To The Butterfly

'Budding oaks may now be seen,
Starry daisies deck the green,
Primrose groups the woods adorn,
Cloudless skies, and blossom'd thorn;
These all prove that spring is here,
Haste away then, never fear.
Skim o'er hill and valley free,
Perch upon the blossom'd tree;
Though my garden would be best,
Couldst thou but contended rest:'
    An Extract from To The Butterfly by John Clare

Another hot and sunny day today. I popped to the garden centre for some compost and sorted out the return of pots and plants to QVC as the plants arrived damaged. 

(For my record only)
I heard a snippet of an interesting programme on R4 in the car, so this afternoon I listened to all 3 episodes. It was called Pandemic 1918. Liking history and psychology, I've always been interested in why this catastrophic global event affecting every country in 1918-1919 isn't better known. Deaths are estimated to be at least 50M (some say 100M), with 228k in the UK. Unlike the current pandemic, half of deaths were in 15-40 year olds. 

A lot sounded very similar to today, with the immune system going into overdrive, health systems not coping, the PM affected, self isolation required, impacts on mental health and a recession. It came in 3 waves and some survivors suffered from a range of health consequences for life. Of course, this pandemic came towards the end of WWI, but deaths exceeded the war dead, and at the top end of estimates it exceeded those in both World Wars. It is thought that the harshness of the timing with a number of soldiers dying of flu that survived the war, soldiers returning home to find their family had died, and the age of those affected together with the brutality of war, meant that no-one wanted to think about it and so it was collectively forgotten. 

Day 75 / Day 67 of Lockdown / Day 17 of Step 1 (for my record only)
UK deaths up 324 to 38,161. The briefing was led by the Chancellor, who said that furlough will continue as is during June & July, but from Aug firms to pay NI & pension contributions, Sept they'll pay 10% of pay (Govt 70%), Oct 20% (Govt 60%), it finishes end Oct. A new flexible furlough scheme is being introduced from 1st July to enable firms to bring people back part time (paid by Co.), with the rest being on furlough. Self employed income scheme being extended for a 2nd payment to cover 70% of 3 months of av monthly profits up to £6,570. An excellent financial support scheme.