We'll know in a few weeks. I must confess now the new season is only 12 days away I'm starting to get that magical feeling of anticipation. OK, we haven't had the same mass clearout & rebuild as we did n 2011. But I have to hope that's more to do with what Adkins wants than any other factor. And of course I'm hoping for some useful loans (if we have to have them). My big concern now is going to be what restrictions the Club (or the Government) places on fans attending. I've heard talk about vaccine passports being needed to go to Premier League games. What will the EFL get foisted with at the last minute? I guess it depends on the size of the spike in infections post Euro 2020....
It is a strange attitude from the Government right now. All restrictions supposedly lifted a week ago. But more and more interference in specific aspects of life. Passports and pings and daily tests - and that's just to get out of bed in the morning. I am glad to hear that infection rates are falling though. That is an unexpected and big relief. If the third wave really does collapse within a month or so I might dare to go to a game at the Valley.
ATM I'm minded to go to The Valley. I'm double-jabbed, so the chances of ending in hospital are tiny. But some scientists are warning that the UK is now a perfect breeding ground for Vaccine-dodging variants, what with all the antivacc morons and the lifting of restrictions, so I'll be taking it a game at a time depending on whether it turns out to be Freedom Day for us or Freedom Day for the virus.
I'm probably going to the opening game on Saturday. I'll be careful - it's the crowds before (and particularly after) the game I'm more worried about than being inside the Valley itself. Got a day patient appointment 24 hours earlier. Nothing too serious, but I hope I feel OK afterwards. If as a result I don't feel so great on Saturday I'll skip the game and watch it on Sky instead. But I would much rather be there. Will be going to a quiz night at a local working men's club in a couple of weeks time. No masks. I hope it will be OK, it's in a good sized area and it's never been very crowded. I guess we all have to start living again at some point...
"More than 300 cases have been detected within a span of 10 days. Chinese media is dominated by news on the outbreak, and the country's top respiratory diseases specialist has reportedly expressed grave concern." 300 cases in 10 days in a population of 1.4 billion. Hardly an outbreak. Virtually every country in the world would love those sorts of infection rates, so why do the BBC highlight this as an outbreak which is spreading ? What is their agenda ? Just shows how any figures can be manipulated and dressed up whichever way the author chooses. Oh wait, am I being anti-woke ? After all surely it's just the 'BBC's truth'.
The Chinese are certainly taking it very seriously, judging by the restrictions they're introducing. Looks like they'll catch it early.
Looks like the epidemic in the UK is just about over? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-58078900 Of course, a nasty new variant could change that. But let's have a few months off at least. Very glad hospital admissions are leveling out. It was the NHS staff I was most worried for.
I really hope so, BUT today is the first day in 14 days where figures are UP on the same day of the previous week. I think the dramatic decreases of the past two weeks (when we were coming down from the high figures caused by the Euro's) might be over. Lets hope today is just a blip and we can return to a gradual decline again.
Interesting caller on Eddie Mair's show on LBC. He works in mental health, and they are finding that anti-vaccers who are into all the conspiracy theories are developing different mental illnesses. Largely as a result of only having contact with like-minded (brainwashed) people. I think this is what social media does to you, and is why I stopped following anyone with a political axe to grind, they just keep posting the same thing in different ways and don't tolerate any disagreement.
Most pathological Anti-vaccers just cannot accept that they're wrong. That most of what they believe is bilge. Same problem with those extremist Trump disciples like the Q-anon Shamen Those folks need help. Anyone of a nature generous enough to help them deserves a medal.
Can't change the way they think, much as we'd like to. Clockwork Orange... Just have to let them be, and keep an eye on them. The flaky will always be with us.
One of the leading anti-vaxxers died of Covid on Thursday in Yorkshire. Seemingly a popular decent well-liked bloke in other respects, he ended up down the rabbit-hole of conspiracy theories. A tragedy for his family, who urge everyone to get the jab. Like Covid itself, we seem to have a new illness here, but this one is psychological.
There's one rule for them, and another rule for Oz https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58270417 You can get a long way with a batted eyelash it seems...