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| Sunset on the River Thames |
On average I've walked 51km a week over the last 5 weeks. I'm feeling healthier and fitter.
Diet
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| Seeds and nuts with a fried egg on rye bread |
Food is a central part of my day. It's high protein and low carb. I eat eggs, seeds, nuts and vegetables for breakfast. There were a few days of rye bread. Lunch includes meat or fish and vegetables. I've been making lots of broth which is a super boost for my skin. Dinner is a spinach smoothie. I drink lots of milk and no complex carbs, sugar, processed food or salt. On average I have 100g of protein a day, 130 - 170g of carbs and 70g - 100g of fat a day, totalling under 2000 calories.
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| Daily fruit plate |
I've cut back on eating lots of fruit. Instead I'm having a vegetable intensive diet.
I keep a daily food diary in the fitbit app. It's helped me refine how much I eat. I aim for 70 to 100g of protein, or about 25% protein and less than 2,000 calories a day. Fat and carbohydrates vary between 30 to 40% of my diet.
Mindfulness
I listen to the calm app some days. I try to not see things as good or bad. They simply just are events that happen. It's hard to not react or respond, rather to just let things be.
Creativity and Nature
I'm singing, dancing, cooking, writing, taking photoes and listening to music. I've even self published a children's story which was inspired by a short video that I made.
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| Winter blooms |
Swans, ducks, birds, squirrels, trees, flowers and occasional blue skies have all been lovely corners of my world.
I have amateur videos on youtube. I'm too attached to these wonderful moments and wanted to keep them somewhere. There's funny ducks at Spirit Quay and llamas at Mudchute farm.
I've been buying fresh flowers to brighten things up. Chrysanthemums and roses actually survive outside on my balcony for weeks. I guess they receive more sun and fresh air.
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| Flowers still grow on my balcony |
These are the only flowers that have been thriving since September. My little balcony garden has brought me so much joy.
Christmas
London has embraced Christmas. It was funny walking down Old Bond St and New Bond St.
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| Cartier on Old Bond St |
The designer stores reminded me of years ago a blog post I did on designer fashion in Paris. It feels like a lifetime ago when fashion was a huge part of my budget and I was obsessed with shoes.
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| D&G window |
The styles are so different to my mood and the times. In this covid-world, there's more dressing down with trainers.
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| DIOR designer fashion |
No more parties or bars for me. I don't see many people.
I'm addicted to leggings and my long woolly socks. I have a puffy jacket that I regularly throw in the washing machine.
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| Fendi lit up |
It's still fun looking but I have no desire or budget for any of it any more. It's now like a curious exploration of a gallery.
Coronavirus in the UK
They say there's a new variant of the virus and 40 countries have banned travel to or from the UK. The UK and European strategy is at the opposite spectrum to New Zealand.
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| Victoria Park on the weekend |
In the UK, instead of suppressing or eliminating coronavirus, there's been an acceptable level of infections and deaths, so long as the NHS is not overwhelmed. To give you a flavour of life in the UK:
- The travel industry has been protected with little border control with a token, but not strictly enforced quarantine.
- Lockdowns 2.0 in November & 3.0 in London since Saturday have been less severe, with takeaway food & alcohol more widely available now. Certain areas have been busy with lots of socialising and household mixing outdoors. Masks are more common but still not strictly enforced indoors, especially in shops.
- For weeks, we saw images of packed Regent and Oxford St on the weekend. It looked like everyone had forgotten there was a virus circulating. Some non-essential shops were packed and people were buoyed with optimism the vaccine was here.
- Celebrities and well known personalities broke the rules with parties in restaurants with dozens of guests.
- Certain industries don't wear masks nor socially distance. They try a bit more compared to lockdown 1.0 but they seem to either not care or think they are immune to the virus.
- Since the first lockdown, everyone has broken a rule or two here or there, generously interpreted the guidance and felt they are exercising their own common sense. Over the summer especially, I know mental health was used as an excuse to break the rules.
- Since December, sporting events, gyms and theatres were open, with up to 1,000 spectators allowed in Tier 2 areas which included London until just over a week ago.
- Testing has been somewhat unstrategic. Who knows how much bar, restaurants, shops and cab drivers are asymptomatically passing the virus on? There's no regular testing.
- Schools, especially secondary schools, have had huge numbers of infections but the government says they will take legal action on a council which sought to close schools in their borough.
- Primary schools remained open since reopening after lockdown 1.0 with the vehement belief children were less likely to contract the virus. Statistically this data was skewed since children were essentially shielded until June. They saw the new variant may mean children will be just as likely as adults to become infected. However, with schools open throughout the second half of the year, it is plausible we are also seeing a more representative set of data now.
- It was heart breaking to read of the children who have died from coronavirus in the UK. While there have not been many cases, that has been little comfort to those who have lost them. These deaths were not widely reported and the focus on deaths, which averaged 500 a day in the last couple of months, have not featured in mainstream media other than daily token facts and numbers.
- Universities reopened and became covid hotbeds in September.
- The protect the economy camp lobbies against any restrictions. Anti mask sentiments continue. Protests against limiting freedoms persist.
- Everyone thinks they are safe and covid free until they are not. Complacency set in and in December there was a push for the economy when either lockdown 2.0 should have been longer or the tiers tightened with tougher restrictions in the lead up to Christmas and with the onset of winter. It is now suggested a lockdown or toigh restrictions will now be necessary until the Spring.
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| Mayfair street art |
Christmas relaxation was stubbornly pursued as British exceptionalism until the 11th hour when the rest of Europe was locking down in December with limited changes for Christmas. The Prime Minister indicated absolutely the British public would have Christmas and described a cancellation as inhumane.
Currently London and the South East are in Tier 4 which means no household mixing for Christmas, except 1+1 outdoors. When Tier 4 hit on Sunday midnight, it was announced at 4pm on Saturday. Train stations were packed as people rushed to exit the capital.
We are all punished in lockdowns even though the majority are model citizens for 98% of the time. It encourages everyone to simply take and do what they can when the rules are relaxed or have minor rule breaks when restrictions are in place. It's a boom / bust way of operating.
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| River Thames |
How much is the new variant versus behavioural changes or the government relaxing too much in December is anyone's guess. Borders are shut but the variant is likely everywhere now, not just in the UK.
It is another example of a lack of coordinated global efforts. Each country protects their own. This is why it will take longer and be harder for any of us to succeed in this global crisis.
Inevitably, the UK will face more rules - perhaps masks worn outdoors too, curfews, outdoor activity restricted or a national lockdown with Christmas relaxation across all tiers cancelled. Possibly even a cap on how many households mix in any one week. There is a large suite of options the libertarians have avoided but may now be forced to impose on us.
The ability of countries to continue to trade, operate and prosper is a test of one's own government, but also those of our partners. Whether we thrive as a team or pursue our own agendas remains to be seen.
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| London Westminster Houses of Parliament |
The pandemic has been consistently poorly managed. The economic and public health continue to be treated as binary issues. This is why we have failed rather than succeeded to date.
Public expectations are in the context of promises about Christmas, a limited 3 week lockdown in November, Tory MPs against further national lockdowns, worries about the economy & jobs and a government bound to an inadequate Tier system which saw most of the north of England closed for months. There is huge dismay now that any early warning signs were ignored. How much of this variant is about a government trying to shift the blame for a mess they have created because now countries are closing their borders to the UK because they continue with mixed messages and a poor strategy.
If the UK and Europe pursued a New Zealand style approach of minimising infections, it might mean we aren't in this cycle of mutating viruses running wild. It would mean strict hotel quarantines to avoid imported cases and a zero tolerance for rule breaking. However, there doesn't seem to be an appetite or enough courage. Rather, we pin our hopes on the vaccine solving all our problems. It might but that there are many who cannot take the vaccine, we don't know how long immunity lasts and the whole world will not be immunised overnight. It's a massive problem that is still far from over. Accordingly, the public health and economic crisis continues.
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| Wall art in East London |
Tens of thousands in the UK died. It's a record we should be ashamed of. We aren't the worst globally but we're clearly not the best.
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| East London graffiti - Belly Mujinga died with Covid-19 on 5 April 2020 |
I limit watching or reading the news, but I am well educated and informed to ensure I stay safe. Similarly, I'm avoiding interacting on social media on this topic now. Most of my thoughts haven't changed since my first blog post on coronavirus at the beginning of the year when Italy locked down.
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| Wildbirds in East London |
I don't feel anger or sadness any more. It is simply about being present, rather than thinking about the past and the way things used to be, or the future which continues to be uncertain. If I worry about it, that doesn't help. Perhaps all the animals and nature is escapism but it is what is working for me.
So 2021 is nearly here. For now, I've been lucky. My family and I are safe and well. I know more people who've had covid in the last few months. Fortunately none have died but some have long covid. Next Christmas will be better. This week I'm eating well but still mostly healthy. Weather permitting, I'm walking alot too.
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| Tower Bridge in London |
Emotionally I'm in a better place this year than I was this time last year. It's been a funny and strange year. I guess there will be more funny and strange things to come.
Stay safe and well. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. C7.
