Unlocking of the Final Door

Evening All, 

This weekend should have been our wedding day. Saturday should have seen Mr Warehouse and I get hitched and finally give Corona (the virus) the two fingers. I think it has been so long since we last spoke of weddings and marriage stuff it all feels a little strange. Back in February this year, Mr Warehouse and I waited by our telly sets with bated breath as we watched on to see if we would be able to successfully get married on our second reschedulement date. It wasn't good news and despite blocking out mainstream media and COVID updates (all bar the research needed for the blog) in mid-January I had become more and more hopeful but Boris had fucked it.

Back then, the BBC confirmed that the 'R' rate was as low as it was in September 2020 and the death toll was just over 178 (as recorded on Monday 22 February 2021) and whilst low, were nothing in comparison to the 3 deaths we have had today (Monday 14 June 2021). I was as optimistic as the next person, however, at 7.09pm, Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation.

Bozza Jozza told that from 12th April 2021, wedding ceremonies and receptions will be able to process with up to 15 guests permitted, closely followed by the next step with up to 30 people in May with the final stage of reopening from 21 June in which all legal limits on social contact removed and restrictions on weddings and other social gatherings will be abolished. 

Great news!? 

Well yes, it would be if our wedding wasn't on Saturday 12 June 2021. As I shared on my Instagram, at the time, I was just so utterly frustrated and angry that our big day was just 9-days shy of the total relaxation of rules. At the time, Mr Warehouse and I were fizzing with emotions that we just didn't know what to do. Did we postpone? Did we stick? Did we cut and bust and fucking sack the whole fucking thing in? And if we did postpone the wedding, it is yet again putting our lives on hold!

Having the carrot literally dangled in front of our face was difficult, but we took the decision to postpone. And I am so glad I did. Despite the new Indian variant of COVID-19, most of the adult population have had access to their first vaccine, more than 41-million people in fact, with many, like myself and Mr Warehouse having had both. 

However, as reported via the BBC today, after a substantial decline since the start of the year, the average number of daily confirmed cases is now rising, more likely than not down to the new strains including the more transmissible Delta variant. In line with this development, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has said that most coronavirus rules will remain in place for another four weeks, meaning the original 'roadmap' which had set 21 June as the date by which all legal restrictions on social contact would end is now being pushed back.

Senior ministers have signed off the decision to delay the lifting of all legal restrictions on social contact. This could mean capacity limits for sports, pubs and cinemas will remain, and nightclubs would stay closed. Maybe a good thing we postponed after all. Many scientists have also called for the reopening to be delayed to enable more people to be vaccinated and receive second doses. 

I won't lie, I am glad we postponed now, but I am concerned that this may all be ripped away from us again at the last minute and if that happens I honestly don't know where my head will be at. 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou x

Remember, if you would like to purchase anything then please feel free to check out my store at: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Wooftys or visit our Instagram @WooftysDogTreats and use "TATOATS21" to get 10% off your first order over £15.00.

Time for some R&R - Relaxing and Reflection

Heyy Hunnies, 

The fourth week is well underway and today was super busy as the first big training morning took effect today with the inclusion of engineers' PDAs and planning works. I was in my element and with everything being said, I think they are quite happy with my progress so far. And so for one night only (like some sort of travelling circus, minus the bearded-lady act), I am once again in my budget-friendly hotel room writing from the desk below the telly as I listen to the traffic pass on by my window in the distance. It's quite peaceful actually and reminds me of lazy summer nights back home with my parents in our 3-bed semi and how I can still recall the noises from the motorway a few fields over.

Despite the new Indian variant of COVID-19, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson is still pushing on with his continuation with his roadmap for reopening. It is almost as though, apart from a small few details such as face-mask-wearing, life has virtually returned to normal - Or what I can remember of it at least. Meeting indoors (up to six people) as well as going to the pub, or out for a nice meal at a local restaurant is now the norm. Museums, theatres, cinemas, and children's play areas can open, not that I will be going to the latter, that would seem a bit odd with no children in toe. 

Supporting the good news, the BBC reported today that whilst there have been 4.5 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and nearly 128,000 people have died, government figures show that more than 40 million people in the UK have now had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

Whilst there are several areas that are experiencing a rise in cases linked to the variant first detected in India, some scientific advisors have urged caution over lifting the timing of the last step in England's roadmap out of lockdown from 21 June 2021. And holiday's aren't looking likely either with Portugal, one of the only places on the Green list was taken off and demoted to Amber late last week, quashing all hopes of a summer getaway! But with COVID tests being well over £100 in some circumstances holidays are completely unaffordable, even the mildly well off in society. 

But it is not all doom and gloom as should things have been different this would have been the countdown and the final few days until my 2nd wedding day, postponed from October 2020. Hopefully, this weekend Mr Warehouse and I can celebrate what could have been and look forward to what is to come. Maybe a posh afternoon tea, maybe a night away somewhere, maybe a spa day. Either way, I am sure it will be nice and after many weeks now spent working away, it will be nice to have some QT with the future Hub-by!

'Til next time, Love A.Lou x

Remember, if you would like to purchase anything then please feel free to check out my store at: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Wooftys or visit our Instagram @WooftysDogTreats and use "TATOATS21" to get 10% off your first order over £15.00.

When it snows you either grab a shovel or make snow angels

Heyy,  

The snow began falling on Saturday, however, it was never going to be enough for a full-blown snow day. Settling in for the night and heading to bed it had yet to stop, but the light sprinkle was enough to get excited about. I mean what can I say it has been nearly a year of being in and out of quarantine and lockdowns so this is about as exciting as it gets.

By Sunday morning the flakes were getting bigger and a thin layer was forming on the ground outside. With some tasty chilli cheese bread in I reached for the butter, only to realise it was empty and instead reached for my car keys. Venturing out into the blizzard I was glad to have de-iced the car ready for the Monday morning commute which would, I am sure, be more arduous than normal. On returning the snow was getting heavier and as Mr Warehouse and the pups come out to greet me we chatted with neighbours and did a bit of prep work for the morning to follow. All-day it floated down from the sky as we split our time between playing in the garden with the dogs and snoozing in the warmth of some blankets on the sofa. Even when night fell and Mr Warehouse and I snuggled into bed, we could still see the snow coming down from the dark night as we wondered what the following morrow would bring.

A lot of fucking scraping I can tell you that much. Frozen car doors were the first obstacle. The second of which was a feeble process of sweeping the light dusty snow from the car and scraping the remainder which looked like snow clumps but seemingly had all ganged up to create a massive ice ball which engulfed my car. Twenty-minutes later I was ready to drive to work, if not running late and almost certain I would be told to grab my laptop charger and fuck off home where it was safe. Alas, however, I got into the office in one piece and was told I would be in all week, if it was possible, due to further training - something I lapped up readily.

Something special about snow, especially this time. The fact it brought neighbours together for the first time in months, everyone peaking out the window to watch the next snowman or slip on the ice. Kids screaming down the street announcing a snowball fight as grown adults and kids waged a war on forced isolation. Watching the dogs play in the snow, Frankenstein's first encounter with the white stuff, I recalled a couple of years ago the dreaded  Beast from The East and how we had not really had a snowfall since at least not here in the comfy Home-Counties. Back in 2018, just mere months from mortgages and house deeds, Storm Emma brought the Beast from The East. 

The colder weather coming across from Russia being blown by Siberia and picking up some icy chills on the way the temperatures soon plummeted to rival the sinking of the Titanic and blizzard snow's hampering travel plans as well as all manner of daily activities life for some across the British Isles in March of that year, just weeks before Easter. Rather than getting excited about springtime sunshine, flowers, bunnies and lambs; Storm Emma forced the MET Office to issue a red weather warning foreboding a loss of life should people be caught up in the outside winds of 70mph coupled with the already existing polar vortex from Beast from The East with forecasts for -15C wind chills and snowdrifts nearly as tall as you. Yes you! 

But if that cold snap proved anything, it taught us that things will be brighter once the (snow) storm clears. As reports today through the BBC confirm, it seems the daily death toll is lessening with only 592 being recorded today (Monday 25 January 2021), down seven on last Monday's figure. Yes, I know, just seven, but it is still heading in the right direction - Although that doesn't take into account all the "false data" which means that anyone who has passed away within 28 days of a positive COVID19 test, despite the cause of death, will be recorded as a COVID related death even if it was unrelated.

The downturn in figures for people becoming infected seems to suggest that the virus is n the decline and probably with much thanks from the vaccination programme which so far the latest government figures show that 6.5 million people have now received the first dose, up 2.5-million from last week. My, My they have been busy! Reporting by the BBC confirms Health Secretary Matt Hancock saying almost four in five of the UK's over 80s have now had the vaccine, with nearly 500,000 people having had a second dose of the wonder-drug. It is said that the government needs to give about 380,000 vaccine doses a day if it is to reach the 15 million most vulnerable people by the middle of February and with the current seven-day average is almost 360,000, I am sure the end is in sight soon.

'Til next time, Love A.Lou x

Think Positive & Positive Will Come

Heyy,  

The sparkle of positivity about 2021 that was first ignited last week is still burning bright and getting hotter and hotter as the days and weeks progress. just hope Boris doesn't have a bucket of water for my fireworks waiting for me around the corner. I have now settled in quite nicely in my new job and know a bit more but all is going well and whilst it is strange not having the normal introductions and training I seem to be doing well.

Whilst I said last week that since the country has been plunged into an official 3rd Lockdown it makes for difficult work trying to see the positivity in things, especially all things weddings and celebratory.

As reported today through the BBC, only 599 deaths were recorded today (and I say only but obviously we know that even one death is too many). But is this the beginning of the end? The downturn in figures for people becoming infected seem to suggest so and with fewer people becoming infected, the less likely people are to be hospitalised and die from the disease which has wreaked havoc on our lives for nearly a year! This is equally positive when you hear scaremongering stories in the press and media about this "new variant" of the virus thought to be much more easily transmissible than other strains, although not believed to be more deadly - Something I already have, controversially, voiced my concerns and thoughts on.

Despite my confidence, I am a realist - Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned on several occasions that easing of restrictions on daily life, mask-wearing and social distancing is all heavily reliant on the vaccine rollout being a success as well as there being no further concerning variants of the virus. Another article from BBC asks about whether a vaccine, regardless of its roll out allow us to return to normal as we knew it before? I myself as I am sure many of you are desperately hoping that the coronavirus vaccines will transport us back to our pre-Covid lives.

Whilst it is amazing we have several brilliant vaccines already approved for market, not to mention the many more that will be coming through in the coming months I am sure, but it could take months or possibly years to vaccinate enough of the global population to make the whole interconnected world safe and reach a point where we can all return to fully normal. Prof David Salisbury, a former director of immunisation at the UK Department of Health says that in his humble opinion "suggestions that vaccines will be able to take us back to where we were pre-Covid by Easter have given people an unrealistic expectation's", and such an outcome, in the absence of the interruption of transmission, is "unlikely".

But I am valiantly subscribing to the sunnier broadcasts and whereas the days where Number 10 press conferences were a monotonous deluge of horrendous figures and numbers I have now begun to tune into the hope and positivity from them, even if I have the fortune of driving home from the office during their broadcast, therefore, missing out on all the standard doom and gloom. Thankfully Mr Warehouse is always on hand to update me on my arrival home.

In the news article from the BBC, the latest government figures show that four-million people have now received the first dose, and just over 450,000 people have had a second. It is said that following the vulnerable and OAP's having their jabs, the NHS and partners will move onto the next category including the over-50's in their sights as well as the aforementioned groups not picked up first time around. With Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the government is aiming to offer all UK adults a vaccine by September I am more than hopeful that we will get married this year - I just hope we don't need to postpone it to Autumn?!

'Til next time, Love A.Lou x

If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain

Hello All,  

A fortnight into the new year and I am starting to see just a sparkle of positivity about 2021. After practically crying through the fireworks on New Year's Eve (albeit 2019's - See last weeks blog post) I have finally finished wallowing in self-pity and I am starting to see what I can do with all the wonderful time I have now free on my hands. Alas as much as I wish it were true Couch To 5K is not on that list. It may be a new year and a new job but I am far from a new me - I am still the same old same old you have all grown to love, I hope.

The new job is going well and whilst it is strange not having the normal introductions around the office, desperately trying to remember everyone's name without offensive adjectives in front. There is no banter around the coffee machine or getting to know colleagues. I will be honest though as the tin of Quality Street the size of my car that is being passed around is soon becoming a 3pm habit.

That being said, COVID hasn't helped the job transfusion and since the country has been plunged into an official Lockdown (lost count at which fucking number we are on now - 4 I think?!) it makes for difficult work trying to learn a new job. According to that Jock-Strap of a Health Secretary, Matt Hancock the UK is at the "worst point" of the pandemic.

As reported through the BBC, Number 10 press conferences have now just become a monotonous deluge of horrendous figures and numbers about how many have got the COVID-19 Coronavirus and how many so far have died from it, a figure now close to 85,000 Brit's. The begging and pleading for people to abide by the rules, washing hands, wearing face masks and keeping space I am afraid has come too little too late and should have been heavily enforced with the like of Dominic Cummings as his flouting of said rules has only made the rest of us think what is the point.

So far 2.3 million people in the UK have had a first Covid vaccine shot with many of them already completing their course of the two shots, giving them full immunity. But with millions still yet to vaccinate, the delivery plan is expected to take until spring to give the first dose to all 32 million people in the UK's priority groups, including the over-55's and those who are clinically vulnerable. The BBC continues to report that, on a positive note, a good percentage of those at higher risk of an ITU bed (the over-70s, older care home residents and staff, frontline healthcare workers to name a few) will have had their first jab in the arm by mid-February meaning they are 70% immune from the deadly virus. 

Now don't get me wrong - I ain't stupid. The Governments earlier published plans to immunise more of the nation by Easter seems ambitious, to say the least, however, I am hoping that after all the cockup's and conundrums last year, Boris Johnson can finally rally round his posh-twat friends and get things sorted. Someone once said - Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results, let's just hope it isn't positive for COVID - But with a third American vaccine now approved and on backorder into the UK, I am feeling more optimistic than I have been in the last few weeks about the upcoming year and all it has to bring with it - Weddings and parties included! 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

More Sleepless Nights

Evening,  

Going into the new year I was less than positive about 2021. Sat there on New Year's eve, probably for the first time in my adult life, tucked up in bed and watching the fireworks, albeit last years London skyline performance.

So the story goes (yes I know going off on a sideline but trust me this is both worth it just for the laugh and also to confirm that I am still as ditsy as when I first started this blog nearly a decade ago), numb-nuts here figured that since it was quarter to midnight she would watch a couple of nail art compilations and then she would just type into Youtube and find a live stream of the celebrations in the capital. Sure great idea. Only the video I chose to watch was very worrying with people crowding the banks of the River Thames and marshalls and police doing nothing to disperse the gatherings and seemingly enjoying the dancing and celebrating too. Swaths of people lined the streets and amidst my dismay, for lack of social distancing, I felt lucky to have tuned in with just ten-seconds to go. Beckoning our little pup to my chest I sat up in bed as Mr Warehouse slept soundly next to me. The skies suddenly lit up outside in the street with colourful fireworks and loud pops and bangs. Blue laser's flashed through the dark night as I stood at the window, pup in arms watching and telling him to "shh" at every sound. He seemed fascinated. Mr Warehouse on the other hand was unimpressed with being awoken in such an unsavoury manner.

Feeling successfully fulfilled I switched over to some videos about horror stories or Amazon finds before settling down and falling asleep. Waking in the morning I informed my fiance of the farce that was the fireworks in London I had witnessed the night before, and, watching it again on demand this time for his benefit I soon realised that this was not the same thing I had watched last night. Even then I did not notice the error of my ways and instead thought I had watched something maybe from Channel 4 or another live stream randomly on the internet. It was not until I noted looking through my Youtube history showing Mr Warehouse what I had seen that I realised, stupidly that I had been watching the fireworks and celebrations from New Year's Eve - 2019. Apparently, 2020 wasn't that bad and my sub-conscience would like to relive it again, please.

I must admit I felt silly and low and behold it has not improved much in the four-days since then as just hot off the press, Boris Johnson has called a press conference this evening confirming that despite Christmas being cancelled, despite most of the UK going into the most severe of tiers (Tier 4) and despite a vaccine being rolled out with mass inoculating taking place (apparently) we are going into yet another nationwide Lockdown. And there was me complaining several weeks ago that many areas including London, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire amongst other in the South East in basically fucking lockdown number 3 and how it was going to be the first time in my entire life that I would not be spending Christmas with my family. If only I knew then what I do now - Although to be fair another Lockdown was absolutely on the cards and almost inevitable and unavoidable as case numbers and deaths have sored over the festive period because people can't fucking keep it together. 

But the frustrating thing is that I get it. As I mentioned last week, with everything that has happened in the last twelve months and how much has been stolen from not just me but my family as well, missing out on BBQ's, parties, seeing loved ones, birthdays, new babies, holidays and our damned fucking wedding (which I still and almost even more-so now don't feel totally optimistic about going ahead at the moment) would anyone blame anyone else for wanting to act out?

After starting my new job today and soaking up as much as my little brain (and I emphasize little referring you to the earlier mishap with said NYE celebrations) could take, I am extremely on edge now about everything. The rug has well and truly been ripped out from beneath my feet and I am now second-guessing every move I have made. Was this the right decision to move jobs? Was now a great time to start somewhere new? Can I do this? Am I able to learn a job fully remotely and continue working from home for what could potentially be the next quarter? Will I be furloughed? Will I be laid off? And that is what is spinning round in my head right now and that's without the constant grinding thoughts about the wedding or starting a family or just organising the spare room. No wonder I can't sleep at night. I just don't know how much more of this I can take.

* Breathes *

Despite all my hopes and the need to keep at the forefront of my mind that things will get better; That this for it is only a temporary measure, a small blip on what will hopefully be an extensive lifetime of amazing things - I just hope that this is all worth the wait, worth the purging for and worth the sacrifices we have all had to make so that we can all get back to a bit more normality.

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx