COVID-19 Pandemic 2020 Part 7
Although I don’t especially enjoy doing so, I thought it prudent to update this series of blog posts about the state of the COVID-19 pandemic here in the UK. A lot has happened in the last few weeks and there has been a degree of optimism in some quarters, because of the news regarding the vaccine and hopes that the lockdown rules would be “relaxed” over the festive season. However, those who look beyond tabloid and 10 Downing Street propaganda, have had growing concerns that the chickens are coming home to roost and it would appear that is now happening. A new strain of COVID-19 has been identified and is now spreading rapidly in London and the South East. It does not appear to be deadlier than the original strain but the increased speed at which it spreads is the major concern. The National Health Service is very worried about reaching capacity of ICU beds.
Although I don’t especially enjoy doing so, I thought it prudent to update this series of blog posts about the state of the COVID-19 pandemic here in the UK. A lot has happened in the last few weeks and there has been a degree of optimism in some quarters, because of the news regarding the vaccine and hopes that the lockdown rules would be “relaxed” over the festive season. However, those who look beyond tabloid and 10 Downing Street propaganda, have had growing concerns that the chickens are coming home to roost and it would appear that is now happening. A new strain of COVID-19 has been identified and is now spreading rapidly in London and the South East. It does not appear to be deadlier than the original strain but the increased speed at which it spreads is the major concern. The National Health Service is very worried about reaching capacity of ICU beds.
The UK government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has been shambolic to say the least. Today’s U-turn regarding restrictions over the Christmas period is yet another example of the Prime Minister’s personal failure to implement a coherent and credible policy that the public can get behind. At present he is being pilloried by people and institutions that don’t feel he is doing enough, as well as those who feel that he is acting in too much of an authoritarian fashion. He faces the ire of his own party over the damage being done to the UK economy and is in danger of losing the trust of his scientific advisers who are despairing of his noncommittal approach to making tough decisions. In fact the confusion that all speeches by Boris Johnson engender has become an internet meme and a standing joke nationally.
— MATT LUCAS (@RealMattLucas) May 10, 2020
The UK was slow to take up a national lockdown but when it finally did in late March, it had a clear message driving it. “Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives”. The public understood the restrictions and what they could and could not do. There was a degree of financial assistance and although far from ideal, the situation meant that UK hospitals were not overwhelmed. It broadly worked, although a lack of PPE and testing meant that the death toll was far higher than it needed to be. But the public endured the restrictions on the understanding that the time gained would be put to good use. Sadly and utterly predictably, it wasn’t. Contracts for the manufacture of PPE, test and trace and other essential support services were given to companies with no prior experience. Many of which had direct links to the government and cabinet. The results were woefully inadequate.
Furthermore, since his election a year ago, the Prime Minister has centralised a lot of power at No: 10, away from the ministries. Experienced civil servants have been bypassed and important decisions have been driven by special advisors. Hence, when the first lockdown ended in July, the subsequent handling of the pandemic has been determined by those prioritising the economic consequences. As a result, the rules and overall message became more vague and subject to multiple interpretations. “Stay alert. Control the virus. Save lives”. Those that balked at the prior restrictions now had sufficient room to fudge things and do what they saw fit. It was this ambiguity, along with several high profile cases of ministers and government staff breaking their own rules, which finally put pay to any further effective strategy.
Therefore throughout late summer and autumn, the UK has existed in a curious state of “doing your own thing”. If you can work from home, afford to have groceries delivered, or access to parks or a garden, then the ongoing restrictions are manageable. If you work in a service industry, get paid weekly and simply cannot afford to stay at home then do your job and take your chances. The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly highlighted the social and economic divide in the UK and the fact that although we may all be in it together, some are more in it than others. And then there are those elements of society that just don’t like being told what they can and cannot do. Who view any inconvenience as an assault upon their personal liberties and who are utterly ill disposed toward considering the needs of others. Attitudes towards face masks is a microcosm of this.
There has always been a strong chance of a second wave of COVID-19, especially during the traditional winter flu season. Which is why the UK saw a tightening of rules throughout November. Hairdressers, pubs and restaurants had to close again to try and keep the R number down. Again the mantra became protect the NHS. The latest slogan being “Hands. Face. Space” to reinforce the need for hygiene, wearing a face mask and social distancing. Yet the notion of relaxing these rules to accommodate Christmas has always been ludicrous. It’s not as if the virus itself respects the holiday season. However, the government was hellbent on not “cancelling Christmas”, not only for the PR reasons but because it knew that a lot of the public were no longer onboard with the restrictions and were going to do whatever they saw fit. And so promises were made and even more tortuously complex rules issued.
Which brings me up to events of the past week. The discovery of a new strain of COVID-19 meant that the scientific advice changed and hence so did the restrictions. Rather than immediately come out and meet the problem head on, the government started publicly briefing against their own guidance for the Christmas period. Ministers appeared on national TV stating although we’ve said you can meet up with family over Christmas, it’s best if you don’t. This risible approach simply made a confusing situation even more so. However, today the scientific modelling has predicted such problems that the PM was compelled to reverse his earlier decision. In recent months, rather than have another national lockdown, comparable to that in March, there has been a series of localised ones in areas deemed to be hotspots. This is a tiered system, consisting of three levels. One being the lowest and three being the highest. London and parts of the South East of the UK have now been placed in a new fourth tier for the immediate future. The mixing of households is now prohibited. Christmas is now seriously curtailed.
Naturally, the pushback against this has been predictable. Travel restrictions due to commence at midnight, has led to a mass exodus of those who can afford it. Airports and stations around the UK have seen a major influx of travellers, seeking to get to their Christmas destinations early and “beat the ban”. For the bulk of the UK public, the festive season will now be a low key affair without any major family gatherings. Businesses are having to shut again due to the current regulations and many may not survive into the New Year. It’s also highly likely that the COVID-19 deniers will go about their lives and contribute to the winter surge in cases. Overall, a person’s socioeconomic status will determine how shit a Christmas they’ll have. As for the New Year, it’s not looking especially good. The rollout of the new vaccine will be overseen by a government that so far has not covered itself in glory. I suspect it will take a lot longer to achieve than promised. And then there’s the prospect of “no deal” Brexit and the woes that such a situation can bring. 2021 may well be worse than this year.
From a personal perspective, my household’s routine has become fixed since March this year. I only visit the local shops, pharmacy and Doctor’s Surgery. I am in a “support bubble” for my disabled Mother and Sister who live one road away. My caring commitments are shared with a care agency that still visits my Mum four times a day. They have been resolute in their commitment this year. Mrs P stays at home due to her health and is currently awaiting an appointment with her heart consultant. We are fortunate to be financially independent and able to maintain both households' needs. The restrictions have predominantly curtailed our social lives and limited our interactions with our grandchildren. But this is a legitimate price to pay, given the circumstances. The new strain of COVID-19 is concerning and we’ll be even more particular about following the rules. We intend to drop off presents for the grandchildren but will not enter their home. Our interactions with family and friends over the festive season will be confined to online, WhatsApp and phone.
This year has highlighted a lot of problems that have always been present in UK society. The country’s recent flirtation with Nationalism has left us with a poorly equipped government, bereft of the talent and leadership required in a national crisis. The notion of British Exceptionalism is still a major flaw in our national character. This combined with a lack of empathy and emotional literacy means that a large percentage of the UK population dislike being told “no”, having to consider others and having to follow rules. The ongoing culture war that is waged by politicians and the tabloid press means that reality is very much out of fashion and ignored. The UK also has yet to come to terms with its current position in the world or to find a new role. We remain a country riven by class distinction, a lack of social mobility and uneven distribution of wealth. None of which will be in any way addressed during the remainder of the current government’s term of office. COVID-19 was briefly thought to be a chance to reset society and right a lot of wrongs. Unfortunately the only thing that has become crystal clear is that the status quo will continue to remain.
Strictly Come Dancing 2019 Part 7
Strictly Come Dancing is now over halfway through the season and there’s no room for mistakes or relying on past successes. The judges will now penalise technical errors and the public votes have now become less predictable. With Blackpool on the horizon, there was a lot at stake last night. Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden danced the Viennese Waltz to Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran. However, he did make several errors during the routine and was noticeably rattled by the end. Subsequently, he scored lower than last week. On a positive note, Saffron made a major comeback. Her Waltz with AJ was outstanding, lacking the excesses of her previous dance. This was a focused and traditional routine and it was very well received. Kelvin an Oti’s Samba was a success with the audiences but the judges still found some minor mistakes, so they dropped a few marks. Michelle Visage excelled with a slick American Smooth. Her professional partner Giovanni Pernice always fines the right balance between the theatrics and traditional dance content. At present, these four couples are the frontrunners in the show.
Strictly Come Dancing is now over halfway through the season and there’s no room for mistakes or relying on past successes. The judges will now penalise technical errors and the public votes have now become less predictable. With Blackpool on the horizon, there was a lot at stake last night. Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden danced the Viennese Waltz to Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran. However, he did make several errors during the routine and was noticeably rattled by the end. Subsequently, he scored lower than last week. On a positive note, Saffron made a major comeback. Her Waltz with AJ was outstanding, lacking the excesses of her previous dance. This was a focused and traditional routine and it was very well received. Kelvin an Oti’s Samba was a success with the audiences but the judges still found some minor mistakes, so they dropped a few marks. Michelle Visage excelled with a slick American Smooth. Her professional partner Giovanni Pernice always fines the right balance between the theatrics and traditional dance content. At present, these four couples are the frontrunners in the show.
It was an interesting evening for Emma Barton and Anton Du Beke. They danced Couples' Choice to Right Now by The Pussycat Dolls. This Bob Fosse influenced, Jazz flavoured routine really suited Emma and she seemed to thrive on it. It's also nice to see Anton get this far into the season and tackle various dances that he’s previously missed out on. Alex Scott was once again dancing with Neil Jones. Despite the disruption over the last few weeks due to Neil injuries, she is still maintaining a standard and making progress. Their Jive was a crowd pleaser, although she does now need to focus more on technique, as the judges highlighted. But I think that Alex still has scope to get better. I’m not sure if there’s room for improvement with comedian Chris Ramsey. He does seem to put in the hours rehearsing with professional partner Karen Hauer but his Tango was just too rough around the edges. Certainly Craig thought he needs to move up a gear if he wishes to remain on the show. I suspect that Blackpool may be his Waterloo.
Which brings me on to Mike Bushell. Despite his dedication and commitment to the show, Mike has struggled to move forward. The judges seem to respect his work ethic and his routines with Katya are always well received by the audience. But I think his fanbase has been waning for weeks and as a result he’s been in multiple dance offs. On Saturday night his luck finally ran out and he found himself facing elimination for the fourth time, after a rather mechanical Paso Doble. However, the real shock was that he was competing against Michelle. Despite a total score of 36, the public obviously didn’t want to vote for her or assumed that she was “safe” and that someone else would. The judges were naturally flummoxed by the public vote as they felt she did not deserve to be in the dance off. And as she was competing against Mike, the outcome was pretty much a forgone conclusion. So Mike has gone and doesn’t make it to Blackpool. But I think this situation succinctly highlights that no one is now safe. Although your performance and marks are important, so is mobilising your support and getting people to vote for you. This is a tough challenge and one that can lead to surprises such as tonight. But that’s Strictly for you.
Caring for the Elderly: Part 7
Since spring 2016, I have been running my parent’s domestic affairs. Due increasing ill health, neither can visit a bank, conduct business phone calls or deal with administrative paperwork such as utility bills, insurance policies and hospital appointments. However, there are limits on what I can and cannot do. Cheques and legal documents need signatures. UK data protection legislation often prohibits phone conversations with anyone other than the account holder. Hence despite being able to broadly deal with most things that come up, I sometimes have to involve my parents. This mean conversations on speaker phones which are difficult when both my parents have substantial hearing loss. So after some discussion with both of my parents, I have decided to pursue the power of attorney. At present this is specifically for my Father, as most bills and invoices are in his name.
Since spring 2016, I have been running my parent’s domestic affairs. Due increasing ill health, neither can visit a bank, conduct business phone calls or deal with administrative paperwork such as utility bills, insurance policies and hospital appointments. However, there are limits on what I can and cannot do. Cheques and legal documents need signatures. UK data protection legislation often prohibits phone conversations with anyone other than the account holder. Hence despite being able to broadly deal with most things that come up, I sometimes have to involve my parents. This mean conversations on speaker phones which are difficult when both my parents have substantial hearing loss. So after some discussion with both of my parents, I have decided to pursue the power of attorney. At present this is specifically for my Father, as most bills and invoices are in his name.
The power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to make decisions for, or act on behalf of an individual who is no longer able to or wishes to manage their own affairs. Currently in the UK there are two different types of power of attorney.
Ordinary power of attorney: This covers decisions about financial affairs and is valid for those who have mental capacity. It is suitable for a temporary period such as a hospital stay, extended holiday or for those who may be convalescing at home and want someone to act on their behalf.
Lasting power of attorney (LPA): An LPA covers decisions about financial affairs, health and care. It is intended for those without mental capacity to run their own affairs, or individuals who no longer wish to make decisions for themselves due to ill health and or, lack of mobility. An LPA is appropriate for those looking after people with long term care needs.
In my family’s case, we decided upon an LPA in both my and my sister’s name. There were some straightforward forms to complete which needed to be witnessed by a family friend or someone who has known my Father for a while. There was a fee of £82 to pay the Office of the Public Guardian, which is a government department. The process take about 8 to 10 weeks to be administered and has several checks and balances to ensure there is no coercion or malfeasance. At the end the designated attorneys receive the appropriate paperwork that allows them to notify all concerned parties and start acting on behalf of those they represent.
This was a big step for out family. Caring is more than the sum of its parts and there is a need for diplomacy, especially when it comes to taking over responsibilities that previous belonged to others. My parents like most of their generation are fiercely independent and struggle with accepting a more passive role in their own lives. But we have reached a point now where I need to have as many tools available to me as possible to allow for me to adequately look after both my parents. There are monthly direct debits for unspecified services that need to be investigated. There are defunct insurance policies and warranties that need to be revised or dispensed with. There are bills that need to be paid monthly instead of quarterly or semi-annually. I also need to ensure that the various utility services are best deals and most preferential tariffs available. My parents are not hard up by current UK standards but they have a finite amount of money coming in each month and it needs to be administered prudently. Care costs for my Father increased by 25% this April and due to the ongoing decline in health with both of my parents, expenditure of this kind will inevitably increase.
Caring for the elderly often results in situations you never expected to find yourself in. Again I would advocate a proactive approach to all who find themselves in such a position. The power of attorney if implemented at a suitable juncture, allows you as a carer to address potential issues before they become a problem. It also affords comfort to those you are caring for as they know that everything is being addressed, bills are being paid and their family name remains in good standing with the businesses they deal with. It may sound old fashioned but paying the weekly paper bill really worries my parents. They hate to think that they owe someone money of have caused “inconvenience”. Therefore an LPA or your regional equivalent is something to be aware of and ready to utilise should the situation require it. Like so many things associated with care, it’s best to sort it in advance, rather than struggling to resolve a complex problem later on.
Thoughts on Blogging Part 7
I decided to take a short break from blogging last week. I have a lot on at present and the only time I’ve had available to write has been in the late evening. I prefer to write in the morning as I’m more focused and motivated. Plus I haven’t really had a lot of positive things to say of late about the two primary subjects of this website. Broadly speaking there’s not a lot of going on in the video games industry that enthuses me. Similarly, the current crop of film releases have hardly distinguished themselves. At present when I do get writing ideas, they tend to be obscure niche market subjects or commentary on social issues. For example, I’m thinking of writing a post about my continuing enjoyment of the Japanese TV show Takeshi’s Castle. I’m also forming my thoughts for an article about how society’s relationship with wildlife may be “broken”. Stuff that is interesting to me but may not be ideal material for readers of Contains Moderate Peril.
I decided to take a short break from blogging last week. I have a lot on at present and the only time I’ve had available to write has been in the late evening. I prefer to write in the morning as I’m more focused and motivated. Plus I haven’t really had a lot of positive things to say of late about the two primary subjects of this website. Broadly speaking there’s not a lot of going on in the video games industry that enthuses me. Similarly, the current crop of film releases have hardly distinguished themselves. At present when I do get writing ideas, they tend to be obscure niche market subjects or commentary on social issues. For example, I’m thinking of writing a post about my continuing enjoyment of the Japanese TV show Takeshi’s Castle. I’m also forming my thoughts for an article about how society’s relationship with wildlife may be “broken”. Stuff that is interesting to me but may not be ideal material for readers of Contains Moderate Peril.
I recently wrote about how the blogging community intermittently loses long time contributors when they decide to “retire”. I have been reflecting upon this of late and wondering whether I should be doing the same. This has mainly been due to a lack of motivation on my behalf. However, as I know exactly what the causes of this problem are (they’re mainly logistical issues), I eventually settled for a short break instead. I know that as soon as I “pack in” writing, I’ll get the bug again shortly afterwards. There is only so much a person can do to organise their life, especially when there are random external factors that can throw a proverbial spanner in the works at any time of day. So I have two choices. Accept the fluidity of things and write as and when I can. Or try to stick to my current schedule, fall behind, get frustrated and eventually throw in the towel. The logical things is to adapt and embrace the former option. So that is what I shall do at for the present. The daily writing schedule has got to give.
If all goes to plan, I’m hoping to resume writing again this week. I have several film reviews outstanding that I can finish off and post. I find these a lot more straightforward and relatively easy to collate, compared to more complex “think pieces” about gaming and its associated industry. Film reviews have also proven to be a good source of traffic for Contains Moderate Peril over the years, as unlike gaming related articles, they’re not time specific. I’m also going to pursue the more niche market articles I mentioned earlier, because the alternative is simply not to write anything. I’m sure I’ll produce more material about gaming when a subject, or angle presents itself that I find interesting. However, beyond this immediate plan, it’s best not to speculate. My caring commitments are currently in a state of flux due to illness and associated medical problems. So there’s still plenty of scope for arrangements and schedules to change.
Strictly Come Dancing 2017: Part 7
Singer Mollie King went into this week’s semi-final as the bookies' favourite to be voted off the show, and it has proven so. I appreciate that Mollie has been training hard and applied herself to the advice given to her by the judges. However, it would appear that she has plateaued with regard to her level of skill and performance several weeks agao. Sadly, nerves and the pressure of the night got the better of her on Saturday and her Samba was not well received. It was hesitant and lacked polish. She partially redeemed herself with an elegant waltz, although it is fair to say that she simply wasn’t in the same league as the other celebrity dancers. The judges seemed to be a little too generous with their marks for this dance, possibly to spare her any further distress because Mollie was visibly upset.
Singer Mollie King went into this week’s semi-final as the bookies' favourite to be voted off the show, and it has proven so. I appreciate that Mollie has been training hard and applied herself to the advice given to her by the judges. However, it would appear that she has plateaued with regard to her level of skill and performance several weeks agao. Sadly, nerves and the pressure of the night got the better of her on Saturday and her Samba was not well received. It was hesitant and lacked polish. She partially redeemed herself with an elegant waltz, although it is fair to say that she simply wasn’t in the same league as the other celebrity dancers. The judges seemed to be a little too generous with their marks for this dance, possibly to spare her any further distress because Mollie was visibly upset.
But this is the nature of Strictly Come Dancing. Although not a true dance competition, it still is a very demanding experience both physically and mentally. It also comes with a great deal of tabloid scrutiny. The rumours and gossip that stem from the show fuel a great deal of hyperbole and sensationalism in the popular press. Mollie’s alleged relationship with her professional dance partner AJ Pritchard has been a major “talking point” this year. Now this is not a problem as long as it remains external from the show. One can choose whether to read such tittle tattle or ignore it. Yet this year, the so-called “showmance” between the couple has bled through into the live show, being referenced by both hosts on several occasions. Was this done to try and gain leverage with the viewers and boost her support? If that was the case, it strikes me as being somewhat crass and arbitrary. A bit like playing the terminally ill grandparent card on The X Factor.
Either way, it’s a redundant point now as Mollie faced Gemma in the dance off and it became immediately clear that the judges would vote her off the show. Cue a tearful farewell and the standard claims that Mollie is an “amazing person” or some such other superlative. How that label has lost its value in recent decades. Now it’s just a case of preparing for next week’s final. Although I have a lot of time and respect for Debbie McGee and would be happy to see her win, I think Joe and Katya are in a strong position to take this year’s trophy. Katya has a knack for creative choreography that provides Joe with a character to explore and project. I have a suspicion that their show dance will be something spectacular and will win the hearts of viewers. Then again, I could be completely wrong. That is the nature of the show and the public vote.