In the Bleak Midwinter

I think that In the Bleak Midwinter became my favourite carol when I first heard Bert Jansch's version.  It still moves me when I hear it, after all these years.

Outside it is wet windy and mild out there, no snow for us, the ground is soft and boggy rather than hard as iron.  This then,  is the only snowy scene Cathy and I will be seeing this Christmas.  It is, if you like, our own doorway to Christmas.  If only it was a magical doorway that could take us somewhere away from the current state of the country! :-)

At some stage I expect to look back on this journal to remind myself of what was happening back in December 2020.  So for the record: this is just today here in the UK (most days are quite like this at the moment):

The Government is continuing to blow hot and cold with its series of confusing messages over coronavirus.  The figures don't read well.  There are more than 35,000 new cases today (that is up 14,000 on last week).  18,000 people are in hospital (only 1,643 up on last week).  Another 532 people have died (again slightly more than last week).  The total deaths now stand at more than 66,000, but the excess mortality figures would suggest that this is significantly under estimating the true numbers.  The IHME are projecting this to double by the 1 April 2021, but suggest that we could be looking at more than 170,000 if we ease the current restrictions before then.

Then there is that other looming crisis.  The deal needed with the EU on 1 January (two weeks tomorrow) has still not been done and Michael Gove (Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster) is busy playing politics over whether or not Parliament will be recalled (if necessary to avoid the chaos of no deal at the start of the new year).   

That fine Christian Jacob Rees Mogg (Leader of the House) is today sneering at Unicef accusing them of a "stunt" in relation to child poverty in the UK. 

For light relief Gavin Williamson our minster for Education has just told teachers that, the virtual learning arrangements he was just about to sue Greenwich Council for proposing , is actually now what he wants all schools to now adopt from the start of the next term.  Of course, he's given them this message just as term ends so the logistics of trying to implement the changes are now much more difficult.

... and when we tell our grandchildren's generation about this chaotic government in 20 years time, what's the chance that they will believe us?