Claire and I watched a very powerful first episode of Casualty last night (first episode) since filming was allowed after the various lockdowns. I sensed that they were having a dig about some of the decisions made regarding the NHS by the government.
Tag: COVID19
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Week 43 – December 21st 2020 – Week 1 of Tier 4 restrictions
Even though it Christmas, the communications carries on with the Hon Brokenshire, you know the drill by now.
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Week 43 – December 21st 2020 – Week 1 of Tier 4 restrictions
Always nice to get a thank you, this is for the Covid19 testing that we do.
A big thank you for your support in helping us to understand and respond to COVID-19
Season’s Greetings
from all of us at the COVID-19 Infection Survey (CIS)
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Week 42 – December 14th 2020 – Week 3 of Tier 2 restrictions
After visiting Leeds Castle, we dropped in at a Motorway services and I couldn’t believe what I saw. You have to login to see what annoyed me!
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Week 42 – December 14th 2020 – Week 3 of Tier 2 restrictions
Christmas greeting I received.
Dear Michael,
As we come to the end of 2020, I want to say a huge thank you for everything you’ve done to support cricket during this exceptionally challenging year.
After the highs of 2019, it has certainly not been the year we hoped and planned for, but I am immensely proud of how the whole game has come together to navigate the challenges posed by COVID-19.
When the pandemic first struck, our collective approach was to reach out to our local communities and ask how we can help. Professional and recreational clubs, volunteers, players, and key workers across the cricket community went above and beyond to support the national effort in a time of crisis.
Thanks to the efforts and teamwork of many of you, we were also able to get back on the pitch across all levels of the game. We played in locals parks, in mosques, in back gardens and, of course, in front of empty stadiums. We played anywhere we could, watched our men’s and women’s teams on Sky and BBC, and put smiles on millions of faces across the country. This summer, above all others, we needed it.
There are many challenges ahead, but it has been fantastic to see the enthusiasm to get fans back into stadia, to give more people the opportunity to play the game, and to keep connecting communities and improving lives through cricket. We will be working hard over the winter to make sure all of this can happen safely in 2021.
Together, we can make next year one to celebrate. Before then, I hope you have a restful festive break with your loved ones – you have earned it. Thank you once again.
Tom Harrison
Chief Executive Officer, ECB
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Week 40 – November 30th 2020 – Week 1 of Tier 2 restrictions
So on this day December 2nd, the first vaccine was approved to fight back against this killer virus Covid19.
The UK has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech corona virus vaccine, paving the way for mass vaccination.
Britain’s medicines regulator, the MHRA, says the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid19 illness, is safe to be rolled out.
The first doses are already on their way to the UK, with 800,000 due in the coming days, Pfizer said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the NHS will contact people about jabs.
Elderly people in care homes and care home staff have been placed top of the priority list, followed by over-80s and health and care staff.
But because hospitals already have the facilities to store the vaccine at -70C, as required, the very first vaccinations are likely to take place there – for care home staff, NHS staff and patients – so none of the vaccine is wasted.
A further 648 deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid19 test were recorded in the UK on Wednesday, with another 16,170 cases reported.
Diagram of how the Covid19 was created so quickly, compared to the normal speed. 
Vaccine timeline road map 
First nine groups for the vaccine, two jabs approx 12 weeks apart in the UK. -
Week 39 – November 23rd 2020 – Week 4 of lockdown 2
My communication continued with my local MP over Bluewater Shopping centre. As always your have to log in to see.
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Week 38 – November 16th 2020 – Week 3 of lockdown 2
The fight continues, I raised a new Covid19 query with my local MP, your need to register and login to see.
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Week 38 – November 16th 2020 – Week 3 of lockdown 2
I’m usually bah humbug at Christmas time, but whether it’s Covid19 or something else, for some reason tonight, I went mad in putting up some Christmas decorations ??
Father Christmas sledge. 
Father Christmas, how many will there be? 
Penguin ball. -
Week 37 – November 9th 2020 – Week 2 of lockdown 2
You have to keep your financial advisor and market advisor on their toes.
Dear Graeme
Hope I find you well during this lockdown?
Why are the UK Bonds not doing well, compared to the UK Equities?
I notice silver took a big hit in the last week, why was that?
The markets appear to be very happy with the USA election predicted result (America is strange) and the announcement of the possible COVID19 vaccine.
Will Trump not accepting the result and suing cause any issues with the market?
The response –
Dear Michael,
Sorry that I did not answered you email first thing yesterday morning but for some strange reason my computer had decided that your emails should go straight into my “junk” folder. I have now sorted this with IT so it should not happen again.
Turning to your questions:
I’m well and really not too worried by Lockdown II.
Bonds tend to move inversely to equities, but this situation has not necessarily been the case over recent years as Central Banks have been pumping in liquidity through quantitative easing. Generally as a rule of thumb if investors are feeling confident equities prices will rise and the money for these investments will come from the fixed income (bonds) part of portfolios. Likewise in periods of risk off, equities will fall in price and bonds will gain in value as investors seek to protect capital values. The price of bonds will also move as interest rate and inflation expectations change.
Silver/Gold is similar to bonds in that they tend to move inversely to equity prices. Investors see the shinny metals as preserving capital. The price of silver has been weak recently as investors have being buying equities on the hope that the world economy will be back on its feet soon given the positive vaccine news.
The US election result (assuming Trump’s law suits come to nothing) could not have been better, Mr Biden winning but control of the Senate remaining with the Republicans. This will mean that Mr Biden will not be able to raise taxes as high as he had wished.
I do not believe that Mr Trump will cause too much disruption as he is very much on his own, with party members starting to distance themselves from him. However given what we know of Trump we cannot discount this in full.
In general we are still confident in investing in equities but in the near term we are likely to see periods of volatility as Covid infections rates rise.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to call.
Best wishes
Graeme
