Stody Lodge

The sun finally came out this afternoon, which was good timing as G and I had gone to visit the gardens at Stody Lodge which are only open for a few days in May each year. One of our Historic Houses locations, so very nice to get in with our cards. There must have been over a hundred cars there, so everyone had the same idea! Beautiful gardens and lakes.

Day 437 / Day 11 of Step 3 of Roadmap Easing (for my record only)
More fallout today from the evidence given by Dominic Cummings yesterday, the key allegations in which have been denied by the PM and Health Secretary. Obviously we only had DC's view and he gave very little context in terms of whether there were other options available at the time and why they couldn't be used. He also said that no-one would have been able to manage things well at the beginning given the lack of suitable pandemic plans. At the briefing MH says that between a half and three quarters of new cases are of the Indian variant, but this needs to be kept in context of low new cases (but rising) and surge testing in 8 hotspots where most new cases are. Cases of the Indian variant have doubled in a week. He also said that 5 out of 49 people in hospital in Bolton had had both jabs, and PHE data shows 60% of cases of the variant since 1st Feb were in unvaccinated people. Vaccines in England are now available to all 30s and over.