Oregano

The oregano which has been on the balcony since last summer is just starting to flower, and both looks and smells lovely. I filled the dehydrator with oregano for the first time this year, and picked a big tub of redcurrants, beautifully jewelled and slightly translucent in the early evening light. It always feels good to start harvesting things. There were a few more raspberries too, and the first two ripe strawberries.

The day's adventure was a drive into Folkestone for my first dental check since 2019; my next appointment had been booked for April 2020. Fortunately I'm blessed with generally unproblematic teeth and had not had any concerns; all was well. I was pleased to find that not only the dentist and the nurse but also most of the patients in the waiting room were masked, despite the government recently having pushed healthcare settings to make face masks "optional". Health related appointments have been our only indoor visits for the past couple of years, so I'm angry that even in these settings protection for those most vulnerable to or concerned about Covid infection has been removed, despite fast rising numbers, an increase in hospitalisations and growing numbers of people living with debilitating post-viral symptoms. The government seems determined that if we all just pretend it has gone away, everything will be fine. If only!