Coronavirus diary, Saturday 7 November

£210 billion. That is the astronomical cost of keeping Britain working - and Chancellor Rishi Sunak is shovelling out extra billions by the week. Money we have not got but will have to pay back over years.

It set me thinking about money, spending and saving, and what it has meant in my life.

I have been lucky. Rosemary and I had good homes and a happy life bringing up our family, with no real money worries.

I was much better off than my grandparents and my parents. 

When my grandfather died young, Granny Dymond was left with six children, the youngest a baby, and my mother and her brother Walter had to take over. Then came the first war and hard years.

Life was not easy for Mum and Dad when they married after he came back from the war and their family was growing up in West Ham and then Wandsworth.

Money was short, especially when Dad was off work ill for months, 

My first experience of handling money was my 'Saturday penny' pocket money.

It did not burn a hole in my pocket. I was off to the sweet shop and it would be replaced by sweets, often a Mars bar, considerably bigger than today's.

My first windfall was a sixpenny piece , a reward from Mum and Dad for doing well at Cave Road infants school. This time it was the toyshop.

In those days, unlike today, we youngsters, even if we had money, had little to spend it on.  

A memeorable treat for young Bob was a shopping visit with Mum to Capham Junction and a 'sit down' ice cream in Lyons cafe. Twopence If I was lucky I even had chocolate sauce, halfpenny extra.

My money earning days started when, at sixteen, I became the Penarth Times reporter. My first wage, fifteen shillings a week. 

Finance became more important in 1952 when newly married Rosemary and I moved into our first home, 52 Cardiff Road Caerphilly. It cost us nothing, it was provided by the South Wales Argus as my Rhymney Valley district office.

A money milestone in my career was reaching £1,000 a year and then years of freelance work with national papers and BBC broadcasting boosted my pay - always in guineas, not pounds.

Rosemary and Bob at Ayers Rock (Uluru), Australia

My switch from reporting to a new, long career  in public relations provided a comfortable lifestyle, especially after retirement when Rosemary and I enjoyed travelling.

Now my savings are paying for me to enjoy living comfortably in  Sunrise.

How different life will be for today's young people, struggling to find work and to repay vast debts.

Coronavirus diary, Friday 6 November

While England starts a one month new lockdown today, Wales will will get a taste of greater freedom on Monday.

It has been a rough few months but people generally have accepted it and, let's hope, will start to enjoy life a little more.

For the whole nation the next four weeks will be crucial - how often have we said that? - perhaps paving the way for some form of happy Christmas. 

No-one has more at stake than the prime minister whose future seems to be in the balance.

Not that he is likely to throw in his hand - yet - that would be too historic, but it would lessen the tension within the government and the party, giving him breathing space.

In a way, he deserves it despite his failings.

Over the past fraught months no-one could have made all the right moves although they might have at least have been more definite, giving bolder leadership to carry the people with them.

Since he surprisingly convinced the country he was the man to achieve Brexit and lead Britain to an exciting, prosperous future free from the EU his plans have been shattered by coronavirus.

If - and it is a big if - the pandemic is tamed, we may again see the ebullient, optimistic Boris. 

A relieved public might start to forgive, if not to forget, his mishandling of the crisis.

And it will be years before the final reckoning and the full story comes out with the public inquiry.

Politics has seen these turnarounds before.

Just think how the hated Mrs Margaret Thatcher was saved when she won the Falklands war.

Coronavirus diary, Thursday 5 November

2020, a monumentally disastrous year, is coming to a close. So. where are we? What can we look forward to in 2021? 

Judging by the past tortuous eight months the prospect is more uncertainty.

Will the latest measures halt the second wave, test and tracing finally get on track, a vaccine be found, a solution to nursing home problems?

We just don't know, but we must keep going as best we can. Coronavirus won't be around forever and the world will get back to work and play, memories of a desperate period in our history fading. 

Here in Sunrise life is back to quiet, safety first routine. We are getting over the disappointment and sadness of losing two of our oldest residents and being alone in our rooms, some for weeks.

It is almost six weeks since I tested positive and at first thought. I could fight off the virus. 

But my condition worsened and I was taken to hospital where, after a difficult three weeks, I improved enough to come back home.

Now I am learning to be independent again, helped, as alway, by the magnificent carers, improving day by day and hoping to be able to rejoin the Sunrise family in the next ten days. 

Then, on my 94th birthday. Had life returned to normal, I would have had a family celebration here.

There is the lavish Sunrise Christmas to look forward to and then we  we will be into 2021 

I am optimistic enough to  think it could be an exciting time.

If the coronavirus tide has ebbed I can see a burst of energy and initiative.

After almost a year of restrictions people will flood back to the shops, to sport, entertainment and holidays to make up for lost time.

The loss of jobs will be offset by an increasing number of start up businesses large and small, founded by new entrepreneurs to add to the millions of small businesses  boosted by new enthusiasm and opportunies. 

Despite its dire coronavirus record and all the confusion created by the election, the US economy is recovering and that could well be the pattern for the UK.

We will see.

Coronavirus diary, Wednesday 4 November

The coronavirus second surge is serious and, amid the upheaval of new lockdown restrictions in England and lessening in Wales, I detect signs of an improvement in people's mood and reaction.

The frustration of on-and-off  breaks is being softened by people and businesses taking the opportunity, on the eve of the new lockdown, to get out for a meal, drink and even start their Christmas shopping.

Some of the major stores are encouraging this by keeping open longer.

The need for strict control after the tiered system of control seems to be generally acceptable.

The end of the lockdown in Wales is a relief after a torrid time.

Mark Drakeford, the First Minister, has been the most assured of the country's leaders, showing calm yet firmness compared with Boris Johnson.

News stories from around the world - the US election, earthquake in Turkey and the terrorist attacks - have in a way been a relief from the coronavirus. At least they show that there is a world out there where things things are happening all the time.

So, onto he next few weeks, perhaps the most critical so far.

Coronavirus diary, Tuesday 3 November

Millions of people and businesses are being overwhelmed, drowned by the pandemic tsunami but there is another, controversial side to the saga. 

Some people and businesses are enjoying a boom time, waving, not drowning.

While the hospitality and aviation industry are in a desperate situation some areas of business are flourishing.

Supermarkets, pharmaceutical giants, fast food, take away and delivery firms, even up-market leisure wear companies are cashing in on others' misfortune, meeting the needs of lockdown. 

But it is the giant corporations that are raking in the cash. 

An Oxfam report reveals that most of the top US corporations including Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Facebook are making 'dramatic, extraordinary' profits, providing a range of high tech information services for business and the public.

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is flush with pandemic profits 

Netflix doubled its subscription numbers 

Apple made over 58 billion dollars in three months despite closing all its stores.

Microsoft had a record 90 million users of its gaming service.

Amazon with its range of services is forging ahead.

Cloud computing, used by virtually all businesses to provide vital computing, storage and networking services, is fuelling the boom. 

Zoom, formerly a conference provider, has become a household name, bringing people from all over the world together for business and pleasure, its profits trebling, rocketing by 169%.

Concerned by the extravagance, Oxfam is calling for an excess profits tax.

Among this welter of profiteering the most dubious, I think, is the massive increase in hedge fund bargain hunting. 

With billions of pounds available world wide and easier financial regulations they are snapping up struggling and failed businesses with an eye to big profits ahead.

Altogether a sad story. But that's business, and life today.

Coronavirus diary, Monday 2 November

Scooting around!

What a change of lifestyle - again.  I am almost independent once more.

When  I came  back to Sunrise I wondered how I would manage to get around the flat with my booted broken ankle and the weakness after three weeks in bed.

It has been a struggle. Using my hospital walking aid I at first shuffled along a foot or so at a time. Slow and painful going. 

Then, yesterday, I realised I had my own transport - my scooter sitting in the corner. Problem solved.

Carers reorganised some of the furniture to make space.

Now, sitting comfortably, I can move effortlessly around the flat.

I can drive into the bedroom and bathroom - I can now shave myself, sitting down, and this morning I managed my first shower.

Now, able to  reach everything I need without calling for help I feel much freer - and happier.

I am sleeping well, enjoying the meals brought to my room and, even better. being able to chat, even if briefly, with the carers.

I think I shall have to stay in my room for another week or so but that is no hardship.

I made the right choice with my Turret suite and am getting back to a more normal life. I am so fortunate. 

Coronavirus diary, Sunday 1 November

The continuous scrutiny of how countries are dealing with the second wave is proving pointless. Most countries in Europe are in the same plight as, or even worse than, the UK. France, Spain and even Germany, lauded for its success so far, are again under serious threat with strict new lockdowns. 

The global position is intriguing and mystifying with far east countries more successful. The reason appears to be the preparations made for such an epidemic and the successful tracing system. New Zealand and Australia have had a different approach with Melbourne enduring the heaviest restrictions, which after many months appears to be paying off.

As for Britain, it is muddle and hope as usual with Mr Johnson reluctantly and belatedly introducing a new lockdown for England. The pick and mix policy of the UK nations is not helping or giving the public confidence. The emphasis on Christmas is adding to the worry and frustration. Important, yes, but not important enough to risk many thousands more cases and more deaths Christmas is our latest obsession and that is ridiculous. 

Politically, Mr Johnson is struggling, again failing to offer bold leadership and being out-thought and outflanked by Keir Starmer, who has consistently argued for a new lockdown. The next few weeks will be critical in the campaign against Covid. What is different?