The view from my window

The view from my window
The view from my window

Tuesday 1 February 2022

Fingers crossed!

I'm still plodding on reading the Robert Kennedy Jr. book at the moment - I'd guess I'm about 75% of the way through it. It isn't an easy read and while some chapters kinda blow my mind, others feel like I'm wading through molasses. But, the reason I bring it up here is because - well I don't know if you remember but when I first mentioned that I didn't intend to get the covid vax it was because I had ended up in hospital after having a violent reaction to a Hep B vax in my 20s. It was so long ago that I actually don't remember if I was in any pain but I do remember that my entire face and body were covered in what looked like blood-filled blisters. They released me from hospital after 24 hours because my boyfriend at the time was a doctor and knew what to keep an eye out for, but to say it wasn't a romantic getaway would be an understatement! When I got back home I spoke to my own doctor about what had happened and he said "oh, it was probably a reaction to the adjuvant" (not that I had any idea what an adjuvant was)! Anyway, the upshot of that experience was that I haven't taken a vaccine since. I mention the Kennedy book again here because in the chapter I'm currently reading he mentions that thimerosal (sp?) - which was basically ethylmercury and highly toxic - was used as an adjuvant in the Hep B vaccine (and others) at the time. I read somewhere that it's use was eventually banned in paediatric vaccines in western countries from 1986 (but couldn't find the reference again), and drastically reduced in adult vaccines in the west from 1993. I had my shot in 1983 (as a precursor to my six-month trip around Australia), so I'm now wondering if my reaction was due to mercury intoxication. Huh, makes you wonder right! Either way, it wasn't fun!

In other news, I keep getting pop-ups in my email and on my FB page offering special deals for the kind of solos holidays I used to go on pre-pandemic. After spending the evening in Les Gets the other week I realized how much I had missed getting away, and in particular getting away to the mountains in the winter, so I think I might take a look at what is on offer by way of a skiing holiday locally and possibly treat myself to a few days away. Of course the situation here is so up and down with this bloody pass that nothing might come of it, but it's nice to dream a little and maybe look forward to what I should be able to do when this whole pass situation gets dropped - as it will have to eventually. In fact AndrĂ© sent me a message this morning to say that he had had a zoom meeting with work this morning and his Director (who, given his job, should be in the know), was saying that the Swiss are considering dropping the whole vaccine passport issue maybe as early as mid-February. From his mouth to God's ears (and to Macron's - who just thinks he's God)!

But talking of Youtube or FB making suggestions based on what you've recently looked at (Big Brother really is watching you, ya see), tonight Youtube suggested a post by a French Canadian who went off on the most amazing rant about Justin Trudeau. The rant aside, by god it was something else trying to follow his accent - I just loved it! I guess I'm more used to French African accents than French Canadian accents, but to listen to a full throttle Quebecois rant tickled me to bits - more for the accent than the content!

Then the other night I decided to attack one of my wasgij puzzles (jigsaw puzzle - backwards), so I put on the final series of After Life, for a binge watch. I'm not a particular fan of Ricky Gervais but I kinda enjoyed the first two series. The third (and final) series? I'm not so sure. While I don't mind bad language I just found the crude characters way too vulgar in the last series. That being said, I enjoyed it but think it was right to end it after that! Just my opinion though!

And finally, there was an article in the local newspaper this week about Stan's son, Samuel, who will be representing Nigeria in cross-country skiing at the upcoming winter Olympics. I think he was a possible selection candidate for France a few years ago but sadly fell and broke his shoulder, thus putting paid to any chance of competing for France. So Samuel applied for and was granted Nigerian citizenship (in addition to his French citizenship) and will now quite possibly constitute the entire Nigerian team and flag bearer at the opening ceremony. He is a lovely kid (as are all Stan's children), and oh how I would love to see him make the podium. My fingers and toes are crossed so hard I may well freeze in this position and never walk again. Please, please, please - go Sam!




18 comments:

  1. I'm doing what I am trying to preach and popping to the bottom. I wish Sam the best of luck. It will be fun to watch for him. Of course we have many locals Minnesotan's in the Winter Olympics, so always a treat to follow. We got to get some benefit out of all this cold and snow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It will be nice to watch Samuel because I believe he will be the flag-bearer so at least we'll get to see him on TV. I've known a few people who have competed but to see Sam on the podium would be something else!

      Delete
  2. Yep, I know where you are coming from with all those tempting holiday e-mails. For weeks I’ve just deleted on arrival but have never unsubscribed, because deep down I really want to take them all up. Presently I’m suffering from ski envy (not that my knees will ever let me get the best from a ski trip again) with all and sundry sending me Alpine blue sky pics and reports from their holidays. One day, Covid hassles or not, I just know I’m going to stop resisting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You may have "ski envy" but I'm not sure how well I'd fair either, even though it's right on my doorstep - too many years and lbs later!

      Delete
  3. I have recently been interviewing many people with Advanced Analytics skills such as Artificiai Intelligence, Machine Leraning and etc. and I am learning a great deal how The Big Brother manages to watch us. It is quiet intriguing I must say. And as for your friend's son, I promise to cheer him. Go Samuel!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It kinda freaks me out when I see something I've just looked at on another site and then all of a sudden FB is showing me exactly where I've been. It's a good thing I'm only looking at dinner plates!!! As for Sam, I would LOVE it for him to succeed - although in reality he has succeeded already!

      Delete
  4. I've known 2 swimmers who trained for the Olympics, neither made the final cut, but I can tell you they were driven to the point where their lives were grueling. They developed skin issues because humans aren't meant to be in the water constantly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Even if I had the skill (I don't) I know I wouldn't have the drive to do what they do. They're ALL winners in my opinion!

      Delete
  5. Go Samuel go! IT takes a lot to get to the Olympics or any major sport, so that is amazing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stan's kids are amazing athletes. They told me they pushed them into sport as a way to try to counter any negativity they might get because of being mixed race. And boy are they good! D played for France in the under-21 rugby 7s (and is now a professional rugby player). C played for France in handball and while I'm sure Sam would have loved to represent France, well let's hope Nigeria makes it to the podium!

      Delete
  6. I love jigsaws and do quite a lot of them but for the life of me I can’t do Wasjigs. My brain will not work at all when I try to do them! Must be an age thing with me. Fingers crossed for Sam, hope he has the best of times and am sure he will have amazing memories.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are "clues" to the wasgijs but I never seem to be able to figure them out, so I just go with matching colours/patterns. They're hard to begin with but I do enjoy them. And you're right about Sam - it will be one hell of an experience, and one that he can rightly be proud of!

      Delete
  7. I watched a fair amount of the Canadian trucking convoy. I have very little use for Trudeau but couldn't be prouder of the truckers (and many others) for taking a stand.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Piss the truckers (and farmers) off at your peril! I've been watching it and agree with you 100%. Apparently they've found Trudeau on Vancouver Island and are encouraging truckers over there to honk as they pass the house! There is a movement over here too now with plans to block Paris and then move on to Brussels - they will be coming from all over Europe hopefully! I think Trudeau overplayed his hand this time! Just like Ursula Van der Leyen refusing to hand over her SMS messages with the Pfizer chief - you know re that little issue of spending BILLIONS on the Pfizer vaccine and not having to answer to anyone! Hopefully that will bring them down too!

      Delete
    2. Most Canadians don't support the convoy, most truckers are vaccinated and working. The protests are embarrassing, and full of a lot of racist people who deface statues (which seems fine now apparently - poor Terry Fox) and some are harrassing employees at a food shelter? Not sure what they hope to accomplish but the truckers are moving stuff, these guys are not truckers (they probably stopped working a while ago)

      Delete
    3. I guess it just goes to show how different media portray events because what I'm seeing here looks like pretty solid support for the truckers (although not 100%)! I guess it's a question of who will blink first!

      Delete
    4. The reporting here, and the information I've seen on it from folks - it's a lot of stuff reminiscent of Jan 6th in the US. So not really anything good or safe. Ottawa police are on their side, they're letting them stay there and do their thing.

      Delete
    5. God only knows what will happen next week when they are heading for Paris and Brussels. I fear violence - but sincerely hope not!

      Delete