Hello dear friends
Epiphany has passed, and life goes on in 2021...
A case of the dreaded UK strain of Covid19 has entered our community.
It is 70% more infectious than the other strains, and containment measures have been swift. It is hoped to trace all who have been in possible areas of infection, and quarantine them immediately.
It is a little taste of what has been endured by our friends interstate and across the globe these past eleven months.
A planned hair cut has been postponed, there will be no return to the Art Gallery next week, and shops and restaurants will be closed.
I went to our local shopping village at 9.00 am and the lines of traffic meant I could not get within two blocks of the entrance.
Gave up, went home.
Later tried going in the other direction to a smaller, local supermarket.
Bread and meat had sold out, I got the last piece of chicken, the second last milk, and so on.
A little bit of comfort baking may have occurred.
Some little Scottish Terrier dogs for New Year..
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As the world waits for their vaccinations, I am remembering scenes like this from my childhood. During the early twentieth century, repeated epidemics of Polio swept the world, the worst in the 1940s and 1950s when about 500,000 people per year died worldwide from the disease.
In the mid-1950s the first vaccine, the Salk Vaccine, was developed and the above picture shows children lining up in school uniform for their 'jab'.
I was in early primary school and have hazy memories of lining up like these children, marching past a doctor and holding up our sleeves for the injection.
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Times were different then. I have no memory of our names being taken or recorded, and I suspect they were not. The Government decided for us, and we lined up as we were told.
Later the Sabin oral vaccine was introduced and used for my younger siblings and our children.
Australia was declared Polio-free in 2000.
Even in the 50s, celebrity endorsement was useful.
Who else but Elvis Presley was shown getting his Polio vaccination..
I wonder who will be featured in this way in 2021??
If you are an oldie like me, do you have memories of polio or childhood immunisations?
Be safe and take care.
XXXX
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| Looks so inviting, but yesterday a dastardly Eastern Brown snake was lying right there by our pool. It slithered away fast when it heard Mr. Cardinal coming out with his camera :) |
Very, very sensible to have immediate lockdown. Here, we've been faced with a dithering PM who is also under a lot of pressure from deniers, anti vaxxers and libertarians. Still, not as bad as Trump was, thank goodness. It is lovely to see the beautiful pictures as usual in your blog. Enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteIt is the best thing to do under the circumstances. I was just watching news from the UK, and the hospitals almost being swamped. So sorry to see this, and I did not know that deniers, etc, were behind the situation. No, not as bad as Trump, who never took it at all seriously. It is a cooler day with a bit of rain here, so very pleasant to cosy up and stay home for a long weekend. Baking may well occur. Take care, and all the best.
DeleteYes I remember being taken to a community hall in our county of Sussex and being given the oral version. No question you had it, it was a given. I also remember pictures of children in an iron lung. Such a devastating disease. I’m bringing out the Christmas cake for some comfort eating.... plenty of time to deal with the resulting weight gain!!! Stay safe Patricia. Cheers. Lindsey
ReplyDeleteHi Lindsey. Aha, same as in Australia, no questions, it was given. I found some of those iron lung pictues when I was looking, so tragic for many people. You still have Christmas cake? Well done you for super restraint. Ours all went last week :) Be safe, Cheers.
DeleteWe are in lockdown as well but with no exit date as yet, our numbers are very high. Stay well and safe!
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
I am so sorry you are in lockdown indefinitely, Amalia. It must be so draining on everybody, and I heard about the numbers being high in your country, as well as the UK. Happy stitching, and you stay safe and well too. xo
DeleteWe are in the midst of restrictions here in BC as cases are rising after Christmas and New Year's. Schools are still in session, so I'm out and my husband works in health care so he gets out, but I'm sad that we can't see our children and grandchildren other than at a distance or on Skype.
ReplyDeleteI remember the polio vaccine - it was oral when I had it. And I had the small pox vaccine, too. Now those diseases are unheard of. Bring on the vaccine!
So sad, cases are rising everywhere in the world it seems since Christmas. I am glad you can get out, nothing worse than being confined. But of course, we all miss our families, me too. I never had the smallpox vaccine - I remember hearing it was very painful. People used to get it when they travelled overseas. Yes indeed, bring on the vaccine!
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DeleteI remember clearly getting my Sabin oral vaccine. I was 4 years old, and my Dad explained to me where we were going and why. We headed on foot to an elementary school where the vaccine was given. On the walk over to the school my Dad said, I would receive a shot, but it wouldn't involve a needle or my arm. I would get medicine in a sugar cube to swallow and it was important not to spit it out even if I didn't like the taste of it. I remember this as if it were yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI love your pot with what looks like English Ivy. How pretty and calming. I must find a Scottish terrier cookie cutter too. I'd love to make Scottish shortbread with it.:)
Hi Debra, what a good memory you have, from 4 years old. It seems schools were the popular place to give the polio vaccines. I looked to see if I had a second Scotty dog cookie cutter, but alas I now only have one. I will keep looking for one for you :)
DeleteOh my dear friend, you are too kind! I wish you could come with the cookie cutter and have tea and cookies in my home. One day one of us will cross the hemisphere for a lovely visit ... on the bucket list. :)
DeleteWe are in lockdown too, Patricia, with no apparent sign of an end to it. It was supposed to be 19 January, but has been extended for at least another three weeks. I know I had the Polio jab, but don't remember having it.I still have the scar, though! My children both had the oral vaccine, and I wish we could have this one orally too. I am somewhat needle phobic! Anyway, I hope your lockdown doesn't last too long. What a pity about the shopping queues!
ReplyDeleteLockdowns are everywhere it seems! We really have not got on top of this virus over the year, but hopefully vaccines will begin to make a difference. I don't like the needles either, and in fact I always have a reaction, dizziness and strange aches, but I'll have it anyway. The UK strain that started our lockdown has spread a bit further, so we are not sure what happens next. Many shops are closed while not legally necessary. It is very unsettling, as I am sure you know. Fingers crossed for the end of the tunnel :)
DeleteI'm so sorry you have had the virus come to your area, Patricia. Please stay safe, dear friend. Your cupcakes look Yummy, and those little Scottish Terrier dogs are so cute. Would love one to go with my coffee this morning. I was looking at your pool, and it looks so nice with all the greenery surrounding it. You've done a great job with the landscaping in your yard. It's Wintertime here and cold, so seeing a pool was a surprise to me. I hope the new year is being kind to you, Patricia. And those vibrant pink flowers in the first photo are beautiful.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
We are keeping very much to our home area right now - the safest idea. Our yard is a lot of work, and we do have people come to help. However, there is always something for us to do and it does keep us fit. It is very hot right now, and the bright flowers do seem to like that. Best wishes to you in your new home, I hope it is going well.
DeleteI'm pleased to read that your government , unlike ours, makes swift decisions when necessary to deal with the virus. Blighty is now in a terrible mess due to far too much delay and dither and a weak decision over Christmas from Boris and co. You are very wise to turn your attention to making cute biscuits and buns!
ReplyDeleteAs a child I had all the jabs that were going. There was a further polio scare in England in the '60's when I was a student and my mother insisted that I had to go for a booster. I felt very embarrassed to stand head and shoulders above the children in the line to be given my booster on a sugar lump!
We are so sad to see what is happening in the UK, which is avidly followed by Australian media. I was surprised by the Christmas decision which eased restrictions, and seems to have been responsible for a dreadful surge in cases. Our State Government is unpopular with the other states for its hardline, but locals on the whole support the efforts which have kept us largely covid-free.
DeleteWhat a cute story about having to line up with the children for a booster vaccine via a sugar lump! I have never seen that version, even with our children. Have a good weekend, and be safe.
Hello my dear Trish! And Happy 2021 to you! Playing a lot of catch up today. I'm so sorry to hear that your wonderful healthy streak ended over there and you're back to the incredibly unfun parts of this awful pandemic. Sigh. I pray that you get back to a very healthy place over there once again. It was nice to see you had a lovely Christmas season though. I pray that you stay healthy and safe my Friend. God bless. 🙏 💕
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