MY LITTLE COVID RANT

 17th May 2021

Him again.

I started writing this on the 17th May and, due to a serious bout of indolence and lethargy, am still continuing with it on the 24th. Hopefully much has changed in the intervening period to raise some optimism for a swift return to sanity. Anyway, I continue my latest rant from the 17th as a form of therapeutic relief from all the bullshit currently spouted.

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Well there's a surprise! As predicted months ago, as soon as any semblance of escape from under the iron fist of a dictatorial government arises, they try to scare us all with another Covid 'variant' or, as Allison Pearson (Daily Telegraph) aptly coined the expression, 'scariant'. This time it's the 'Indian' version which is, of course, much more, 53% (at the time of writing), infectious etc. etc. although how 'they' come up with these figures is beyond comprehension. We were told to expect a 'tsunami' of hospital patients which, of course, has not happened, let alone hundreds of deaths daily. Next month we will probably see the deadly Welsh Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch scariant which, if nothing else, will test their spelling. "Keep 'em frightened and they are putty in our hands" is the philosophy adopted here. It is interesting to learn of the 'Psy Ops' used by various state departments at the start of this panicdemic to 'increase the level of  perceived threat' to make people scared, obedient and subservient. Scientists, 'experts' and the 'sackcloth and ashes' brigade from SAGE etc. are still clanging the plague bell and reluctant to relinquish their acquired taste for totalitarianism. We certainly can't be trusted to take our own precautions. And don't get me started on the BBC news with its weepy reports of someone in hospital gasping for breath (they must prowl the wards looking for them)  and the graphs and charts and daily Covid 'scorecard' with 'deaths for any reason in the past 28 days having tested positive' (even if run over by a bus or some other unrelated illness). The trouble is they have overdone it and now there are still people too frightened even to leave their homes and won't for a long time. The 'miracle' of the vaccine, which has proved remarkably effective, is being over-ridden by yet more caution. I say 'scare us all', but there is a sizeable percentage of the population which is not scared, and never has been.....any more than they would normally be with any bug and want to get on, despite any small risk, with life as they wish. Right from the beginning of this unseemly and devastating (socially, psychologically, economically and indeed medically) long period of 'lockdowns' there has been a large number of people (see the Great Barrington Declaration) which includes eminent epidemiologists, virologists and doctors who advocated protecting the vulnerable and for everyone else to get on with their lives as normal, or take their own precautions. Some hoped that this sensible approach would be adopted here! Countries like Sweden and several states in the US (Florida, Tennessee, South Dakota amongst others) which have either had no lockdowns or restrictions, or binned them completely some time ago, have been no worse off, bug-wise, than those that did lockdown. They have, however, been a lot better off in all other respects. Of course this is not published on mainstream media or mentioned by the risk-averse lockdown zealots. It would spoil their fun, and sense of righteousness. They love all the rules and regulations, however illogical and contradictory, and take great pleasure in snitching on those who break them. Keep us on a leash, is their motto, "for our safety" and will remain so for as long as a single bad bug remains on the planet. Thanks to the devious mind-manipulators the once famously doughty Brits have become a bunch of neurotic wrecks. I wonder when the gullible brainwashed public will see through all this dystopian crap!

As mentioned in a previous blog, I have a particular loathing for the compulsory wearing of 'face-coverings'. I think I have demonstrated (video 2 blogs ago) their ineffectiveness, which has also been proven by some serious trials worldwide. They are to be worn to perpetuate the fear cycle and as a form of 'virtue signalling'.

I am even irritated to see timorous beasties walking down our high streets in the open air cowering behind their masks with only their scaredy little eyes peeking over the top, or through their misted up spectacles, despite having probably had several vaccinations. I call them the 'Triple Cs' (Cringing Covid Cowards....or something ruder). Some only take them off to have a quick 'reviving' smoke. There is a negligible to non-existant chance of picking up this bug in the open air, but you can't get that message through to the bemasked Sids and Dorises who think they are being 'responsible' and 'taking sensible precautions' and 'setting a good example'. There is probably a greater chance of them being hit on the head and killed by falling masonry than dying from contracting a bug. I expect in the not too distant future they will also, sensibly of course, be wearing helmets when out and about. As I pass these self-righteous neurotics in the street I, rather unfortunately, develop a form of Tourettes Syndrome; silent thankfully, for the moment.

Neither do I have a good thing to say about the overuse of that alcohol based hand sanitiser, forced upon you in some places. This stuff gets into your body and kills off the 'good' bugs as well as the 'bad' and consequently reduces general immunity but, like wearing masks, it demonstrates you are being 'responsible' and is done more for show than effect. You wonder how the world has survived for so long without all this.

As with the mad travel restrictions (see previous) I hope I am being unduly sceptical and pessimistic and we will see a  return to complete normality, and I mean complete, very soon, even if overdue. 

I never again want to hear or read that ludicrous and patronising valediction, often at the bottom of e-mails "stay safe"! As if, after a considerable number of years living sometimes in fairly hazardous conditions, I can't look after myself without someone telling me to in the face of a relatively non-lethal virus (unless you are very old/infirm/obese etc).

The latest conversational irritant is when you meet someone whose opening gambit is a rather complacent " 'ave you 'ad yer vaccine yet?" This is sometimes followed up with a smug "I'm 'aving my second next week", or similar. I tend to reply, very politely of course, "mind your own bleedin' business". I am tempted to add "and do you want to see all my medical records?"

Other words, phrases and things I never want to hear of again in general conversation, along with Covid 19, lockdown, face masks and hand sanitiser are, in no particular order: (Anti)social distancing, self-isolate, bubbles, loved ones, tiers, circuit breaker, clapping for anyone (virtue signalling), front line heros, PPE, furlough (unless in the US forces), R rate, SAGE, super-spreader, rule of six, WFH, Zoom meeting, uptick (ghastly Americanism), graphs and score cards, variants, shielding, travel traffic lights and restrictions, quarantine (unless for cats and dogs) and Matt Hancock. I have probably missed a few.

Of course there are several people and organisations who have greatly benefitted, revelled in it indeed, from all this enforced hoohah and are much wealthier/happier as a result, namely: Manufacturers of face-masks, hand sanitiser and other protective equipment, Big Pharma companies (mega-bucks), rip-off organisations that charge for Covid tests, idle buggers (so-called furloughed) who are paid to stay at home to drink beer and watch telly, home delivery companies and all the 'experts' who provide the Government with 'advice'. Needless to say all the politicians and civil servants have not suffered any financial disadvantage.   

That will do for now! I am currently researching further destinations (that will let us in) on the so-called 'green list' following my rather disappointing conclusions concerning Tristan da Cunha. I will be looking at the Faroe Islands and South Georgia for starters. To be reported on next.....

I copy below two interesting (to me anyway) articles from a national newspaper. Unfortunately the first one is in micro-print and you will need a magnifying glass to read it. The second, when I managed to enlarge it from microscopic is legible but you need to scan up and down to read it...and it may not work on this blog format.

SINGLE LIFE 3

10th May 2021

Headline in yesterday's paper 'Hugging family and friends allowed from next week'. How utterly patronising. 'Allowed', I ask you! I never thought we would live to see such a feeble and condescending response to a blasted bug. Still, it could have been worse. They might have made it compulsory.

Also published was the list of countries you can or can't visit on the so called 'traffic light system'. 68 countries were mentioned in either red, amber or green categories. Considering there are 197 countries in the world it covers only about a third of them. So what about the remaining 129? Of the twelve 'green' listed (ie you don't have to isolate on return) some won't even let you in. Others require expensive tests prior to going and quarantine when you get there. That, together with outrageous hikes in air travel prices, makes the prospect of going to any of them entirely unattractive. 

Left: Tristan da Cunha. I noted that Tristan da Cunha is on the 'green' list. Tristan, as it is known colloquially, a British Overseas Territory, is a circular rain-swept volcanic (active) rock, about 7 miles in diameter, in the middle of the South Atlantic. It has a population at the last count of 251. It is also home to a few penguins, the occasional albatross, a few sheep and the indigenous Tristan thrush. It boasts few amenities and the highspots (whoopee!), as mentioned on Tripadviser, are:

• Calshot Harbour
• Post Office and Tourism Centre
• Thatched House Museum
• Albatross Bar
• Tristan da Cunha Golf Club

Having done a little research I failed to discover a hotel or guest house on the island. So it looks as if you would need to bring your own tent or beg some accommodation from a local, plus remembering to pack some good waterproofs.....and perhaps your golf clubs. And a 1st aid kit.

Tristan was visited, or more likely stumbled upon, by various seafarers from the 16th century onwards. The 'Capital', indeed the only settlement, is called Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, or just 'The Settlement' (right) and was founded by a Scottish soldier, a corporal, (probably chucked off a boat) called William Glass in 1816.

It is undoubtedly a very out-of-the-way place and famous for some fairly disastrous geological events, such as the mega-eruption of the volcano in October 1961 which resulted in the small population being evacuated. Probably now due for another one. The top of the vocano at 6765ft is known as Queen Mary's Peak which appears normally to be covered in cloud, or smoke.

Right: A signpost gives some idea of how to escape.

Left: The social hub of the island, the Albatross Bar, where I expect you are given a warm welcome. The local dialect is described as being 'Home Counties lockjaw & 19th century idiom with a smattering of Africaans slang and some Italian. You would probably need a local phrase book.

There is only one resident doctor, probably to be found in the Albatross Bar, and very limited medical facilities, so not a good idea to get too ill. The island's motto is "Our faith is our strength". I expect they need a lot of faith.

Right: Patrons of the Albatross Bar. The food must be plentiful as they don't look as if they are starving. Their staple diet is potatoes. A lot of them by the look of it.

The island is not renowned for its famous inhabitants. Probably the the most famous being Conrad Jack Glass MBE (b 1961), presumably a descendant of Corporal Glass who founded the settlement. He was/is a police officer and former Chief Islander and the first, indeed only, islander to have written a book about the place. It is entitled 'Rockhopper Copper'. I must confess I haven't yet read it. There are probably quite a lot of 'Glasses' on the island.

TV, internet, mobile phone coverage and any other forms of communication are somewhat limited. The daily news is gleaned from the Tristan Times which is no doubt packed with local gossip and salacious scandal. I wonder if a little in-breeding is not the order of the day. 

Tristan therefore appears to be an excellent and healthy holiday destination of choice for the more adventurous traveller or, some might say, eccentric. We are so fortunate that our benevolent Goverment has put it on the 'green list'. However, one slight drawback is that there is no airstrip on the island. The only way to get there is by ship, a 6 day voyage from Cape Town. The problem here is that South Africa is on the 'red list'. Oh drat! 

I think I will just be tempted to go back to the fabulous Lulok Island (Google it) which, funnily enough, doesn't get a mention on any lists.