Last Lunch

As the Covid-19 restrictions in  London  were due to be increased from medium to high with effect from midnight yesterday, mrs maytrees and I met yesterday afternoon before the deadline, with elder sister Francine, to have  lunch together at the Cote  in her town Wokingham. One of the rules of the high level of Covid-19 restrictions, is that having a meal in a restaurant  with those who are not members of one's household, even with siblings, is banned although not apparently for meals at the same eatery with the same fellow diners,  provided one dines outside.

The  meeting and lunch together were first class though slightly tinged by realisation that under the new restrictions for London at least and given the onset of winter, we would not be able to dine together for a while. As a side point, the car journey time from Wimbledon  at c. 50 minutes was the fastest that I can recall (despite my keeping to speed limits). Possibly the roads are less busy now outside of school opening and closing times.

Whilst in Wokingham, we came across a man who was irritating some in the street and worried Francine somewhat. However it seemed likely that the man had mental health issues and although frightened some, saddened others. 

One seventh of the population has mental health issues. The key in a civilised society must  surely be to provide care and support to such community members although providing care in times of Covid -19  is proving hugely difficult and as the reduction to the UK's international credit rating just announced, signifies, expensive.

The strange man also reminded me that HCPT- The Children's Trust, for the second consecutive year, will not be able to run its Easter Pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2021 which is very sad. 

However there was a recent pilgrimage to Fatima where an object was for the Covid-19 masked and distanced pilgrims, to pray for relief from Covid-19. 

I am sure that their prayers will be heard.