Two more in the bag - so can have a day off today ...
Managed to get rid of one barrel of Glycol today and clear behind the Greenhouse. It was covered in Brambles so managed to not injure myself too much as I cleared it. The first barrel was mainly water so flushed down the drains easily - will look at another one today. Need to start digging a hole for a drainage ditch...
Weather looks as though it is turning which at least may keep more people in their houses.
Boris Back from Chequers today.
Total cases creeps to within a statistical error of 3 million. Deaths over 200,000. USA getting close to the million cases on their own and almost 55,000 deaths. UK have almost 21,000 deaths.
I am not a great one for statistics but, though those fingures look horrifying, the US death toll is only 1.6% of the polulation of the USA. In the UK we are at 3.1%.
I don't see that statistic bandied around a lot.
Thought I would look at other countries to see ...
Spain - 4.9% Italy - 4.4%
Germany - .07%
Well done Germany...
They say that a Statistician is someone who can draw a mathematically precise line from an unwarranted assumption to a foregone conclusion.
Reading Laurie Lee's Cider With Rosie and found the following passage:
Mother's romantic memories may not have all been reliable, for their character frequently changed. But of the stories she told us, about herself and others, the one of the Blacksmith and the Toffee-Maker was true...
Once, she said, in the village of C---, there lived a lovelorn blacksmith. For years he had loved a local spinster, but he was shy, as most blacksmiths are. The spinster, who eked out a poor existence by boiling and selling toffee, was also lonely, in fact desperate for a husband, but too modest and proud to seek one. With the years the spinster's desperation grew, as did the blacksmith's speechless passion.
Then one day the spinster stole into the church and threw herself down on her knees. "Oh Lord" she prayed, "please be mindful of me, and send me a man to marry!"
Now the blacksmith by chance was up in the belfry, mending the old church clock. Every breathless word of the spinster's entreaties rose clearly to where he was. When he heard her praying, "Please send me a man!" he nearly fell off the roof with excitement. But he kept his head, tuned his voice to Jehovah's, and boomed "Will a blacksmith do?"
"Ern a man's better than nern, dear Lord!" cried the spinster gratefully.
At which the blacksmith ran home, changed into his best, and caught the spinster on her way out of church. He proposed, and they married, and lived forever contented, and used his forge for boiling their toffee. Hmm - I wondered where Jake got the idea from ... Shut-Down Serenades No 13 ... (I know - I skipped 12 - you can look it up if you want or wait until tomorrow)
The Blacksmith
In other news - on essential journeys..
or even
But we always have to come back to the main stories..
And a musical interlude...
And to put the record straight
"So if I inject my friend with disinfectant
Could I be charged with bleach of the peace 😁
Or domestos violence"
And won't we look stupid next week
A day in the studio yesterday, and three songs under the belt. Well two songs and a monologue really - they will be heading to the blog and all good social media outlets in due course. Meanwhile - it is Sunday -I know - I checked on the computer and so another week is about to start.... Cheers :
Saturday - and the lock-down is 1 month old ...
Susie has made four of her scrubs. Two went yesterday to a lass who was starting work but could not get any matching scrub from any of the hospitals so was delighted to get them..
They liked the quality, and so instead of deciding that she would call it a day after the ones that she is currently doing that we bought material for, the local volunteer co-ordinator is bringing her a bolt of material to make blues!!! Got to say I am proud of her.
Oh - and it is Green One!
Meanwhile - after the debacle with Trump and the Disinfectant, the machine is trying desperately to recover face and stop people trying to kill themselves. Dettol and Lysol have felt it necessary to come out and warn people that their productes are NOT for internal use.
Trump is saying that he was directling at a Hostile press as "sarcasm". I watched the broadcast as it was happening - he was musing to his medical advisors, not directing at the press at all.
Daily briefing last night and he refused to answer any questions at all. I think that he will soon deciode that this is no longer the best place for him to appear and we may get back to a factual briefing. An interestig comment from CNN suggested that the original briefings were by the Vice President and advisors, but heir popularity led Trump to decide that he should be getting the attention and publicity so he could use it as a platform for his re-election. Now it is getting sticky he will probably stop appearing there - makes sense. Bydon claims that Trump is looking for ways to stop the election in November . Watch this space for more claims by the Republicans that postal voting is corrupt.
In other news... some unlikely films for the shut-down...
In other news - I was discussing the popularity of the press yesterday, and included a chart whosing thet the Press were now held in very little respect at all..
I think this is summed up with this little missive that I discovered...
I have a tendency to watch the midnight news on Sky and "the papers" though I haven't read a paper in many years with the possible exception of a freebie on the train or aeroplane. Lately I have flicked over onto CNN - the only US channel that we have available here and have been getting to know the main broadcasters for that time of night - which often coincides with the daily briefing from the White House. I see some differences in the broadcasting style - Interviewer will normally make a very long statement outlining everything that the interviewee is likely to say, while the interviewee waits patiently for the questioner to stop.. then the interviewee will thank him/her for allowing them onto the programme and confirm what was asked. And the interviewer will let them finish until the end! Even if it is quite a long statement!
Interesting questions like "Trump today has suggested injecting disinfectant to kill the virus" is not treated with hilarity or horror - but is discussed by the official "health advisor" as "the sort of thing that a patient may ask a doctor" and refuses to criticise the President for foolish and stupid statements. "Perhaps Ultra Violet light can be shone inside the body - you can look at that as a possibility". After a full interview it is left to the interviewer - in this case Anderson, to suggest that this is something that people should not be doing at home...
The news style is very gentle - and appears to be trying to be "informative" - talking with clearly either stupid people or those who are too scared of losing their position in government to talk candidly..... Let us watch Dr Birx - His medical advisor as he suggests some of his ideas...
As a result a glass or two of Port seemed the best thing to quell the exasperation and it was well after 2.30am when I got to bed last night - so was a little slow on the rising this morning.
I learned a new word today - Ultracrepidarian. Definition: one who is presumptuous and offers advice or opinions beyond one's sphere of knowledge. The meaning of this word comes from a story in antiquity, in which the famed Greek painter Apelles one day heard a cobbler criticizing the way he had rendered a foot in a painting. (It is a verb and a noun...)
I woke to some suggestions regarding Trumps ideas...
In other slightly interesting information I saw a little snippet that pointed out that the Trump millions originally were the result of Life Insurance payment after the 1918 Flu pandemic...
Still, the style of press and media coverage across all channels does little to impress me. The coverage over Brexit (remember that?) and the need for 24 hour news led to the drivel that appeared where everyone piece of information was repeated and analysed - the Vox Pox (happily now they cannot walk down the street of Brummigan to ask what the "people" think) and this has now set the standard. We had months of daily "BREXIT CRISIS" and so the media now starts everything with "Virus Crisis" and finds new things to worry people about under the guise of "investigative journalism" and holding the Government, NHS, Local Authority, or Public to account, and throwing the worst possible view on any possible future. Don't get me wrong.. I do not suggest that we shoudl be doing a Trump "It will all go away" - but incessant criticism can only lead to depression.
I am not surprised by the poll from Sky
How our mighty media have fallen..
So more fool me for staying up late... Must be pressure from the Shut Down !
In other news..
Pam Ayres? She's 73 and still going strong. This is her latest ode to coronavirus...
I'm normally a social girl
I love to meet my mates But lately with the virus here We can't go out the gates.
You see, we are the 'oldies' now
We need to stay inside
If they haven't seen us for a while
They'll think we've upped and died.
They'll never know the things we did
Before we got this old
There wasn't any Facebook
So not everything was told.
We may seem sweet old ladies
Who would never be uncouth
But we grew up in the 60s -
If you only knew the truth!
There was sex and drugs and rock 'n roll
The pill and miniskirts
We smoked, we drank, we partied
And were quite outrageous flirts.
Then we settled down, got married
And turned into someone's mum,
Somebody's wife, then nana,
Who on earth did we become?
We didn't mind the change of pace
Because our lives were full
But to bury us before we're dead
Is like a red rag to a bull!
So here you find me stuck inside
For four weeks, maybe more
I finally found myself again
Then I had to close the door!
It didn’t really bother me
I'd while away the hour
I'd bake for all the family
But I've got no flaming flour!
Now Netflix is just wonderful
I like a gutsy thriller
I'm swooning over Idris
Or some random sexy killer.
At least I've got a stash of booze
For when I'm being idle
There's wine and whiskey, even gin
If I'm feeling suicidal!
So let's all drink to lockdown
To recovery and health
And hope this awful virus
Doesn't decimate our wealth.
We'll all get through the crisis
And be back to join our mates
Just hoping I'm not far too wide
To fit through the flaming gates!
And so - another day in the Tavern Studio...
No 10 : An old favourite - Fiddler's Green - the fabled "heaven for Sailors"
Best get on and think about the history of Pembroke Consistory of the Scarlet Cord.
Spent the morning writing up the history of Llanelli Scarlet Cord 24 TI and Aberystwyth Consistory 25 TI for the Scarlet Cord social media site...
Susie finishing her first two scrubs. Green and Small. appropraie that we start with a Green One!
We are going to try to run the gauntlet up to Carmarthen with the rotovator up to the Communtiy Farm. See how far we get.
Got there and back without being stopped - had a lovely walk around the farm with proper social distancing - though I think Angel is more isolated than we are !! Hilly Farm - dog enjoyed the run and is exhausted - me - I think I needed oxygen !!!
Paul the mechanic did not charge for the mending of the machine - he said he was happy to support the Community Farm so will be taking a dozen eggs for him as a thank you. Not much but a symbol.
(waiting for Susie at "The Range " as she tried to get some cotton for the scrubs - 20 minute wait - everyone well behaved)
Forgot to take his eggs - Naughty Iain - must take tomorrow
Went into the Tavern/Studio and did a lovely recording of Bobby McGee and English Country Garden - sadly did not check the camera - it was pointed at my Knees - and with all head and shoulder videos, I was in full Vollie up top and a pair of shorts below - mainly covered by the long shirt and looking as though I was doing it without trousers - needless to say I shall be in the tavern/Studio again tomorrow
No - No pictures to see!!!.
So one from the vaults... Batchelor's Lament
Some admin for Vic and his new flat to come in Llanybydder - he is getting excited by the move -
doing Identity and fincancial information - am feelign so glad that we moved him when we did. I think by now he would have been in a care home in Barton and health risks in homes are worrying at the moment . Took him for a walk along the Harbour wall yesterday and he was delighted - did not think that he was allowed out - so I made a fuss of the cleaning arrangements with the disinfectant cloths and washing when we got back...
about it for a day
Should have been in Crete this evening - Ho Hum !!
All a bit depressing really at the moment, went out to look at the sky train last night and froze but did not see anything worth looking at ..
Mythodea - planned for Germany in August cancelled ...
Politics and Media starting to bicker like kids on lock down...
Governement fail to get PPE to staff while rumours are that we are exporing to other countries because no-one took companies up on their offers - no way of believeing anything at the moment.
Florida opens its beaches and people are rioting in Phoenix Arizona against the shut down.
Death rates in Care homes beginning to be counted and make depressing reading.
but the sun is shining today.
Susie managed to get a roll of material so has started on the Scrubs for local paramedics.
Washing Manchine arrived at Nancy's
Suppose I had better go back into the studio again later - though there is a large bramble with my name on it behind the Greenhouse... I may get outside and attack it for an hour.
Anything is possible when the World is your Lobster....
