I've been planning to make jam for Christmas gifts to friends and new neighbours for weeks now. I was starting to run out of time so yesterday I finally set to. The recipe is HERE and very quick and straightforward. Just three ingredients - bags of mixed fruit from the freezer department of your nearest supermarket, jam sugar and lemon juice. 5 minutes at a rolling boil and it should be done.
I popped the freshly-washed jars in a low oven to warm and put the lids in a bowl of boiling water. Unfortunately at some point in the move, my 3 jam funnels have been mislaid. I had to just decant the jam using a ladle yesterday, but can't do without a funnel so have ordered a new one on-line. I will now of course find the others. . .
A full bag and 3/4 of another (which was more blackcurrant-orientated) made 9 jars of fragrant jam which tastes AMAZING. My new cooker proved its worth as it kept the rolling boil going - my cooker in our last home would turn the heat down the moment it reached boil, which made jam-making a challenge!
Meanwhile, we are having to be extra careful about contact with the outside world because of the Omicron variant. No-one wants to have to cancel Christmas, especially as everyone had to last year, when Tam's siblings joined up to spend Christmas together, and all we could do was to Zoom them as we all opened presents. It wasn't the same - but at least no-one upset G by winning a board game!
We are glad to have had our booster jabs (Tam gets hers tomorrow and I hope that the other two have theirs soon as they are living in cities and more vulnerable.) (Update: D gets his on 23rd. G still waiting.)
I truly cannot understand the Covid-deniers, the Anti-Vaxxers, the Conspiracy Theorists, the "I don't want to be controlled" folk and the "yuman rights" folk who don't even want to wear a mask. Now I've just caught the news and there are protests in London against further restrictions - how clever is that - form huge crowds when Omicron is so much more easily transmissible. If you're talking about being controlled, you don't have to look back too far in history to WW2, when our entire population was controlled with rationing of food, clothing, sweets, heating fuel, petrol, rules and regulations over lighting, carrying a gas mask at all times, requisitioning of land and property for military use (some of it never given back). Strike action was illegal and all foreign nationals had to report to the police (and indeed, many were interned). Even light was controlled with double Summertime. Control of the people? Absolutely, but as a temporary and very necessary measure.
If there is protection in the form of a vaccine (which wasn't conjured out of thin air but developed from work against the SARS virus outbreak in 2003, which, incidentally, also came from China) then have it and don't believe conspiracy theories that it will kill you - some straight away but the rest of us are doomed I tell you!) No, your immune system, however good you think it is, will NOT save you in this event - remember what happened to the Native Americans when Europeans arrived and they had contact with the likes of Smallpox, Cholera, Flu, TB, Polio, Typhoid and the like for the first time. They had absolutely NO immunity. Even Measles was fatal - and that's something we think of as just an itchy childhood illness now, but it can kill, even now, if you are not vaccinated.
I don't often comment on what is happening in the "Outside World" but some things irritate me beyond belief and folk who think they are armchair epidemiologists - especially the ones who lie to children at the school gates - need a wake-up call.
It's bad enough to have the Government saying one thing and Prof. Whitty being the Soothsayer of Doom, and putting the wind up everyone, and no-one knowing for sure quite what the impact of Omicron is going to be in the long term. Let's hope it IS much milder, as South Africa says, let's hope that we don't start the New Year with another Lockdown (although in the countryside that has less impact than in the town), but I'm not holding my breath. Here in Wales they do things differently anyway, and Mark Drakeford has already put restrictions on nightclubs from 27th December, and schools are to return later - in the hope of lessening the spread of infection, plus the one-way systems in Supermarkets and stores, and social distancing are being reinstated. I can foresee that household bubbles and the rule of 6 are in the offing again too.
Just as well I have plenty of decorating to keep me occupied, and wonderful local walks to enjoy. Keep safe my friends.
I'm double jabbed and on day 10 of Covid( my booster was booked for last week). Isolation ends midnight tomorrow but quite honestly I'm not fit to go anywhere because I'm exhausted. I slept for 2 hours yesterday afternoon and 10 hours last night. I'm still coughing and sound nasal. I still can't smell or taste anything. I still ache. Symptoms that we thought had disappeared, return unexpectedly. Me, husband and daughter ( we've all had it in the last 2 weeks), are grateful to have been vaccinated, and not to have caught it last year, unvaccinated, when less was known about it. It seems we've had Delta, as have not been notified that it's Omicron.
ReplyDeleteI feel for you - it's scary enough having it confirmed you are infected, but the actual symptoms sound very unpleasant - shortness of breath would be the worst thing for me as I am a chronic asthmatic, on an extra-strong inhaler dose already. For the whole family to have it is hard too - no-one to be Nurse.
ReplyDeleteAs for the LFT test kits - well, here in Powys they were handing them out at the Supermarkets like they were going out of fashion - gave us two, when we were pleased to get one! I don't know if that was forward-planning or they had extra in stock (we're not a densely populated area).
Get well soon anyway. (Tried posting this comment on your blog, but see it's a no-comment one, so it's here instead!)
Thankyou. My husband works in a hospital, and my daughter at a GP surgery so we feel lucky to have avoided it for so long. It was still a shock to be positive, but once my daughter had it , me and my husband knew we'd get it.
DeleteGosh, your family have been walking on eggshells for a long time then Scarlet. Our eldest daughter lives with us and her boyfriend got it from the two girls he worked with who "couldn't see the point of masks or social distancing". She'd just spent the weekend with him, but had been double-jabbed (2nd one a month or so before) and got it, but just the exhaustion side of it mainly, and lived up in her room whilst she might be infectious.
DeleteJumbleberry Jam is what I make to clear out the freezer. Lucky neighbours you have.
ReplyDeleteLast evening I saw, on the news, an unmasked woman saying she'd just recovered from Covid, so no need to wear a mask as she was now naturally immunised. It beggars belief.
I've summoned you up RP! I was only thinking of you earlier, and hoping you were OK. That woman clearly struggles with the concept of Common Sense and How to Use It!
DeleteHi Bb, glad you got to make some jam at long last. Jumbleberry jam is one of my favourites and I make it quite frequently especially when low on stocks.
ReplyDeleteWhat surprises me is that so many people are still going into the shops without sanitising their hands, or indeed wearing masks. The shops do not challenge them because they do not want confrontation when the easy way is just not to serve them. It is no wonder that the infection is spreading as quickly as it is. Just because we have had the jabs does not mean that we are totally protected in any event, so sense and caution are a necessary personal thing to institute for protecting yourself as much as you can. The nature of viruses is that they have to work their way through our systems; some are lucky to recover; others not so lucky. Looking back on the history of the Spanish Flu is an indicator of this and potentially what is to come. That is why it is recommended we have the flu jabs as well yearly (people with reduced immune systems such as us) because there is always a new variant. To sanitise and to wear masks is something that we should do as a matter of course for all those who have lost loved ones and those individuals themselves as a mark of respect and also to protect ourselves. This wretched infection. People complain about not having freedom to do this or do that. They are the selfish ones. From my perspective it is better to be alive than dead, so if precautions are necessary then I am going to take them its a pity those that are shouting do not recognise it too.
Here is hoping that you and Keith have a very pleasant and lovely Christmas. Fingers crossed that the coming year will be a better one for those all round.
Take care.
Pattypan
x
Well written Tricia. I especially liked your talking about wearing masks as a mark of respect to those who succumbed in this Pandemic. The husband of a friend of mine (we started off as penpals more than 50 years ago) was a victim after he went to Hospital with heart problems and was kept in aside room with someone who had it. It took him a long time to die, and his wife had to sit beside him whilst they took out the things which were keeping him alive, and then wait for him to gasp his last breath.
DeleteHave a lovely Christmas yourselves - you won't be short of wonderful goodies that you have made and stashed away. All the best for 2022.
Fortunate to have had a booster jab back in early November (and a flu shot in Oct). While people may talk of the new strain as being mild, it doesn't explain why our state's hospitalizations have doubled in the last two weeks--or why the same is true of ICU patients--several of whom are children. While the state's percentage of those getting at least one jab is around 80%, the fact remains too many are unvaccinated. Our small local hospital just issued a plea for people to get their jabs as there are 10 severe cases right now--more than double the available ICU beds so putting a huge strain on the system. Eight are unvaccinated. The two vaccinated individuals are immunocompromised. Having to close the hospital to visitors and stop non-urgent surgeries. Where I live in the US there is no such thing as a free LFT either, unless you are symptomatic, in which case you have to drive somewhere to get tested and even then they charge your health insurance plan (if you have one). It costs £19 for a packet of two tests. Not always available to buy either due to shortages. When people are struggling to pay for food and petrol, who has money for tests? And so it goes. Not exactly a cheering prospect for the holiday season anywhere, is it?
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear things are bad in your State Mary. I cannot imagine what happens to those families who don't have the protection of health insurance. Thank God that we have the NHS which is free - for the moment.
DeleteEverything's going up in price so time to tighten belts all round.
Wishing you a safe and enjoyable Christmas anyway.
With all the contradictory restrictions coming our of whitehall and each nation doing what they think is best for their folk - it is very confusing. I try, as best we can, keep my head down, my facemask on and avoid large gatherings ... simple life guarding and very easy to do - I don't understand some folk, I really dont.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on keeping away from the masses. We have the top grade of medical masks, are covered by boosters and hope to stay safe.
DeleteI think all you can say is, an idiot is an idiot and there's not much you can do to help them.
It is hard. But neccessary.
ReplyDeleteChris Whitty is no politician And he knows what science there is to know about this. So I would listen to him.
Chris Whitty is trying to keep the NHS afloat - it will surely go under if many of its staff sicken and even less beds are available to Covid patients. I do listen to him, but it's hard to strike a balance between projected computer statistics and what is actually happening.
DeleteHere in Canada we have the same type of anti-whatevers making loud noises, proudly getting arrested or banned from stores for their freedoms. Calling anyone who speaks against them Nazi collaborators and the people enforcing the mandates Nazi. They seem to think that what they have to undergo to compare with what the Jewish people underwent in the Holocaust. Some have even taken to sewing a yellow star on their clothes. I really would like to shake some sense into them, but it would not do any good. In fact one prominent anti everything (happens to be a member of our provincial government) got it, was in a coma ventilated for at least two weeks... He still says it is a scam and not bad at all.
ReplyDeleteMe, well we are boosted, and will only be around the same. Our sons live alone and the oldest had Covid, got jabbed and is now boosted as well. I am hopeful our youngest can get his booster this week.
God bless.
Jackie - oh for heaven's sake, they want a bloody good shake. There is absolutely NO blardy comparison between wearing a mask and having a vaccine and the Holocaust. There are some warped minds out there. It shows the lack of intellect when one of their leaders gets to it, is intubated (NOT a nice procedure) and in a coma and he still says it's a scam just to keep the side up. Ye Gods!
DeleteI also cannot understand these anti-vax, anti-mask people. Boggles the mind. My brother got Delta variant in August, though fully vaccinated and always masked. He is slowly recovering, although still suffering some symptoms. I hope you and family stay healthy. Best, Celie.
ReplyDeleteHi Celie, sorry your brother had it and still has some symptoms (sense of taste/smell?). We all try to keep safe - I have never stopped social distancing, gelling/thoroughly washing hands, wearing a medical mask - but at a Fair we did recently a good proportion of the public - who SHOULD have been wearing masks - weren't (we were). I said to Keith in front of some of them, how surprising is was that people weren't wearing masks when it was the rule here in Wales.
DeleteStay safe.