Diary of a self-isolator – week 65

A light-hearted look at a few memories and the situation over the last seven days in our house.

Sunday 06/06/2021 – Day 444

Mrs H and I had a day sunbathing yesterday after I’d cut the lawns. We were lay on our sunbeds soaking up the sun and thinking that ‘this was the life’. After a full day of resting we ended it by spending the last two hours watering the garden.

Then I got up this morning and it seems it’s been raining quite heavily during the night. We watched the weather forecast last night and not a hint of rain. But it is pouring down now and Lake Geneva at the front of the house has made an unwelcome return.

On this day in 1944 World War II: The Battle of Normandy began. D-Day, code named Operation Overlord, commenced with the landing of 155,000 Allied troops on the beaches of Normandy in France to liberate Western Europe from German occupation. The allied soldiers quickly broke through the Atlantic Wall and pushed inland in the largest amphibious military operation in history

Also on this day In 2019 on the 75^th anniversary, the last of the D Day veterans  stood on the beaches of Normandy. Some with heads held high still. Some to frail to walk and supported by todays soldiers. But every one of them grateful for life. These brave men most now in their late eighties or early nineties stood in the hot sun and remembered their comrades. This is my tribute to them all.

D Day Landings

It was on the sixth June nineteen forty-four
when allied forces left to even the score,
They codenamed it ‘Operation Overlord’
beaches Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, and Sword,
were stormed by amphibious landing craft

With all movements meticulously choreographed.
It started at twelve o clock that same night
when conditions were perfect, the tide just right,
German radio operators were fed lots of flannel
as seven thousand vessels crossed the channel.

The Memorial

They came in their hundreds from far and wide
some helped by young servicemen at their side,
Providing a strong arm for them to lean on
but most held their heads high, marching as one.
A veteran of Sword Beach said ‘it brings it back
the chaos the death, the shelling, the flack,
it’s part of your history, here in your brain
tearing you apart, the emotional strain,
of remembering those comrades, those who fell
on these foreign beaches in a living hell.’

Hundreds more veterans sat on Gold Beach
the wrath of the enemy now well out of reach,
As men cast their minds back seventy years
those brave soldiers could not hold back the tears,
Fly pasts, swing music, as the massed pipe bands
played ‘We’ll Meet again’ on the Normandy sands,
For this was the last time they’d gather here
most men in their eighties and ninetieth year.

The Association wasn’t here for praise or thanks
but to lay up their Standards, as age defeats ranks.
They stood with heads high under hot sun
forgetting the sacrifices they had given,
Medals hang heavy on blue-blazered chests
they never once questioned, there were no inquests,
Bayeux, the last French town to be freed
was where her Majesty the Queen, came and tarried,
For this UK veterans of Normandy throng
a D Day anniversary emotional swansong.

The ultimate sacrifice by any nation
should never be forgotten by any generation!
Lest we forget.

And finally on this day in 1962 An unknown British group, The Beatles, played at an audition for EMI record producer George Martin. Dick Rowe went to his grave known as ‘The Man Who Turned Down the Beatles‘ after they’d auditioned at Decca. In truth, it was his junior that decided to sign Brian Poole and The Tremeloes instead of them. But even Martin didn’t think they were much good.  But, in that first meeting he noticed something. He picked up on the charismatic energy The Beatles that would captivate millions in the years to come. Decades later he admitted “I fell in love with them. It’s as simple as that.”

There were 5341 new cases reported today with 4 more deaths.

Monday 07/06/2021 – Day 445

Well, yesterday didn’t turn out as bad as we thought, by mid-afternoon Mrs H and I were down the garden sunbathing. It’s a nice warm and sunny morning here so far today.

My first task is to get on the extension roof and fix a really irritating leak on the Garden room. It is just the gutter seal and simple to repair, but so annoying!

We spent the evening catching up on programmes that we’d missed during the week, such was the enthralling entertainment on TV on a Sunday night. It really was abysmal last night.

I spent a lot of this morning answering all your responses to last week’s blog. I had one poor lady who really was genuinely upset about  my story of Fanny Adams and the reason behind it. I must say I would never knowingly upset any of my readers so I will be very careful what I post on here in future.

Today in 1940 The birth in Pontypridd, of Thomas John Woodward better known as  the entertainer Tom Jones. He has sold over 100 million records and has had thirty-six Top 40 hits in the United Kingdom and nineteen in the United States. In March 1957, Jones married his high school girlfriend Linda Trenchard, when they were expecting a child together, both aged 16. The couple’s son, Mark, was born in the month following their wedding. To support his young family, despite the rumours that Tom had escaped the work in the mines of Wales he had actually taken a job working in a glove factory and was later employed in construction.

One night whilst performing as frontman for Tommy Scott and the Senators at the Top Hat in Cwmtillery, Tom was spotted by Gordon Mills, a London-based manager who also originally hailed from South Wales. Mills became Tom’s manager, took the young singer to London, and also renamed him “Tom Jones”  to exploit the popularity of the Academy Award-winning 1963 film. Eventually, Mills got Jones a recording contract with Decca. His first single, “Chills and Fever”, was released in late 1964. It did not chart, but the follow-up, “It’s Not Unusual“, became an international hit after offshore pirate radio station Radio Caroline promoted it. The following year was the most prominent of Jones’s career, making him one of the most popular vocalists of the British Invasion. In early 1965, “It’s Not Unusual” reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom and the top ten in the United States. During 1965 Ten years later women were throwing their underwear at him while he was on stage – the rest as they say is history.

On this day in 977 More than one million people lined the streets of London to watch the Royal Family on their way to St. Paul’s at the start of the Queen’s silver jubilee celebrations.

Mrs H isn’t talking to me because of my honesty. I was in the Repair shop when she brought a cup of tea in. Looking around she asked me what the female version of a man cave would be called. I said the first thing that came into my head and answered ‘Kitchen’.

A further 5683 new cases today with thankfully just 1 death registered.

Tuesday 08/06/2021 – Day 446

Another sunny day in paradise, well actually it’s here in Kidderminster, but hey, same thing.

Sarah sent us a wonderful picture yesterday, she was sat up in bed – unaided – another wonderful image that made our day. She reckons she will out and about (with the aid of a wheelchair) this time next week. Fingers crossed.

Mrs H spent most of the day tidying up the garden, sweeping, evicting snails and slugs from their hidey holes. Me? Well I have been looking at a stump of a willow tree we cut down last year, The foliage and new growth keep spurting up from the top. I was sat there the other day – supping tea – as you do, when I suddenly saw the image of a face on there, much like the old totem pole of the Indians. So dear reader it is now a permanent feature. Just need a name for it, any ideas?

Does anyone remember some of the foodstuff and medicine from our childhood? I remember being fed National dried Milk and Farley’s rusks. There were questions asked in Parliament about NDM apparently. It seemed that the measurements given on the tin were not up to scratch if they were followed rigorously. Baby would wake up at 3am starving! National dried milk tin issued by the welfare foods service in the 1940’s and intended for feeding infants at a time of milk rationing. After the war it was still available up until 1965 until more modern milk formula’s became the norm.

But do you remember the top shelf of the cupboard in the kitchen? Ours was full of brown bottles with ribs down the side, some of them even had skulls and crossbones on the label and the word POISON written beneath it. I don’t know how my mum never gave my dad a dose of that sometimes. There was always Milk of Magnesia, used for generations to combat indigestion, ulcers and upset tummies (now banned by the EEC I believe). Beecham’s Powders were an early cure for colds and flu, it came in a distinct flat paper package and was pink I think. Am I alone in saying that I absolutely loved the taste of it?

Of course, if we had a sore throat then we gargled with salt water, but toothpaste would have been a better preventative. Another bottle found would have been Oil of Cloves for that persistent toothache – after you’d seen the school dentist! If your nose was permanently blocked it would merit a drop of Camphor Oil, never worked for me – a bit on my nose and my eyes just streamed, supposedly good for your chest congestion. (The original is also banned).

Goose fat was applied to burns. I remember cod liver oil and malt, sticky brown stuff on a spoon, it was like marmite – you loved it or hated it – I loved it! Then if you had earache your head was  tilted to one side and a teaspoon full of warm olive oil was poured in.

God help you if you had the trots, Kayolin and Morphine mix would soon sort it, Germoline ointment for cuts, butter to bring a bruise on your forehead if you had a fall. Other things would include Calamine lotion for sunburn, Alka Seltzer or Andrews Liver Salts for anything to do with the tummy.

Of course, it wasn’t always bad, sometimes we had Lucozade with that lovely orange coloured see through wrapper, we’d spend hours in bed looking through that. Then there was Delrosa Rose hip syrup or orange syrup, truly scrumptious!

Took Mrs H out for lunch today and sat outside. When the food arrived I started to tuck in’

Mrs H   Aren’t you going to say grace, you always do at home

Me        That’s at home, the chef here knows how to cook.

New cases continue to rise as the new delta variant spreads quickly across the Northeast. There were 6049 cases reported, A further 13 deaths were also registered.

Wednesday 09/06/2021 – Day 447

Despite the weather forecaster’s prediction of a very overcast day I have once again woken up to brilliant sunshine and (so far) a cloudless blue sky.

I was reading a book of true facts last night. Did you know that the first-known contraceptive was crocodile dung? It was used by the Egyptians in 2000BC. I can totally sympathise with this, If Mrs H smeared herself with crocodile dung I wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot barge pole. Oops, there goes our love life.

I spent the best part of yesterday around at my neighbour’s house. We have a two-metre high and 25-metre-long privet hedge between us. But the lovely old gent next door is well past getting out the hedge trimmer and climbing steps to cut it. So, a couple of years back I volunteered to go around and cut his side and of course the top. I recently put up a four-foot fence all down our side so all we can see is the top two feet. Mrs H promised faithfully to join me later and help pick up the cuttings. The neighbour came out (he lives alone) and we were having a good old-fashioned chinwag. He is a wonderful character and has so many memories. He lost his dear wife about 8 years ago; Mrs H still marks the anniversary every year by putting either flowers or a plant on her grave.

I use an extended cordless trimmer to do the hedge. But the problem was that it ran out of power under halfway through, the result was that I spent an age on the t’internet searching for another one. But me being a tightwad, I wasn’t about to fork out over £120 for a new one. Then I had a lightbulb moment, why didn’t I just buy a new battery. Another hour wasted, no-one sold spare batteries – not even Argos who sold the trimmers. But what they did sell was a smaller version of what I had, with the same battery – deep joy! But the best part was that when I unwrapped my new trimmer I did a rare thing and actually read the leaflet. The thing that stood out the most was that if you cleaned and oiled the cutters after use, it prolonged battery life.

I looked at my original trimmer, al clogged up with years of dirt and grime. I spent just 10 minutes cleaning and oiling the blades. The result was that the trimmer cut a lot more hedge than before. I was overjoyed at my discovery. I looked at the seventy-five-foot trail of cuttings and started to tidy up. Mrs H had fanaged on her promise to help me clean up. As I was putting the last few leaves in the bin she turned up looking very flustered.

“Sorry, I’ve had everyone on the phone this morning, do you want a hand?”

I don’t normally swear when there’s a ‘Y’ in the day but……..

On this day in 1870 Charles Dickens, English novelist died at his home – Gad’s Hill Place, Kent. Dickens rocketed to fame with his 1836 serial publication of The Pickwick Papers. His other notable works are Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Bleak House, Hard Times, A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations. In my humble opinion the best writer ever and my hero.

Also on this day in 1933 Baird demonstrated high-definition television at his Long Acre studio in London, showing the difference between the previous 30-line picture and the new 120-line tubes. If only the chap knew how it would all turn out, I don’t think he’d have bothered.

Talking of TV, on this day in 1975 The first live transmission from the House of Commons was broadcast by BBC Radio and commercial stations. We were all treated to childish innuendos, screams and shouts and other scenes that would never be allowed in a classroom. Not to mention the older MP’s having a nap whilst being paid copious amounts of money.

There was a sharp rise in new cases today up to 7540, this is the highest figure since February. There were also 6 deaths registered.

Thursday 10/06/2021 – Day 448

The sky is full of cloud this morning, but it is expected to clear up throughout the day, so, as the old song said ‘With a Song in my Heart’ I will soldier on.

Looking forward to going around to Sarah’s today, she had a bit of a setback yesterday. When she tried to sit up the old sickness came back accompanied by dizzy spells. We are all hoping that this is just a hiccup along the way to recovery.

Meanwhile, yesterday, Mrs H, Gemma and I took a trip up to the Merry Hell Hill centre. Under normal circumstances you wouldn’t drag me to this God forsaken place with a pack of wild horses. But it had been a long time since I had ventured out and needs must. So, off we set to the Black Country  and its biggest shopping centre. Although we weren’t actually going into the centre itself but some of the shops on the outside. Shops like  B&M, The Range. In fact any shop that sold the sort of mundane stuff that you wouldn’t look at twice on Facebook. Mrs H made sure before we left that I was suitably dressed and most importantly – that I hadn’t forgotten my wallet.

The day was hot and I hate to admit it, but it was quite enjoyable to be wondering around the shops again. I still have problems with the mask though, I have breathing difficulties, and walking around a stuffy airless shop wasn’t doing me much good. It felt like being in a cage underwater with sharks circling me. In B&M there was a woman walking around who wouldn’t have looked out of place in a Russian weightlifting event, she was the female equivalent of Giant Haystacks. The ornaments shook on the shelves as she passed by. She wasn’t wearing a mask either, and you could just see that she was waiting for someone to ask her why.

I got away quite lightly money-wise. The girls couldn’t find most of what they were looking for (thank you Lord) so at about 2.00pm we were on the way back home. We were about a mile away from home and decided to stop and have a cuppa at the Lock tea-rooms by the canal. We sat in the blustery wind chewing on bacon rolls and drinking hot chocolate. Then Gemma said she was cold! The girl actually had goosebumps on her arms, we finished our drinks and dropped the poor lass at home where – I daresay – she put the central heating on and sat in front of the fire.

Any of my readers interested in a free ride in a helicopter for 4 people?

We are still looking for 2 more people to join us. We leave early Sunday (June 26th) from Birmingham Airport and will fly over the French Riviera. We will land and have our lunch on a yacht.

This will be followed by a flight along the Monaco coast, returning to the marina for dinner, then fly back to Birmingham.

If interested please pm me.

Preferably someone with a helicopter and yacht, otherwise we can’t go.

For the second day in a row cases were above 7000 at 7393 as the Delta variant tightens it grip. There was also 7 deaths registered.

Friday 11/06/2021 – Day 449.

Have no idea what the weather forecast is for today, I fell asleep during the Ten o Clock news. All about Boris and his new friend Joe from over the pond. Making silly faces as they greeted by touching elbows. I can imagine the reporters shouting-

‘Boris, Joe, could you just do a stupid face for us to show there is no animosity between you – as if!

Our visit to Sarah’s was very encouraging yesterday, she was looking so much better and despite the previous days hiccup, she was sat up in bed eating healthily. In anticipation I put her new wheelchair together. Mollie returned from college carrying hot doughnuts which were annihilated within minutes. Even the dog ‘Brucie’ was acting normally and not trying to pierce my hand when I stroked him.

After a five week wait I finally received a new plastic table-top for our outdoor dining table. Allow me to elaborate.

Last year our old table was past saving ( a bit like its owner), this allowed me to spend a few hours in my favourite place – on the internet. Those tables were really expensive, nothing under £150 that was reasonable.  So, clever old me  purchased a £70 exterior solid wooden door which had a planking style finish. I primed it, gave it two coats of best undercoat and then two coats of exterior wood paint finish in a nice shade of grey. In fact, I did everything except kiss the damn thing.

All was well – for a couple of weeks – then the rain started. This was followed by a few days of very hot sun. I watched in horror when despite my love and TLC administered to the great lump of wood, it started to bubble up and peel. The joints started to shrink with cracks and splits appeared everywhere. This wood was alive, it was crying out for help. I sealed all the splits, filled the cracks, and sanded the whole thing down again. I finished with a final coat of paint. After two weeks it looked exactly the same again. Blisters bigger than the Welsh mountains began to appear everywhere.

Back online I discovered a company that sold sheets of white plastic. The advert promised delivery within days. It was ideal just glue it down and the table was finally weatherproof. Hah! I forgot this was a British delivery and should have therefore been taken with a pinch of salt. The company used every excuse available to them.  Mrs H and I sat dining at that blistering table on many occasions over the next 5 weeks. We would inevitably end up ‘peeling’ the paint off through sheer boredom. We even had Janet and John around for a BBQ and invited them ‘to strip’ (you know what I mean!) with us.

As I said, the top was arriving today, but we had to go to Sarah’s house. I phoned our lovely neighbour Ken (the one with the hedge) and asked if he minded if we re-directed the sheet of plastic to him. As usual he was more than willing to help. I wrote a massive note and sellotaped it to our door:

‘Dear Delivery man, would you please leave the parcel in my neighbours porch next door, many thanks.

Beneath this was a dirty great arrow pointing to the left and the enormous porch of my neighbour. On our return we could see the parcel, the driver had slid it over our gate into the rear of the house. Ken came out apologising and said that the driver had been and gone before he could stop him. I wouldn’t have minded but there is no way that you could mistake a six-foot white fence and gate for a porch – unless of course your name is Mr Magoo and you drive a white van.

There was yet another sharp rise in new cases today, for the first time since the beginning of February they were over  8000 at 8125. Registered deaths also rose sharply to 17.

Saturday 12/06/2021 – Day 450

‘We have the promise of a very hot weekend to come. The Temperature is set to rise to 25 degrees today, 28 tomorrow and 30 degrees on Monday.’ This was our local weathergirl Shefali (getting very excited) on Midlands today last night, so we will have to wait and see. If it is going to be that hot then it will be very uncomfortable for the England v Croatia game tomorrow at 1.00pm. Good luck lads.

Sarah continues to improve, she has got a nice healthy appetite back, and has sat out in her chair a couple of times. Hardly a leaps and bounds scenario, but great improvement.

It is the Queen’s official birthday today which is usually marked by the trooping of the colour. The day has been celebrated since 1788, when Governor Arthur Phillip declared a holiday to mark the birthday of the King of Great Britain. Until 1936, it was held on the actual birthday of the monarch, but, after King George V died, it was decided to keep the date on the second Saturday in June.

Ok, it’s time for the whinge of the week. I sat and watched Gardeners World last night with Mrs H. What have they done to it? It seemed to be just a patchwork of other people’s gardens and home-made films. Dear old Monty appears to get out of breath just explaining the few articles he actually presents, is this the results of a mini stroke he suffered in 2008 at the young  age of 52?. Yet – despite his setbacks – he still presenting GW for around 8 months of the year. Is Monty’s poor health the reason why we have to join Nora and her Narcissi in Nottingham, or tantalising Ted’s tulips in Tewksbury? Don’t get me wrong. I am a great fan of dear old Monty, but these constant amateur films and visits to other gardens have turned a vibrant program into a boring hour. I was a great fan of Geoff Hamilton and as far as I can remember the cameras never left his garden. A couple of weeks ago Adam Frost took over for a week, and I’m sorry to say, but what a breath of fresh air.

Put the new plastic on the outdoor dining table yesterday with the help of Mrs H. it’s looking good. Also had a visit from Janet and John. It was actually Janet’s birthday. And we shared a few treats.

There were 7738 new cases today bringing the total for the week to 47,869 a rise of 17,574 on the previous week. Deaths however remain around the same as last week. Today there were 12registered today bring the total to 60 for the week. The good news is that there were 4,281,165 recoveries to date that is a rise of 8,586 on last week.

Boris is expected to announce a four-week delay to the July 21 easing of restrictions. He will address the nation on Monday.

If you are at a loose end I have added lots more to my blog at https://www.erhblog.co.uk/ feel free to have a look.

Well that’s about it for yet another week of misery – mostly inflicted by myself – to you the unsuspecting reader.

It’s been emotional.