Travelling On

themadvix

Yes, it's still rather chilly here, with frost on some rooftops - you can really tell who has better or worse insulation at this time of the year!

It's all sounding very cheery and positive with you Karma Enjoy your celebratory phone call today!

debtfreeoneday

took my breath away this morning when I stepped outside. Stepped back inside rather quickly 

badmemory

Watch out for those police helicopters looking for the houses growing drugs.  There is one about 6 houses away that I am totally convinced about.  All the local houses were built at the same time by the same builders.  If you knew the temp (high) that my house was kept at, you would wonder like me why my house still has snow on the roof when the neighbours have mostly got none.

Karmacat

rtandon27 said:

This morning I was 'gifted' an e-mail filled with pictures of scenes from home! - 14 cm of snow which set off the Christmas light displays very nicely   Nice to see so many displays of seasonal spirit even in such unusual times.
Lovely!  I've only been to Canada in the summer, and it was perfect, though the big underground malls in Toronto really show what the potential for snowfall is, even there (locals were telling me they were mocked by other Canadians for complaining about a foot of snow!)

Well done kc on tidying up the paperwork, must be something in the air as that is my plan for this afternoon after the booster... ...filing and putting away an ever growing pile of papers & unpacking the shredder to dispose of what is not needed.
It looks so different already!  Feeling slightly dozy today, so not done anything else up there, but I'm just taking care of what I can.

I really like your view on being as careful as you can be - that is in truth the best way to approach of this - then as you say what will be, will be!

Exactly - I've had a long time to think about this, and the consequences of shielding forever afterwards, while there's any risk at all, have made me shiver.  As for what "careful" is - I'll put all my stuff in the room I'm using at my sister's, she'll wear an N95 mask in the taxi, she'll leave her case in the garage until I've gone, she'll get a shower straight away she comes in, and we'll have the windows in the car open when she brings me home.  The new dad has offered to come get me before all of that needs to happen, but that's where the line is for me - I'm not disrupting a newborn's care to make the dad dance attendance on me.  Though it's a really kind offer.  And I have to stay at the house in case my sister's sent into quarantine on landing - if the rabbit (much more fragile than a cat) popped its tiny little clogs while I was supposed to be looking after it, I'd feel dreadful.  The sense of how fragile plans are during a pandemic has suddenly been made very clear to me!

Karmacat

themadvix said:

Yes, it's still rather chilly here, with frost on some rooftops - you can really tell who has better or worse insulation at this time of the year!

It's all sounding very cheery and positive with you Karma Enjoy your celebratory phone call today!

Thanks!  Yep, my phone call to the international football star went well (walking-football for the over 70s, they play international games, dontcha know  : )

debtfreeoneday said:

took my breath away this morning when I stepped outside. Stepped back inside rather quickly 

It wasn't quite *that* bad here this morning - but it might be right now, I put out some washing to let the creases drop (not to dry, as such!).

badmemory said:

Watch out for those police helicopters looking for the houses growing drugs.  There is one about 6 houses away that I am totally convinced about.  All the local houses were built at the same time by the same builders.  If you knew the temp (high) that my house was kept at, you would wonder like me why my house still has snow on the roof when the neighbours have mostly got none.

I *do* see police helicopters occasionally - and I watch Air Ambulances on FlightRadar24, which I like - but considering the temperature of my house, with its two biggest windows being so blown and leaky, I don't think I've got anything to worry about with a police raid and the only plants in the house are aloe vera and spider plants, so it's all good  

badmemory

I confess to finding it odd the amount of thought I put into just going out & doing some shopping when less than 2 years ago I would have just said to myself I need to do this & put my coat on.  I now think about the time of day & how busy it is likely to be.  My coats & cardigans all have masks in a pocket, just in case I forget & the car has a couple too, just in case I forget.  I am supposed to be going out for dinner to a friends house on Boxing Day & I worry even though I know that they are all very careful because two of the family members attending are vulnerable out of 6 of us & 3 of us are over 70 & only the youngest (9) isn't boosted.

I actually think I had it back before the first lockdown & before testing, but who knows if that would protect me.  But if we don't protect/defend ourselves no-one else is going to.

Goldiegirl

Hi KC

I saw that your sister is on a cruise?

I have to say, that is quite intrepid of her.  I can barely contemplate getting on a cruise ship at the moment.  For one thing, I'm not sure I can be bothered with all the paperwork and testing that's required at present.  Then, there's the other thing, although the cruise companies are doing all they can, it's just not the environment for me right now.  Which is sad really, as I loved my cruises. 

Karmacat

Goldiegirl said:

Hi KC

I saw that your sister is on a cruise?

I have to say, that is quite intrepid of her.  I can barely contemplate getting on a cruise ship at the moment.  For one thing, I'm not sure I can be bothered with all the paperwork and testing that's required at present.  Then, there's the other thing, although the cruise companies are doing all they can, it's just not the environment for me right now.  Which is sad really, as I loved my cruises. 

I totally agree with you, Goldie - especially one where you have to fly to your destination port!  Between the madness at airports, the level of paperwork, and the sudden changes of rules, I couldn't be doing with it.  

That said, I know why she *is* doing it - for her daughter, who really *needs* some time away, for all sorts of reasons that aren't mine to share.  But if you're going on holiday, a cruise is the best way - no faffing about with different hotels and restaurants, and I think they're only going on one trip at most, and otherwise just doing self guided walkabouts.  The cruise liners fog all areas every day, and there's no buffet, it's all restaurant service.  Other family members have been on international holidays and it's been fine, though none have been our age.  We'll see how this one goes.  I'm hoping we can go to Greenland in July, there's only one a year that's available from the UK, I think.

Karmacat

badmemory said:

I confess to finding it odd the amount of thought I put into just going out & doing some shopping when less than 2 years ago I would have just said to myself I need to do this & put my coat on.  I now think about the time of day & how busy it is likely to be.  My coats & cardigans all have masks in a pocket, just in case I forget & the car has a couple too, just in case I forget.  I am supposed to be going out for dinner to a friends house on Boxing Day & I worry even though I know that they are all very careful because two of the family members attending are vulnerable out of 6 of us & 3 of us are over 70 & only the youngest (9) isn't boosted.
I'm terrible at this, because I've done so little going out into places where there are other people, but I'm having to learn this Christmas.  

I actually think I had it back before the first lockdown & before testing, but who knows if that would protect me.  But if we don't protect/defend ourselves no-one else is going to.

I don't think it would protect you any more, to be honest, I understand that it dies away like with the vaccines, but I'm not sure.  And yes, because the rules are so mad and so contradictory, we have to make our own rules.

greenbee

Apparently the data shows that people who have had covid post-vaccine have a higher level of antibodies. 

But there is no evidence that if you had it before the vaccine it will make a difference. Particularly as 1 in 5 have no antibodies - I was tested at 5 months, having had covid in March 2020 and had no detectable antibodies, which didn't surprise anyone even then. I'm assuming I was a T-cell responder, but they don't test for that as it's expensive and not particularly useful.