Health & Family

Laughing stock

ANOINTING the court jester as king was always a high-risk strategy for the Conservatives. Boris Johnson got Brexit done but it was only a matter of time before he turned his government into a laughing stock. I don’t actually think anyone in Whitehall broke the law by partying repeatedly while the rest of the country was in By DrPHIL HAMMOND lockdown. It merely destroyed trust and credibility. Lockdown laws were cleverly crafted to allow essential workers to do pretty much anything whilst on the job. Only two people could legally meet outdoors in a public space (with a few exceptions) but within the boundaries of an essential workplace, such as Downing Street or a hospital, there were only guidelines.

Gatherings should be “minimised”, different work teams should avoid mixing “as far as possible” and meetings should usually be limited to “only absolutely necessary participants” and “be held outdoors or in well ventilated areas when possible”.

There was no guidance at all on workplace socialising. The NHS frowns upon staff drinking alcohol at work but in terms of pandemic risk, having a drink at your desk after work with colleagues you regularly mix with isn’t going to alter viral spread.

However, alcohol often reduces social distancing and encourages high risk behaviour. It is no surprise there were so many Covid infections amongst Downing Street staff.

The May 20th party could have had giant cakes with naked interns leaping out of them. Boris Johnson could still pretend he didn’t realise he was at a party, but even if he did, he may not have broken the law and has long since been safe in the knowledge that the police won’t investigate retrospective breeches unless senior civil servant investigator Sue Gray (not entirely independent) finds evidence of illegality.

Which she won’t. The most Boris Johnson can expect from the “partygate” investigation is a slap on the wrist.

Johnson also oversaw a culture that permitted lockdown parties to take place in Downing Street when he wasn’t there. Two occurred on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral, allegedly including the smuggling in of alcohol in a suitcase and dancing around a desktop disco.

Even the director general of the government’s own Covid taskforce – in charge of communicating the rules to the gullible public – had a big drinks’ leaving bash in Whitehall.

Technically all these parties may be legal, just very ill-advised. Likewise, the people who declined the invitation to a “bring your own booze” party in the Downing Street garden in May 2020 knew it was a clear contravention of the guidance but not the law.

A hundred people guest list to drink alcohol and make the most of the weather is hardly “essential” or “minimised”. They wisely stayed away, some expressing concern via email but none publicly blowing the whistle at the time.

Johnson should have blown the whistle on himself in December, admitting that multiple social events have taken place during lockdown under his leadership, that they were technically legal but clearly against the government’s guidance, and apologised.

Instead, he has taken the absurd path of pretending he thought they were all “essential work meetings”. He is selling the lie that he – as Prime Minister – was following both the guidance and the law.

This implies, rather alarmingly, that drinking regularly on the job is essential to the pandemic response, as is wearing party hats, playing secret Santa, doing festive quizzes and dancing the night away in Downing Street. It perhaps explains why our handling of the pandemic has been so rambling and incoherent, and why some very poor decisions were made.

Plop the Raindrop

IF you had a choice, have you ever thought about what kind of animal you would like to be? Obviously I have inside knowledge since I’ve literally been inside most of them at some point or other.

Usually as blood or pee or worse.

As you probably know, virtually every living thing on earth is made up mostly of water, which involves trillions of water droplets like me.

I imagine the oceans hold the most water on earth, though there’s an awful lot of it floating around in clouds.

But imagine counting every blade of grass on the planet to see how much water is in them. Not to mention all the trees and other vegetation.

What about puddles, mud and all of the water which soaks the soil?

Then there’s all the stuff in animals and birds, where water usually makes up a huge percentage of their body weight. Without water you would be flatter than a pancake. Actually that’s not true. Without water life would not exist. Not on this Earth anyway. So where was I? Oh yes, what animal would you like to be? To be honest, they all have pluses and minuses.

May flies are the most beautiful of insects, floating like fairies over the water, but only briefly before they disappear within a day.

Giant tortoises seem to live the longest, but would you want to spend a lifetime lumbering around carrying your house on your back?

Trees can live for thousands of years, but must get bored waking up to the same old view.

I know a lot of human beans dream of being as free as a bird and I’ve seen some very interesting attempts by you at imitating them.

But I bet most birds wish they were still dinosaurs. The world was a lot less complicated before you lot came along.

Anyway, birds only fly so much because they are constantly searching for their next meal, which can’t be much fun.

No, from my experience, the best bet would be a pet cat, kept fed and warm, with the option of spending all day sleeping on any bed in the house.

Then springing into action at night, chasing mice and rats, a distant reminder of their wild ancestors who actually needed to hunt.

Cats just know how to have fun!

MENDIP GRANDAD

The “Bowie” funeral factor

DIRECT to cremation – a funeral that has no service, no flowers, no minister or celebrant and certainly no congregation – might appear trendy, but it's not for everyone.

Perhaps David Bowie can be forgiven for making such funerals fashionable as he didn't want anyone at his. Such funerals are an option to be considered where money is an issue. However, given the choice, Rod Major, of Bath & Wells Funeral Services, still believes that most people wish to see a final farewell to recognise and honour someone's life and the difference they made in theirs. Bath & Wells Funeral Services like to make funerals less of an undertaking; it is their goal to ensure that the bereaved reflect the person lost in a celebration of their life, enabling family, friends and colleagues to move forward in a dignified and respectful way.

Records at Bath & Wells Funeral Services show that Somerset does not have many David Bowie-style funeral followers. Money hasn't been a deciding factor. Rod says a direct to cremation funeral costs somewhere between £997 and £1,499 and he has only delivered two such funerals. Ninety-five per cent of his funerals have been traditional: hearse, limousine, flowers and order of service. The cost of this can be anywhere between £2,995 and £4,495.

New technology is also enabling people to attend funerals virtually. Rod said: “Many of us have friends and family living all over the world so I think we will see increased demand for the use of Zoom- type technology in the future.”

Your Local Award-Winning Funeral Director

Rod Major, owner

What our customers say: “The most tragic and emotional event in your life needs the best support you can get. I’m very pleased to have chosen WFS for my dear wife’s funeral. “Rod and his team were respectful, informative and professional from the first contact and gave the right balance of contact and getting on with arrangements in the background. “Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. Thanks to Rod on a personal level for your service and respect for my lovely Sharon.” Martin S.

Call Rod on 01761 233 555 or email: fd@bwfd.me.uk www.bathwellsfuneralservices.co.uk

COURT HOUSE

AWARD WINNING CARE HOME

e Care Home with a difference. We offer all that you would expect from a high quality, family run Care Home set in a Georgian House in the lovely village of Cheddar, Somerset.

You can live your life to the full and choice is our favourite word. Rooms now available with full en-suite facilities and total personal care is offered. Rated by the CQC as good in all areas e Manager – Chris Dando • 01934 742131 • chriscourthouse@gmail.com Court House Retirement Home, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3RA www.courthouseretirementhome.co.uk

OUR HIGHLY SKILLED CLINICIANS ARE ABLE TO USE THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE THE HEALTH OF YOUR EYES!

Join our Eyecare Plan:

•Unlimited advice on all your eye care needs •Great discounts on all your spectacle requirements •Repairs and adjustments to spectacles •We offer a range of contact lenses, dry eye lubricants, solutions and myopia (Short-sightedness) management options. As predictions indicate that by 2050 half of the world’s population will be myopic •OCT scans and Optomap imaging of the health of your eyes

Orriss and Low Optometrists, Corner House, Woodborough Road, Winscombe, BS25 1AQ 01934 843713 • www.orrissandlow.co.uk

Village Agents scheme set to expand

IN January 2010 a pilot project was set up in a small area of rural B&NES, where the council knew that residents in isolated locations were not accessing information and advice because they could not get into Bath or other towns.

Rather than set up information centres, they followed the lead set in Gloucester and created a team of Village Agents, locally recruited people who knew the area and also the disadvantages of living in a village without transport links.

Now, 12 years later, that small Chew Valley project has grown in size and reputation and will soon be available in more areas, so they are now recruiting new staff.

Project manager, Denise Perrin, said: “This expansion of our service is long overdue. At the moment our focus is on preventing admission to hospital and helping people recover from the longer term impact of Covid.”

The team have seen an increase in mental health issues related to over two years of lockdowns and fear of infection.

Denise said: “We are all desperate to reclaim our lives and get back to meeting people, but for people who have not been outdoors since March 2020 that is increasingly unlikely to happen. And that is already taking a toll on their physical health and wellbeing.”

Village Agents work one-to-one with people, gently exploring ways to add more options and choice. It starts with a conversation and may lead to the assistance of other specialist services as required.

This confidential service is free to B&NES residents. You can refer yourself or talk to the team if you are concerned about someone else, as long as you have their permission to speak on their behalf. Call 01275 333700 for more information or visit their website.

SINGINGfor the Brain is back in Wells! These weekly sessions offer an opportunity for people living with dementia and their carers to get together and explore the benefits that participating in singing and music provide.

Eliza and Emma, the lively and dynamic duo leading the sessions, look forward to welcoming you along. Each session incorporates singing well-known songs to stimulate memories and taking part in fun vocal exercises and action songs to promote brain activity.

You will also be invited to explore music making with African drums, which participants find incredibly uplifting and therapeutic.

Sessions run on Wednesdays, 1.15-12.45pm at Seager Hall, Union Street, Wells.

Details: wern.org.uk/village-agents

Helping with dementia

Bold Brass in Yatton

BOLDBrass promise a rousing performance after the winter months and look forward to a more cheerful spring for their concert at St Mary’s, Yatton on February 26th.

Based in North Somerset, the ensemble was formed in 1977 and their players have many years of experience playing in brass bands, jazz and big bands.

Their standard of playing is to semi-professional standard and the repertoire is drawn from classical, jazz, big band and popular brass band music

Bold Brass has provided music for the Open University award ceremonies in Torquay, Cheltenham and Milton Keynes and for many years have been an essential part of the Bristol Evening Post Carol concert in the Colston Hall (now organised by BBC Radio Bristol).

The concert starts at 7.30pm, tickets price £10, half price for students over 16, children free. CHEDDARValley Singers celebrate their tenth anniversary this month. They managed to get outdoors to sing at Christmas and kept singing via Zoom throughout the pandemic.

They started in February 2012 and throughout the past decade have enjoyed singing a wide variety of repertoire led by their director, Kate Lynch.

She said: “Our ultimate aim is the enjoyment of singing together, but we like developing our technique along the way. We're a really friendly bunch. Come join us for our next decade!”

New members are always welcome.

Details: www.yms.org.uk David Ford daford220@gmail.com • 01934 830255

Concert supports refugees

THENailsea Concert Orchestra will be performing the gorgeous Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo with guest soloist Kevin Byrne in a programme that also includes The William Tell Overture, The Blue Danube and Vaughan Williams Norfolk Rhapsody.

The concert is in support of REFUGEES WELCOME North Somerset which, is a local group helping to resettle refugees in this country under the government’s resettlement scheme.

The concert is on Saturday, March 12th, 7.30pm at St Francis of Assisi Church Nailsea. There will be a pre-concert talk at 6.45pm.

Tickets, £12 adults, £10 concessions and £2.50 U18s and are available from Nailsea Music Shop and on the door.

New players wanted

WEST Mendip Orchestra, a medium sized, friendly amateur orchestra, is looking for new members. It rehearses every Friday, 7.30-10pm at The Lynch Chapel, Winscombe, BS25 1AR. In particular they are looking for string players, trumpets, oboe and bassoon.

On song for ten years

Details: Cwww.cheddarvallleysingers.co.uk

Preparing for summer

WILLIAM Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night will be this year's production by the Wells Community Theatre, as part of the Wells Theatre Festival in July. The organisers are now inviting actors to take on roles in this hilarious comedy of mistaken identity. Performers of all ages and experience are being sought to play the characters or to be part of an ensemble cast.

Once again, the production will be performed in front of Wells Cathedral between July 7-10th as part of a wider festival of professional theatre and performing arts that will take place in venues around the City of Wells. * The festival has paid tribute to Simon Bruce (pictured), a founding cast member, who died on November 4th.

Simon, a chartered accountant, died a week after the final performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream performed in the cathedral as part of the Festival of the Moon at the end of October. He leaves his wife Caroline and daughters, Annie and Molly.