Category Archives: pandemic

Lockdown 3 – bird watching

Like many people we have not been out a lot since lockdown 3 started on January 5th. A surge of Covid-19 cases led to hospital intensive care units becoming full, or near capacity, and so the government put in place this lockdown.
Lockdown 3
Today we stayed in, and I waited for visitors to come to us – for some pictures for the blog.

The birds must have plenty of other food out there because our well stocked bird feeder doesn’t seem to be getting many visitors this winter. I did see a flurry of sparrows at breakfast and then it was quiet again.
Lockdown 3
There have also been lone blue tits that flit in quickly and away again.
Lockdown 3
A Wood Pigeon landed in one of the trees. Usually the other birds throw so much food about that there is lots on the ground for Wood Pigeons to vacuum up, but not today.
Lockdown 3
A flock of pigeons circles round one of the houses in St Helen’s Court.
Lockdown 3
Flocks of gulls glide over as the sun goes down.

Chinese workers in Abingdon Cemetery from the First World War

Cut Trees
During the First World War there was a need for labour as part of the war effort, and many Chinese Mariners served on UK vessels. Some of these became stranded in the UK and found other work. Two such men have been buried together at the bottom of the Spring Road Cemetery in Abingdon. Anne sent me an email asking whether, in these days of pandemic, they had been victims of the influenza pandemic.

An article in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch Vol. 60 (2020), titled The Chinese mariners of the First World War, says that there were 67 Influenza fatalities recorded among Chinese Mariners, serving on UK vessels, all but one after July 1918.

Muk Cheung, of Bao’an, an area of the city of Shenzhen, worked at the stores depot at Milton Barracks, and died in Abingdon Cottage Hospital of pneumonia on February 10th 1918, aged 31 years.

Ah Fook, possibly of Hong Kong, worked at the stores depot at Milton Barracks, and died in Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, of an aneurysm on April 13th 1918, aged 33 years.

Light snow, Christmas tree recycling, Covid-19 support, and vaccines for over 80s

Snow and Christmas Tree Recycling
Looking out the back window this morning there was light snow on walls, and roofs.
Snow and Christmas Tree Recycling
Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council have sad that ‘Due to the current restrictions in place and the guidelines regarding social distancing we will not be carrying out the Christmas tree recycling event on the Market Place this year.

I have seen a few discarded trees. Some looking tatty. Others still look lush and green.

The Vale of White Horse District Council
says ‘While our garden waste service – which normally collects real Christmas trees from customers for recycling – is currently suspended, all residents can still drop off real Christmas trees.’ They list some locations but I have not checked whether this is still going ahead given the lockdown. Somebody might know.

The District Council also has a list of support they can give businesses and residents during the lockdown.

The South and Vale Community Hub team will put people in contact with with community groups and volunteers that can provide support. The council also have some practical support available for eligible people facing financial hardship or homelessness. Financial support for business affected by the restrictions continues to become available from the government and is administered locally by the district councils.
Snow and Christmas Tree Recycling
Meanwhile the roll out of the vaccines is progressing. I will be taking my mum, who is in her eighties – the second top priority group, to get her first jab tomorrow. She has just been notified. People are being warned that it is free and anybody trying to charge you is likely to be a scam.

Re-entering Lockdown and Epiphany

Epiphany
People were talking about going into Tier 5 after the dramatic rise in Covid-19 cases following the spread of the new strain. Instead of going through any more tiers the Prime Minister has announced that we are re-entering lockdown. Schools will be off from today. Many were off yesterday. At least schools will be a little better prepared for online lessons this time, but not everybody will be able to follow.
Epiphany
Most of the town center Christmas lights did not come on last night.

Today is Epiphany – celebrating the three wise men, or kings, visiting the infant Jesus. We still use the word epiphany for a sudden revelation. The Abingdon Share a Poem group will meet via Zoom and has the theme of Epiphanies. One poem they might read is God’s Grandeur by Gerald Manley Hopkins.
Epiphany
Our window has shown an epiphany scene since that start of advent. The materials to make the scene came from Prices the Stationer: black card for the figures, crepe paper for the desert and haloes, cellophane for the starry sky, and PVA glue to stick it to the window.
Epiphany
The crepe paper is loosing its colour due to condensation, and two of the wise men have slid down. Later today or tomorrow we will take it down.