1 EAGLETON NOTES: Thankful Thursday: Is The Pope A Catholic?

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Thursday 21 January 2021

Thankful Thursday: Is The Pope A Catholic?

Today has been a Good Day (with thanks to Sellars and Yeatman).

Trump is an ex-President. That's a good start. The fact that his mother came from the next township to where I lived when I came here does give me a vague right to comment but being a citizen of The World gives me an even greater right. Bearing in mind this is usually a non-political blog this is a real departure from my usual thoughts but I genuinely feel that the world is potentially a safer place with his departure.  I just hope upon hope that the new administration will be able to bring some stability to the country and, dare I hope it, the world.

A member of the medical profession who has looked after my cancer issues and been my rock since 2006 has had a very rough time but is now back in harness and I have had a chat to her. I have been more concerned about her than almost anyone during the last year.

For once a named storm is not dealing us the worst blow in the Western Isles. Storm Christoph is dealing havoc almost everywhere except here where we just had the ferries cancelled because of heavy swell. We've had a blustery, showery day but with some sun shining through on occasion.

Yesterday I got a call from the NHS. Would I like a Covid Inoculation? Is The Pope a Catholic? Instructions were to present myself at the Sports Centre at 15:09 hours today. So this afternoon I duly presented myself together with about another 450 duly received a dose of the Oxford Astra-Zeneka vaccine. The operation looked like a pretty well-oiled machine particularly as this was it's first day of operation.

Had I managed a walk or an hour in the garden the day would have been just about perfect. However, I'm going to pootle around and then have some dinner and have an evening probably watching a concert by the BBS Scottish Chamber Orchestra, then Death in Paradise and then a Messenger Video Chat with old friends with whom I meet in the pub in Callander when I'm down there. By that time it'll be not far off midnight and time for sleep. 

Days don't come much better.......do they?

34 comments:

  1. A great day indeed, Graham. One does not wish to be pedantic, but I don't think you need the apostrophe in the first word of the final sentence.

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    1. Thank you, David. I've no idea how I managed to do that: duly amended.

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  2. Any one of those things would constitute a god day, so to have them all come at the same time is a splendid bonus.

    How excellent to have received your first vaccination - hope you are not having any side effects. Enjoy your concert and chat with your friends.

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    1. Jayne, it was a pretty good day looking back. I've had no side effects whatsoever but then I don't have one from the annual flu vaccine either.

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  3. Sorry "good day" not god day. Blogger has removed the delete button so I cannot edit my typo.

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  4. That's excellent news GB. Really pleased you've had the first vaccination, xx

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  5. Definitely a good day by the sound of it.

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  6. I'm happy you got the vaccine, I just hope it's fullproof. Ours hasn't come out here yet I think they are making sure it works and that it's safe.

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    1. Amy, no vaccine is absolutely 100% effective but the three licensed in the UK have been very thoroughly tested.

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  7. I'm amazed at how you're getting a covid shot so soon. We hear nothing about it here.

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    1. Red, one of the participants in last evenings video conversation (a former Callander resident) now lives in Calgary and he was saying the same.

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  8. Bless the NHS, eh? I am considered an "essential worker" here in the States, and nary a word breathed yet about us getting a shot of it. Do keep us updated on what you feel like after you've had it. I am concerned because several members of my family have had really bad reactions to *other* vaccine shots, so I'm a bit timid about getting this one until I've heard how people who got it are faring afterward.

    And I so agree with your first paragraph!!!

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    1. Marcheline, I feel absolutely good this morning with not even a sore arm. All vaccines have reactions to some people as do almost all medicines and, these days, many foods. For example among children in the Western world, rates are between 1.5% and 3% for peanut allergy. There have been two cases (that were reported) of anaphylactic shock from people who were known to have that potential before they were immunised. Before you get the vaccine you will (or will if you live in the UK) get a complete analysis of the possible reactions from headaches and fever and a sore arm to rashes. No vaccine is 100% effective. However I think the figure for the Oxford vaccine is 70% and the other two licensed in the UK 95% and 94%. However no one who has been vaccinated during he trials has had Covid-19 seriously.

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  9. Trump may be an ex-president, but I believe he still has the right (as do all ex's) to be addressed as Mr President. I think he may take full advantage; even if he was to end-up in prison.

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    1. Cro, historically, the title was reserved for the incumbent president only, and was not to be used for former presidents, holding that it was not proper to use the title as a courtesy title when addressing a former president. According to the official website of the United States of America, the correct way to address a letter is to use "The Honorable John Doe" and the correct salutation is "Mr Doe". Despite that, some sources maintain that living former U.S. presidents continue to be addressed as "Mr. President"
      Some maybe held in such regard that people feel that is a suitable courtesy title. I will go along with the official line in the case of Mr Trump. I disrespected him by simply referring to him as Trump in the same way that he disrespected many of the people he met when he visited here.

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  10. Glad to hear you have been able to have a vaccination, that must be a relief.

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    1. Margaret, I'm pretty pleased about it I have to admit.

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  11. That sounds indeed like a good day,well worth of being turned into a Thankful Thursday post.
    I hope the vaccine sits well in your immune system and does not cause you any discomfort or pain.
    Here, the vaccine campaign is something of an organisational, logistical and social desaster. This is not the place for details, but it is all over the media here, and people are getting angrier by the minute.

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    1. Meike, so far I've not even had a sore arm. I'm so surprised at what you say about the campaign in Germany. After all your country is known for its efficiency.

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  12. A positive day. Especially for receiving your first vaccine. A step forward. X

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    1. Thank you, Jules, a great leap in my feeling of wellbeing!

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  13. I'm glad I've not had the vaccine. I hear I can get £500.00p if I catch the Covids and get a fortnight on the sick as a bonus. Never mind to avoid discrimination I expect you'll get the dosh as well. Which Covid did you get jabbed for? There seem to be plenty to choose from.

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  14. What a great day especially the vaccination! And I loved Death in Paradise!

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    1. Yes, Miss Kim, the vaccination is a comfort. I love Death in Paradise too because it's sheer silly escapism in the sun. This series has so far been a bit irritating but then......

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  15. You have had a good day, Graham. We were able to register for the vaccine online earlier today and now await emailed instructions. My blog is also apolitical, and that said my thoughts are very similar to your own.

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    1. Thank you, Beatrice, I'm glad you're getting the vaccine too. I decided that it was enough of a world event to merit a comment.

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  16. I've broken my "stay out of politics" rule a few times lately, too, Graham. Sometimes strong feelings will out.

    I'm glad the Scots are showing such efficiency in rolling out the vaccine. Perhaps some countries that balls up (a very technical descriptive word) even the annual flu jab will take note. If ever I were given a 9 minutes past the hour appointment time here, I'd know there had been a mistake. So glad you were at the top of the list to receive the vaccine. As you should be!

    In your part of the world it must be such a relief when a named storm passes without major damage. In this part of the world we'd just say the weather bureau got it wrong again. (Not that we ever see many named Storms.)

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    1. Pauline, sometimes, as you say, strong feelings will out. Trump (I have been told off for referring to him thus but I do not think he deserves respect. He was well know on this Island and in Scotland long before he ever ran for President but everywhere he went he acted as though he was the most important person ever to have graced Scotland with his presence and money and was not averse to bullying people from the odd person who wouldn't sell him a property to the First Minister and he showed them no respect whatsoever) has possibly done more harm to the reputation of the US than any other leader.

      The Island has been very efficient in getting its population vaccinated. The Health Board here did a dry run with the flu vaccine in the autumn. It used to be done by individual surgeries but it was decided to centralise it and it seems to have worked very well. It's done by vulnerability and age here and they have arrived at my age very quickly 🤣.

      Yes. I've been hearing about the flooding devastation in parts of England and it's pretty scary.

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  17. Nice to read an uplifting post. Great to hear you so happy. You are lucky to have the vaccine. We don't even have it in our country yet. At least we don't have any cases in the community either. We have some in quarantine.Aussies keep coming home in their thousands bringing the virus with them.

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    1. Thank you, Diane. We need the vaccine because I think that about 1 in 100 people in Scotland have the virus. It's much worse in England unfortunately. The question of shutting borders and enforcing quarantining is now being looked at here but it's probably far too late.

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  18. I've had a lazy start to this morning...slept in...or, stayed in bed longer than is probably acceptable to some...but, along with my two furry mates, I'm the one who makes the rules around here...and they weren't complaining. They are still there...snuggled up on the bed. Oh! To be a cat!! :)

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    1. When I oversleep, Lee, I always ask myself whether I needed it and enjoyed it and the answer is always in the affirmative.

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