Sub zero temperature overnight, and a chilly start to a bright sunny day. I had a fairly restful night's sleep. Nine and a half hours in bed, two hours sleep lost due to my bladder. I'm peeing less overnight than I was before, but suspect I'm still dehydrating at night as my bowel motion is quite fluid. It may have something to do with blood thinners interacting with other medication, affecting digestive system chemistry. I'm not yet properly stable. After breakfast I was overwhelmed with tiredness and slept in the armchair for another hour. All I can do is listen to my body and accept its demands and resist pushing myself.
I had a message from Veronica who had her knee replacement operation yesterday. It sounds as if it was technically demanding because of the extent of bone wear and tear. She's being fed a lot of pain control medication at the moment and kept in hospital over the weekend.
Former government politicians were interviewed about criticism of their actions by the Covid Report on the Today programme, giving them an opportunity to account for their actions while in office. Reports of misbehaviour in the 10 Downing Street office, it's bound to reawaken anger over botched decision making leading to so many untimely and perhaps unnecessary deaths. On Woman's Hour later on interviewee who witnessed the damaging effect of government isolation policy on elderly people in care homes, called for Boris Johnson to be barred as unfit to stand for public office again. He resigned as Prime Minister and MP after the 'Partygate' lockdown scandal and didn't stand in last year's General Election. Would he dare now?
There was a discussion with Michael Gove about covid quarantine rules and their enforcement, in which it was noted that Sweden's covid death rate was lower relying on voluntary compliance to similar rules. The explanation he offered for this was that social and economic inequality in Sweden is less than in Britain. This influences the state of health for those suffering deprivation and poverty. It was an almost casual remark, but a strong indictment of UK society and its distribution of wealth.
I cooked the veg for lunch while Clare was out shopping and forgot to start the fish cooking at the same time, my brain was feeling a bit scrambled. Clare quickly noticed however and with a joint effort we had lunch on time, more or less. Troubling news came in as we were about to eat of the conviction for bribery of the leader of the Welsh Brexit, UKIP and Reform Parties Nathan Gill. He was paid cash sums by a Russian propaganda agent to make pro-Russian statements in the European Parliament and media in Ukraine as a Brexit party MEP. He was even a Senedd Member for two years. Aiding and abetting a foreign adversary is nothing short of treason. It's most embarrassing for far right political parties in Britain. Presumably there will be some sort of enquiry into how a 'fifth columnist' could rise to leadership in this way. How much did MI5 and MI6 know about this? since it's been going on for several years.
I walked in the park after lunch until the sun set and completed my daily step target. It was cold, but fresh air did me good. I had an hour and a half WhatsApp conversation with Roy Thomas in Madrid. He tried to call me a couple of times while I was out walking but for some odd reason my phone didn't alert me - not even by buzzing. It wasn't on 'Do not disturb'. I don't know what the problem is. Later in the evening I had an hour on WhatsApp with Rachel talking about my current health concerns and how to deal with stress.
Then I had a message from Martin reporting the death of Fr Roy Doxsey, former Vicar of St German's and a great urban missionary priest. He was a school chaplain in Zambia and Brecon with an inspiring if traditional non-trendy ministry to young people.
We worked together as church appointed governors of Tredegarville school, and in the run-up to his retirement just after mine. That led to me doing long stints of vacancy duty at St German's for the next fifteen years under three different incumbents. Roy was the soul of hospitality the pastor who knew his community and was known and loved by the people whose lives he shared. A few years ago he was on his way home when he was hit by a car and seriously injured, with broken bones and head injury. He made a fair recovery, but was weakened by it, being a couple of years older than me. He was living independently until recently, but needed an increasing amount of support and care in the last year of his life.
I'll remember him especially for ending his blessing of the people at a service by saying "the blessing of God almighty Father Son and Holy Spirit come down upon you and remain with you and all those you love, and ought to love, now and always." It was his recognition of the truth that as God's children we're all still a work in progress. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
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