Monday, May 31, 2021

Published Monday, May 31, 2021 by with 0 comment

Coronavirus - Sunday 30th May 2021

M didn't feel too well on Tuesday as a result of her jab the previous day. She was the same last time. Had a bit of a lazy day as a consequence but I did cut the lawn. M was feeling a bit better on Wednesday so we went up to London on the train to meet Norilyn for lunch. For anyone not aware Norilyn is the wife of Martin, a very old friend who suffered a pulmonary embolism in February 2020 and has been unconscious ever since. See was remarkably up beat considerably her circumstances. She is living by herself in a flat in central London and unable to return to the Philippines whilst dealing with Martin's situation. Fortunately she gas met some friends through the church. We met in Slone Square and walked there even though M was still not 100% because of her vaccine reaction. Paddington was relatively normal for that time of day except for the face masks. Hyde Park was very quiet though.
They seem to have left a lot of it uncut. Not sure if that's covid related. We got a tube back which seemed quite safe. There was a guy in our bit not wearing a mask but he was also playing stuff on his phone without headphones so obviously an  antisocial person in general. Saw a couple of others on platforms without masks but they may have worn them on the tube itself. On the way back I got a WhatsApp from Andy saying he was going to the Retreat so went to join him for a couple. Met his daughter Jess and het baby Nancy who live next door. Probably the nicest morning of the year on Thursday.
Did a spot of gardening. It was so hot my phone closed down most of the apps. Had a Goolie chat in the evening. Ian and Fran and family had been to take Jake's ashes to the home he was living in in Cambridgeshire. Roy has stopped smoking. Did a ride out to the Siren Craft Brewery on Friday with Andy, Kelvin and Roger on his electric bike.
Went via the ford near Eversley and saw a chap doing aqua-aerobics with a horse.
In the evening discovered the  dishwasker had packed in with an error code 19. We spent most of Saturday preparing for the pizza evening with the UC team.
It was great to meet them and it went really well. There were 7 of us which is OK outside. Sunday was a really nice so just chilled in the garden. Had a zoom with J n A in the evening to play Sherlock Holmes. Amy is really showing. We're hoping to go up in a couple of weeks but Glasgow is still in lockdown so we'll just have to see how it goes.
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Monday, May 24, 2021

Published Monday, May 24, 2021 by with 0 comment

Coronavirus - Monday 24th May 2021

Today, Monday 17th, its possible to do inside pubs and restaurants and meet indoors, including staying over, for up to 6 people or 2 households. Popped out to a garden centre and did some recording. The weather has been putting me off cycling but went out first thing Tuesday. Out to Sulham and back along the Thames. Very nice but got a bit muddy. It definitely perks you up going out early. On Wednesday did another brewery ride with Kelvin, Andy and Graham. This time to the Thames Side brewery in Staines which us literally on the Thames side.
I had received these wooden plectrums from Ian when i got back.
Did a Mansfield Rd walk on Thursday. Got a train to Aldermaston and walked back. Had lunch at the Fox and Hounds at Sheffield bottom. Also stopped off at the Cunning Man for a swifty which turned into 2 as when I asked for the bill they brought us another round by mistake. Drove over to Tom and Sally's on Friday. Took longer than expected due to congestion, a sign things are getting back to normal. Also the first weekend were people can stay over night. We went straight out to a pop up bar in Charlton House followed by a fantastic Ottolenghi based meal they had cooked. They've done a great job with their house. On Saturday we went to see the painted hall in Greenwich.

In the evening we went out for steaks followed by a wine bar. Sally booked an Uber on the way out but as you can't sit in the front it meant there was only room for 3 so she gallantly caught a bus. Went for a bit of walk to the park around Carlton House on Sunday and watched a bit of local cricket. Went down to the Up The Creek early evening  comedy later headlined by Sarah Pascoe then to a local pinzeria. I never tire of the walk down there.
A pinza is a type of sourdough pizza. Really good. Got up early and drove back on Monday morning. Took M for her second jab in the afternoon. This was at the Mad Stad.
As a result of getting a digital railcard last Thursday I did some rearranging of apps on my phone so I now have a Travel folder and a Covid folder. I did a lateral flow test later as we had been bit exposed over the weekend. A bit of a faff but came back -ve.
We are supposed to test regularly as we could be asymptomatic.
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Monday, May 17, 2021

Published Monday, May 17, 2021 by with 0 comment

Coronavirus - Sunday 19th May 2021

Went for a swim early afternoon on Monday. Amy has been for another scan. Everything normal but long legs and a head not like James'.
On Tuesday morning we went into John Lewis to test out some sofas. First time I've been for probably about 6 months. Then I did a ride out Bradfield way but took the track at the top of the hill alongside the Englefield Estate. Bluebell country.
Also a nice little lake containing some large carp. Not been down there before.
M had some photos taken for the book launch and was given a few copies. Although its not until 10th July they've started sending out ones that gave been ordered. Its calked Coley Talk. On Wednesday did the Bracknell ride as far a Hurst and then looped back via Sonning, Dunsden Green and Caversham. Picked up a few things from Waitrose. I noticed a couple of mother and baby groups in Christchurch Meadow, one exercising, one not. I guess at the moment they have to meet outside. Also these mothers and babies.
Fixed a puncture on my MTB. Had a goolie zoom in the evening. Lazy day on Thursday  did some recording and popped out to buy some strings. Went to the Fox and Hounds in the evening with Penno, Kevin and Adrienne. Another lazy day on Friday due to staying up late watching youtube. Did manage a swim in the afternoon though. Finished off recording Yer Blues on Saturday then settled down to watch the cup final. 21,000 fans, looks like a third for each team and local residents and key workers. Liecester won for the first time. Chelsea had a list mjnute goal disallowed by VAR for offside. Tom has had his first jab. Pfizer. Another lazy day on Sunday, mainly down to the weather. I did manage about an hour of weeding between the rain though. There are concerns about an Indian variant of covid.
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Monday, May 10, 2021

Published Monday, May 10, 2021 by with 0 comment

Coronavirus - Sunday 9th May 2021

On Tuesday M noticed that wood pigeons had been attacking the wisteria so she sent off for some spray. I the mean time I came up with an old fashioned solution.
It was still a bit dull and windy in the morning but brightened up in the afternoon so did the Theale, Pangbourne, Mapledurham ride. Schools were leaving in Theale and noticed the parents waiting in a socially distanced queue. The wood pigeons were back on Wednesday so but put another old cycling jacket. Had some heavy rain and hail later on. Splatters on thr hearth in the front room as a result
 Had a goolie zoom in the evening but only me Rick and Ian on. Greg suffering from the after effects of his second jab. Assume John still suffering from his move. Went swimming on Thursday morning and noticed a large tent being errected outside the sports centre. It turned out this is for this evenings count for the local elections. That prompted us to go and vote on the way back. Hand sanitiser on the way in and asked if we had any covid symptoms. Social distancing and single use pencils which seemed like a bit of a waste unless they can sanitise them or maybe just wait until any infection has died out. Nobody taking numbers either. Quite a lot of people voting though in what traditionally would have been a quiet time. Maybe peoples routines are different at the moment. Got an email from Mike Rowbottom about possibly having musical get together. He also mentioned getting aband together for Bunkfest but I will be at EOTR
 Had first Thursday drinks at the Fox and Hounds. They've changed their outdoor area to be a bit more open. I guess it needs to confirm to some rules. Quite busy, good service, good beer, felt safe. On Friday cycled to the Ascot Brewery with Kelvin and Andy. The last bit of was meant to be along the Blackwater Valley Path but it wasn't really suitable for cycling so we went by road which wasn't so good. The brewery like many is in an industrial estate. 
Not particularly attractive but the beer was good, they let us eat our sarnies and were all very friendly. It was starting to fill up with gentlemen of a certain age as we left. Got the train back from Blackwater. M was on an online symposium on Friday evening and Saturday about parishes. I did a bit of research on animation software and started learning Yer Blues for the next goolie soundtrap project which we've decided to have a go at. The election results were a bit delayed and mixed. Labour lost the Hartlepool bi-election and quite a few council seats but did well in the mayoral elections. Also did well in Wales. Pro-indepence parties have a majority in Scotland. It seems like people in power have done well probably because of the success of the vaccine roll out. Everyone forgetting how badly we did initially. Good start to the day on Sunday, didn't get up til after 12. A bit of a lazy day after that but watched Palm Springs. Watched Palm Springs.

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Tuesday, May 04, 2021

Published Tuesday, May 04, 2021 by with 0 comment

Coronavirus - Monday 3rd May 2021

Went for a ride out to Henley with Kelvin on Monday. Had a pint next to the river at the Angel On The Bridge. Stopped off in the garden at the Jolly Anglers on the way back. A nice spot in the sun but no real ale. Pool not quite finished.

Bogs very classy. Parts of it are a bit like a building site. 


Went for a ride to the Andwell Brewery with Kelvin and Andy on Tuesday. Tried to find a ford down a track nearby but couldn't unless this was it.


The brewery was in quite a nice setting by the river Lyde but the beer was a bit ordinary and flat. Downloaded the QTap app to order and pay and minimise contact. When we got back to Reading we went to check out reports that the Hop Leaf had been repainted. Chatted to the decorator and they are reopening in a month or so. Great news. Under new management but still Hopback and therefore still Summer Lightning. A very lazy day on Wednesday apart from housework. Cooked pizzas so decided we needed wine so went to the shop for the first time in ages. Goolie zoom in the evening, good fun. John is moving to a new place on Friday, his birthday. Went for a swim on Thursday morning. Downloaded a cartoon app called Cartoon Animator 4. I think I should be able to animate Pic with it. We were going to start a new goolie soundtrap of Yer Blues but its got 3 tempo and 4 time signature changes so maybe not. Went to the hygenist followed by the dentist on Friday. There were 2 assistants with the hygenist. When they had finished assisting they took off their plastic gowns and put them in the bin. They then returned about 10 minutes later with fresh gowns. The amount of plastic and paper used during the pandemic doesn't bear thinking about. Also noticed some sort of extractor system that looked new and was very noisy making it almost impossible to hear what the hygenist was saying what with the hi tech mask and all. Had to wait outside between appointments. They haven't set up any kind of shelter for if its raining. Went swimming early afternoon. A lazy day on Saturday. Cooked the Xmas ham. Had a society walk on Sunday organised by Clare. 2 groups of 6 and one of 4 so  I led one of the sixes. It was based round the King William at Hailey. Really good walk and we managed a pint at the pub after. Had a zoom beer and cheese session in the evening with T, S, J and A. Tom has had his hair cut and was a bit worse for wear after a game of disc golf. A good session though. This was in lieu of the Reading beer festival that is normally held on the early May bank holiday. Followed by a lazy bank holiday Monday but I did go for my second jab.
No problems this time, very quick, friendly and efficient. They said they had been short of the vaccine and had had a fairly quiet period but back to normal now. For the same reason they are only doing Moderna at Reading at the moment. The day started off quite sunny but now its cold, raining and very windy.
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