Mum, I'm Cold and Hungry!

The fledgling blue tits are still chirping away in the trees behind my garden. They've started to fly around, I know as yesterday one nearly flew into me and another landed on the bird feeder when I was only about 18 inches away! I spotted this one calling out for food, looking all puffed up against the cold as it was only 14.4C this afternoon, down from 28C yesterday. No thunderstorms yet thankfully.

Day 458 / Day 32 of Step 3 of Roadmap Easing (for my record only)
There were 11,007 new cases today, the highest since mid-Feb. In the REACT-1 study by Imperial College, cases are 'rising exponentially' across England with an estimated R of 1.44. Prevalence was found to be highest in those aged 5-12 and younger adults aged 18-24. Everyone over 18 in England can book their jab from tomorrow. Good to see the US invest $3.2bn in the development of antiviral pills for COVID. PHE has said that reinfection rates for COVID appear to be low (presumably that's so far...). The latest surveillance report from PHE shows rates increasing across all age groups and regions across England, with highest rates in those aged 20-29. The CMO says that COVID 'has not thrown its last surprise at us and there will be more over the next period'. He also expects a late autumn / winter surge in the medium term. The former head of Test & Trace Baroness Dido Harding has applied to become the next head of NHS England - no way surely!!!!! Professor Neil Ferguson who's on NERVTAG has said that home quarantine for travellers entering the UK 'just doesn't work' and compared to tough border restrictions is just 'window dressing' - too right, the rapid spread of the Delta variant proves that! The BBC are reporting that employers can claim from the furlough scheme for self isolating employees.