Coronavirus diary, Saturday 14 November

Party politics should have no place when the country is stricken by the pandemic.

Ideally, the parties might have got together to form a coalition as in the last war but the lack of leadership and decisive action over the past months is making a dangerous experience worse. 

Now, the government itself is in crisis with top advisers and civil  servants resigning. The sudden upheaval  could be disastrous.

It has outraged and dismayed the public that has largely followed advice and rules even if those rules are confusing. 

The prime minister is said to be thinking of 'resetting' the style of government to steady the party ship and reassure his minisers, MPs and the public.

It would be better to have a leader confident in his own judgement, not relying on aides and advisers who can be here today and gone tomorrow.

Party politics is wrong and irrelevant today but there could be a reckoning in four years unless the government regains poise, nd confidence and firmer judgement.

Coronavirus diary, Friday 13 November

It is just as well we have the vaccine news to cheer us as the pandemic shows no sign of relaxing its relentless grip. 

The figures are very worrying.

In the UK, the second wave seems to be at its peak, with 33,000 news cases in a day - the most since the start of the pandemic and the death toll passing 50,000.

Over half the country is now under some level of lockdown.

The knock-on effect of coronavirus is just as serious. 

Millions more lives are at risk due to the backlog of diagnosis and treatment of other illnesses, mounting by the week, and the vulnerability of care home residents, deprived of visitors for months. 

This has prompted a media campaign for a more humane approach, especially for  dementia sufferers. 

The test and trace system is still not functioning properly - in England at least - although once again we have  the promise of an answer, an almost instantaneous tests system backed by the army.

Thee overall picture is clouded by the different approach taken by the devolved countries, with on and off restrictions. 

Adding to the uncertainty is an upheaval in government with  key figures, including the prime minister's key advisers resigning 

All this underlines the danger of relaxing, of being carried away by the vaccine hope.

Coronavirus diary, Thursday 12 November

Bob and his scooter

After more than 70 years driving I thought I would miss being behind the wheel. But I have found the answer - my shiny blue and silver electric scooter.

With its headlights, direction indicators and even a horn, it is ready for the road, top speed 8mph, or pavement, 4mph.

I was just starting to enjoy getting out and about, to the park and shops, when lockdown came eight months ago. The scooter has sat silently and sadly in my room ever since. 

Until this week, when it became my lifeline. With my heavily strapped broken ankle making movement painful and difficult, the scooter came to the rescue.

Now I am driving again all day, indoors, around my flat.

Bob on the starting grid...

It's my mini Monte Carlo circuit. 

Top speed, about 1mph -  on the straight - the 30 foot living room with detours into my bathroom and bedroom - watch that chair! 

Down to the restaurant for meals, painfully sliding from scooter to chair. 

Tired after a day 'on the road', it's time for bed.

My last journey. Into the dark bedroom, driving straight for the bed.

Headlights blazing, I tumble in.

Hard work driving, but exciting

Watch out, Mr Hamilton.

Coronavirus diary, Wednesday 11 November

What a difference a day makes.

The frustration and gloom of months has changed to hope and optimism on the vaccine news, literally a shot in the arm.  

For the first time for months good news has replaced the demoralising daily dose of statistics and death.

'Vaccine heralds normal life by next spring', said  England's deputy chief medical officer.

'It could be a game changer and deliver a boost of confidence for consumer and business' commented the Bank of England's chief economist. 

The effect around the world was immediate. Stock markets surged. 

Industries and businesses that were despairing of the future - travel airlines, cinemas, pubs, restaurants - had their hopes raised as investment flooded in. 

Amid the wave  of optimism there were warnings from the prime minister of the dangers if people relaxed and ignored restrictions imposed with the coronavirus second wave.

My life also changed dramatically today.

I joined in Sunrise life again, took part in our Armistice Day service and enjoyed the best meal for weeks - using proper cutlery

The prospect of spring will make the dark winter months brighter.

Coronavirus diary, Tuesday 10 November

At last, some encouraging news.

The success of the US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer's trials for an anti coronavirus vaccine has lifted hopes and spirits around the world.

The race to find the answer to the devastating pandemic is international but no-one should care who wins.

Like a marathon, as competitors stream past the finishing line, all will be satisfied. We will all share the achievement.

lt is all the more remarkable that it has, in fact, been a sprint, achieved in months, not years,

We might soon hear of further success, including another front runner, Oxford University. 

But there is caution from the prime minister, a warning not to get  carried away and be overoptimistic about the news. He is right.

We must not ignore the lockdown and other restrictions trying to stem the second wave.

But the possibility of a return to normal life looks just a little closer today

My life has certainly taken a turn for the better.

I have just heard that I can leave my room and rejoin Sunrise everyday life after six tough weeks.

A good news day.

Coronavirus diary, Monday 9 November

The Test and Trace system we were promised would be 'world beating' has been a disaster, a waste of time, money and, almost certainly, lives.

Introduced in May it was to be the key weapon in the fight against coronavirus, but since the first, pilot scheme in the Isle of Wight in the spring, it has consistently failed to meet vital targets announced by Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary for England.

While many other countries' systems have achieved the 80% rate needed, the failings of Britain's NHS service have worsened the effecct of the second wave.

Even when people were traced, too many have been ignoring the instruction to self isolate.

It has taken the government six months to call on, and pay, local government to help.

Our councils, with  their health service officer, have the experience, knowledge of their community and facilities for an effective, ground level system.

The decision was taken belatedly and reluctantly while the government have been pouring out our money.

The cost this year is already over £10 million in fees to consultancies

According to media reports, the Boston Consulting Group were paid  £10 million for forty consultants for four months' work while Deloittes are said to have provided 1,000 consultants on £2,360 a day.

The opposition describe it as shocking and disgusting

The Department of Health claim that per head of population Britain's T and T system is ahead of major European countries. 

At that price it should be.

Coronavirus diary, Sunday 8 November

Joe Biden’s victory in the USA presidential election has taken over from coronavirus as our main, obsessive concern.

A welcome change too. Helping us realise that other countries are going through the same frustrating, exhausting experience.

In his first speech as President elect Mr Biden spoke of the need for his country to unite and stop the feuding and violence, but his first priority is to make a better job of taming coronavirus than Mr Trump, who was a disaster.

It should not be difficult. Mr Trump has alternated Between almost dismissing  it, ignoring the rising death toll, and even suggesting it could be defeated by drinking disinfectant!

It wont be easy. 

The USA, with 10 million cases and 249,000 deaths, has one of the worst records in the world and there is little sign of improvement.

The last four years will go down as one of the most bizarre periods in the country’s history with an almost deranged leader addressing his country and the world with middle of the night tweeting.

America deserves better and at least there is now a possibility of sane, calm leadership. 

The news has delighted Doreen Murphy, my friend in New London, Connecticut. Doreen, a former teacher and friend of Therese in Penarth, says it has made her feel better than for years. The pandemic has got worse there  - no plan, leadership or penalties so people do as they please. She says she is ‘hunkered down’ in her condominium, missing her family. 

In Britain, the hopes are that in England, the new restrictions will slow the second wave and in Wales the easing tomorrow will lead to a calmer period with people starting to relax and even enjoy themselves.