250th January 2021

Why does January always seem to take so long? Pay day seems to take forever (it's today mind, so no whinging, just stating facts) and everyone seems a bit miserable.  Especially now, especially in Europe.  I really feel for my British friends.  Most of them are super sensible and struggling in lock down as there are so many selfish people and a badly run government.  The UK is in a bit of a mess to say the least.

It's obviously not the only European country, and as much as I really bloody dislike Boris, I don't imagine this has been easy on any country or government.  New Zealand seems to have their shit together.  Jacinda rocks! Oz seems to, to a certain extent. Qatar pretty much does.... or did.  It took a fair while mind; we had the highest number of cases per million for quite a while.

The first wave hit us slightly later, but very hard.  We had a very tough lock down, but people (in general) tend to obey the rules more here.  Although there were people breaking quarantine (and still) and not wearing masks (still) but they managed to keep the deaths low. This could probably be partly due to a relatively young non-local population.  It's hard to get a visa here if you are non-Qatari beyond sixty years of age.

The second wave we have, so far, avoided. The borders remain shut for non-residents and quarantine in place, hotel or home, depending on which country you are entering from.  It's a pain in the backside, but it means that we have kept at a steady 200-ish cases per day for the last few months, even dropping to the 117 cases per day in early December.  This last week, they have started creeping up again. There were 251 new cases two days ago.  The question on everyone's mind is 'Is Qatar on the brink of a second wave?' Doha News touched on this yesterday.  My honest opinion, I don't know.  Historical graphs show a pattern like in the UK, with a second wave much worse than the first.  How can that happen here with such strict regulations and quarantine rules in place? I have no idea.  We are well on the way here with vaccinations.  I will get mine as soon as I get the chance.  My folks had their first ones at the weekend. 

It is still a very uncertain year.  I can't plan holidays or family visits.  Less important, but I cannot plan work trips. The world is still in turmoil really.  When will it end?  Will this ever end? Will we have a new normal? I hope so in some ways.  Less flights, less air pollution, more flexible working remotely.  Will the human race remember this year and last and how we missed hugs and social contact, rather than materialistic possessions? Or will we go back to being our pre-Covid selfish selves, not caring about others and the environment we live in?

I hope Covid teaches us some lessons, that some positives will come out of this.  What is important and not to take things for granted.  To love more, to be more grateful.  Realise how blessed we are......

Bit of a waffle there today folks, not sure where I was going with this one.

Be safe, tell people you love them.  Sending love and hugs to all of you xxx