100,000

 And here it is, the grim milestone. Creeping up over the last few weeks, today is the day, with another horrendous daily tally of 1,631 the total goes into six figure to reach 100,162. It has accelerated in the last month - it passed 70,000 on Christmas Day, and here we are, a month and a day later.

Difficult to know what else to say, other than to note this fact and reflect. It is, after all, just a number. It doesn't stop all of the 100,162 people being individuals with their own stories.

All we can do is continue to play our individual parts by respecting the rules and supporting the vital work that is going on. New case numbers appear to be decreasing, and rapidly, which we must take as a sign of hope, alongside the increase in the number of people (now over 6 million) who have received their first vaccination jab.

Tiger

Jake and I watched the Tiger documentary this evening. Now there's 'made for TV' story if ever there was one.

Destined for greatness - takes the sporting world by storm - triumphs even through injury - leads a double life - has a spectacular fall from grace - wilderness years - glorious comeback.

Awesome!

Volunteer

Vaccination is under way in our local area. I know this because I can claim to be doing my small part towards the jabbing effort! And it really is a small part - I get to be taxi driver to my lovely volunteer, who has just finished her first week of organising the old folks at our local centre. Hero!

21

 A milestone day today, and in particular, just before half past nine this evening it was the:

21st minute past the

21st hour of the

21st day of the

21st year of the

21st century.

Just the sort of nonsense I appreciate!

President

So today, at last, we got to enjoy the Biden / Harris inauguration, and it felt like a long time coming. It is interesting that the last blog post was just before the election, and at that time I made some predictions. Some were right, some were wrong. At least I predicted a Biden win, and I certainly predicted that Trump would delay a definitive result and wouldn't go gracefully.

I certainly didn't predict the extent to which he would go in his denial of reality, even to inciting rioting and the storming of the Capitol building itself by a band of his deranged supporters. He is rightly facing impeachment, and sets a new low bar in the US as the first president to go through a second trial in the Senate. We can but hope that the Senators recognise the importance of doing their duty this second time around, to ensure (i) they send a very clear message to their country and the world that he is guilty as charged, (ii) that Trumpism is defunct, (iii) that in politics it is absolutely fine and expected to hold different and opposing views, but it is also possible to do so whilst whilst showing respect for, not hatred towards, those holding the opposing view, (iv) Republicans start to reclaim their party, and (v) Trump is cast into the wilderness with not even the remotest chance of holding public office at any time in the future.

As to the incoming administration, I admire their call for unity, and I wish them every success in achieving it.

Predict

Time for a prediction, and if I don't make it now, it won't be a prediction any more!

After a truly awful four years (and not just in America), we will finally see a turning point, and the beginning of a new story, and here is how it is going to happen:

• The first big clue will be when Florida announces for Biden.
• That will be the beginning of a Big Blue Wave that will sweep the Democrats back into the White House.
• Trump won't go quietly. He will find something to contest, but whatever it is, his challenge won't last very long as he watches his supporters jumping from the sinking ship.
• However, Trump bluster and obfuscation will delay a definitive result. He will not have the good grace to concede when the writing is on the wall.
• Even family members will start to distance themselves. Once it is all over, the Melania marriage won't last much longer.
• He may have avoided impeachment whilst in office, but once out of office, who knows what other investigations and lawsuits might follow.

There, I've said it. Now let's see ...

Increase

 Two months have passed since the last blog. Seems like long enough of a break. I'd been cheating by putting a 'holding' post in by email at the end of the day, and then going back and filling something in later, and gradually getting more of a backlog of 'fillers' was accruing. A sure sign that it was time for a break!

And what has happened in the two months since last posting? I've ventured back to the office on a part-time basis, although it will be interesting to see how long that lasts with case numbers well and truly back on the increase. Nicky and I enjoyed an excellent short break away in North Norfolk, staying in a B&B in Thursford, visiting some new places, meeting up with Caroline and Tony, and having lunch in Norwich with Daisy. Jake and Izzy are both back for their final years, albeit in remote learning mode - Jake from home and Izzy from her Greenwich / Lewisham flat. Jake's first couple of assessed pieces of work have gone well, so he seems to be in good spirits about year 3 and knows what he need to do to achieve his desired outcome. Teaching seems to have picked up a bit - after Nicky putting out feelers, Jake seems to have a few new pupils about to start, which will help with supplementing his income.

All ok, just keeping an eye on those case numbers ...