Blog Day 66: Thursday 28 May 2020

Regular but recently missing blog correspondent Richard has posted a heartfelt but amusing comment on yesterday's blog.  As a bit of background Richard and his wife Donna (a different Donna to the pear cakes Donna) have been planning and obviously paying for a trip of a lifetime on which they were due leave sometime next month.  It was to be an around the world trip and I think that they were going to be away for about 10 weeks and without being too extravagant they were going to be doing it in some style.  Anyway this Virus thing has got in the way of all that and obviously  the trip is not happening anytime in the foreseeable future.  

So, from Richard's comment on yesterday's blog I would suggest that he is not having a lot of success in obtaining refunds on travel costs already paid.  Whilst understanding his frustration I am not sure that writing to various European governments (as threatened) will achieve much success apart from some small degree of personal satisfaction.

I am sure that we wish Richard all the best in his endeavours. Both financial and for some personal satisfaction.  

For your convenience I have posted a copy of Richard's comments and my response below the daily stats.

The more observant of you may notice that the increased infections for Victoria and Australia don't match.  I think that is because some illnesses have been re classified and are no longer counted as new infections.  Of the 10 new infections in Victoria 3 are returned travellers, 1 is an employer at one of the quarantine hotels and 6 are from previous contacts with 5 being in the same family.  

Currently there are 61 active infected cases in Victoria, 8 people in hospital including 3 in ICU.  Of the 61 infections 18 of these are "community' infections.

Corona Virus Daily Stats: Day 143

Vic: 1,628 infected (+10 from previous day) - 19 deaths (increase 0)
Aus: 7,148 infected (+6 from previous day) - 103 deaths (increase 0)
Recovered: 6,567
World: 5,690,182

Wow, my last comment was May 14, sorry for my tardy absence but I have a good reason. No I didn't go away during ISO but I have been working on trying to get my money back from my pre-paid trip early next month. I have felt my blood pressure explode during this 'quest' or should I say epic quest to the point that I have had to walk away from the computer. So far Italy can continue to decline as an economy to the point that mass riots occur and the mafia take over completely (more so than now), Venice can sink into the mud and disappear forever, Barcelona should be bombed again as it was in 1938 during the Spanish War. The Eiffel tower can fall over in Paris so no tourist is ever interested in visiting the country again just to mention a few. If they seriously think that a voucher is compensation, which has to be used by the end of the year is compensation, then I wish lots of evil things (I should not tell you exactly as it may offend some viewers) upon them. Wow talk about a frustrating process. I continue to tell myself, I am not alone is this quest. So that is where I have been. Now to start my letters to local European Gov'ts to tell them exactly what I think about their country and why tourism is not returning. Let's just say the chances of me seeing Europe ever again are very slim indeed. One place in Barcelona said they would give me a credit for 5 yrs. If anyone is interested in going to Barcelona I have some cheap accommodation for you just don't mention my name when you get there.

I noticed very little response to my MMT, most disappointing but I did notice some comments regarding the governments budget issues with Jobkeeper. We are 'normal' (define normal these days because I can't) people and think that an under-spend is a good thing. In Government, it's as bad as it gets. When you put in a budget and it's approved, you must spend that money. Crazy as it sounds, I had to do it in a foreign country by thousands of dollars. I saw it as a waste the Gov't saw it as coming in on budget.

Your trip to Mornington must have been exciting but how were your driving skills. It's interesting to say the least watching people drive after so long. The new rule is don't go around a roundabout, just mount it and go through it. Very popular on my recent outing.

  1. Graeme28 May 2020 at 12:09
    Welcome back, sorry to read about your travel travails but you seem to have it all under control. I might take you up on the Barcelona offer one day. I think Andrew made some comment about MMT, he is a high school teacher so should know all about it. I haven't commented on MMT as I don't understand it and you know me, I am not going to offer an opinion on something I know nothing about. My driving was fine, it was everybody else on the road that were causing the problems.

Comments

  1. Clair28 May 2020 at 19:37

    Hope you wore your face mask in Mornington now that you are galavanting again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Graeme29 May 2020 at 12:40

      Not sure of galivanting is the correct description, still it was nice to get out of the house for a while.

      Delete

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