Coronavirus

[Twoapenny]

It's a shame you have to wade through the site to work the numbers out, Hopsie, it does make it a more difficult task to do.  Our local authority have come up with a method that works really well for me.  They have a daily dashboard that shows the number of diagnosed cases in the last week for our county and then the three counties that border it (as a lot of people go back and forth for work and leisure activities).  Underneath the weekly case numbers they record the weekly death rate - very clear and easy to read.  Then you can click on other boxes that take you through all the other data; daily rates, national numbers, excess deaths, Covid deaths - really as much information as anyone might need.  They also do a map that just uses colours to show where the highest numbers of cases are (and for us at the moment it's the University town which, thankfully, we are about ninety minutes away from).  For me that works well; the weekly numbers just give me an idea of how it's going (and at the moment they are dropping a little each day) and they update daily at 4pm.  I find more detail than that a bit much for my brain to manage; at the moment our immediate area has very few cases (I think it was less than twenty at the beginning of the week) and that makes me feel reassured.

I do agree that governance has been and is a huge issue; it's a shit show here and even die hard Conservative voters are up in arms about Johnson and the way he's handled this.  I can understand why people just do their own thing.  I guess with my son's health problems I've been more aware of what could happen and more willing to take steps to keep him safe.  I think a lot of people have never been seriously ill or disabled and just don't know what it's like, or understand how little support you actually get in real life if you end up permanently unable to work.  Even those with money behind them quickly find it's all gone when their income drops to zero.  It's been a big shock to the system for everyone, I think, although in different ways depending on circumstances.  I'll be heaving a big sigh of relief once it's all gone.

[Hopalong]

What bugs me is that the health region website initially used a nice color-coded bar graph that showed the numbers directly. For some reason they've replaced it with a squiggly graph that requires hovering over a tiny point to get the daily case count. Just weird.

"...understand how little support you actually get in real life...." (when unable to work due to disability).

I so agree. I think that applies to just about every single structure that protects the vulnerable. Or purports to. And I think people buried in structural and bureaucratic systems that are so unwieldly wind up losing part of their humanity...the empathy that would drive them to legislate more humanely.

But that's not a simple subject and I'm trying to simplify my wee brain to keep myself serene. I don't know how FT activists contain their anger, frankly. But I do know that helping the right side eases the pain.

I guess it's another example of: Ask the universe for what you want, as long as you release the outcome. Asking takes different forms for different folks: donating, persuading, voting, volunteering, marching, going to jail for your convictions. I'm on the cowardly end, lousy at direct confrontation. But I'm mostly at peace about it.

That goes back to being kind to myself and being my own friend, I think. Takes discipline and effort to deny the critical inner voice a bullhorn in my head, but I think it's gotten softer over time.

I think yours has too, Tupp.

hugs
Hops

[Twoapenny]

I think simple, good quality information is so important just now.  It's all been handled so badly that every decision now will be the wrong one.  A friend and I were talking this afternoon and whatever your situation, this is going and will go badly for a lot of people.  The friend and I are in similar situations - both have disabled kids and are both able to stay indoors for the most part, so that's what we're doing.  But I spoke to someone else I know (casual acquaintance) and both she and her husband have lost their jobs due to the Covid situation.  They're alright for money for one more month but if one of them doesn't get a job in that time they're in big trouble, and long term they both need to be working in order to be able to pay their mortgage and associated costs.  Simple information at least gives you an idea of your personal risk level and what you can or can't do.  Such a shambles.

But in other news, cases have dropped in our county again today.  I'm assuming there was a big jump because of the Uni going back, but that they've all isolated and so the numbers haven't continued to grow.  The figures are weekly but updated daily so the number going down is a good thing, and still no recorded deaths.  That's heading in the right direction.  Not so in other parts of the country but for now I'm counting my blessings - we had sun today as well!  So nice.

[Twoapenny]

Big drop in local cases again today and the current ones are still mostly centred around the University town (which we aren't anywhere near).  I'd hazard a guess that our chances of catching this at the moment (providing we stay close to home and continue to take precautions) are probably no higher than the chance of some other awful disease or accident coming our way.  Not that it will make me start rushing about sans mask and many other parts of the country are in a dreadful state but I feel more comfortable at the moment.  Slight concern is that they're not testing which is why numbers are dropping but I've no way of knowing that so no point worrying about it.  Have had two people I know personally affected now though, and that does bring it closer to home.  Previously it's been friends of friends or someone's work colleagues mum or something like that but just this week one friend in contact with someone who tested positive so now isolating for two weeks (no symptoms yet but staying in just in case) and another friend had a case in the care home her dad's in - locked down fast so it was contained to one case and no-one else got ill but it's closer to home than it was and that's a worry for everyone.  But overall in our little part of the world it's looking okay xx

[Hopalong]

For me, day-to-day changes or dribbles of news on the virus have lost meaning. Anecdotal stuff doesn't get me to conclude much. I'm just grasping that the overall, global, national trends are UP for this fall and winter. (It's true here but most individual places are just drops in an infected pond, given mobility.)

It's time to double down on all the precautions as cold weather comes, is my understanding. Hunker down again and try to contol the yearnings for "normal." It's new normal now, period. The time it changes is the time after we've all taken a well-proven effective vaccine. And Covid-19 may be with us always, like a serious disease that may rise again among the unvaccinated. (Vaccines even for the flu are not 100%. We all imagine 100% safety about many things...it's human nature.)

What I've heard that makes sense to me is that the largest incident of spreading is actually from family or friend gatherings. People are so pent up for socializing and yearning for contact that they're dropping their guard.

It's hard. It's a real test. Some will dig in and find the inner resources and patience to come through healthy. Some just won't or can't.

But life always has beauty, always has meaning, and always has happiness within it. I admire you a lot, Tupp, for finding those over and over again. I intend to too!

Hugs,
Hops

[Twoapenny]

That's interesting, Hops, I've found that looking at the big picture makes me feel more anxious, whereas keeping an eye on my personal risk level (by seeing how many infected people are in the area) makes me feel better - although interestingly it hasn't changed my habits in terms of going out, it's still just once a week to the cinema.  I think I've become very tuned in to what increases my anxiety and what doesn't at the moment, and I think maybe it's changed from normal for me?  I did see that one of the hospitals is full and has no more capacity just now.  It's odd that what I'm watching happen everywhere at the minute is all stuff that's affected us personally for years.  Reporting, for example, is quite reckless, I feel.  The headline about that hospital being full is very alarming.  If it had said 'overflow hospital opening up to cope with demand' it's still clear that demand is increasing but it doesn't elicit the same panic because it focuses on what's being done about it.  I've had that a lot with my son over the years - "we can't meet his needs" rather than "we can't meet his needs right now, but here's what we'll do about it long term and here's how we'll support both of you in the meantime".  I've noticed in myself that the first induces panic and makes me feel very alone whilst the second makes me feel calmer and supported.  It's just interesting to me to see that happening on a much bigger scale here at the moment (and I do think I've detached myself from it a lot - self preservation I guess).  It's interesting to see how different people cope in different ways.  One friend is like me; minimal risks daily, not going out, no visitors, whilst her husband is a news junky and wants the reports on constantly (they've had to compromise; he has the news on his phone, not the TV, and he has to ring his geeky science friend to talk about it, not talk to her lol).  She calls me and we do the mum stuff of what the kids have been doing and what our most recent baking attempts have been like (hers are usually good, mine aren't).  That feels normal for both of us.

Nationally I've no idea what's going on and neither does anyone else, by the sound of it.  They've got different lockdowns in different areas for different reasons, different levels of support for different groups of people, different scientists saying different things, everyone's got a different idea of how this should all be managed.  I've gone full on mad bird feeding lady and the tree outside our house is full of birds morning and evening now, with a line of cats sitting on the wall just waiting patiently lol.  Our cat ignores all of it and just stays inside sleeping.

[Hopalong]

It makes total sense to me Tupp that different focuses work best for different individuals. There's no "better" way to think about all this. Like you, I've just figured out what works best for my own mind.

BTW, I absolutely lovelovelove your comment about media.

The headline ... is very alarming.  If it had said 'overflow hospital opening up to cope with demand' it's still clear that demand is increasing but it doesn't elicit the same panic because it focuses on what's being done about it.  I've had that a lot with my son..."we can't meet his needs" rather than "we can't meet his needs right now, but here's what we'll do about it long term and here's how we'll support both of you in the meantime"....  the first induces panic and makes me feel very alone whilst the second makes me feel calmer and supported.

Even in the most mature and reliable media, I find myself writing letters expressing how frustrating it is to read casual click-bait headlines when the media could be doing SO MUCH to improve civic life.

When you tune into words and their meanings AND implications as we do, it's maddening. The Fourth Estate is so incredibly important to society rebuilding. Some of them do seem to know and try to reflect this responsibility. And I credit the best media with positive power, for sure. Good journalists are heroes to me.

hugs
Hops

[Twoapenny]

It makes total sense to me Tupp that different focuses work best for different individuals. There's no "better" way to think about all this. Like you, I've just figured out what works best for my own mind.

BTW, I absolutely lovelovelove your comment about media.

The headline ... is very alarming.  If it had said 'overflow hospital opening up to cope with demand' it's still clear that demand is increasing but it doesn't elicit the same panic because it focuses on what's being done about it.  I've had that a lot with my son..."we can't meet his needs" rather than "we can't meet his needs right now, but here's what we'll do about it long term and here's how we'll support both of you in the meantime"....  the first induces panic and makes me feel very alone whilst the second makes me feel calmer and supported.

Even in the most mature and reliable media, I find myself writing letters expressing how frustrating it is to read casual click-bait headlines when the media could be doing SO MUCH to improve civic life.

When you tune into words and their meanings AND implications as we do, it's maddening. The Fourth Estate is so incredibly important to society rebuilding. Some of them do seem to know and try to reflect this responsibility. And I credit the best media with positive power, for sure. Good journalists are heroes to me.

hugs
Hops

Yes, nodding, nodding and nodding some more!  Imagine the difference if reporting, in general, was fact based, with clear, contextualised opinion from people who genuinely know what they're talking about, with a good smattering of positive stories as well.  Not Pollyanna, endlessly smiling stories but just reports on all the community groups that have sprung up to help people out and other good things that do happen, but that tend to be dwarfed by all the sensational stuff that happens.  It's hard going, the media has such an influence, imagine if it were a more positive one!  It would be so helpful.

And yes, I think everyone's found their way to get through this as best they can.  Most people I'm speaking to just day to day are in 'let's get on with it' mode.  They're taking whatever precautions they can or have to, they're all fed up with the Government and their lack of reliability and I think most people feel they just need to get through this as best they can now.  Our numbers jumped again yesterday, and over a wider area.  Still not right by our door but my little bubble burst quickly when I saw that.  The only reassurance for me was that it shows they are still testing - I did have a moment of wondering if the numbers were dropping because they just weren't testing people anymore   I did realise I need to structure my day better and I've struggled to work out how best to do that.  Eventually I sat down and went through the TV and Radio guides and I've now got a list of shows that son and I both like to watch or listen to (together or apart, depending on what they are).  I'm going to use that as a way of creating little breaks during the day and aiming to get certain things done before a certain programme starts.  I just feel I need a little bit of an incentive or deadline to focus my mind a bit.

 I went for a walk as soon as I got up; the river is high!  I've never seen it that high before.  Another couple of feet and it will be over the wall and into town.  We're up hill from it so we'll be okay but I'm hoping that doesn't get any higher now as they've already had one flood this year.  Beautiful to look at, though.  Friendly dog ran over and wanted his belly rubbed.  They do make me laugh the way they just launch themselves at anyone that looks like they might stroke them.

[Hopalong]

I like that idea, of responding to the ongoing outside situation with a tweak in how much structure works well for you during the day.

I'm trying a bit more too, in my spazzy fashion. I have gotten sleep into a better pattern thanks to: SAD light (funny, at first I wrote ADD light, still caffeinating!) every morning including sunny ones, ashwagandha 2x/day, more active now that knee is 90% good to go....feels better. Tidying up patio and excited about fire pit.

Hope your river doesn't harm anyone as it rises, but how lovely to live near rushing water. I do too, a small bend in a small river is 5 minutes from my door, but I haven't gone down to it since I hurt myself. The path's a bit steep for a tricky knee.

Is your river good-sized? Big enough for bridges over it? Any barges in sight?

hugs
Hops

[Twoapenny]

Big bridges over it, Hopsie, it's tidal so sometimes you get seals!  Not very often but every now and again you see one.  Lots of people fish along there and a couple of hundred years ago it was a very busy port so there's a lot of history - lots of old buildings, some parts of the town still have the old cobbles in the streets although much has been flattened over of course.  It's lit up at night so the lights are still on the time I go out and it looks really lovely.  People kayak along it but there isn't room under the bridge for big boats to get through.  I think the current is very strong; there are old stories of people drowning in there, it's also quite dirty looking so people don't swim in it.  Lots of rubbish unfortunately, I don't know why people litter like they do.  But it's still nice to walk along there.

[Hopalong]

Ohhhh, so happy to read a vivid description of your town!
I do envy you that kind of environment. RIVER!

And yes, the rubbish and pollution is very sad. Yet moving water
somehow still calms the human psyche. And we can clean it up.

When you walk in the mornings does Son come? Or does he have
a lie-in so you can enjoy a little Tupp-time?

I think morning walks are the BEST, though I just enjoyed a brief
early afternoon one with Pooch. It's absolutely PERFECT here today.
High 60s, sunny, cool but not cold. I've seen and chatted with several
neighbors and have a contact to get the number for a lovely lady up
the way I've chatted with briefly and am positive I'd like to get to know.
Went past her place on a walk a few days ago and she had a whole circle
of about 8 women sitting socially-distanced with masks on in a circle in
the sunshine, knitting. (Got no interest in knitting but DO like the idea
of befriending someone who creates circles like that!)

Happy Sunday to you, Tupp. Now that I've re-involved myself in the church
bit by bit, it's becoming one of the Best Days again. Good faces and good music
via Zoom, but lately even good ftf gatherings. (They're doing a meet-in-the-park-to-talk thing--limited number, masked, 8 feet apart, bring own chair--I want to go to next Sunday afternoon. It'll "fill us all up" a little before the cold closes in.)

hugs
Hops

PS--SEALS? I'm speechless. For no reason I watched several videos last night of this wonderful team of guys who chase seals on the huge beach somewhere (not Galapagos, I forget) where many of them congregate. For the purpose of nabbing the ones that are entangled in fishing lines. They catch them either with a net or by kind of leaping on them to hold them down, and it's amazing how many of the seals calm down and recognize that someone is helping them--even though they have to painfully dig into their necks or flippers with a metal hook and knife to cut the line free which can take quite a few minutes. It's remarkable and heroic. A temporary diversion from dog-rescue videos! Although you'll be pleased to know I've added the cat ones. Check out Hope for Paws on YouTube.

[Twoapenny]

Aw I'll keep a look out for seal help videos, Hopsie, I love those videos of people helping animals out and yes, they do seem to know sometimes that someone's trying to help.  I keep watching the ones where someone rescues a dog that's been abandoned or badly treated and how they bring them back to life.  Amazing what some kindness and TLC will do.  The thing that always strikes me is that they get results by letting the dogs do what they need to - if they hide behind the sofa for weeks or only eat food off the floor they let them do that and get comfortable in their own time.  I think we should do that more with people.  Too much pressure to get fixed within a set time line or in a certain way and it just doesn't work like that.  I'll add seal videos to the list!

We don't get many in the river but we do along the coast line and as it's tidal, they do sometimes wander along looking for fish.  There is a cafe near one of the beaches here that's very close to the top of the slip way so at high tide the water is inches from the building and they have, on occasion, looked up to see a seal looking in the window which I find very funny.  They're beautiful creatures.

The social circles/church groups/distanced chats with neighbours sounds lovely, Hops, I'm so glad you are getting that interaction and have people around you who are taking precautions but also getting out there.  I feel more anxious about it here; more people seem to be only taking precautions when they have to (going in to a shop, for example) so I don't feel confident about socialising at the moment.  One lady I've seen for coffee a few times as she is being careful as well but other people I know are more or less ignoring it.  It's kind of weird.  We're averaging 100 deaths a day here again now, which is apparently where we were at a month before we were topping out at a thousand a day in the summer.  I get that more people than that die each day under normal circumstances but this is on top of that.  If we were seeing planes crashing and losing a hundred a day very few people would be flying.  Yet this doesn't seem to elicite the same concern.  It's kind of weird but we're just doing our thing so I'm trying not to think about what others are doing just now.  I'm glad you've got those opportunities ahead to help get through the winter.  I'm experimenting with my SAD lamp; I think I've left it on too long a couple of times as I've ended up going to bed very late so I'm adjusting the times a bit now - a good balance is needed.

I am trying to walk for an hour without son, and then take him out for half an hour later in the day (half an hour is about as much as he can manage without getting too tired).  It's funny because we had two days last week where we were out doing things so we did walk about an hour, in short bursts, and I just didn't get the same effect from it that I do from walking for an hour on my own.  I think it's the head space that helps.  I can leave him for an hour and he's okay; I text my sister when I'm leaving so she knows if she doesn't hear from me that something will have happened and son has his own phone so he can call me if there's a problem, which there hasn't been because basically one he's in front of his computer he doesn't move anyway.  I just tell him not to answer the door but apparently you can get a thing on a phone now where you can see who's at the door even if you're out?  I'll have to look in to that.

On the subject of door cameras I did watch some clips of YouTube of drunk people trying to get in their own front doors and not being able to manage it.  The door cameras pick up what they're doing and it made me laugh so much.  One guy was talking to the door asking it nicely to let him in and not to make any noise because he didn't want his wife to know.  Funny drunk people make me laugh.

Happy Sunday!  Although it's Monday here now so Happy Monday! xx

[Hopalong]

Thanks, Tupp.

City plus County are what I check daily. That's basically our metro area--I have as many friends in county neighborhoods as in the city.

Today we have 10 new cases but that bounces around -- a few days ago it was 32. The total case # in these two localities so far is 3,000, with 55 deaths. The curve is heading up.

Happy little joggers blasted close past me on my walk yesterday, huffing and blowing, mask free. Fortunately I'd happened to re-anchor my mask just before I heard them, heading up to greet a gardening neighbor. Unbelievable.

What part of PLUME do they not understand? What part of OUTSIDE IS NOT MAGIC THOUGH IT'S BETTER do they not understand?

I am developing a very getoffmylawn feeling about runners. They can dangle a mask from one ear just as easily as I can, and yank it up when coming up behind a walker. I guess the runners' high means too-high-to-notice-slower-humans. Spit.

Grrrrrr,
Hops

[Twoapenny]

I hear you on the joggers, Hopsie!  And similarly oblivious people.  We've been to the beach today, first time since March.  Very careful, masks, hands, took food and drink with us so we didn't need to go in to shops, etc.  Beautiful weather, the beach was lovely and most people doing their bit but some, just oblivious.  Walking very close or letting their dogs walk the full length of the lead and taking up the pavement, meaning we had to get into the road to get past them.  The local authority have tried to organise it so everyone walks on the left, to keep distance more easily so there are signs up and someone has written "Don't be a slave" on the sign that says "Please keep left".  How can anyone compare walking to one side (which is what we all do when we drive, right?  To avoid crashing into each other?) with slavery?  Seriously.  I feel so sorry for all the people who are working extra hard, spending money on PPE for their staff, staying in, avoiding family and so on, and wonder how much of that effort is mitigated by people taking no notice.  Very demoralising for them.  Anyway, it was a nice day but I think next week we might try a different beach as it's usually quieter than that one.  Son was very excited though xx

[Twoapenny]

Death rate in our area just jumped up.  Sigh.  We're staying in all week as it's half term holidays and the place is full of holiday makers.  Just so frustrating, surely people should be staying close to home unless further travel is absolutely essential?  Still seem to be so many people who just don't get it.