More good news comes our way

Welcome snowdrops 

The threat of Corona 19 comes closer, as the daughter and granddaughter of Ann's friend Sylvia have both had the disease, and her daughter's ex brother-in-law has died from the virus. In our immediate family, Lucy's ex developed the disease, and one of Edwin's ex tutors in a village close to Hundon has the disease. 

Floods and gales are threatening the country, yet in the fields and woods the snowdrops have pushed through to welcome our walk. Though only mid-January, we feel that spring must be lying in wait behind the gales, ready to burst upon us with welcome warmth and longer days. With the remarkable speed of the vaccination programme, we really can look forward to a better year ahead and the chance to visit a long-missed family and old haunts. I already have my appointment at a local surgery tonight. Our friend Robin (in his 70's) missed his call, but Malcolm (in his 80's) in Haverhill has already had the vaccine and my brother Richard and Chris (both in their 70's) get it at the weekend. I have had a letter asking if I can be available to help with the injection programme, so I guess they're looking for anyone who can wave a needle in the right direction.

Further good news comes on the headlines from USA as a new president is ushered in. We were unable to watch the inauguration which coincided with the time I was waiting in a carpark in Lavenham for my jab. But catching it later on the news, it looks like a promising new start for the USA following a disastrous four years of inept leadership. Biden is just my age, so if he can run a major country for four years (with hope for a further four), I can hope to continue to be active with the very minimal work I do and my untaxing hobby of painting. More power to the oldies!

Some time ago, I wrote about a vicious hair straightener from ghd (Good Hair Day) purchased from Amazon, but made in China (see kind comments and Chinese trash). It was dangerous, for it got too hot and singed Ann's hair. She wrote a stinging review about it on the Amazon site, and bought a better quality product. Today she received an email from ghd offering her £30 to remove her review! Apart from the blatant bribery inherent in this message, it is worrying for another reason. Consumer comments to Amazon are meant to be anonymous; clearly they are not if Amazon passes email addresses on to its advertisers. Do they also pass on phone numbers and addresses? There is clear danger in this practice at the hands of aggrieved companies.