PR masterstroke or otherwise, Harry likes the fact that the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has returned part-time to work in the health service. “I am glad we have a doctor in charge,” he writes. He even thinks the Taoiseach’s speechwriters should keep going as they are:
We lost one of our finest today. Dublin Fire Brigade firefighter and paramedic Dave Mcloughlin died suddenly and peacefully. As yet no cause has been released.
Rest in Peace David.
We salute you.
* * * * *
Yesterday was a tale of two leaders. In a reflection of the UK’s worsening fortunes, Boris Johnson is in intensive care with Covid.
The UK were slower to react than Ireland. Initially, I thought the herd immunity plan wasn’t a bad idea – get it over and done with rather than sit around waiting. It transpired I was wrong; it’s lucky I don’t run a country. Tragically it’s the people not making policy who are paying the price. Per capita, the average Brit is more than twice as likely to die from the virus than their Irish counterpart.
I don’t think it’s karma that Britain’s PM finds himself in an ICU. I just think it’s maths. He’s only been in power a few months – has a peacetime Prime Minister ever had a more eventful start?
I give him the same best wishes I give to everyone else suffering from any threatening situation right now, Covid related or otherwise.
I am glad we have a doctor in charge here. It attunes him more readily to the dangers of Covid. I hope both leaders will have a greater respect for healthcare after this. I could be wrong again though.
Leo has opted to join the HSE assessment helpline. PR masterstroke or otherwise, I like it. In times past kings would fight with their men.
There is plenty of room for cynicism, but Leo’s speeches have been fairly rousing, despite unashamedly borrowing quotes from movies and historical statesman. The light-hearted memes spawned from that have only served to make him more popular. Identifying the original sources for his statements could become a drinking game.
If I was an advisor, I’d tell him to keep upcycling old monologues. “Whether tis’ nobler in the mind” to do such a thing is open to question, but the Queen has taken to quoting Vera Lynn and I’m talking about Covid bombardments, so hyperbole is suddenly in vogue.
Ireland seems to have some degree of control over this. Infection growth rates are below 8%. Simon Harris said to expect the lockdown to be extended, but Leo has said when we reach 5% we could look at lifting restrictions. At a press conference he was quoted as saying: “Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.”
I got up as usual at 9.30 this morning, woken by the cooing of wood pigeons, but my routine went out the window. I proceeded to waste the next 6.5 hours and I can’t for the life of me figure out what I did in that time. Still, lockdown innit! It’s an asset.
This had me wondering how many of my previous depressions are down to not living up to expectations – my own and those of wider society. Doing eff all today was fine when it was judged fine by me, by the media and by Facebook’s stay-at-home wardens (who should really bring their pitchforks to my main street).
But, when the economy is booming and expectations to perform are high, low days like this would be enough to have me begging the doc for Effexor. It’s nice to have the pressure off. It’s also nice to hoover the carpet once in a while – this evening’s big mission.
