On choirs and coronavirus

[Dave2002]

It should say "We've given up pretending now". But that would only be partly true as there are plenty more things they're pretending about.

I admit I was slightly wrong. There were things that THEY did do, and take responsibility for, but some of the guys are complete charlatans.

Things that went OK - ish:

Some financial help for people out of work due to Covid.
Ramped up some NHS services at critical times
Pushed forward with vaccines and the vaccination programmes

However, I was querying the notion of "taking responsibility" - what did that mean, then or now?
Were enough steps taken to prevent unnecessary deaths - probably not?
Was there really any compensation for people who suffered - probably not?

So what I'm suggesting is that in terms of responsibility there hasn't really been a great change.

[Cockney Sparrow]

This afternoon I went to a memorial service at the (non-Anglican) church which the family has been members of for 30 years. The first time inside the church since the start of the Pandemic.

A memorial for a well regarded ordained Minister but professional schoolteacher who preached regularly whilst the Church mostly had a full time Minister. A great life of service to celebrate, a good organist (brought in, ex-pupil) a decent congregation. His heritage was Welsh so we sang, albeit behind masks, the great hymns, ending with "Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah".

With less than 1.5m (is that the distance at the moment?) but just one or two empty chairs between us in the row an exception to my usual reticence - even though I am aware singing and the vapour droplets carries a higher risk. I have to accept some risk, and this was an occasion worth it.

I've already sung in an open-air concert (chorus under the remarkably extensive secondary school rain shelter) but being back with people I've known for so long was just as memorable.

Now - have to gauge risks in September and as we head into Winter............