Some good news comes

Welcome Baby Aneurin

At last, some good news is coming our way. Matthew and Rosie have had their baby boy, to be named Aneurin after Aneurin Bevan, founder of the NHS. It is a noble name, as well as that of a true socialist; we wish Baby Aneurin all success and power as he grows in Bevan's shadow. The baby was born late last night (Sunday) and is coming home tonight.

As a second bit of good news, Edwin and Andre have found a house to rent, larger than their Cambridge apartment, located on a quiet road in Bury-St-Edmunds. Curiosity drove us to see it today, and it looks to be a lovely old cottage in a little cul-de-sac, so we wish them all joy too with their house move and settling in their next historic town.  

Also tonight, Ben phoned to say he and Kaz are renting a cottage in Wales in February, and inviting us to stay for a couple of nights. We have been keen to get a break away after the lockdowns and the cancer treatments, so their offer has come as a ray of hope for a brighter year ahead. 

On Saturday, I had my second immunotherapy treatment. Apart from mild nausea and dizziness, I am thus far much more comfortable than after the first one, so hopefully the drug is doing its business and knocking out the nasty cells floating round my body, without knocking me out too. I had taken a bag with a book, drink and nibbles to help during the time I sit strapped by a drip to a chair, but like an idiot I forgot it and left it in the car. The boys came to the rescue, stopping via a garage to buy a drink, chocolate and a newspaper to read. Naturally, Edwin's recent conversion to the labour party led him to select the Guardian to balance my right-wing tendancies.

I always feel a bit groggy and sick afterwards, so I went round to meet Ann at the boys' apartment, where Edwin prepared my a traditional jam sandwich to settle my tum. As the picture shows, they are very good at cheering me up and making me feel better. 

Talking politics, I always thought the suggestion to sack tens of thousands of nurses, care workers and other health professionals at a time of huge need and staff shortage was. to put it politely, a little short-sighted. Our trip to London last weekend saw us caught up in a march by NHS staff protesting about compulsory vaccination, and we did sympathise with them, although they have a weak case as they already should be vaccinated against Influenza, Hepatitis B, TB,  Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis. Nevertheless, it should never be compulsory, and on a practical level, the NHS needs them now more than ever. So when the government announced tonight they are dropping the requirement, I was not surprised at all. This government has made more U-turns than the Woolwich Ferry, and I am sure there will be many more down the line until they get rid of Boris, who is now the albatross round the Tory neck.