I took this photo of yesterday's sunrise out our dining room window. The buildings on the right-hand side in the distance are located near Paddington Station; the ones on the left, with the construction cranes, are way down on the Thames. It looks like there's been quite a bit of construction in that area since I last wrote about this view.
Yesterday morning was icy as heck. The snow melted just enough on Sunday afternoon to create a liquid slush that then froze solid overnight. I felt like I needed crampons on my walk to work. Fortunately I managed not to fall on my butt.
I've worked out a plan with my boss to come in only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. As long as we're in lockdown and there are no students in the building, I'm certainly not needed on campus more than that. In fact it remains to be seen whether there will be enough for me to do even three days a week. Today I'll be working from home.
I mentioned the other day that our orchids are blooming. Here's what they look like -- the ones on our front windowsill, anyway. As you can see, we have several flowers, but we have even more flower stalks. In another month or so all those long, whiplike stems should be bearing blossoms. (I took this photo on Sunday morning just before our snowfall, hence, no snow on the street.)
Has anyone noticed that Blogger's quick-edit tools have returned? As I mentioned the other day, the little pencil on blog posts and the crossed tools that allow us to quickly edit items in our sidebars had disappeared. Well, I guess enough of us complained, because they're back again. Thank goodness. (You won't see these as a reader, only as a blogger.)
We continue to be bewildered by the ever-evolving Covid-19 vaccination schedules in the UK. Dave and I used to be at tier 5 and 6 on the priority list, but apparently the list has been subdivided more. Now I'm on tier 9, and Dave, I believe, is on tier 6 as someone being treated for an autoimmune disease (Crohn's). Neither of us have heard a peep about vaccinations, but that's to be expected as they're still working on the highest priority groups. Boris says everyone in the first four groups (basically people 70 and older, and those with serious illnesses or disorders) should be vaccinated by mid-February. I'm sure I'm looking at spring, at least, and possibly even later.
I don't remember high rise buildings near Paddington Station but it has been some time since I have been there.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't sure exactly what the editing tool was until a day or so again when I needed to edit a post and oh, where is the pencil.
Vaccinations won't begin here until February but I guess as the only people who have COVID here are returning travellers, that is fair enough when the most of the world really need the vaccinations.
An edit tool for your own comment when you make a typo would be helpful too.
DeleteWouldn't it, though?
DeleteThe area around Paddington Basin (just behind the station), St. Mary's hospital and the Hilton Metropole on Edgware Road now has lots of new high-rise (or maybe mid-rise) buildings.
DeleteAs you know I am in no rush to receive the vaccine. As long as those in the know disagree whether the two vaccination should be close together or not I'll steer well clear. To top it all, the Angel brought to my attention that Norway made public the fact that some people have actually died as a result of the vaccine. WHAT THE EFF? Honestly, Steve, soon I'll be looking underneath my bed to see what's hiding there - just as I did when I was little. I can see it now - the virus and its brother-in-arms (a syringe) winking at me.
ReplyDeletePlease may you and your other readers forgive me. I am not an anti-vaxxer just super cautious.
Try not to fall - black ice and all that. As we get older bones get more brittle. I know this because just before Christmas (I may have already related this ridiculous tale to you) I broke my little finger when pushing down the reluctant lever of the disinfectant dispenser at Waitrose's entrance. Two days before Christmas. You couldn't make up this shit if you tried. The Angel (who was with me to procure the bacon) had his priorities right. He wanted to know how I'd be able to manage roasting the goose, the ham, etc. Well, let's just say, with hospitals keeping non-Covids at bay I didn't go to A&E. The goose was served as was the ham. The only thing I couldn't do was write without hitting the ceiling with pain. I had no idea what an important supporting role the little finger plays when putting pen to paper.
Seriously, Steve, you've got to laugh at the absurdity of life,
U
I've heard that a handful of people have died from allergic reactions to the shot, and now they make you wait for 20 minutes or so afterward to make sure you don't have a reaction. I don't think it's unusual for a tiny percentage of people to have an allergic response to something like a vaccine.
DeleteIs a "butt" the same as an "arse"? When I saw the blogpost title an image came to my mind of an American school librarian sprawled on an icy pavement and I must confess that it made me chuckle. However, the text revealed that this had not transpired.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, and I kid you not, when I was in Hepburn I walked along a street called Butt Lane! And there is a named neighbourhood close to that called Hole Bottom!
A "butt" is indeed an arse, as opposed to a big barrel for storing rainwater. When I was walking the London Loop I was amused to find a street called "Ass House Road."
DeleteI at first thought those were cacti in silhouette. Great photo. Oh, Covid. We are now once again a mess here -- apparently the worse we've been in terms of new cases (and it's acknowledged it's a result of the holidays). I am simply tired! Thanks for sharing your beautiful window sill. I look forward to seeing the future blooms.
ReplyDeleteI'm tired too! It's crazy how the levels keep fluctuating. I don't know why anyone thought it would be a good idea to allow gatherings over Christmas, though people probably would have done it anyway.
DeleteYour orchids! What a wonder they will be so very soon!
ReplyDeleteThree days a week in the office sounds about right. If you have the whole place to yourself it will at least be a place to go. Thank goodness you can walk to work, thus avoiding public transport. But yes- be careful on those sidewalks. I remember when I moved from Florida to Denver to attend school and was confronted with icy steps for the first time. Things did not go well.
P.S. No! I had not noticed that our little pencil was back but I am glad it is.
DeleteYeah, even three days seems a bit excessive, honestly. But we'll play it by ear!
DeleteI'm glad you get to go to work a few days a week. It's good to get out there and still stay safe. No word here when I'll get the vaccine. I did register on our county website and hopefully will hear soon when the 65+ group will be getting it. It probably won't happen until some time in February.
ReplyDeleteLove seeing your orchids. They are such interesting plants.
Dave's parents are in the same situation -- they've registered and are waiting to be notified. Apparently they get chosen by lottery in Florida, as there are so many older people waiting for vaccines.
DeleteThe lottery must be a county-based thing because my county, Duval, doesn't have a lottery.
DeleteI got so excited about your snow photos yesterday and then as unbelievable as it sounds, it snowed here. Weather has been very crazy lately. I love that top photo of the view. I love the orchids too.
ReplyDeleteAnd I saw that Bruce (who is north of you in Arizona, I think?) actually had quite a bit of snow!
DeleteMy dad is getting his vaccine today & Mike's dad got his yesterday. We are much relieved because neither of them has been as cautious as they should be (Mike's dad gets all kinds of nonmasked visitors & my dad has been EATING OUT IN RESTAURANTS). No idea when Mike & I will get it.
ReplyDeleteI really really hate ice, and I can't believe that in all the years I lived in Ohio I never bought those things to put on the bottom of my shoes. That would have relieved a lot of stress!
Dave's parents eat out in restaurants too! They insist they're fine because the restaurants have plastic dividers up. I'm not sure that does all that much good!
DeleteThey are a way too optimistic on their schedule for vaccinations. They don't have the resources to get things done that fast.
ReplyDeleteBoris seems to think it will happen, but we'll see!
DeleteTier 9! What a spring chicken. I'm afraid we won't be able to invite you to our tier 4 celebration parties.
ReplyDeleteThis may be the first time I've wished to be older than I am!
Delete"Heck" gets blamed for a lot of things...I don't think i want heck in my life, never want to go there either.
ReplyDeleteYour snow did not last long, good thing it was just a brief bit of beauty for the day. Still winter, your orchids are a welcomed sight!
Heck is better than the more severe alternative. :)
DeleteI lived in Chicago for nearly a year, a good Texas girl totally unprepared for the cold, wind, snow, and ice. did not have proper clothes or shoes and barely weighed enough to keep from floating away so easily blown over.
ReplyDeleteyour orchids are going to be so lovely.
And Chicago has a whole 'nother level of snow and cold. I can't imagine living in that climate.
DeleteSWMBO and I are both in our 80's and won't be vaccinated until February 4th. We're snowed in this morning.
ReplyDeleteWell at least you're scheduled and the 4th isn't far away!
DeleteIt's snowing in Tucson. There is something very sad about snow on a palm tree.
ReplyDeleteSnow on palms looks very unnatural, doesn't it? I remember that from the few times I ever saw snow in Florida.
DeleteI love the orchids! We've had some snow in the forecast, but haven't gotten any (typical of the PacNW); I'm OK with a day of it, but HATE the ice with a passion. Hope that the vaccine roll out increases so more of us can get immunized. I'm 64, 8 months away from the magic number to get the shot right now. :(
ReplyDeleteSo close and yet so far! I'm 54, also just shy of the lower age limit for the next priority group above mine.
DeleteI am scared to walk on ice as I have such a fear of falling.
ReplyDeleteGlad you get to go in 3 days a week. I bet you will find jobs to do to keep you busy enough. I worked in a grammar school library where we wiped the covers of each book every year at inventory time. The water would be filthy!
Stay safe!
Yeah, library books can be really disgusting. I sometimes clean ours when they get returned and I'm always a little horrified.
DeleteThose are a lot of orchids. I've never had the time to fuss with plants. Now I do. I'm enjoying it quite a bit. Maybe I will try orchids next!
ReplyDeleteBy all means! They aren't as difficult as people think.
DeleteMany years ago I slipped on black ice and ended up with a black eye and bruises all along one side of my body, so please be careful out there, dear heart. I heard on the news today that the new administration has arranged to buy a lot more of the vaccine. I don't know when my turn will come, but when it does, I'm ready to get the needle in my arm.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Oh yikes! I've fallen on ice but never that badly, fortunately. Did that happen in Jacksonville?!
DeleteOh, no. I've never seen ice in Jacksonville. I've only lived here for 11 1/2 years. It happened in Topeka, Kansas.
DeleteMy doctor sent me a text 2 weeks ago to call and set up an appointment to take my vaccine. I took the first vaccine 3 days later and scheduled to take the 2nd and last vaccine on the 3rd of February. Is that a blessing or what? I think some of these people are rushing the system by lining up without an appointment hoping they can get a vaccine that is not used . It seem like a lot of stress to me. The most stressful part of it is the security at the front door. When I parked in the parking lot I heard a knock on my window and looked up it was a security guard asking me if I was there for the covid test. I cracked my window and ask her, oh this is all they are doing here now. She looked stunned and walked away. I think she got angry. This is a hospital so leave me the hell alone. You don't know why I am here and it's none of the security guard business
ReplyDeleteThat IS a blessing. I'm sure you'll be relieved to get that second shot. And yeah, why would she be angry when you show up at a hospital for medical care?!
DeleteWe have no Idea about when or if we'll get Vaccine here in AZ, it's presently quite the failure at distribution and ever evolving and nobody can book Appointments and it's by Appointment only. We have 3 in the Household, all High Risk, but in different Tiers... wouldn't it just be easier to Vaccinate a whole Family and not have to go back Six different times? The Man is over 65 with comorbidities, I'm under 65 with comorbitities and the Grandchild is 15 with Health Issues, so we're considered a High Risk Family yet none of us has been able to get a Vaccine yet, and people who have gotten the first one aren't having good Luck with getting the 2nd one, so I don't know how effective that scheduling of 2nd vaccine distribution is going either and kinda renders the whole shebang ineffective.
ReplyDelete