Although, I was looking forward to a relaxing Saturday, in fact I have been quite busy!
Saying that, Honey the Dog and I had a lie in until 10.30am, which was great 🙂
After our morning walk, I chilled out a little on the boat, trying to decide what to do.
Then I got an email from John Lewis to say that the blinds that I had ordered were ready to be collected at Waitrose.
They weren’t supposed to be arriving until 3pm today.
So I hopped on my bicycle and headed to Waitrose in Morningside.
As I cycled, nearly every café had a queue outside it!
Even Waitrose had a queue!
I collected the blinds and put them in my big rucksack that I had brought with me and then cycled back to the boat.
I then decided to take them and the curtains to the flat. So I squeezed the curtains into the rucksack as well and headed down to the flat on my bicycle.
The blinds sticking out the top seemed to get further and further pushed out, resulting in me stopping a few times to push them back in. I also used the reflection in windows to see how far they had come out. It was quite windy at times and with the blinds, I got blown about.
I was surprised to see a furniture store open on Leith Walk – is that an essential shop?
I finally made it to the flat and put the curtains up 🙂
Then headed back to the canal and Discovery, passing Graham Cherrie butchers, I spotted a Covid sign specifically for Scottish Butchers!
I dropped the bicycle off in the bike shed, collected Honey the Dog and jogged/walked to Arthur’s Seat.
We had arranged to meet Danny at Arthur’s Seat for a walk, however I was running late!
I tried to run all the way there, to save some time, but my legs were feeling tired – probably from the 11km run I did yesterday (Day 319). Honey and I ran some of the way.
Meeting up with Danny, we walked on the road round Arthur’s Seat (anti-clockwise). Arriving at Otter Loch (apologies, yesterday I called in Beaver Loch), where 3 otters now live – see Day 311 for more details. Plus Day 194, when I spotted and photographed an otter there!
Honey went for another swim!
I also spotted an Otter sign 🙂
We then headed up the hill behind Otter Loch and Honey found a big stick to chew on (blog cover photo). She was reluctant to leave it, picking it up and carrying it, so I brought it back to the canal. Annoyingly my website has cut off the top of the photo for the blog cover photo, so here it is in full – such a great view!
Danny and I had planned to go to Joseph Pearce‘s this evening, to take advantage of their Swedish Meatballs and Chips offer. If you order and collect direct from the bar at weekends, you get 20% off!
I had heard about this by an email.
They were delicious – I can highly recommend! Just phone up, saying when you are going to collect them and pick up and pay.
Anna, who owns the Boda Bars Group, was there – so we had a long chat catching up. Was lovely to see her again!
Finally back to Discovery, which was now super cold – I hadn’t lit the fire this morning as it was quite warm. But back onboard it was only 6 degrees, but soon the fire was going and now it’s up to the mid-20’s 🙂
Face-Mask Corner
Anna modelled her Boda Bar face-mask today, which you can buy for only £7.
Things We No Longer Use / Do
So far we have looked at – Kilts (Day 300), Irons (Day 301), Suit and Tie (Day 302), Passports (Day 303), Massive Travel Delays (Day 304), Clothes (Day 305) High Heels (Day 311), Taxis (Day 312), A Random Snog in a Nightclub (Day 313), Karaoke Clubs (Day 314), Cash (Day 315), Handshake (Day 316), Head Lice (nit comb and medicated shampoo) (Day 317), Pinworm Infections (Day 318) and Offering to take someone’s photo (Day 319).
Today when chatting to Anna with Danny, I posed them the question “what things do we no longer use or do since lockdown?”. Some thought and suggestions came in, which have already appeared here. But eventually Anna said, she hasn’t had a cold since lockdown.
So today I am looking at Getting a cold.
I agree and I am sure many others would too – I haven’t had a cold since lockdown began 320 days ago! It must be all that handwashing, wearing face-masks and keeping distance from others.
There is lots about this on the internet, here are a few articles –
This article’s title is – ‘How Covid-19 is changing the cold and flu season’.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03519-3
It says by mid-December, usually, the northern hemisphere is into the cold and flu season, but this December (2020) the levels of these seasonal infections are very low! Stating – temporary lockdowns, face-masks, social distancing, enhanced hygiene and reduced travel is all having an impact. I guess, also schools being shut must be a big reason!
I wonder, whether we will continue some of these behaviours post-lockdown restrictions so that we can prevent getting colds, etc…?
The British Medical Journal also writes about this, saying that Covid lockdown has seen fewer cases of colds, flu and bronchitis in England.
https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3182
The paper was published in August 2020 and goes onto say that with lockdown restrictions easing, there had been an increase of these infections.
This article published in September 2020 found that colds nearly vanished in tight lockdown restrictions, but now they are coming back.
https://www.wired.com/story/colds-nearly-vanished-under-lockdown-now-theyre-coming-back
Even The Guardian wrote about this in August 2020.
Readers Corner
Two posts today.
Helen
Helen posted a comment on yesterday’s blog (Day 319), in relation to The Marsh Families latest song in ‘It Made Me Smile’, saying:
“Thanks for finding the YouTube versions with outtakes. I thought I recognised them. Of course I saw them first in this blog!”.
No worries Helen! Much easier embedding YouTube videos into this blog – and it hadn’t been edited so had the outtakes.
I love the Marsh Family songs 🙂
Pat
Pat posted a Facebook comment on yesterday’s blog (Day 319), saying:
“Jim..I Am Frustrated Because I Like Many Many Others Are Doing What Is Being Asked Of Us But The Rules Seem To Be Differing In Many Other Areas…Like All Of Us I Want To Get Back To “Normal”… Stay Safe and Stay Well Mate…
“.
I totally agree!
It Made Me Smile
Perhaps this should be in ‘Music Corner’, but that has taken a break for a while – and this song made me smile 🙂
Helen sent this to me today, saying:
“Another music contribution for your blog. This time, I’m one of the singers 
“.
In this one you can actually see Helen – check out Counter 4.21 and the photo below:
Here’s the song –
Thanks for sharing this Helen, I love this version of the song!
Great to see some of Scotland’s national flags in some of the singers windows 🙂
As I come to the end of this blog, I am super tired, with a day of few plans has turned into a super busy one. I love those kind of days, just letting them pan out and see where they go! Honey the Dog has had two big walks/runs in the last two days, so she now is very tired.
Was great being out on my bicycle too, can’t wait until a few months time, when I plan some cycles along the canal 🙂
Also lovely to catch up with Anna, I will have to return soon for my Swedish meatballs and chat 🙂
Today it has been windy and wet, similar to the last few days, although I think less rain. Discovery also continues to be buffered around in the wind, creaking lots.
Hope you’ve had a Super Saturday 🙂
Stay Safe!
Jim x
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