It wasn’t that long ago that I was posting about lockdown life in Beetley. To be honest, it wasn’t that different to life before lockdown, at least for me.
Now it has been almost a week since ‘Freedom Day’, and not much has changed around here. On Monday, I collected an Indian takeaway meal from a restaurant we use. Staff were still wearing masks and face shields, and the screens were in place between tables. But the diners were not wearing masks of course, so I kept mine on as I waited for the meal to be prepared.
I went into Dereham on Tuesday, and did the ‘big shop’ at a huge supermarket. Around two-thirds of the customers were weaing masks, and all the staff I saw were wearing them too. They had an announcement playing over loudspeakers suggesting masks should be retained, and that shoppers should still try to social distance where possible.
I saw some maskless shoppers grinning at that, and all of those not wearing masks were quite obviously younger than forty.
Out walking with Ollie, fellow dog-walkers are still keeping a reasonable distance if they stop to chat, and we are standing at the side of narrow paths to allow others to walk by without having to be in close proximity. But the youngsters and teenagers playing around in the river or basketball court are behaving as if Covid doesn’t exist any longer, with close physical contact, and not a mask in sight.
Where Julie works at out local Doctor’s, most people are complying with the mask rule, which is still in force for medical sites. Only a couple of people refused to wear one this week, and they were not allowed into the building. In one case, a woman became abusive and aggressive, and the manager had to be called down to make her leave.
Next weekend, there is a big family party in the Watford area, in Hertfordshire. I wasn’t going anyway, because of leaving Ollie. But Julie was looking forward to attending the 50th birthday party, and seeing many of her extended family. However, that area has shown an alarming spike in Covid infection during the last week, so attending a party inside has become a worrying prospect. Wearing a mask in that situation is not much fun, so she will likely cancel her long-awaited trip.
This all goes to show that despite ‘Freedom Day’, the virus is still around, infections are still increasing, and many of those who didn’t want to wear masks are taking full opportunity of the relaxation of rules.
In many ways, nothing has changed at all, so we carry on as before here in Beetley.
Awesome! new follower here.
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Thanks very much, Yossef.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Here we were told again that the so-called incidence in Great Britain is again very high and there is great danger. We will have this virus visiting for a very long time. Best wishes, Michael
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Very little has changed here, despite ‘Freedom Day’. We still have to be very careful.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Continuing to be careful is best. I am waiting for my second vaccination. Quite honestly but more on a cure. 😉 Best wishes, Michael
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Reblogged this on NEW OPENED BLOG > https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Great post Pete 🙂 I hope you and your family are doing well in spite of those new COVID variants. I too think that we need to take the mask wearing seriously. Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂
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Thanks, John. We will be keeping the masks on for a long time yet.
Best wishes, Pete.
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well said, Pete. It is sad that Julie may have to skip the family party.
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She cancelled yesterday, as many of her older relatives had pulled out for the same reason. Hopefully, she might make it to her cousin’s 60th in ten years. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Ten years? I’m so sorry to hear that. Hopefully they will plan a belated 50th, perhaps outdoors. Best to you and to Julie, Pete.
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It is going ahead, as the venue cannot be cancelled and refunded. He will have all of his own younger friends and family there.
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I’m a little less worried about it now that I have had the jabs, but still wear a mask in indoor public places as is the law in Poland. But most things seem to be open, work and life goes on and by all accounts infection levels are very low at the moment. You still have to quarantine if you come to Poland unless you have the EU digital COVID certificate and from what I have heard they are hot on keeping tabs on you with daily checkups if you are in quarantine.
I have a niggle in the back of my mind that reporting of numbers and testing is fairly lax in Poland, the excess death figures from last year bear this out, but we do seem to be in the bottom of a dip at the moment.
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If things are safer for you four in Poland, that’s great news, Eddy. It must be extra worrying when you have kids to consider.
Cheers, Pete.
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The delta variant is much more contagious than earlier forms of the virus and accounts for most of the new cases in the US. Hospitalizations and deaths are occurring mostly among the unvaccinated. You’d think that would be enough incentive for people to be vaccinated. I’ve been vaccinated for some time but am wearing a mask again in public places. You can’t be too careful.
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All of that applies here, albeit on a smaller scale. Most shops are ‘politely asking’ people to continue to wear masks, but can no longer enforce that. I am sure we will see things getting worse again by the autumn.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Here in the States, we are far from the freedom that you have for we have a larger share of people who seem concerned about their freedom and not at all concerned about other people’s health. Consequently, we are experiencing another spike or wave of the virus. I would estimate that by October it will have peaked again. Too many people d]ying needlessly here because of deliberate misinformation and a nonsense notion of what freedom means. Warmest regards, The
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It is not dissimilar here. The infections are spiking again, and people are gathering in large crowds with no masks. The popular movement to refuse vaccination is on the increase, and we don’t really feel any more ‘free’ or safe than we did a few months ago. Luckily, Beetley remains a safe haven at the moment.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Many younger people still think this is an older persons disease, Pete. I know three people under 30 who have died of covid recently. I know the UK infection rate is on the rise as I watch it carefully. I believe the hospitals are very full in certain areas too. I like wearing a mask, it is my preference now as I haven’t been sick once since I started wearing a KN-95 mask early last year. I like not being sick. I used to get bronchitis at least one and sometimes twice a year.
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The infections here are rising dramatically, as you will no doubt have seen. Almost everyone being treated in hospital for C-19 is someone who refused a vaccine. Hopefully, they will learn from that.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Reminds me of a Carpenters song:
♬ Are we really happy
♬ With this lonely game we play
♬ Looking for the right words to say
♬ Searching but not finding
♬ Understanding anyway
♬ We’re lost in this masquerade
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She had a great voice, but I wonder what she would make of this current madness if she was still alive?
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, the state of California reopened a month ago, and since then the Delta variant has spread like wildfire, causing new mask mandates indoors again….in 99% of the cases, it is the unvaccinated getting sick and spreading the variant. We are more than 70% vaccinated here in CA, but many parts of our country lag behind, and the totals are soaring again…sad state of affairs…so glad that most are still be safe – an abundance of caution will help us all get past this in the right way.
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A similar story here, with most hospital admissions relating to people who refused vaccination.
We are going to carry on as if still in lockdown, and reduce our contact with anyone we don’t know.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Better safe than sorry…we are close to getting past it so why blow it now?
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Alabama has the dubious distinction of being the state with the lowest vaccination rate at 33.9%. Hospitalizations and deaths are going up, hardly anyone is wearing a mask, and a hotel about 3 miles away from us just had to close for at least the next ten days because most of its employees have COVID.
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We have around 25-30% of the population refusing vaccination. Most of those in hospital with C-19 now are unvaccinated. Hopefully, that might make them see the connecton.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Hope you have a great summer Pete!
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We had four nights away last week in a heatwave up to 32C. It has calmed down to 19C here now. Next trip is a week in Lincolnshire in September. Self-catering lodge, so shouldn’t be affected by the virus issues.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Enjoy. We’re a bit higher up….in Yorkshire soon
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We’ve been walking around Bury market today wearing our masks, but the majority of people there were not. Our youngest grandson’s birthday party is tomorrow, but if the weather isn’t good and we can’t sit outside, then we’re not going. I’m not keen on being in a hall with lots of little super-spreaders, lol.
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Julie cancelled her trip to Watford earlier. Six other relatives had already cancelled, and there will too many of her cousin’s friends who she doesn’t know. She’s worried about subsequent contact with her grandchildren, after being in such a large crowd inside.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Very wise.
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I think it’s wise to remain cautious and what does it really hurt, to wear a mask? Such a fuss people make about nothing.
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There is a big anti-vaccine rally in London at the moment. A former nurse (struck off for opposing vaccines and denying Covid) told the crowd that the vaccine is a ‘Satanic Conspiracy’ because the reference number for it includes three sixes. (060606) There is no reasoning with such crazy people, Yeti.
Best wishes, Pete.
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No indeed. We have our share of crazies and the alarming thing is that they have such a following as if people want to believe in “Jew with laser beams” and space aliens or whateverthehell that cracked pot was spouting. I think if aliens got a look at the human race, they would go elsewhere.
By the way the cat in my picture was Yeti…my first Himalayan. I am actually Carolyn!
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Nice to meet you, Carolyn. 🙂
(I can see why the cat was named Yeti)
Best wishes, Pete.
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In Scotland masks are still mandatory – unfortunately many of the holiday makers from south of the border don’t seem to understand they’ve entered a different country and should abide by its restrictions!
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Time to get that border control up and running, Mary! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Same in my supermarket, most of those not wearing a mask were younger folk. I know masks don’t protect us from catching the disease only helps in not spreading it, so you’d hope everyone would work together in this. I almost feel that the last 18 months have been a waste of time the rate infections are spreading. The Euros haven’t helped.
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We said something similar yesterday. All that time and money wasted, with infection rates soon to be out of control again.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Some people think that no restrictions means no risk, so you can only do what you think is best for your health.
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Yes, they hear ‘freedom’, and stop listening to the warnings attached.
Best wishes, Pete.
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After a short period of being a little less cautious [eating out again, entering stores – with a mask, of course] we’re reverting to our previous habits [online shopping mostly, take-out food].
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That sounds very sensible, Pit.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes, be protected. The Delta variant is already. I think we have the longest quarantine so far. Very small number of vaccinated people here.
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We have a very high vaccination number, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still get it. Best not to take any risks.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I prefer to keep my own counsel on all this. It will work itself out, one way or another. Cheers, Jon.
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That’s fine, Jon. I have close relatives who are not in the least concerned about Covid, and say it has a 98% survival rate. But I am in no hurry to become one of the other 2%.
Best wishes, Pete.
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All so very uncertain. Aussie cases are spiking. We’re staying at home.
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Sensible indeed, Peggy.
Best wishes, Pete.
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As they say “better safe than sorry”. chuq
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I am just acting like ‘Freedom Day’ didn’t happen, chuq.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I am following suit here….since only about 30% of my county is fully vaccinated….I will be safe not sorry. chuq
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Scary times, unfortunately. My dad is very paranoid about covid, and therefore incredibly safe whenever it comes to any precautions, so it just makes me angry when people are so reckless and selfish, undoing all of his efforts.
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Yes, some people – young and old- are very ‘entitled’ when it comes to the issue of safety precautions.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Here is our little corner of Spain they have brought back the curfew and reversed the decision that we don’t have to wear masks in the street. It’s worrying though as all the tourists are flooding in, young, maskless, and no social distancing whatsoever. Us locals are furious about this.
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I can well imagine your frustration, Lucinda. At least having to wear your mask will hopefully keep you safer.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Folks forget (when it suits them) that covid has not/will not go away, and even two jabs don’t stop you catching covid, they only reduce the risk of serious covid effects.
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Exactly right, Chris. And at our age, we have to be careful my friend.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yep
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Absolutely right, Chris….I’m largely being as cautious as I was
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Same here, Sue 😃
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Seems wise to keep up the precautions and it’s worrisome that so many seem to have become blase and complacent.
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It is strange indeed, Josie. They appear to have embraced ‘Freedom Day’ with a rather reckless sense of abandon.
Best wishes, Pete.
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