2022: COVID-19 Has Changed My World... Part 3!

Telling everybody to have a street party? An extra Bank Holiday? The UK Gov really wanted the whole country to snap! Building a new foundation, the nations students have had to work harder without hardly any support! With a certain East Asian nation still locked tight, maybe a light in the dark looks to be on the horizon? Birmingham representing, a West Mids sporting salvation! 

Calling 'Her Majesty!' Looking at all the queens in history, the category became 'Platinum Jubilee' with the quickness! We had gone from being told to 'Stay At Home' to then have the narrative switched up, enticed with an extra 'Bank Holiday' some people boasted about their four day weekend! It was staggering to see that we had dropped 'Miss Rona' like a hot potato, it was time for the four nations to raise their flags, something told me otherwise! Throughout the course of the Pandemic, it was clear to see that certain countries had mobilised vaccines and had in ways barred people from visiting due to certain new found rules. Echoing Brexit, the Union flags were brought out with brute force, we do not fly the flag in England and that sits fine with me. To then see London adorned with flags galore almost made things look like Berlin during the days of Hitler's Nazi Rule, of course the current Tory administration lapped this presence of British patriotism. With the 'Queen' the focus of the party, it was quite bizarre to see! For real? 

The cost of the parade and whole staging of the main events racked up a hefty bill for 'Joe Public', getting those funds from an already struggling public. Patriots came out in their droves but did they really expect those having to use food banks to subsidise their taxes for this Royal fanfare? I understood the significance of the event but it looked like a massive smoke screen had been erected to have us forget the issues that had cropped up since restrictions had been dropped. Yes, the extra day off saw people spending on food and drink like never before, but a bumper weekend of shopping wouldn't solve our economic landslide. As for mixing, I saw no issue there but it was much too convenient that the period of encouraged merriment came shortly after we had been told to live with the virus. It was like 'goodnight' and live 'tomorrow' as if it was 2019 again. The whole mask of the event gave me the impression that Nationalism was going to save us? It was another frenzy, another distraction to keep us hoodwinked! No, Ma'am! 

I know that I am well past my school days but during the Pandemic and there after it has been incredibly difficult for young people to get their educational careers back on track. From playgroup children to those taking their A-Levels, the access to in-person teaching has been utterly all over the place! The Lockdowns saw all sectors of education thrown into chaos, students had to learn from home, the idea worked well in theory but not everybody had internet. The former Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson was so out of touch with lower income families, it was going to be a recipe for disaster! Sure not everybody had access to either a computer or the internet as mentioned before, how would these young learners be able to submit their work? I know some schools allowed parents to submit their work in person, going further certain schools would produce printed learning packs. Really, a number of schools had to go it alone, forging ahead without sense given from Williamson. It wasn't just an educational issue.

With so many young people finding themselves out of a school setting, it was becoming a social emotional issue for students to cope with. Even after measures were lifted, a large grey area remained, those children who had been deemed as children of 'Key Workers' or of those who qualified for special reasons, they were able to stay at school. Testing measures were brought into schools, mostly all of those were secondary schools, it remained quite a controversial question to test younger children for the virus as the swab tests were quite uncomfortable. As we now face a reality without testing, learners at secondary school and sixth form have been able to take their exams in the usual fashion. 2021 saw those learners being graded by classroom evidence by teachers, to be honest it doesn't sit well with me because from here learners should not be helped by easier practices. Keep it consistent and clear, students deserve that! Now we stand as an open society, the UK Government must ensure schools never close like this again! 

There's always been that one thing on my radar, well since early 2020 to be absolutely frank. With long term intentions, I have been monitoring the re-opening of Hong Kong as 2022 has been a rocky time for the Chinese Special Administrative Region. At present, the race to sustain HK's title as 'Asia's' World City', such quarantine measures have been cautiously relaxed with eventual quarantine-free travel to become a reality around Autumn 2022. Recently, HK's new Chief Executive has announced that only 3 days of hotel quarantine needs to be completed upon a persons arrival into Hong Kong from overseas. As far as the Chinese Mainland, things have loosened with a lesser period of quarantine required and a slow succession of UK to China flights. Those flights from the UK to the Chinese Mainland have been slated to begin in August 2022, with cautious optimism that the upcoming National Party Congress in October 2022 will signify a conscious uncoupling from their 'COVID Zero Policy'. So, HK seems to be the first step. 

Like China's Mainland and HK, a few of their neighbours are also preparing for a 2023 full reopening of their borders. Intel continues to suggest that Japan will reopen fully towards the end of 2022 with the first quarter of 2023 seeing flights resumed to the China Mainland on a 2019 schedule. South Korea also has resumed certain border operation, along with Japan such cross-border movements have been allowed since early 2022. Both Australia and New Zealand have fully reopened their borders without any need for quarantine, this has given me a major boost to see countries that once adopted 'Zero Tolerance' towards the Pandemic have now resumed life. Talk of a China Mainland 'Pfizer-like' vaccine has been circulating, bolstering their protection for their elderly population in-preparation for a 2023 reopening. I sense that after the National Party Congress, the 2023 Chinese New Year will signify a collective announcement, which will encourage the population to travel overseas without such policies in place. 中国, 加油!

Birmingham came through like a sprinter on their last lap, with Durban, South Africa having to surrender their pledge to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games it was up to Brum to represent! Boosted by an injection of cash from the govvy, it was like a race against time to glow up those existing venues in-order to make them look world-class and then some! Racing to the finish line, Birmingham had the world watching upon that Opening Ceremony evening! I was majorly skeptical because the UK really hasn't had things fixed up since 'Miss Rona' reigned terror on the four home nations, least to say a world class games event didn't sound like a good idea to me! Sorry Birmz! Pulling up, 0121 came through with the Brum Town energy because we represented at the Alexander Stadium with that Peaky Blinders flex! We brought more of a party that Broad Street could even try, showcasing Drag Race UK icons and comedians to boot! Ginny Lemon and Joe Lycett, we saw you! No post-Pandemic nasty's would plague B2022! Birmingham, pull up! 

Spanning the West Midlands region, events took place in places like Cannock, Sandwell and even in Royal Leamington Spa! Sharing the wealth, it was time for the West Midlands to prove that the UK's Second City served that definite 'First Class' flex! From swimming to boules, Birmingham and the Greater West Midlands region didn't need to simmer, we had the fire and our Bull represented like a whole new found tourist attraction! Bringing longtime investment to the city, I saw people living their best lives when I hopped over to Birmingham in early August 2022 whilst the games were in full force! We bring culture, we are diverse and we are Birmingham, enough said London! Closing the games we headed back over to the Alex Stadium to witness a pure celebration of West Midlands music! Beverly Knight & Goldie represented Wolverhampton with firepower! Lotto Boyzz and Mahalia brought that 0121 beat, proving we in the West Mids aren't to be underestimated! 01 to the 21 and 019 to the 02, as-well! Brum Ting!

West Midlands Best!

Desperately Seeking Adventure