Embed from Getty Images On Sunday we had a visit from a relative in the garden at a two metre distance. On Monday they kindly returned and we hugged several times. The difference between the two days? A date ordained, probably wrongly, by the UK government related to private behaviour in our home (and garden). […]
Paul Walter
Should we thank Gwyneth Paltrow and Matt Damon for 10 million vaccinations within a month?
Embed from Getty Images I could go on for hours about the government’s lamentable response to the Covid-19 pandemic. But the one the government has got right, in my view, is the speed and volume of vaccination. Some of my favourite heroes are Edward Jenner, Alexander Fleming, Howard Florey and Ernst Chain. – Not the […]
100% face masks in English shops on Friday? They’re having a laugh…..
Embed from Getty Images We’re sailing breezily towards Friday when, suddenly, everybody is meant to be wearing face masks in shops. It’s not going to happen. I see hardly any face masks being worn out at the moment. To expect a sudden pivot on Friday is just ridiculous. The police aren’t going to enforce the […]
Every so often, it’s worth having a look at this table…
OK, I know that countries have very different ways of reporting deaths from Covid-19. But this table, from Worldometer (excluding a couple of micro-states), gives us some idea how the UK is doing in terms of Covid-19 deaths per million of population. Badly. We are second in the world for the rate of deaths, after […]
I went to the pub…light the blue touchpaper and stand well back
Embed from Getty Images I figured that last weekend would be a bit crowded in pubs, so I reserved time in my (not-so)busy diary to visit the pub yesterday. Monday is the new Saturday. All went well. The pub I visited seem to have lots of measures in place, and well-trained staff. I enjoyed an […]
World mental health day is tomorrow
The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. This year’s theme set by the World Federation for Mental Health is suicide prevention. The Mental Health Foundation are encouraging people to share the infographic above. There is much relevant information on their website, including the list below of ways to […]
Ruby Wax is appointed Chancellor of Southampton University – with a focus on mental health
Embed from Getty Images This is very refreshing news. American actress, comedian, mental health campaigner, lecturer and author, Ruby Wax has been appointed Chancellor of Southampton University. Southampton University is a research-intensive establishment with around 25,000 students. It is a founding member of the leading Russell Group of British Universities. Its notable alumni have included […]
Using colourful Pom-poms to remember Holly #TimetoTalk
Having five brothers and one sister means that I am lucky to have lots of glorious nieces and nephews, and, nowadays, great nieces and great nephews. I am a bit like “Great Uncle Bulgaria” in the Wombles. But last July, we lost one of my nieces, Holly (pictured, right). Never mind me being her uncle, […]
How the Samaritans helped me and how they can help you
In the last two years, I have been helped twice by the Samaritans. The first time was when I had a number of personal, family and work issues piling up. I felt as though everything was getting on top of me, and that if I wasn’t careful, I would end up feeling worse. As usual […]
Freddie Flintoff, Professor Green, Ruby Wax and others talk about their mental health issues
Over the years, here at Liberal Democrat Voice, we have strongly publicised Time to Talk day. On the same theme, the charity campaign Heads Together are publishing a series of videos on YouTube where famous and not famous people talk about their mental health issues. It really is good to see role models opening up […]