Unintended consequences

Another early morning the the promise of sunshine, descending into wind driven showers by the time I went out for some fresh air before lunch. I curtailed my walk rather than get wet, returned and cooked lunch. By the time we'd eaten and cleared up, the sun was out again, but this time I went out carrying my light rain trousers in my big jacket pocket. And it didn't rain! The Taff is running high again, though not as high as last week. In the coming week we're promised the return of cold weather and snow, although the air temperature will continue to fluctuate from day to day between two and ten degrees, like this week. In the park, not only are daffodils and snowdrops out but also early crocuses. It's like we're having someone else's weather.

Clare and Kath between them have organised another four day stay in the Oxwich Bay Hotel caravan park in the last week of July. Two caravans for the six of us again. We were lucky to get the booking, as every UK holiday destination is experiencing high demand, as travel outside of the UK is unforeseeable in the light of new quarantine restrictions, let alone restrictions on flights. Stricter measures are imposed almost daily across Europe at the moment, as infection rates continue to rise. The EU lags behind Britain in the distribution of vaccines, there are major practical problems with the demand outstripping the supply, not to mention the conflictual politics of distribution. 

The European Commission made a  poor judgement call at the outset, and is now trying to compensate for it with strong-arm tactics, thinking it can get its own way by throwing its weight around. This is deeply disappointing and serves only to justify the brexiteers case, even though in just a few weeks it is proving disastrous for the flow of trade. If only Britain had stayed in the EU and put more effort into reforming the Commission, given that many European partners are also unhappy with the way it has habitually worked, and generated problems for members states.

News today of a fourth vaccine, an American one, about to be authorised for use in the UK. Batches of this one have also been ordered and should in use later in the spring. Nearly seven million people in Britain have been vaccinated, but it'll be a while before this has an impact on rising numbers of infections and deaths. It seems that infection clusters are being noticed in some offices where people are working together, even when correct H&S restrictions are in place, also in family groups, more so than in supermarkets and schools. Apparently, eighty percent of cases are now of the new coronavirus mutation, a measure of how much more contagious it is than the earlier version.

This afternoon, after completing my walk for the day, I watched this week's episode of 'New Amsterdam' on More Four catch-up. The programme has been re-scheduled from ten o'clock on Thursday evening to one thirty Friday morning, which is most annoying. I can't find any explanation for which it has occurred.

Later I watched the latest episode in the 'Rebecka Martinson Arctic Murders' series - this week portraying drug dealing way up in the north of Sweden, where drug trafficking happens across borders and involves Finnish and Russian drug gangs. and something akin to the 'County Lines' distribution networks operating in Britain. Two police officers' family members are involved, and so far there's been one accidental death by ketamine overdose and a drug distributor murdered. It's a two parter, so next week will reveal whether ot not this gets resolved without more fatalities. It's only story telling, I know, but it's not a big city or even a suburban crimmie for once, but rather a back-country tale strongly resembling the big city - and why? Due to the ubiquity of mobile phones and social networks. The internet has, indeed, abolished distance, 

 

Seen from the other side

I celebrated the Eucharist at St Catherine's yesterday morning, using the altar in the Lady Chapel for the first time, an eastward celebration too, which the congregation of eight enjoyed it seems. Today, I celebrated also at St John's.

On both days I had a nursing appointment, just as the clinic reopened after lunchtime. Yet again this month the shorter working week due to another Bank Holiday has led to disruption in the clinic medical supply chain. We're getting by at home as we've kept a small assortment of dressings of different sizes left over from previous occasions, just in case, so we can try out alternative methods. 

Thankfully I need a change less often as healing progresses, and can even manage with just light cover to allow the air to reach it, and encourage drying out. It must be difficult for the nursing staff, however, as some of their regular patients heal very slowly, if at all, due to the impact of diabetes on them. I complain on times that it's all taking far too long to get better, but must admit just how fortunate I am compared to many others.

This afternoon I was driven to Thornhill to officiate at Sheila's funeral. My driver told me that he's only recently started a part time job with Summers funeralcare, having retired from working in IT at the National Statistics Office  in Newport. What a change of profession! I took with me the beeswax candle given me by Laura to light during the service. Clare ingeniously fixed it in a small glass tea-light candle holder, using a tea-light to provide a stable base. During the welcome, I lit it and said a brief prayer intending to explain its provenance to the congregation of two dozen later. Sheila's sons John and Paul spoke about their mother. Paul mentioned his mother's friendship with Laura and explained the candle, so I didn't need to. 

The funeral ahead of us in the Briwnant Chapel overran by fifteen minutes. As we waited to take over the chapel, I was astonished by the number of people who came out of the chapel after that service, perhaps double the number of seats, and some people stood outside as well. No wonder the delay was quite so long. Our service took thirty five of the forty five minute time slot. I was bothered that we should pass on the discourtesy of overrunning, but it turned out the funeral after ours was running late, because of traffic conditions.

Last night and again tonight BBC Four's Storyville series screened a two part documentary which was recorded live over the past two years of brexit negotiations in and the office of Guy Verhofstadt, former Prime Minister of Belgium, now a key European Parliamentarian. He heads the team on the EU side of the process. The documentary was remarkable for its openness and candour, showing the disciplined effort required to maintain a unified approach with 27 national governments, the European Parliament and Commission, while the British approach from the outset seemed undisciplined, chaotic, lacking clarity. I guess this is a reflection of the Prime Minister's strapline 'Brexit means brexit' a phrase with which anyone can conjure whatever meaning they choose, guaranteeing no consensus, despite parliamentary efforts to create one which everyone can own.

It was good that Michel Barnier was filmed speaking with clarity and passion about the European project to build a community which is peaceful prosperous and able to live with differences, admitting it's a constant work in progress. He insists on maintaining due respect for British political endeavours on the part of EU despite politicians and negotiators being bewildered by all the chopping and changing and the inability to reach a UK consensus on what they want and where they want to do. It sheds even more bad light on flight from moderation in Britain over the past decade. To be seen as other see us. Will British political leaders watch this and take a hard look at what they've let the populists get away with these past five years? And repent of their weakness and folly.

After Storyville, the latest episode of 'Berlin Station' was live on More Four. It gets more layered and interesting as it goes along. Worth staying up late for. Oh, I nearly forgot. Our European Parliamentary election postal ballot papers arrived today. I can only hope and pray that people will show by their voting that the last few years have been a nightmarish mistake.