amusements, memes

Ten Things: January

This year our Ten Things series – which surprisingly appears on the tenth of each month – continues concentrating on the amusing, both real and fictional. So this month we have …

Ten Real Historical Personages

  1. Lyulph Ydwallo Odin Nestor Egbert Lyonel Toedmag Hugh Erchenwyne Saxon Esa Cromwell Orma Nevill Dysart Plantagenet Tollemache-Tollemache (pictured right; born 1876; 4th son of Revd Ralph William Lyonel Tollemache-Tollemache, and brother of Lyonel Felix Carteret Eugene Tollemache-Tollemache, 4th Baronet Tollemache)
  2. Nimrod Standing (Kent; born 1838; found doing family history)
  3. William le Cunte (Norwich; 1260s)
  4. Clarice la Claterballok (London; 1340; a woman of ill-fame)
  5. Robert Paternoster (1561-1596; Gentleman of the Chapel Royal)
  6. Wonderful Warwick (Cheshunt, Herts.; 17th century; nonconformist)
  7. Leonardi Da Vinci Williams (Lambeth; died 1846; found doing family history)
  8. Revd William Wing Fowle (18th-century; Rector of St Dunstan, Snargate, Kent)
  9. Thomas Strangeways Pigg-Strangeways (1866-1926; British pathologist)
  10. Admiral The Hon. Sir Reginald Aylmer Ranfurley Plunket-Ernle-Erle-Drax (1880–1967)
personal

Ten Things To Do in 2021

As most years I’ve looked at some of the things I would like to achieve over the coming year. Most of the main list should be fairly independent of Covid-19; but I’ve created a separate list of things which will depend on the widespread release of Covid restrictions. Many on the lists are repeats (or near repeats) of items from last year – mostly because I couldn’t do them last year! As always some could turn out to be (relatively) easy; others are going to be harder.

So in some very vague priority order here are …

Ten Things To Do in 2021

  1. Survive Covid-19 and get vaccinated
  2. Reduce HbA1c to below 50
  3. Complete “Coordinate My Care”
  4. Fix how my family history, photographs, website etc. are preserved for posterity
  5. Get (more) involved with PCN PPG and CCG PERF
  6. Spend at least 2 hours/week taking photographs
  7. Family history: check/update Dora’s work on Cullingworth & Coker lines
  8. Family history: remove the brick walls in Marshall, Hicks, Nowers lines
  9. Be nude whenever possible & comfortable (home & elsewhere)
  10. Have something named after me (like a new species of dung beetle?)

Six Things to Attempt if Covid Restrictions Permit

  1. Have a monthly day out
  2. Do something not done before
  3. Go somewhere not been before
  4. Be drawn/painted/photographed nude (by someone not family)
  5. Revisit Brightwell Baldwin & Berrick Salome
  6. Revisit Hardingstone, Geddington, Earl’s Barton

I will, of course, report back this time next year, should the Kindly Ones continue to allow.

current affairs, personal

Horrible Times 16: Day 300

Happy New Year to everyone, from these dystopian times!

So we’ve arrived at Day 300 of my lockdown. Are we going to make it to a full year? Well given the current situation where everything is locked down until at least mid-February, it feels pretty much a certainty.

OK, so we’ve now got two Covid-19 vaccines approved in the UK (from Pfizer/BioNtech and Oxford/AstraZeneca). In that sense there is light at the end of the tunnel, although full deployment is going to take quite a while – like maybe a year. Yes, yes, I know what the government say, but do you really believe them? Although I hit 70 this month I don’t expect to get my first vaccine shot this side of Easter and it could well be later – does anyone know what the supply situation will be in two weeks, let alone two months?

But (there is always a but) we also have a new strain of Covid-19 which appears to be getting on for twice as infectious as the original. This has caused the number of cases of Covid-19 to increase rapidly again, undoing all the good work of the early-to-middle part of last year. It hasn’t been helped by the general stupidity of the (un)great British public who don’t seem to get the problem. But then the government also either don’t get the problem or they are terminally inept. (I suspect the latter; but maybe it’s both.) All of which means that although there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, the tunnel has just got a lot, lot longer – and with yesterdays announcement of stricter lockdown it got a lot, lot darker where we are.

London has been in Tier 4 restrictions (lockdown in all but name) for several weeks. While this is pretty strict, it doesn’t seem to be draconian enough. At long last the government seems to have come to realise this (for the whole country) with yesterday’s imposition of much stricter lockdown and schools & universities closed for face-to-face teaching (with a few exceptions) until at least mid-February. What larks!

Not that this makes a lot of difference to us. We’ve largely been living under “STAY AT HOME” rules since early March. I just feel sorry for those, like our friend Tom, who have no lifeline and have to work to keep the wolf from the door; and for those who are supposed to put their well-being at risk (not just healthcare workers, but supermarket staff, emergency services, …).

So I’m not going to give you a checklist of the good and not-so-good this time around; just a couple of points.

First of all Noreen has to a large extent (but not completely) recovered from the illness I mentioned back on Day 250. It turned out to be a very nasty case of cellulitis which required two weeks of daily trips to the hospital for IV antibiotics, and then a couple of weeks of attention from the District Nurses. We’re now in the healing phase. I won’t pretend that the whole episode wasn’t difficult in the extreme – for both of us! What was especially shocking was the speed and severity with which it hit, and one can quite see why in days of yore, and with no antibiotics, it would have killed people very quickly. On the other hand, with a very few exceptions, Noreen was hugely impressed with the skill and care of all sections of the NHS: our GP, the Practice nurses, hospital doctors and nurses, hospital transport, and the District Nurses; and we mustn’t forget the couple of friends who turned out to provide emergency transport at short notice. Another good thing is that it has made us both slow down some and get to bed at a more sensible hour.

Needless to say this put a large spanner in the works and meant our Christmas was exceptionally quiet and low-key even by our standards. For various reasons we ended up with a lot more meat than we could cope with (no, just don’t ask!) so we now have three large joints of various sorts in the freezer. We also have a good supply of wine, beer, gin, soup and chocolate laid in. Just as well given the weather is getting colder. It can’t be all bad!

So what next? Well who knows? I guess we just have to plod on and hope; there seems to be no guessing what’s going to happen next, nor what our lords and masters are (not) going to decree we must do. Surely 2021 can’t be as bad as 2020, can it?! But maybe I won’t put my last shirt on that.

With luck I’ll bring you another episode on Day 350 (Wednesday 24 February) by which time this new lockdown may be over – or it may not. Who knows?

Meanwhile please follow the rules and remember:

HANDS – FACE – SPACE

Oh and you’re not allowed out of your cabin on pain of being keel-hauled.

amusements, current affairs, personal, ramblings

Predictions for 2021

Once again this year I’ve disinterred my crystal ball and wiped the mud off. However it becomes cloudier by the day (yes, the ravages of age affect crystal balls too!) so despite regular consultations over the last month or so what follows are only my guesses at what may happen during 2021.

Actually this year I’ve found it very difficult to predict as there are too many unknowns and variables, and too much going on, due in large part to both Brexit and Covid-19. Hence the length of this year’s predictions.

As before, I’ve divided the predictions into sections: General, UK, World and Personal. Various items are redacted (although I have them documented) as some might be especially sensitive.

Disclaimer. I remind you that these are just my ideas of what could happen; they’re based solely on hunches and gut feel; I have no inside knowledge, I haven’t been studying the form, and I have a success rate of about 20%. So if you base any decision on any of this I will take no responsibility for your wanton act of idiocy or its consequences.

General

  1. This should be a year of change, of healing, of reassessing what’s important and of rebuilding. But I fear it won’t be! There are too many who want to instigate violent protest or will angrily protect their vested interests.
    Watch out for flashpoints in mid-February, mid-June and immediately before Christmas.
  2. If we do see a return to some semblance of normality, it is going to be late in the year and run on into 2022. Things will generally ease up in 4Q.
  3. We should also see the technological and green revolutions, as well as smarter working practices, take off. If they do it will be in the middle 6 months of the year.
  4. Watch out for travel delays and general buggeration during weeks 5-7, 21-25 and 39-41.
  5. Also watch out for change around the time of eclipses, especially in areas where they are visible. This year we have: Lunar eclipses on 26 May (visible round the pacific rim), 19 November (eastern Pacific and Americas); Solar eclipses on 10 June (Arctic) and 4 December (Antarctic).
  6. There are Supermoons on 27 April, 26 May and 24 June, and a Blue Moon on 22 August. These should all herald good news.

UK

  1. The Queen abdicates unexpectedly, on or shortly after her 95th birthday in April, citing failing health, and may die late in the year.
  2. Boris Johnson resigns as PM in March, partly due to poor health. In true Roman style he declares a Triumph saying he “got Brexit done”.
    His successor is likely to be Michael Gove or Rishi Sunak and will be an even worse culprit of nepotism and cronyism while introducing some fresh blood.
    There is no prospect of an early general election.
  3. There will be more division in politics and more stand-offs between local authorities and central government. Watch London, Manchester and Liverpool.
  4. Elections due to be held in May (eg. London Mayor) will go ahead despite Covid-19 still being rampant.
  5. Scottish independence referendum is possible in October/November but probably won’t happen until at least mid-2022 (and quite likely 2023).
    If it does happen, the result will be 55:45 in favour of independence.
  6. Government budget deficit hits £500bn with no immediate prospect of falling.
  7. UK GDP shrinks a further 5% year-on-year.
  8. Unemployment rises to 10%.
  9. Bank of England interest rate falls to 0% and could go negative.
  10. UK is in recession again by mid-year.
  11. In the Spring Budget:
    • Due to the budget deficit tax bands are not increased.
    • Tax rates are increased: 2% on both basic rate Income Tax and on VAT.
    • All UK pensions (state & private) are frozen by law for at least 3 years.
    • Duty on alcohol sold in pubs & restaurants is reduced by 30% in an attempt to help the industry.
    • Duty on alcohol off-sales, fuel and tobacco is increased.
  12. Major discontent (already brewing in the last days of 2020) when UK fishing industry realise they won’t get their full fishing quotas back post-Brexit.
  13. Despite the Brexit deal, there are major food shortages by February, due to Brexit import issues, effect of the new variant of Covid-19, and the lack of vaccinations. These could well last until June.
    Fruit & veg increases 50% in (retail) price – partly to constrain demand.
    Meat & fish also increase in price by 30%.
    Bread (and flour) prices double and supply is constrained due to poor 2020 grain harvests in UK and Canada as well as post-Brexit issues.
  14. There is major disruption to movement of goods between Northern Ireland and the UK mainland.
    The border between Northern Ireland and the Republic continues to be very porous.
    It is concluded that the only solutions are either a hard border with the Republic or the reunification of Ireland. Neither is politically acceptable, but then neither is the current situation. Meanwhile the disruption continues while politicians on all sides spend the year gibbering in their corners and paralysed with indecision.
    A temporary hard border is however required to try to constrain the spread of Covid19.
  15. The EU continues to impose travel restrictions on UK (due to Covid-19 and Brexit).
    Several countries follow France’s lead and insist that all UK travellers have visas to enter their country, regardless of reason or length of stay.
    As a consequence, travel outside the UK is difficult until mid-year.
  16. All of which stimulates a popular movement to rejoin the EU. This will build slowly over a number of years, but will not be taken at all seriously until after 2025.
  17. The government tries (again) to impose major reform on TfL. This leads to long-running industrial action by tube and bus workers and could see 30% of bus routes withdrawn permanently.
  18. A strike (or other significant industrial action) by energy workers (I’m not sure if this is electricity, gas or oil) seems likely – probably in February or November/December.
  19. Covid-19 wave 3 in January/February is due to the new strain of the virus and rules generally being ignored (especially in London and SE England). Lockdowns and restrictions (via tier) are ongoing until at least mid-year; this scuppers any hope of a quick recovery.
  20. Covid shuts UK schools & universities for three months (January to March is most likely) causing major confusion and disruption.
    Many degrees and GCSE/A-levels are devalued due to doubts over the level of teaching and study possible.
  21. There will be increased stress in 1Q and a further unexpected lockdown in 3Q. This fuels a further marked decline in mental health with antidepressant prescriptions up 25% during the year.
  22. There will be problems with Covid-19 vaccine supply until around Easter, when there will be a turning point.
    There will be another turning point around September time.
  23. A UK TV channel/company ceases broadcasting. Possibly Channel 5 or BBC3; less likely Sky or BBC4.
  24. One of UK’s eight major supermarkets goes under. Most likely: ASDA, Morrisons.
  25. The following will go into administration/cease trading as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic: Wetherspoons, Coda Falconry, Vagina Museum, 30% of pubs and restaurants, 30% of London theatres, Hull Trains, Eurostar.
  26. [[REDACTED]]
  27. There may well be a significant event (possibly a disaster) somewhere near Stoke-on-Trent and another in West Lothian.
  28. There is likely to be a major train crash, with at least 10 dead.
  29. Further structural damage will be found to London’s Hammersmith Bridge, and there may be a partial collapse. The bridge may have to be demolished.
  30. Other deaths: Prince Philip, another senior royal, Frank Field, Philip Green, Monty Don, Bill Turnbull, Tariq Ali.

World

  1. Trump continues to believe he won the election and refuses to leave the White House. He is finally removed in early February.
  2. The Trump presidency leaves the US in a terrible state with lots of last minute, vindictive orders which cannot be easily rolled back.
  3. Several Trump aides and family members are investigated for fraud and corruption, although prosecutions are hampered by non-cooperation and interference with witnesses.
  4. Trump declines to follow precedent and refuses to bequeath his papers to the state or endow a library for them.
  5. Joe Biden dies (probably due to a heart attack), leaving US with a woman president by default.
    This causes Trump to resurface and claim he should be President.
  6. 2021 could possibly see the death of Donald Trump.
  7. Expect several Covid-19 vaccines to be approved; most likely: Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson; there may be others.
    Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine will not be licensed in USA until there have been further trials.
    All western countries will license at least two of the above four.
  8. However a really good vaccine (effective with long lasting protection) is not available in sufficient quantity until at least mid-year and will take 12 months or more to deploy fully in western countries.
    In consequence travel and isolation restrictions remain in place into 2022.
  9. In good news there could well be some major medical breakthroughs. Cancer treatment looks to be the most likely.
  10. There’s all out war between China and India, which threatens to pull in Russia and USA.
  11. There is a crisis of some sort in North Korea (possibly the death of Kim Yong-un) which dangerously destabilises the country.
  12. There is also a destabilising crisis in Venezuela.
  13. A crisis in either Iraq or Iran could well descend into civil war.
  14. There will be a major Islamic-based attack in Europe.
  15. Japan starts dumping the tritium contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear site into sea.
  16. NASA’s Perseverance rover (to Mars) will fail on landing.
  17. Catastrophic failure and demise of ISS, possibly due to a debris strike – although any on-board astronauts are able to evacuate to safety prior to final explosion.
  18. Having returned to the skies, there’s another Boeing 737 MAX 8 crash, and the plane is grounded again.
    And at least one other major plane crash with over 100 dead.
  19. Two major airlines fail; Virgin Atlantic is probably finally one of them.
  20. There’s a major train crash somewhere in Europe
  21. A major financial institution fails – it’s not clear where, but the US, Italy or Greece seem likely.
  22. There may well be a significant event (possibly a disaster) somewhere around Spain or Portugal – possibly around the border between the two countries.
  23. A magnitude 7 earthquake is likely in one of the countries on the west coast of South America.
    There will also be a magnitude 6 quake on the west coast of the USA.
    And at least one major volcanic eruption which causes disruption to air travel.
  24. The world’s weather will be slightly cooler than in recent years (due to El Niña) but there will be an increase in the number and severity of storms and hurricanes.
  25. Other Deaths: Bolsonaro, another prominent international politician (possibly Merkel), Rupert Murdoch, a current F1 driver.

Personal

  1. Family 1: [[REDACTED]]
  2. Family 2: [[REDACTED]]
  3. Friends 1: [[REDACTED]]
  4. Friends 2: [[REDACTED]]
  5. Friends 3: [[REDACTED]]
  6. Miscellaneous 1: [[REDACTED]]
  7. Deaths: [[REDACTED]]

These have all been redacted as the content is bound to be sensitive to people I know, however they are documented in my files and will be reported on at the end of the year.

Obviously I shall keep a tally and will publish the results at the end of the year. Let’s hope we actually get a better year this year than we did last and that much of the above doesn’t come to pass.

amusements, current affairs, personal, ramblings

Predictions for 2020: The Results

This time last year I made a long series of predictions about what would happen during 2020. So what did I get right, and what wrong?

[Some of the items remain redacted to protect the sensitive and innocent.]

UK

  1. Look out for natural disasters around 9-10/02 (snow), 9-10/03, 7-8/04 (very wet Easter), 6-7/05 (financial crash) (all of these dates are moon at perigee and full). CORRECT for 9-10/02 with Storm Ciara bringing heavy rain and high winds, with snow in the north. CORRECT for 9-10/03 which was again very wet and windy. VOID for 6-7/05 as this was an erroneous date for moon at perigee.
    Also 30-31/10 (plane crash) (moon is at apogee, full and a Blue Moon). WRONG
  2. Penumbral lunar eclipse (visible in London) 10/01, 05/06, 05/07, 30/11 may also presage problems. CORRECT for 10/01 with the beginnings of the emergence of Covid-19. WRONG. for the other dates.
  3. UK leaves EU on 31/01: UK will not request a further extension and anyway the EU wouldn’t grant it. CORRECT
    Leave deal will be unsatisfactory (basically the deal of 10/2019, passed due to Tory majority in the new parliament) containing many Henry VIII clauses (many of which will be abused before YE). CORRECT
  4. Government cannot agree a trade deal with EU by YE. WRONG
    If the EU proposes an extension beyond YE 2020 the UK government will refuse it, thus cementing a total “no deal” Brexit. CORRECT; no extension was offered; indeed the UK government indicated it didn’t want any extension.
  5. Boris Johnson continues to believe in unicorns and will ride out the economic turmoil following Brexit. CORRECT so far.
  6. Corbin is replaced as Labour Leader by a woman; possibly one of Yvette Cooper, Stella Creasy, Angela Eagle, Angela Rayner. (Predicted before the runners and riders were declared.) CORRECT in that Corbin was replaced. However WRONG that the new leader would be female. Also WRONG that the named females would be in the final running for leader.
  7. Despite attempts by UK and Ireland, the parties in Ulster are unable to agree a power sharing administration. WRONG; a new administration was agreed in January.
  8. There’s a move to reunite Ireland as the post-Brexit border is unworkable. This could stimulate Sinn Féin take their seats at Westminster to try to push through the reunification. WRONG on all counts there.
  9. Scotland is denied an independence referendum in 2020 by Westminster and fails to get a Supreme Court ruling in it’s favour. CORRECT that BJ would deny Scotland another referendum.
    The SNP will build resentment against Westminster in order to win elections (and maybe a referendum) in 2021/22. WRONG in that there is no major sign of SNP building discontent (more than normal).
  10. Increasing calls for reform of electoral system (to some form of proportional representation) but they’re continually blocked by the government who implement boundary changes to cement their position. WRONG
  11. HS2 gets the go-ahead and a feasibility study into extensions to Edinburgh/Glasgow and Cardiff. CORRECT; HS2 was given the go-ahead in February, with a proposal to extend to Glasgow surfacing in June.
  12. Fracking is allowed to restart. WRONG; in fact Cuadrilla (who have the only UK fracking licence) have surrendered the fracking part of their licence.
  13. Sadiq Khan wins a second term as London Mayor – but only just. VOID as the elections have been postponed to 2021 due to Covid-19.
  14. Nigel Farage gets a peerage; John Bercow, Kenneth Clarke and Dominic Grieve do not. WRONG about Farage and Clarke. CORRECT about Bercow and Grieve.
  15. Appointees to the Supreme Court (eg. the replacement for Lady Hale) are seen as being clearly political appointees, rather than appropriate legals. WRONG as far as I am aware.
  16. Because of the economic turmoil the UK is in recession by YE. CORRECT; UK officially in recession by August, largely due to Covid-19.
    Unemployment hits 10%. WRONG; September’s unemployment was just 4.8%.
    Bank of England Interest Rate returns to 0%. WRONG; base rate was reduced but only to 0.1%.
  17. Sterling plummets against dollar and Euro following the UK’s exit from the EU. CORRECT for Euro which fell from €1.18 to €1.11. WRONG for US Dollar which rose from $1.32 to $1.37.
  18. Inflation rises to at least 10% by YE, mainly due to large cost increases in the food industry and hospitality sector. WRONG
  19. FTSE falls 10% cf. start of year – due to Brexit and the financial crash. CORRECT; due to Brexit and Covid-19 the FTSE100 fell by 12.8% over the year.
  20. Financial crash, probably in early May, with the possibility that a bank will fail. WRONG
  21. S&P and/or Moody’s downgrade UK creditworthiness by two levels. WRONG
  22. Mortgage interest rates hit 10% before YE. WRONG
    Average UK house prices fall by at least 10%. WRONG according to the ONS they increased by around 5%.
    Repossessions double. WRONG; repossessions fell dramatically although there was a significant rise in home owners with serious payment arrears.
  23. Pensions (private & state) are compulsorily frozen. WRONG
  24. Drug prices double as the US buys up the NHS. WRONG; if this has happened it’s been well hidden.
    Prescription charges are extended to everyone with no exemptions. WRONG
  25. Either ASDA or Morrison’s fails or is taken over. CORRECT; ASDA was bought from Walmart.
    Debenhams finally fails. CORRECT
    Major problems for M&S and/or John Lewis – a partnership between the two looks likely. CORRECT about problems for both M&S and JLP although WRONG about an M&S/JLP tie-up.
  26. Major drug/alcohol or fraud/fixing issue uncovered in one or more of UK athletics, rugby, cricket. WRONG
  27. Extinction Rebellion fizzles out. PARTLY CORRECT in that ER have gone very quiet although they’re still around.
  28. Diane Abbott and Theresa May are diagnosed with long-term illnesses. WRONG as far as we know.
  29. Magnitude 4 or greater earthquake somewhere in UK. PARTLY CORRECT as there was a Mag 3.9 quake in Uxbridge in September.
  30. At least 200 deaths in illegal migration attempts to the UK. VOID as I’ve been unable to find any consolidated data.
  31. Plans announced to replace the Thames Barrier; work to start 2025 and complete 2040. WRONG
  32. Announcement that London congestion charge zone will be expanded out to N & S Circulars in 2025/6. PARTLY CORRECT; this was proposed by government (and sooner than 2025/6) as part of a deal to provide extra funding for TfL; however it was eventually removed.
  33. Relatively mild wet January/February followed by a cold wet spring & summer thus ensuring a poor fruit and grain harvest. WRONG as the winter was not especially warmer or wetter than of late; but CORRECT about the cool, wet Spring and Summer and the ensuing poor harvest.
  34. Death of the Queen and Prince Philip. Possibly also Prince Charles, in an accident. William becomes King by YE. WRONG on every count.
  35. Other Deaths: Edwina Currie, Gordon Brown, a royal duke, Kenneth Clarke, Jeffrey Archer, Dennis Skinner, Lord Heseltine, Lord Gowrie. WRONG on every count.

World

  1. Trump wins 2020 Presidential election due to Democrat dissent over their candidate. WRONG
  2. Saudi Arabia drastically cuts oil exports amid internecine turmoil. CORRECT; Saudi Arabia did cut oil exports but due to a fall in demand because of Covid-19.
  3. Zimbabwe finally succumbs to outright civil war which spills over into South Africa. WRONG
  4. South American countries descend further into right-wing government. WRONG
  5. Rate of Amazonian deforestation increases. CORRECT
    Global temperature and CO2 emissions continue to rise. CORRECT
    The COP26 climate talks in Glasgow (in November) end in disagreement and failure. VOID as the talks were postponed due to Covid-19.
  6. Major violence (civil war?) in Turkey. WRONG
  7. Violent uprising continues in Hong Kong and India. CORRECT for both Hong Kong and India.
  8. Russia annexes one of the Baltic states. WRONG
  9. Big solar geomagnetic storm causes major breakdown of satellites and infrastructure, probably across North America but possibly elsewhere. WRONG
  10. Collision between two operational satellites (maybe as a result of geomagnetic storm). PARTLY CORRECT in that two (non-operational) satellites had a very close near-miss in January.
  11. Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Crew Dragon both launch crewed capsules. One of them fails with loss of the crew. CORRECT in that SpaceX did launch crew, and in fact took crew to ISS. WRONG about a Boeing Starliner crewed mission and loss of crew in a failure.
  12. At least one other major space mission fails. PARTLY CORRECT; with 10 orbital launch failures out of 112 (9%) this has been the most mission failures in a year since 1971.
  13. Magnitude 7 or greater earthquake in California and another in Peru. WRONG
  14. Greta Thunberg is burnt out and sinks out of sight to complete her education. PARTLY CORRECT in that Thunberg has gone very quiet although she’s still around.
  15. At least one major global IT company fails (or is saved only by a takeover). WRONG
    Also a major airline and a shipping line. CORRECT for airlines; see, inter alia, Air Italy, Flybe, Virgin Atlantic.
    VOID for shipping as again I can find no good data, but given the state of the shipping industry it seems likely there were major failures.
  16. Major plane crash in western Europe – possibly France – possibly controlled flight into terrain. PARTLY CORRECT Ukrainian Boeing came down near Tehran; all 176 onboard lost.
  17. Ebola flares again in central Africa. CORRECT; there was an outbreak in DRC between June and November.
  18. Significant new disease emerges (as MERS and SARS did); concern at possible pandemic. CORRECT (in Spades!) with the emergence of pandemic Covid-19.
  19. Number of western countries ban vaping or include it in their anti-smoking regulations. WRONG
  20. Amazon and/or Facebook is involved in a major anti-trust or privacy law suit. CORRECT; Facebook is facing major (anti-trust?) law suits in USA.
  21. Deaths: Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Dalai Lama, Angela Merkel, Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch. WRONG on all counts.

Personal

  1. Personal (a), (b): [[REDACTED]] WRONG
  2. Neighbours1 (a), (b): [[REDACTED]] WRONG
  3. Neighbours2: [[REDACTED]] WRONG
  4. Neighbours3: [[REDACTED]] WRONG
  5. Local Community1 (a), (b), (c): [[REDACTED]] (a) & (c) WRONG; (b) CORRECT
  6. Local Community2 (a), (b): [[REDACTED]] (a) CORRECT; (b) WRONG
  7. Local Community3: [[REDACTED]] WRONG
  8. Friends1 (a), (b): [[REDACTED]] WRONG
  9. Friends2 (a), (b), (c): [[REDACTED]] (a) CORRECT; (b) & (c) WRONG
  10. Friends3: [[REDACTED]] WRONG to the best of my knowledge
  11. Friends4 (a), (b): [[REDACTED]] WRONG
  12. Friends5 (a), (b): [[REDACTED]] WRONG but only just
  13. Friends6: [[REDACTED]] CORRECT
  14. Friends7: [[REDACTED]] WRONG to the best of my knowledge
  15. Deaths: 11 named individuals [[REDACTED]] CORRECT for two individuals; WRONG for the other nine to the best of my knowledge.

These have all been redacted as the content is bound to be sensitive to people I know, however they are documented in my files and will be reported on at the end of the year.

Yet again this is a pathetic hit rate, although in my defence I suggest that really all bets were off this year due to Covid-19.

Tomorrow I’ll post my predictions for 2021. Watch this space.

personal

My 2020 in Summary

Traditionally at this time I look back at my achievements and engagement (or, more usually the lack of it) over the past year.

But how the hell does one assess anything for 2020? Coronavirus has killed just about any pretence at achieving anything one was thinking of this time last year. But let’s see exactly what the damage is.

At the beginning of the year I posted My 12 Things To Do in 2020. This is what happened.

  1. Reduce my HbA1c to 50 or below.
    FAIL; although it has gone up from 52 to 53, my diabetic nurse is actually pleased as lockdown etc. has made many people’s blood glucose control very much worse.
  2. Get involved with PCN and CCG PPGs.
    DONE for CCG; if not as much as I would have liked due to a lack of meetings.
    FAIL for PCN; our local GP network has been conspicuously not engaging with patients this year.
  3. Have a monthly day out.
    FAIL; not a chance due to Covid-19.
  4. Do something not done before.
    DONE as much as possible: just before lockdown I did get a haircut from the late Lady Thatcher’s hairdresser. (And that’s about as good as this year was ever going to get!)
  5. Go somewhere not been before.
    FAIL; not a chance with Covid-19.
  6. Spend at least 4 hours a month taking photographs.
    DONE; averaged over the year I actually did manage this although nothing exciting as it was all around home.
  7. Family history: validate my mother’s work on Cullingworth/Coker line.
    FAIL; although I’ve done a reasonable amount of family history I’ve hardly touched my mother’s side.
  8. Be drawn/painted/photographed nude (by someone not family).
    FAIL; again it was never going to happen during Covid-19.
  9. Visit the Vagina Museum.
    FAIL; another which wasn’t going to happen, and which I’m now not sure is worth the effort.
  10. Revisit Brightwell Baldwin & Berrick Salome.
    FAIL; and one more which Covid-19 scuppered.
  11. Revisit Hardingstone, Geddington, Earl’s Barton.
    FAIL; and the same again.
  12. Be nude whenever possible & comfortable (home & elsewhere).
    DONE; I have at least been able to achieve this due to sitting around at home with almost no visitors nor any reason to go out.

Well that’s 3½ achieved out of 12, which given that about 50% were never going to be achievable as this year turned out is probably not bad.

Looking at the year through the usual two dozen questions is an interesting mixed bag.

  1. What did you do that you’d never done before?
    Had a haircut from the late Lady Thatcher’s hairdresser just before lockdown in March.
  2. What would you like to have in 2021 that you lacked in 2020?
    Elimination of Covid-19 – or failing that pervasive vaccination.
    Plus, as always, health, wealth and wisdom; peace and tranquillity.
  3. What dates from 2020 will remain etched upon your memory?
    Wednesday 11 March – see 1. above.
    Monday 21 December – death of my favourite aunt.
  4. Did you suffer illness or injury?
    Luckily no, beyond the usual odd cold.
  5. Did you gain or lose weight this year?
    I’m maybe very slightly lighter, but only very slightly.
  6. What was the best thing you bought?
    My new camera, as my birthday present to me.
  7. Compared with last year, are you richer or poorer?
    Surprisingly we are a little better off as we’ve been able to save a more money this year.
  8. Where did most of your money go?
    Into other people’s pockets, although we did manage to save more.
  9. What did you get really, really excited about?
    Nothing. I keep telling you I don’t do excitement.
  10. Are you happier or sadder than you were a year ago?
    Sadder; the depression has been made worse by Covid-19 lockdown etc.
  11. What do you wish you’d done more of?
    Given that one hasn’t been able to go jollying about I’ll say the same as last year: sitting in the sun in the garden.
  12. What do you wish you’d done less of?
    Staring at a computer screen while trying to make myself overcome the depression, get out of my chair, and actually do something.
  13. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
    Survival – that’s a major achievement for most people this year!
  14. What was your biggest failure?
    Definitely the depression, which accounts for many of the other failures.
  15. What was your favourite TV program?
    Yet again I’ve watched hardly any TV all year.
  16. What was the best book you read?
    Katie Mack; The End of Everything: (Astrophysically Speaking)
  17. What did you want and get?
    My new camera (see above).
  18. What did you want and not get?
    Freedom from the restrictions of Covid-19 and Brexit, but failing that a big lottery win would have been good.
  19. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
    Any one (or preferably all of): (a) cancellation of Brexit, (b) freedom from Covid-19, (c) that big lottery win.
  20. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2020?
    Non-existent.
  21. What kept you sane?
    How can anyone have remained sane this year?
  22. Who did you miss?
    All those people I couldn’t see due to Covid-19.
  23. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2020.
    Never underestimate the power of stupid people, nor the stupidity of powerful people.
  24. A quote or song lyric that sums up your year.
    I’m at that awkward stage between birth and death.
  25. Your hopes for 2021.
    The demise of Covid-19 and a return to something approaching normality.

There’s no overall score this year. How could one possibly evaluate a year like 2020?

But enough of me. How good wasn’t your 2020? And what are your hopes for 2021?

amusements, memes

Things to Think About: January

This year we’re beginning each month with a (potentially logical) oddity to think about, and to keep the brain cells active. This month:

What if my dog only brings back the ball because he thinks I like throwing it?

Please leave your thoughts in the comments.

history, links, medical, natural history, science, sexuality

Monthly Links

And so for the last time this year here is my monthly round-up of links to items you may have previously missed. And this month we have a bumper crop …

Science, Technology, Natural World

Our favourite Cosmologist, Katie Mack, explains the vastness of space and the universe, and what it means. [LONG READ]

The Voyager spacecraft are still sending surprise data back to Earth after over 40years.

It looks as if Earth may have captured a 1960s rocket booster.

Even nearer to home, and following up on a report from a couple of months back, researchers continue to investigate fluorescence amongst Australia’s marsupials.

A non-native dormouse (below) has been found in England’s New Forest after apparently arriving from France as a stowaway.

Researchers are using ivory from a 16th-century shipwreck off Africa to discover more about African elephants.

Scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have described over 150 new plant species this year; almost 20% are fungi and a third are orchids, including the world’s ugliest orchid. Six of the new species are from the UK.

Mistletoe is a much misunderstood plant. Here are two articles: the first about its strange parasitic way of life [LONG READ], the second about it’s strange genetics.

Scientists are coming to realise that there are many species which are so alike they’ve been classified as a single species; but now DNA is helping to separate them.

Finally in this section, we’re right back down to Earth … rocks mined over 200 years ago in Cornwall have yielded a hitherto unknown mineral, which has been christened Kernowite.

Sexuality

A more than slightly worrying account of FGM in Victorian England.

On how our medieval Christian ancestors did not treat sex with the utmost reverence, despite the protestations of Holy Mother Church.

Male masturbation has long been considered by society as shameful and harmful, but it is now receiving medical approval.

A few things here I didn’t know about the menopause (why would I?) although most I did.

Environment

2020 has been a good year for England’s beavers. Here are two BBC reports: first a general overview; and second on the first beaver dam on Exmoor for 400 years.

There’s a plan afoot to boost biodiversity by encouraging natural wildflower meadows on the verges of new roads in England.

Social Sciences, Business, Law

Two years ago Gatwick Airport was shut down by sightings of drones. The culprits have never been found and the whole incident remains mired in mystery, as the Guardian report. [LONG READ]

Art, Literature, Language

What’s on a 70-year-old roll of unprocessed film? Someone unidentified’s long lost holiday snaps.

A very amusing erotic Greek terracotta vase.

History, Archaeology, Anthropology

Archaeologists have discovered a stunning collection of ancient rock art deep in the remote Amazon forest. Two reports from the Guardian and the BBC.

Meanwhile in England archaeologists have uncovered a large mid-5th-century mosaic at Chedworth Roman Villa.

29 December 2020 was thee 850th anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket; an event which shook the Middle Ages.

On the meaning of Advent in medieval times.

Refurbishment of an unpreposessing shop in the London suburb of Chipping Barnet has revealed a wooden framework dating from 14th-century.

London

IanVisits explores the mystery of Dick Whittington’s stone in Highgate.

Food, Drink

Well who would have guessed that we would have domesticated yeast by making bread?

There is a current suggestion that an appreciation of wine increases with age.

Lifestyle, Personal Development, Beliefs

2020 has seen many of us curtail the amount of personal grooming we do. Three women tell the Guardian about their experiences of changing their hair care routine.

And finally … scars tell the stories of our survival: five people tell Laura Dodsworth the stories of their scars.

That’s all folks! More next month, DV.

amusements, pleasures

Amusements of the Year, 2020

Here’s my usual round-up of things which have amused me during the year. Unsurprisingly this has not been a vintage year for amusement.

Product of the Year
This is one of the few categories which has done reasonably well again this year. Here are the top three:

Vagina Scented Candle
No really! Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP have been selling a candle called THIS SMELLS LIKE MY VAGINA. Hmmmm … OK!

White Chocolate Brain
Freezer supermarket Iceland were selling this beauty in the run-up to Halloween. Sadly it now appears to be discontinued.

100% Halal Mini Assorted Liquorice Pencils with Fondant Filling
Buy these on Amazon!

Headline

Skin cream applied to mosquito bites stops viruses infecting mice
according to New Scientist back in January.

Truth of the Year
Well there really is only one contender. As John Crace in the Guardian said: Boris’s speech was designed as a quick win. Then he opened his mouth.

Plonker of the Year
Again there is but one (collection) of contenders: the whole of the UK Cabinet.

Blog
Not just for its amusement value but also as a serious exploration of history this year’s nomination is the Going Medieval blog written by academic Dr Eleanor Janega. It describes itself as Medieval History, Pop Culture, Swearing.

Research Topic
Back in the early part of the year the following was posted on Twitter:
Open PhD position at Linköping University in Sweden on the effects of domestication on brain structure in relation to social cognition in chickens.

Auction Item
As regular readers will know, we love the strange things which people sell at auctions. This year’s superlative has to be from our local auction house in February:
A life size model of Elvis Presley seated on a stool playing his guitar.

Personal Name
The top three names encountered this year are:

  • Superintendent Pigg, of the Metropolitan Police.
  • Will Welfare, who in February was interim deputy director of health protection for Public Health England North West.
  • Leonardi Da Vinci Williams (died 1846, Lambeth), who I found while doing family history research.

Place Name
Family history research also told us about
Madams Court Farm near Sittingbourne which is owned by the Hooker family.

Neologism
This year’s award is shared five ways by:

  • pseudo-profound bullshit (as in most self-help books)
  • friendly neighbourhood courtesan (a quality prostitute)
  • luxury companion (also a quality prostitute)
  • vaginal wedge (as they say on Oz: map of Tasmania)
  • rapid unscheduled disassembly (it blew up!)

Animal
So now to our animal of the year, where we have two winners but for different reasons.

First place goes to Magawa, the African Giant Pouched Rat who has been honoured for his work helping clear landmines.

Secondly there is the recently rediscovered Somali Sengi, a tiny elephant shrew which “mates for life, can race around at 30km/h and sucks up ants with its trunk-like nose”.

Occupation
This year’s occupation is Nob Thatcher, ie. a wig-maker.

Word
A three-way tie here this year:

  • Picatrix (Ancient Roman). A girl who administered the equivalent of a bikini waxing.
  • Meretrix (Ancient Roman). A prostitute.
  • Yellowplush (early 19th-century). Epithet for a footman, after their often yellow plush leggings (think the Frog and Fish footmen in Alice in Wonderland).

Marketing Bollocks
Well it’s all “marketing bollocks” really, isn’t it? But this year’s superlative goes to this from the cosmetics company Lush:

As you close your eyes and inhale frankincense oil, you see yourself walking in a pine and eucalyptus forest, your steps taking you to a sun-bathed clearing. Here, a steamy spring welcomes you in its warm and surprisingly citrus-scented water. While you thought you couldn’t be more relaxed, a misty incense smoke spreads around you, balancing and settling your mind.

OK, so that’s all for this year’s edition. We’ll be looking out for brilliance again next year; contributions are always welcome. Let’s see if we can make it a vintage year!

Meanwhile remember, folks: Losers eat turnips and don’t have a pastry chef.