday 2 January 2022

Heading back down to Cornwall. Yay! Staying overnight with my sister in Derbyshire. Did a LFT last night just to make sure I'm not spreading any germs about. Having said that; just because I tested negative yesterday evening, does it mean that I would test negative today? I wonder how much money has been spent on these LFTs? I'm sure I could find out if I googled it, but actually, I don't think I want to know. The answer will probably just annoy me.

Monday 3 January 2022

Ha ha, got forwarded the poem below. I thought it was quite funny, but I'm sure SNP supporters won't.

'Twas Hogmanay, there was no one about

The glorious leader wouldn't let anyone out

All over Scotland there was hardly a smile,

But some were laughing in sunny Carlisle.

The bells chimed twelve, no fireworks did fly
Even the stars vacated the sky
The evil harridan was so proud of her deed,
But some were laughing in Berwick-on-Tweed.

New Year did arrive with growing hope
The sheep were realising Krankie's a joke
A tin pot dictator with no economical plan
Spreading fear and hatred throughout our land

We know she is mad...she really must go
So, for a Happy New Year - We Must Vote No

Having said that; I've only been back in St Ives for a few hours and all I've done is have a 45 min trek around town and yet the difference between what I can do here and what I can do in the capital city of Scotland is incredible.

At the beginning of lock down, I really admired, First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. Now I just think she's on a power trip and I really can't stand the woman. If England can release people from restrictions; why can't she?????

Monday 10 January 2022

Just watching the News. It would seem that there was another 'Downing Street Party' in May 2020. Seriously?! We weren't even allowed to sit down on a bench outside in May 2020. Most of them were taped off anyway. I remember meeting a friend in the park (which was against the rules) and we sat on opposite ends of a bench with an M&S can of G&T. We had to keep a look out for the police who were actively moving people on, if they dared to sit down.

Seems like one rule for Downing Street and one rule for the rest of us.

During the first lock down, I pretty much followed all the rules. And we didn't even have 'support bubbles' then so I was totally by myself for three months. I had hardly any face to face human interaction apart from 10 mins every week when I went shopping for an 89 year old lady and we chatted on her doorstep (albeit 2m away) when I dropped off the shopping.

…............And now we learn that Downing Street were having parties in May 2020. It makes a mockery of of the whole system doesn't it? One rule for them and one rule for the rest of us.

When I go back to Edinburgh in a couple of weeks time, I certainly will not be sticking to the 'three households indoors' rule. That must be the most stupid rule in the world for single people?!!

And the other rule that is pretty stupid, is reducing the isolation period to 5 days in England, but not in Scotland. Does Covid really know what country it's in? Ie, if you've had Covid in England, you're not infectious after 5 days, but in Scotland you are?????

Why can't the whole of the UK not work together on this?

Tuesday 11 January 2022

Watching the News. Apparently one of the Downing Street parties happened on the 20^th May 2020. The 20th May 2020 was Day 58 of lock down. I know, because I was sat on my balcony by myself. The weather in Edinburgh was fabulous. In the morning I went and did my weekly shop at ‘Aldi’ for myself and Mrs R (the elderly friend's mother that was shielding). When I delivered her shopping, she stood on the doorstep and I stood two meters away and we chatted for 5 mins. It was the highlight of my week for more than 100 days. In Scotland we still weren’t allowed to meet anyone, even outside, on 20th May 2020.

………….And ‘support bubbles’ hadn’t been invented?!!! Single people were totally alone. Trixie, the collie pup, was my only support. A reason to go out.

For more than 100 days I only went out in the car once a week to the supermarket, I didn’t go on any buses. I must admit I broke a few rules and met ONE friend outside for a ‘socially distanced’ walk or chat in the park/or garden and I felt really guilty about doing that?!!

……….And now we find out that all the people who were making the rules, weren’t actually following the rules…………..

What a joke?! Having said that………….. Nothing can change history? Surely there’s more on the News tonight than what happened almost 2 years ago?

I'll be doing my own thing from now on!!!

Friday 14 January 2022

More on the News about the Downing Street parties. It would appear that life during the first lock down was just one long constant round of parties for those who worked there. OK it was totally wrong when the rest of us couldn't even see one person in real life. Having said that, all the people who were partying, were also working together, so in theory what is the difference between being in contact at work and in contact at a party. This is all getting a bit 'old hat' now. There must be other news in the world?!

Spoke to a friend in Edinburgh today. She said that her writing group has had to go back to Zoom meetings (obviously Boris doesn't know what a Zoom meeting is. Lol) because there's more than three households in the group.

I'm not that conscientious anymore. What is good for the PM is good for me. Having said that, if I'm meeting friends over 70 years of age, I do a LFT. Though to be honest I don't really see the point of them. I could test negative now and in a few hours be positive but if it puts people's minds at rest, then OK, I'll do it.

I brought a box of LFTs with me from Edinburgh, which is just as well as it would seem that there's a shortage of them down here as well.

Tuesday 18 January 2022

For more than a week now there has been nothing on the News apart from the Downing Street parties. Surely we've all had enough now. It happened. No one can turn back the clock.

As all my friends know………. I don’t do politics, but seriously?……… I spent more than 3 months in 2020 totally by myself. If I hadn’t had ‘Trixie the collie pup’, I probably wouldn’t even have got out of bed. And now we find out that all the people who were making the rules, were actually breaking the rules. Having a good time, having a party. Life still isn’t back to normal. I personally don’t think my life is ever going to go back to how it was pre 23rd March 2020. But one thing’s for sure………. I won’t be sticking to any ’rules’ from now on. I’ll be doing my own thing and if I want to meet my friends I will. #whatsgoodforthePMisgoodforme

Friday 21 January 2022

Only one more day left in St Ives and then I'm heading back to Edinburgh. Boooohooo.

Three years ago, when I decided to make Edinburgh my permanent home I never for one minute thought that it wasn't the right decision. I had a much better social life there, I had a good job as a Meet & Greeter, I was a member of a fitness club which I went to approx five times a week and I had lots of friends that I saw on a regular basis.

Fast forward three years and my social life in Edinburgh is almost non-existant, my job as a Meet & Greeter' has pretty much dried up because everyone now just gets a key out of a key safe, the fitness club is still insisting that every visit needs to be booked in advance and a having a group of friends round to the flat is still a no no, due to the three household rule.

In contrast in St Ives over the last five days I have........................

Mon – met J for coffee

Tues – met T&S for a walk around town and then came back here for lunch

Wed – met C&M for lunch and then came back here for drinks

Thurs – had four friends round for dinner

Fri – met five friends for drinks

I've also been to the hairdressers, done a Boogie Bounce class, and when I walk around town with Trixie, the Collie pup, first thing in the morning I always meet people I know that I can have a chat with.

I'm seriously going to have to re-evaluate my life again?!!!

Sunday 23 January 2022

Goodbye St Ives. On the way back to Edinburgh now.

Monday 24 January 2022

Back in Edinburgh and apparently there was another Downing Street party on the 19^th June 2020. That was Day 88 of lock down.

Here we go again………. The whole ‘news’ dominated by the ‘parties’ that BORIS attended during lockdown? (Though there must be more news in the world than what BORIS did almost 2 years ago?) Personally, I’m really angry about this because I totally believed in him on the 23rd March 2020, when he addressed the nation and said, ‘YOU MUST STAY AT HOME’.

…………….Mmmmmmmm……….. Obv one rule for him and one rule for the rest of us. #nothappy

Tuesday 25 January 2022

Had a couple of friends round for a 'Burns Supper'. Only three households so I've been sticking to the rules.

Thursday 27 January 2022

Sitting here watching the News and it's all about the advantages of wearing masks. Well, I guess it makes a change from Downing Street parties. Actually it's English news. Here in Scotland we've never stopped wearing masks. They've been mandatory since they were first introduced and we have to wear them in all indoor settings. Obviously you can take them off to eat in a restaurant but if you get up to go to the toilet you have to put them on again.

Personally I find wearing a mask really hard. I absolutely hate them and I'm not convinced that they're that necessary in a normal environment. I think if I had a choice I would probably only wear one if I was on a crowded bus.