Mellish Christmas Newsletter (Christmas 2020)

 That was the year that was, its over let it go.” Those of you who were watching TV in England in 1962/63 may well remember “That Was the Week That Was” affectionately known as TW3 a satirical TV programme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG3Uz4srwqo).  Well, 2020 is almost over (thank heavens) and all we can do is pray that 2021 will bring some good news and cheer – the end to the pandemic will be a good starter for ten. At the time of writing there is the promise that vaccines will soon be rolled out on a large scale. Hope springs eternal from the human breast that this will put paid to all the lockdown and all the Tiers/tears.

We had a great time last Christmas although it seems far longer than a year ago. My cousin, Nena, who lives on the Norfolk/Suffolk border joined us. We had a really good time; the only problem was a shortage of sleep as we never seemed to go to bed before the early hours of the morning! On the 28th we all went up to London and had a meal with son-in-law Sam’s family. Our one mistake was not to take a group photo – we were too busy having fun.

 

 

January and February were, as is usual, relatively quiet months. On Match 15^th we went to Devon to open the Lodge. David came with us and we had a lovely few days going out and about together. The storm clouds that are Covid were gathering over mainland Europe, but keeping away from others was not too difficult on the vast expanse of Dartmoor. 

We had always planned to come home on Monday 23^rd March which is just as well really, as it was that evening that our beloved prime minister declared the lockdown. 

Most of the next few months were spent indoors or in the garden, it has never looked so good thanks to Julia’s hard work. My role was to keep the supplies of tea/coffee going, and when the sun was over the yardarm to appear clutching a large G&T. The family were all ok throughout this. We were worried about Hélèna & Sam’s catering business, however they managed to secure work catering at a local hospital whose staff canteen was closed for refurbishment immediately prior to lockdown. 

When lockdown finished at the end of July, we planned to go to Halesowen to see Lawrie, Emma and the grandchildren. H&S were coming down from Stockport to join us, sadly the government imposed severe restrictions on Greater Manchester so they were not allowed to travel. This means that we have not seen them this year since the first week in January. We miss them, something I never thought I would say, particularly when we were living in the US and I was yelling and screaming at Hélèna in order to get her up for her 7:30am start at school (leaving home just before 7:00am)!

We had a wonderful time at Halesowen as we hadn’t seen the grandchildren at all (apart from on zoom) this year. Then we had the fabulous bonus of spending a week with Lawrie, Emma, Henry and Georgia at the Lodge in Devon. Sadly, this was over all too quickly. After a few days with Julia and I just together (how sweet and romantic!!!).

After a few weeks of freedom which included a birthday meal present from Andrew & Gaew at Petrus, a Gordon Ramsay restaurant, and a treat to ourselves at Gauthier Soho (great for veggies/vegans and omnivores). We also managed a couple of trips to London to Tate Britain and Tate Modern – Aubrey Beardsley and Andy Warhol before it was lockdown again! 

Hélèna, Sam, Andrew and Gaew managed to see each other in the Lake District – A&G were there as they could not travel to Thailand this year.

My cousin Nena was 90 in October. A family party had been planned, but Covid put paid to that. Instead, there has been a series of smaller gatherings. Julia, David and I managed to be with her on her birthday and took her out for lunch at a local pub.

As I am writing this, we in Greater London, are just emerging into Tier 2 following a few interminable weeks of lockdown. We are now trying to figure out what we will be doing at Christmas. We are only allowed three households to gather together – and there are four of us!! This is a conundrum that would tax even “Solomon in all his glory”! Although the lockdown has ended, we are being urged to stay indoors as much as possible – particularly the elderly – it appears that Julia and I fall into this category something I deeply resent as we are barely middle-aged!! This means that most of Christmas cards will be email ones this year particularly ones to all our friends overseas as we don’t fancy joining the long queues at the post office.

We pray that you and your loved ones are safe and well and surviving all the vicissitudes that the pandemic is bringing. With all our love and prayers for a Happy Christmas and a Healthy, Prosperous and Covid Free 2021.

Barry, Julia and all the Family

The Unseemly Rush to Open

I know that as a retired person with a guaranteed income, my pension, no mortgage and no children to home-school I am having it relatively easy during the lockdowns. But am I the only one with grave misgivings regarding the seeming rush to "open up" that is being trumpeted in much of the media?

Personally I would rather stay locked-down for an additional few weeks rather than open up too soon and then being forced to lockdown yet again.

I would have thought that the Prime Minister would do best by damping down expectations until we are certain that we have the virus situation under some sort of control. I think that although the numbers are far better than they were we are not yet out of the woods. 

The Catholic Church and Vaccinations

 In September 2020 the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales issued a statement COVID-19 and Vaccination (24 September 2020). In the light of the recent breakthrough in vaccine development we now wish to issue a follow up statement.

The development of a vaccine against COVID-19 presents an important breakthrough in protecting others as well as oneself from the virus; a virus which has not only caused a global pandemic and led to a huge loss of life but has also placed a great burden on healthcare workers and systems.

Each of us has a duty to protect others from infection with its danger of serious illness, and for some, death. A vaccine is the most effective way to achieve this unless one decides to self-isolate.

At present, debate concerns the use of the vaccines developed by Pfizer & BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca. Some have questioned the use of the Astra Zeneca vaccine since it has been developed from cell-lines originating from the cells of an aborted foetus in 1983.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Pontifical Academy of Life have expressed the view that one may in good conscience and for a grave reason receive a vaccine sourced in this way, provided that there is a sufficient moral distance between the present administration of the vaccine and the original wrongful action. 

In the COVID-19 pandemic, we judge that this grave reason exists and that one does not sin by receiving the vaccine.

Both the Pfizer & BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have a different source since they are mRNA-based vaccines. On 2 December 2020, the Pfizer & BioNTech vaccine was approved for use in the UK.

Each Catholic must educate his or her conscience on this matter and decide what to do, also bearing in mind that a vaccine must be safe, effective, and universally available, especially to the poor of the world.

Catholics may in good conscience receive any of these vaccines for the good of others and themselves. In good conscience, one may refuse a particular vaccine but continues to have a duty to protect others from infection.

The Government and Faith

 Colin Bloom has been appointed, as the Faith Engagement Adviser at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, to lead an on-line review into how best the government should engage with faith groups in England.

This seems to be a rare but valuable opportunity to let the government know how we feel about their current and on-going ways of engagement.

The review closes on 11th December 2020.

More details about how to respond to the review can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/independent-faith-engagement-review-call-for-evidence <https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/independent-faith-engagement-review-call-for-evidence>

Cornwall and deprivation in the UK

 Purely by chance this morning I watched "Cornwall with Simon Reeve" (Thursday 26 November). If you get a chance do watch it. This episode was focussed on the job market in Cornwall; amid the many second homes and upmarket restaurants it has some of the most deprived parts of the UK.

The major issues are that there are very few "career jobs" most are part-time summer jobs and so young people are leaving the county. The major industries such as mining (tin, copper and china clay) and fishing have either closed or require far fewer staff thanks to mechanisation. So many of the towns built on these industries are in rapid decline and nothing has replaced them.

It showed a group of young people who collectively ran some mobile catering outlets on the beach did manage to make a go of it this year despite the pandemic. They have made enough money to take an eight year lease on some premises and start a new restaurant - but not in Cornwall as there are no affordable sites.

Ironically the growth in working from home may be part of the salvation of this part of the country as some of the second homes (in some small towns and villages more than 50% of the dwelling are second homes) may become year round homes which will help sustain holiday towns in teh bleak mid-winter months.

There are no quick and easy answers to the problems of Cornwall and I am sure that there are other areas that have similar problems. I am not posting this to start a "social media debate" as they generally end up in hurling slogans at one another. Rather do watch this programme and think about how we can solve these major structural problems that we have in the UK.

We need a grown up intelligent debate, sadly they are few and far between these days. How we start one is the big question.

Is it me or Mr Johnson that is Bonkers?

 Am I going totally bonkers? (please don't answer that rhetorical question as I know you will say yes, those that don't will say that I am already bonkers). But what is the government (or rather the governments of the four nations that make up the UK) trying to achieve by all the lockdowns?

If you stay indoors and don't ever meet anyone else you will not get Covid-19 - but the economy falls apart. This is what is happening right now. 

If you get Covid-19 the vast majority of people in good health and who are under 70 have no lasting ill effects and the symptoms for the majority do not cause too much discomfort. Some do have long-Covid and some (thankfully very few die). Those with underlying health issues and  those over 70 are more likely to suffer complications and/or die. 

So I am coming round to the thinking that would not the best solution be to let business etc carry on as normal and put special measures, both preventative and financial, to protect those at risk? In multi-generational households those normally at work are paid not to work and stay at home so that those at risk are protected. It would be mandatory to wear face masks properly and observe social distancing when out and about. If those at risk decide that they would rather go out and about and take the risk of an early death that should be up to them not the state. Right now we seem to be taking the worst course of action with no end in sight.

I am one of the lucky ones, I have a pension, house paid for and a large garden so I am "All right Jack". For those renting/with a mortgage and have just lost your job life is hell to put it mildly. If things were opened up the consequential effects of the lockdown would dissipate. The vulnerable would have to take steps to protect themselves and shield themselves from those going out and about. They are at liberty not to do this.

I will end on the happy thought that no matter what we do we will, one day, end up in a graveyard!