Covid - news and views

I think that goes for many at these times, good job some of us have essential dog walking

Or possibly a daily cycle ride

Had our jabs late this morning, went in together, no queue, sat side by side...freezing cold, light snow. Told to sit in the car for 15 mins, maybe not the best idea if one of us was taken ill but we were ok. AstraZ. Slight arm ache afterwards. 

Our neighbours are marshalling at the vaccination centre tomorrow, have to say that it was very well organised but very cold for those working outisde so appreciate all the effort involved. I would imagine new volunteers will be needed to keep this up for the months ahead.

I like the Quote of the Day in the i newspaper on Monday :-

Happiness is having a large, loving, close-knit family, in another country.

George Burns.😂

sorry just seen this, no it isn't I would say a volunteer can be paid or unpaid as per the definition. RAF aircrew and the RN silent service are all volunteers yet they receive (significant) extra pay for example.

I suppose the un-official meaning of volunteer must have changed down the years or nowadays? If so I'll change it to overtime/extra payments? I can only go by what I experienced and in schools I remember being asked and asking for volunteers to do Saturday mornings or summer classes and it was always well paid. 

The legal definition of a volunteer:

An individual who performs hours of service for a public agency for civic, charitable, or humanitarian reasons, without promise, expectation or receipt of compensation for services rendered, is considered to be a volunteer during such hours.

I've been volunteering at a jabbing centre located in a carpark in two joined party tents without heat.  The only payment is seeing the smiling faces leaving .

And well done you, though I didn't know you had, I must have missed the seven times you've mentioned it before.

So the RAF and RN are wrong in asking for and paying volunteers? No matter, it's OT.

Back on topic. Either way, one will need paid or unpaid volunteers if one wants those extra classes/schools.

Currently waiting to be invited (or in Scotlands case told) for my jab. 

Both of us are at the upper end of the over 65s. We have a few friends and neighbours also in this group who are younger than us but have already received their jab. 

Doesn't seem to be any consistancy at the moment, as some are contacted by their GP but asked to attend the mass clinic, others have received their call direct from the NHS to attend same clinic. No one I've spoken to have received a letter. 

Again no one I know has been given a date for their second jab. 

This week Scotland have finally started to get their numbers up, only to be told today (by FM) that as of the middle of this month we will see a reduction in numbers getting their first jab, as they will be starting doing the second jabs.

According to the figures they have been doing second jabs all along but I guess they will have to concentrate on getting all those in the homes and NHS and social and care workers done which out numbers the over 80s, 70s and 65s.

Here's hoping we get our first jab before they start doing the second ones.

We have booked a few sites/CLs for April not sure yet if that will haappen or not, so will have to start on May, can't be to far away though as we will have to be close enough to pop back for our second jab at some point.

I'm not sure where that "legal definition" of volunteering comes from - maybe you could provide a link?

Surely the important fact is that of volunteering?  Whether it's paid, unpaid or expenses paid is irrelevant? 

I've been a Cinnamon Trust dog walker for coming on 10 years now; it's not a paid "job", I do it in all weathers, most weekday mornings and for the last 2 years I'm often the only person the elderly lady sees from one day to the next. I do get the occasional "gift" of a packet of pooh bags though! 

I do get the occasional "gift" of a packet of pooh bags though!

Empty I hope.😂