From The Front Line

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BY JACQUELINE CURZON On the topic of freight it was refreshing - if sobering - to hear that Well, glad tidings are categorically 2400 cases of Glenfiddich's best 12 nowhere to be found. I predicted year old malt, valued at £200,000, many weeks ago that we would be had been appropriated by thieves locked up for the ‘extra’ month and from an industrial estate in Carmyle, then thrown back into the cauldron Glasgow. The empty trailer was of tiers, and it couldn’t have come at discovered in Blantyre several days a worse time, with everyone having later, so someone - somewhere - is finally made catch-up plans to definitely enjoying a big dram next to reunite with distant or dear family, their tinsel and cream crackers. and friends. Boris has taken a giant One thing which is absolutely draconian step, due to the emer- critical in this seasonal chaos is that gence of yet another infectious strain Boris Johnson needs to have some of coronavirus: VU12020/12/01, a kind of exit strategy, because people new variant, which is apparently up are not going to stay willingly locked to 70% more transmissible, and has up for the rest of their lives, even if in been detected in several countries, Jacqueline Curzon my book this coronavirus could be with the WHO having been notified. PHOTO: LARA MINSKY PHOTOGRAPHY with us forever. Or at the very least, The mutation thought to have super- throughout 2021. Rumours that lockcharged this latest variant is called down restrictions could potentially N501Y, noticed in Brazil as far back as April, is only one of 23 separate What's Important? drag on until April could make it a full calendar year of disruption, chaos strains which was later spotted in Australia and the US. Prof Peter Horby, chairman of the Nervtag Advisory Education, Education, and misery. As far as education goes, cases in secondary schools have spiralled out Committee commented, “when you put various mutations together, the Education! of control. Matt Hancock has so far refused to rule out closing schools combination can have a different again if cases rise further, with Gavin effect.” He also added that it was ‘possible’ NHS hospitals, with only 20% less occupan- Williamson the Education Secretary saying the vaccine would now be less effective. On cy than during the height of the pandemic. only there are ‘no plans’ for [school] closure. Friday South Africa’s health minister Zweli This may reflect both social distancing This is unsettling, especially as conflicting Mkhize, suggested a new strain [501.V2] within the sector, and also the fact people updates hint that teaching unions are appeared to have a more severe effect on may spend longer in hospital because they pressing for a delay until February. We know young people, noting that they are seeing are less likely to die from the virus, with im- children and young people are spreading a larger proportion with no comorbidities provements in ventilation and therapeutics the virus, but at what price do we throw the presenting with critical illness. So, in the like dexamethasone. education of the next generation onto the light of all the above, do we really have a To spoil any icing lingering on the cake, back burner? lid on this? It looks unlikely, even with a Britain has now been hit with a travel ban by And then one must ask, how long can the vaccine. a host of countries which will affect passen- economy be artificially propped up, whilst

Government screening had already ger flights, freight transport and potentially unemployment and redundancies are rising confirmed over 40% of cases in the south food supplies, even if European powers have faster than emerging covid mutations? This east were in this group, rising to 62% in promised that vaccines will be still allowed is clearly not how Boris foresaw his critical London. Make no mistake, this is a disaster. through. The government this week called first year in office, in fact I doubt no other Sir Patrick Vallance believes it could have an emergency meeting of Cobra to discuss Prime Minister will have suffered so badly, mutated here ‘by chance’, or possibly even the situation, with 50 countries internation- other than during wartime. It would be started here. Transmission rates across the ally already closing their borders to us this manifestly unfair for the new boy on the UK are now standing at 112 per 100,000 week, something which could potentially block [Sunak] to be considered as a possible in Scotland, 174 in Northern Ireland, 219 extend further. France, our closest European rival for PM office, especially when he has in England and 571 in Wales, meaning 16 neighbour, is believed to be insisting that all had the pleasure of playing ‘banker’ to the million people in England alone will now be lorry drivers waiting outside Dover take the millions struggling to survive. His deciaffected by this radical move, a mere 3 days rapid PCR test, at £150 a hit, although with sions - and even the perceived largesse and after Boris vowed not to snaffle our seasonal up to 48 hours turnaround time for results, benevolence of the Scottish powers in Holygathering. I’m not feeling very confident it's not guaranteed that the drivers will be rood - have of course been overseen by the that this will be the final countdown. able to clear the backlog. It was unbeliev- man at the top. The fact Johnson has had a

No bubbles or baubles are now permit- able to see sections of the M20 closed to year of enduring the Brexit crisis, independted, except for those residing in tiers 1-3. allow hauliers to use it as a giant parking ence challenges, endless rounds of Covid, Wales is allowing only one day of family lot for nearly 2000 vehicles, whilst further all compounded by Dickensian misery, is gathering (Dec 25), whilst Scotland will do discussions are in progress. With covid actually not his fault and none should slap the same, but has also cheerfully blocked having provided a perfect excuse for further him on the wrist for that. For Starmer - the all cross-border travel completely. Many anti-British sentiment, it's difficult to believe new boy on the Labour wards - to slam his people report harrowing tales of isolation, Macron {l'Œuf pourri} - is not actually in counterpart and accuse him of being ‘scared and others mourn the fact they are prevent- total ecstasy at having the opportunity to to make decisions,’ is totally below the belt. ed from seeing loved ones, possibly - like punish our Premier for our rebellion over in- A few musical notes to conclude this myself - for the last time. How do I know if stituting Brexit, and haggling over fisheries, week. Firstly my girls asked me recently I’ll be around this time next year… ? I have trade, welfare and tout le reste. But of course where my school report cards were. I told been asked in certain quarters, what right trade relations work both ways, and we will them ‘in the leather case with all my music do I have to worry about dying? Hmmmm. have a long memory over France's decision certificates.’ Yup, I still have them, including But these I suspect are largely musings from to blockade the ports. For all we know - my first certificate for playing accordion, people too young and immature to see the given the proximity of Kent to France - the and I really do hope my children hang on bigger picture and intrinsic value of life. new variant could feasibly have originated to them, because - like all you out there

Medics have reported that a surge of there, so Macron should grow up and stop with skills and qualifications - we worked covid patients are now blocking beds in gloating. jolly hard for these accolades, even though essentially they’re just pretty bits of paper. Mavis Wallis (86) who took a piano exam back in 1943, was due to be given a medal for her score of 99%, which was apparently the highest mark in the country, but because of wartime shortages she never received her medal from Guildhall School of Music [now part of Trinity College]. Imagine her surprise when she requested it one more time, only for the medal to then turn up in the post. These days no-one gets a medal, unless you’re a Boy Scout or an Olympian athlete (or Lewis Hamilton!) but I guess back in the 1940s there were more methods of reward than exist today. If you have a skill, stick with it, and one day your children will appreciate you.

Recent research from Cambridge Assessment indicates that boys with good music grades 'do better in other subjects' especially if it's theory exams. Evidently boys passing even grade 1 theory can achieve half a grade better in other qualifications, particularly maths, while for girls the grade rise was only 30% of a grade. The basis of the study was DfE data relating to more than 475,000 students in England. Tim Gill, the reports author, said 'there is an association between taking a GCSE in music or music qualification and doing slightly better overall.'

This leads neatly to a name all pianists will know; that of Dame Fanny Waterman, intrepid founder of the Leeds International Piano Competition. She brought to our concert platforms the famous names of Murray Perahia, Michael Roll, Mitsuko Uchida, John Lill and many others, and through this raised the musical profile of the city of Leeds. She was a musical tour de force, an inspirational teacher who continued right up until her 80s, actively teaching, examining and adjudicating in the piano world. Indeed she remarked to the BBC just this year that she had been forced out of her role as chairman of LIPC at the age of 95, countering that she 'wanted to be there forever.' Having now died at age 100, I think it's fair to say wherever the harp, keys and strings are now playing, she is undoubtedly overseeing the band.

Finally, I’m sure Bill Bailey (55) the well deserved winner of Strictly Come Dancing would be the first to agree that a background of music makes for a well rounded individual. As one of the voting 13 million in the UK, we were right behind the outlier in this year‘s sparkling final where Bill showed not just his indomitable spirit, ebullient personality and unflappability. It must’ve been quite a tall order for a dancing novice to beat several very young finalists whose acting careers have without doubt been founded attending stage, drama and dancing school. For the oldest winner ever, we lift our glasses and extend massive cheers to our SCD champion.

Love

Jacqueline x

To follow Jacqueline’s journey blog {Yocheved bas Sara} please go to https://whenallissaidanddone.home.blog