On Becoming a Hermit, Sort of ... Day 9

Day 9
(Wednesday, 25th March 2020)

I was first up this morning. B had done the last two, for no particular reason than that she was awake and ready to go downstairs and feed the menagerie and get the first news of the day.

It was me who got the first news, which was largely more depressing statistics on the number of cases and deaths caused by COVID-19 (shall we call it C-19 from now on? Yes, I think we should. It seems we are two weeks behind Italy, who now have recorded more cases and more deaths (apparently) than China, where it all started back in November. Monday afternoon's announcement by the PM that staying at home was to become more than an 'instruction', that it would within days become enforced by law. At this point most people are taking notice and following the advice, but this morning's news confirmed that is still no uncertain amount of ignorance on display. The stubbornness, refusal to follow the instruction, arrogance and, frankly utter stupidity in ignoring official advice, which is coming from the highest authorities on the science and medical epidemiology (which I spoke at some length about in Day 3 of this journal). Still, it seems there are crowds of mainly young people meeting in public for their social pleasure.

My day finished with my fourth on line conference call, but this time with fellow choristers in Fox Valley Voices. We tried (against my advice, given the experience of Hallmark) to sing through a song, "Autumn Leaves" all together with harmonies. Whilst there was the odd moment when I could detect the odd harmonious phrase, for the most part it was a car crash. The greatest value, as with Hallmark, was being 'together', talking about how we are fairing in the Corona virus crisis ... and generally having a good old laugh. There's a result, then.


Today's Music Choice from Clemency Burton-Hill's "Year of Wonder" is Romanian Folk Dances 2: 'Sash Dance' by Bela Bartok 

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On Becoming a Hermit, Sort of ... Day 8

Day 8
(Tuesday, 24th March 2020)

It's now a full week, since the PM's announcement of a more serious level of social distancing, in the late afternoon of Monday, 16th March. It feels like a month! Goodness, have we come a long way into this pandemic crisis. I feel like I want to give a big hug to every Doctor, Nurse, Carer and all those who are under so much stress with the burgeoning patient load, including my own son and daughter in law.

Anyway, on with today's events and ramblings.

We were up at a reasonable time this morning, as B had an appointment with the physio, but she'd arranged to do it via FaceTime ... and guess who had to hold the phone! It actually worked very well, from different angles as instructed by physio, utilising the consummate skills of the cameraman, who, albeit if the physio had seen his occasional postural alignment, she would no doubt have commented!

This was followed, a bit later than planned by some more Tai Chi, but not before I tasked myself to replace some fencing to block the hole in the wall where the stream enters the lower reaches of our garden, but that had been washed away during the several torrents that had caused so much flooding during the storms of the past couple of months. B had been down there with Guide Dog Puppy (GDP) Taz and he had walked up the stream and got through the hole into the neighbours 'small holding', with the attendant risk their hens might have ended up the targets for some vigorous play that might well have ended in a costly chicken bill or at least some very excited hens.! 

More Qi Gong was followed by coffee and a brief serious talk with B about preparing for the possibility of at least one of us getting the virus. A preparation that would involve internal isolation from one another as far as possible to reduce the risk of both of us getting really ill at the same time. I guess it's a good thing to talk, at least so we get ourselves mentally prepared for that event. Likewise a conversation about preparing for the possibility that any of our children may need our help, if things get difficult for them. But that will involve a decision based on having to maintain social distancing as far as possible, unless they or our grandchildren need some rescuing in some way or other. But we cannot plan for this. We shall have to respond when the circumstances present themselves.

The day finished with a two hour session using this Zoom conferencing facility for our Hallmark rehearsal. Different, but well thought through by our esteemed Musical Director, Tim Briggs. Never before have I sang harmony to one other voice whilst Tim directed us. Not being able to hear anyone else's voice (apart from Tim, who was singing one of the parts) is novel, but it focuses attention on one's timing and particularly pitch. I was doubtful this whole idea would work, which it only partially does for the singing, but for it became very clear that its value for our morale is beyond measure. this is another expression of the good that can be found in community, leaving thoughts of those selfish folk who've been panic buying food and hoarding it for themselves, out in the cold for a while.

As a footnote, I have always been moved by people of all ages getting together to sing in harmony. I am not on my own. There are many members of Hallmark of Harmony, who are of like mind, but I think in our present predicament, we are more than ever moved, not just by harmony singing and music in general, but also appreciating (more than ever) how important it is to be together. The only way we can do this right now is over the internet. Let's hope that doesn't let us down.

See you tomorrow.


Today's Music Choice from Clemency Burton-Hill's "Year of Wonder" is Viola Concerto in G major 1: Largo by Georg Philip Telemann

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On Becoming a Hermit, Sort of ... Days 5 to 7

Day 5-7
(Saturday, 21st to Monday, 23rd March 2020)

Having decided to take the weekend off, to (sort of) make it feel like a weekend, things did happen, of course, not a lot really, but nothing did not happen!

Saturday at 7am was marked by a dash into and out of the Coop to get some things we needed, particularly milk and some veg. The only disadvantage of going at its opening time was that the bread van had not delivered yet. Surprised to find I was one of only three or four people in at that time, so I had some elbow room. By the time I had done, it was beginning to get busy. I did make a point of thanking several of the staff there for being there for us and it was very clear that they really appreciated being thanked. Clearly not enough people have thought to do that.

We weren't going to on the weekend, because of the fine weather and the fact that we knew the moors would be crowded, but later on Saturday afternoon, we did walk the dogs on a less popular part of the local moorland, where there are sheep grazing, so kept them on the leads at all times. No bad thing for them to get used to being on leads when they don't expect it!

Sunday we stayed home all day. B did a ration of gardening and I did some indoor exercises, training and games with the dogs. I also made some quiet time to sit and read, which is more than B got in the garden as the residents of the cottage behind us was playing music in his garden. You have to mow the grass outside, but it is possible to play music indoors!  In the evening after supper, I had a test meeting (on Zoom) with my barbershop chorus, Hallmark of Harmony. Probably around thirty involved It doesn't lend itself, unfortunately, to singing together and being able to hear each other in the process, but with imagination we can do some constructive stuff, talk and share, set goals for learning and practice as well as having a bit of fun and, most importantly, keeping a team spirit going; keeping the 'band of brothers' together.

So that was the weekend.

On Monday morning, B woke with the inspiration that we should start doing Tai Chi again. So plan A: for the first week at least, to do some Qi Gong (Chi-gong), which is basically warm up routines that wake up the whole body step by step ahead of embarking on doing the short-form tai chi 'choreography'. Remembering and relearning all these routines has been the first challenge, but it's slowly coming back.

Various other tasks and activities ensued and my day finished with another , smaller meeting on Zoom with Hallmark, this time just for those who couldn't make it on Sunday evening. Just to get familiar with how it works. Some having more difficulty than others initially, but we will all get there soon enough.

We're definitely trying to ration news to the main bulletins and brief Prime Ministerial press conferences and pick up 'other news' from the on line press.

Dara Ó Briain provided the pre-bedtime comedy to lighten the spirit. I have to say he always talks so fast with his Irish accent, that thickens as his presentation becomes more intense, that I have great difficulty hearing any but half of it! But it is his energy and comedic timing, the looks, gestures and punch lines that are so unmistakeable and make hime so funny.

Gard blass 'em.


Three day's worth of Music Choices from Clemency Burton-Hill's "Year of Wonder" :
Saturday: Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, op.49 2: Andante con motto tranquillo by Felix Mendelssohn.
Sunday: Recomposed: Vivaldi Four Seasons 'Spring 2' by Max Richter
Monday: Heal You by Anna Meredith 

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On Becoming a Hermit, Sort of ... Day 4

Day-4 (Friday, 20th March 2020)

More philosophical thoughts were circulating this morning when I awoke. Now I can't remember what they were, you'll probably be very happy to hear!

The first distraction that laid these thoughts to rest, was when I realised we'd better book an online food shop because of long lead times - the earliest delivery was 20th April! It may only be slightly interesting that Barbara had the same light bulb moment only twenty minutes after and logged in to discover a very full trolly! We need to talk more

Is it me, or is this a very boring opening to a blog post. No, don’t answer that!

Following a trawl through the terms of our travel insurance, to see if there is any chance of claiming for the cancellation of our rare holiday next week and a few requisite communications to provider, insurer and credit card company, the second distraction came from our neighbour. He invited us to meet outside with a chap who'd come to cost the relaying of their driveway with what was described as a SuDS compliant 'porous resin'. He was asking whether we'd like to get a quote too, since our drives blend into each other and are therefore shared. Anyway, neither of us were particular taken by the design patterns, but even less impressed with the price ... £5,500! So that wasted another hour!

You are no doubt beginning to realise that this has been an ordinary day, as days go. Not necessarily the material for astounding blog posts. But I have already said that this is an attempt at a journal and, as such it is bound to be a little parochial. Ho-hum. 

One thing that strikes us both is that, even though retirement can do this to some people, we have never lost that 'weekend feeling'. We know what day of the week it is because of our schedule of activities, most of which usually occur regularly on certain days of the week, with regular but occasional variations, including weekends, particularly for my singing activities. In the past week, we have suddenly lost those activities. All of them. So differentiating between weekdays and the weekend has concomitantly become more difficult, not to mention the loss of those important deadline dates, weeks and probably months ahead. Things to aim for. 

However, today is Friday. We often throw a pizza in the oven to celebrate the start of the weekend and have some green stuff to go with it, and maybe treat ourselves to a G&T! Ooof I hear you gasp! But we have neither pizza nor salad (we ate the last one on Tuesday ... or was it Wednesday?). But I'm not going (and don't need), to whip down to the Coop to get one. We'll have something to eat in the freezer, so here we go.

The moral (if that's the right word) of today's post, is clearly that we need to adjust our routines, set some goals. To this end I made a reminder list this morning with five tasks on it. When I've posted this blog (the fifth on the list) shortly, I will have achieved three and half of them. Tomorrow: must do better. 

I may not post on the weekend because ... well, it is the weekend after all.

For now, here's a couple of photos of our Guide Dog Puppy, Taz ... 

January 2019

February 2020

Today's Music Choice from Clemency Burton-Hill's "Year of Wonder" is Zefiro tornadoes e di soave accenti - Return, O Zephyr by Claudio Monteverdi : https://youtu.be/qns0zAPZ0ts 

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On Becoming a Hermit, Sort of ... Day 3

Day-3 (19th March 2020)

I started my day thinking about statistics. "Geek!" I hear you say, but read on. This is important, very important. My thinking continued and extended to what I learned in my scientific education and its application to my subsequent working life as a scientist and engineer. It has always occurred to me that there is not enough understanding of the principles of statistical probability and risk.

The mathematics of statistical analysis is crucial to the development firstly of our understanding of scientific phenomena and secondly to the control of processes, the building of reliable machinery and especially in medical science, on all of which we rely in our modern lives. 

The two main building blocks of science are the pure sciences of Chemistry and Physics, along with their various branches. Organic and inorganic chemistry, electrical, mechanical, optical, nuclear, thermodynamics and astro-physics all provide the fundamental principles on which modern technology is founded. In order to develop and build the machinery of modern technology, we need mathematics and, crucially, a means of assessing the probabilities of success for any designed system, the risks of failure in that system and therefore its economy, reliability and, perhaps most important of all, its safety.

How did we manage to develop the motor car to where it is today with the state of reliability we now enjoy in automotive technology, without the application of science and the assessment of its efficiency and reliability and consequent continual improvement? 

How did we develop computer technology, without the assessment of how to make it work, experimenting with different materials to build and carry the microcircuitry, without the development of binary code, which goes to build the software algorithms that determine the reliability of the technology in so many diverse activities of our lives? 

However, there is probably no other branch of science, where statistical analysis has been more important than in Bio-Medical science, in the development of medicines and treatments for illness, including infectious diseases. In fact, many of the mathematical techniques of statistics was developed in aid of this branch of science.

In its simplest form, the expression of risk or probability can be done by considering the linear scale, a line if you prefer, between 0% and 100%. Consider 0% to be 'Black' and 100% to be 'White'.

0% ------------------------------------------------------------ 100%
Black _______________________________________White

In science, there is never going to be 0% or 100% certainty. Systems, results, facts and reality always lie somewhere in between these two extremes. In other words, it is never either black or white.

To illustrate this, the following is circulating on social media right now and seems to be a very useful visual way to demonstrate the assessment of risk in the spread of the Corona virus.

With thanks to Gary Warshaw (https://twitter.com/GaryWarshaw)

Figures from the very important scientific report from Imperial College, which alerted the government to the advice they need to give to the nation, suggest that if we do not exercise this advice to implement 'Social Distancing', it is probable that we would be heading for a mortality rate that would result in as many as a quarter of a million deaths in the UK alone. That is 35 times the mortality currently reported World-wide so far! By strictly applying social distancing this was also reported to be able to reduce that figure to something like 20,000. Twenty Thousand ... is bad enough!! Let alone 250,000. The reality may still be higher than that lower figure, but it depends on how well we implement social distancing. Nonetheless this does put it into a chilling perspective. It doesn’t bear thinking about to consider the impact and repercussions the higher of those two figures will have on our lives.

There is no need to be afraid, because we can survive this thing. But before I go out again this week, however essential it may seem, whether for food or medicine, I shall have a careful think about these figures and reassess the necessity on the day. Let’s keep our itchy feet well grounded for as long as it takes. 

These are very hard times. Barbara and I, in our current circumstances, feel relatively lucky to be in the position we are. To be honest, I confess also to feeling a mixture of deeply felt anxiety and guilt about how our own children are managing, in different parts of the country. This is accompanied by a growing feeling that we need to do more to help them, but this would be in direct conflict with government advice, the message of today's post based on advice from the medical scientists, the people who know. 

So many of us live in differing circumstances, each of which may require the application of a different level of understanding of this crisis and how each of us manage to deal with it, physically and mentally. But I would begin to close this overly long essay with the following reminder what I believe is a reasonable summary of this message.

If you are young or even middle aged and physically fit, without any underlying condition that raises your own risks from this virus above minimal levels, you will survive this disease, but please try not to think only of your own safety, even though your life is as important as the life of anyone else. Try instead to think that, were you to be feeling only slight symptoms or even, as is possible, carrying the disease truly without knowing, somewhere down the line, in 5 days or even 30 days, someone could die as a direct result that you came into close contact with someone else, who passed it on to someone else, who passed it on and on ... and on. Even if you genuinely have no way of knowing whether or not either you (or the other person) are infected with the virus, it is by far the safest decision to assume you are. Simply put, you don't know what is the probability of you (or the next person) having the virus; whether it is nearer to 0% or 100% certainty, you don't know. Therefore there exists a degree of risk. A risk to human life. If you ignore this, you are playing Russian Roulette, not only with other people's lives, but particularly those of your family and friends, with whom you have more frequent, closer contact.

I apologise for the length and seriousness of this diatribe, but I had to get it down here, to clear my thoughts, to say what I needed to say, to say what I’ve understood to be true since the earliest days of my scientific education, hopefully to be understood by someone somewhere. This is a personal journal after all and you didn't have to read it or, if you did, thank you for bearing with me. If you agree with it, do let me know your views by commenting below.

It is now 12 midday, Thursday, 19th March and this post is already a bit too long. Before I close and publish it a little later in the day, I hope to report on something less demanding, slightly more cheerful. Perhaps see what crazy things our puppy-dogs get up to ... 

... just another refreshing walk to the trig point, in calm but chilly and bright conditions. We blew away some cobwebs.

Today's Music Choice from Clemency Burton-Hill's "Year of Wonder" is Cello Suite No.1 in G major 1: Prelude by J S Bach


[If you have been affected in any way by this journal and feel the need for support, please talk to a friend, a family member, someone who loves you ... or, if you'd like, leave a comment below]