The Cutest Got the Prize

A couple of the bigger blue tit chicks are now taking their first steps around the nest and flapping their wings in practice. The smaller ones are being pushed out the way by the bigger ones when food arrives, I think there are 8 or 9 in total. They do look so cute all snuggled up together asleep in the evening. 

Day 438 / Day 12 of Step 3 of Roadmap Easing (for my record only)
New cases reported today were 4,182, up 48% from only a week ago. The R no. in Eng is up to 1.0 to 1.1, with a daily growth rate of 0% to 3% and there's an increase in positivity rates in the East of England. Cases of the Indian variant in England have doubled in a week. Cases in Glasgow have risen by about 30% in the last week and it remains under Level 3 restrictions. The ONS survey however, shows cases in Eng were little changed at 1 in 1,120. A virologist at the University of Oxford says that 'we probably will see a new wave' due to the new variant which appears to be in areas with a lower vaccine uptake. Concerns remain about the next step in the roadmap going ahead as planned on 21st June, a decision will be made on 14th June (it would be madness to go ahead). The MRNA has approved the single-dose Johnson & Johnson 'Janssen' vaccine - the UK has ordered 20m which will arrive later this year. European regulators have approved the Pfizer jab for 12 to 15 year olds. An astonishing 12m people have flown into the UK since the start of the first lockdown in Mar 20, including 1.5m in Jan to Apr 21 when borders were heavily restricted - no wonder we have a problem with new variants! The Royal College of Surgeons says that special 'surgery hubs' need to be established in Eng due to the 'colossal backlog' of non-urgent procedures due to the pandemic - sounds like a good idea. They also want the Govt to spend and extra £1bn on surgery annually for the next 5 years.