Staycation round two, day three

Another wet grey day, when it's not possible to use the garden for exercise, so I have to complete my reduced walking target indoors. Not being able to walk more than forty paces in a straight line means many more turns and twists. It exercises some different leg muscles and that makes them ache in a way they usually don't, and it's more tiring. But I think it's good for maintaining my general level of fitness. If only the extra Doxazosin didn't leave me feeling oddly light headed and below par now and then. 

Another day to wake up wondering if I'll get a postponement call from the pre-op team. Contagion and hospital admissions continue unabated. Epidemiologists exhibit increasing pessimism. This second wave of infections could have been avoided with earlier and more general controls on movement. 

The return to University and resumption of schooling have had their impact. Even if infection is less severe in the younger age group, contagion spills out from them into the older population. Among older people the death rate continues to climb. Some seem to have eased off on hygienic measures and social distancing. It doesn't have to be many to boost contagion. This makes for a dangerous toxic mix. It's the same across Europe.

A report on virus research I read this afternoon finds that a mutated variant of covid-19, originating with agricultural workers in North Eastern Spain this summer is driving new virus spread, and not only in Spain, but other countries. It accounts for 80% of new infections, not only in Spain, but in the UK. At the moment, this is attributed to returning British holidaymakers, more casual than they should have been about observing social hygiene measures while abroad. 

Each time, travel drives contagion. It's no wonder if there's inadequate or sloppy monitoring and controls on departure and arrivals at airports. Quarantine on arrival with little reasonable possibility of effective enforcement action by health authorities, was too little too late. British Airport managers asked for on site screening of arriving passengers and didn't get it - either too expensive or too hard to implement? It could have been different if Test and Trace started at airports. Now we're paying the price.

Educationalists worry that delaying the return to learning would undoubtedly have an effect on the future youngsters face, but the future of all of us is being reshaped in ways that can't yet be predicted due to the pandemic eluding control. The sickness of so many is unmasking overlooked weaknesses and social ill-health. Impatience in resuming old routines in life risks making everything even worse. 

As in any time of serious illness, much time must be spent in suspense, watching and waiting to see how things will change across the board. Speculation about the 'new normal' without reliable information on where we'll be, even in a few year's time, is no basis for strategic planning. 

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As WNO 'Partners', we can take part in occasional Zoom meetings giving talks of interest to opera lovers about the present life and activities of the Company. They are most enjoyable occasions, and sometimes feature mini-performances by singers. This afternoon's session was a fascinating lecture given by Harriet Eyley, an opera singer researching the stage history of 'travesti' women singing men's roles. Until the nineteenth century women were barred from performing, and women's roles were performed either by boys, counter-tenors, or castrated males. Things have changed since then, a complete reversal of roles.

Clare surprised me by cooking a fabulously tasty sourdough pizza for supper this evening, bedecked with mushrooms and onions and the veegan equivalent of cheese, much tastier grilled than raw. She's resumed fermenting sourdough for baking bread, and the pizza was left over when the bread tin was full. That's a delicious treat for a cold damp winter evening.

This evening I watched a couple of episodes of 'The Same Sky', a spy drama from Walter Presents, set in both sides of Cold War Berlin in the 1970's. It portrays domestic and social life with faithful accuracy both sides of the Wall. It touches upon a range of issues - Stasi informers, drug boosted young athletes, gay life, escape attempts, as well as espionage using honey trap techniques. Having been to the DDR just weeks before the Wall came down, we experienced life in East German as well as life in the West, so it all rings true. Nice to escape from covid UK into Europe's past for a couple of hours.