Lessons unlearned

We slept late, had an extra lie in and then Saturday breakfast pancakes. It was ten o'clock before I looked out of the window for the first time in the day and realised it was snowing. I guess that's a measure of how turned inwards I become in these grew dark wintry days. We walked for an hour in around the fields until the chill wind became a disincentive to walk for longer. The temperature hovered  around 0-1C all day but again the wind made it feel colder. One strange thing I've noticed when I'm out walking is that my feet don't get cold, no matter what shoes I'm wearing. May it needs to be well below zero for this to happen, but really cold feet is something I do recall from skiing days in Switzerland. 

News reports today state that fifteen million people in will be been vaccinated by Monday, on target as promised. Infection and death rates keep falling slowly and political leaders are giving tentative answers to questions levelled at them by reporters or back-benchers about a timetable for a return to a semblance of normality. At the same time, leading scientists express caution over loosening restrictions too early, in the light of uncertainties about the spread of new more contagious virus variants. 

Again First Minister Mark Drakeford's response has been sober and measured, saying the best we can hope for, on the basis of timely evidence is a return to the 'new normal' of last summer's holiday season, step by careful step. He's not a crowd pleaser, but doesn't hide the truth that we're in for a long haul. Whatever develops, it's clear the economy nationally and globally is taking a hard knock. The drive is on to de-carbonise the economy and re-think all our priorities in the light of the climate crisis. One way or another the way we live will change, and it will prove very hard for many who cannot understand that the impact of human activity on the planet is the source of crises we are faced with. 

Although we were promised a centimetre of snow in the coastal plain, far less fell, and the temperature rose above zero in the afternoon. Rather disappointing really. I bought some beautiful dark red tulips to mark Valentine's day for Clare, but forgot to order a takeaway romantic supper. (Not really my idea of romance, I'm afraid), so I cooked an acceptably tasty meal instead and served it on our best Wedgewood china dinner plates. Also disappointing. Another interesting documentary about the excavations of Saint Pancras public cemetery, prior to building a new HS2 railways station on the ground, a work in progress now for several years. 

A forensic examination of several centuries worth of human remains is yielding evidence about Europe's largest city in the 17th-18th century with half a million inhabitants. Infant mortality was very high, due to poverty,  malnourishment and insanitary conditions, but it seems that the root cause of  chronic and fatal ailments was atmospheric pollution from wood or coal fires burning in crowded badly ventilated homes. An echo of current environmental health issues caused by urban vehicle emissions in traffic crowded streets. Then, another Inspector Montalbano repeat episode on BBC Four later or. We watched it as there was nothing else to capture our attention