My Birthday, #Covid Passes, & ACB Zoom Calls

As many of you know, my birthday was last weekend.

 

Thank you to everyone who sent me birthday messages, cards, presents, or money. Each and every one was very much appreciated, and helped to make my birthday special - even those that came in late.

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Presentwise I mostly got money and books, of course.  But my Dad and my brother, Wayne, got me some figures for a game called "Burrows & Badgers" (which I'd gotten myself a few figures for recently) where all the figures are animals.  If you're familiar with the "Redwall" books, think along those lines.  I have yet to read the rules or actually play the game, but the figures are really cool, so I'd want to collect them anyhow - even if (as might be the case regardless) they get used as ornaments more than gaming pieces.  And, speaking of animal themed gifts: my friend, Karl, sent me a cuddly giraffe and redcoated lemur (one as a birthday present, the other as an early Christmas present).  I'm getting quite the zoo with my teddy collection.  Which, by the way, is most definitely not a complaint, because I love cuddly animals.  Anyway, here are photos of those:

 

And here are the birthday cards I got from my Mam, Dad, Grandma, and friend, Rita:

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Mam made me a vegan birthday cake from scratch.  It was a vanilla sponge with lemon butter icing.  It also has pinkish butter icing writing on it that says, "Victoria, 37 today," and a "Happy birthday" cake decoration.  Plus she put a pink ribbon around it.  Here's a photo:

Yes, it really is 100% vegan.

 

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Between take-away and Mam making me a roast dinner, I didn't have to cook for all of my birthday weekend.  It's nice to have a break from cooking sometimes, even when it's something you like to do.

 

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I try not to do posts complaining about things, but I have something I want to rant about a little, so I'm going to.  If you don't want to read my rant, I understand.  But it's my blog, so I'm going to say it.  Feel free to scroll down to the other topic of this post if you don't want to read my rant.

 

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They've introduced Covid passes here.

 

You need a Covid pass to enter pubs, clubs, cinemas, events, etc.  To get one you need proof you've had both your vaccinations, plus valid photo ID (such as a passport or driver's lisence).

 

Needless to say, I can't get one.  Even if there's a way to get some kind of exemption for the fact I can't have that second shot for medical reasons (which, if there is, I've so far seen no way of getting it) I'd have a problem, since I don't have a valid passport, and obviously don't have a drivers lisence.  In fact, Kelly can't get one either, even though he's had both jabs, because he doesn't have any form of valid photo ID either.  Though at least in his case we could go to the hastle and expense of sorting out a new passport for him, and then he'd be good to go.

I don't like it.  Not because I want to go to these places as such - I don't go anywhere much, and would definitely be reluctant to go to potentially crowded places these days, Covid pass or no, with my rubbish immune system.  But the reason I don't like it is for the same reason a friend on Twitter was complaining about it: because they've taken away the choice.

Memorial services for those who died fighting for us to have freedom take place on the Sunday closest to November 11th here.  This year it was November 14th they took place.  These new Covid passes were required from November 15th.  So, they honour those who died to give us freedom one day, and snatch it away the following day.  As though the sacrifices made by those who fought - and those who stayed at home to keep things running as best they could while those men and boys fought - meant nothing.  As though those countless men and boys who lost their lives died for nothing.

 

A bit dramatic? Maybe.  But that's how it looks to me.

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On top of that, people are losing their jobs if they don't have the vaccinations.  It doesn't matter if they have a reason to refuse it.  It's just, "Have the jab, or lose your job," and that's that.

I get that we need to try and get this pandemic under control, and the more people who have the jab, the better, since it will potentially lower the numbers of those who die from this over all (at least, that's the hope).  But I don't like where this is heading.  I don't like the fact the choice is being taken away.  Where's the freedom we fought so hard for?? Where's the freedom families were torn apart for?

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Sure, as Kelly pointed out, "We have Netflix," and both of us prefer watching that, or a DVD or something, to going to the cinema anyhow.  But that's not the point, even if it's true.

It's like when we were in lockdown, only with only certain people being locked down.  Just like during the lockdowns, it's all about having that choice taken away.  I mean, staying home because you want to is one thing, and if you decided to stay in and watch something on a streaming service instead of going to the cinema, there's nothing wrong in that (regardless of what your reasons might be).  But doing it because you have no other choice is a different matter.  And I'm not saying I want to go, because I do prefer watching movies at home to going to a cinema.  Going to shops from time to time is more than enough for me, and nine times out of ten I order online or send someone else for even that anyhow (even though you don't need a Covid pass for shopping).  I'm saying I want to be able to decide for myself, and be able to go if I choose to, like we all should be able to do.

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OK.  Rant over.

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On a much more positive note: I've started being more active with the ACB (American Council of the Blind) Zoom calls.  Hey, at least it's something I can do sitting down, and without a Covid pass (sorry, I couldn't resist that comment).  Plus, it turns out it's a great distraction from pain, which isn't why I enjoy it, but is definitely a benifit I'm happy to accept and embrace.

 

I got involved with them through Patty inviting me to join her Free To Be Me call on Fridays back in April, and then becoming her co-facilitator for that call.  I'm not usually good at sticking with things involving me being part of a social group, because I don't like being around a lot of people as a rule.  But apparently that doesn't hold true when the people are inside my computer, since I'm loving joining in with the ACB community.  And a few days ago I was part of a podcast to talk about that, where I - along with several others - shared how involvement in the ACB calls started.  It was nice sharing, but even nicer hearing others talk about their own stories, and how much it means to them to be part of the ACB community.  It made me very glad I'd offered to facilitate for Patty when she went to train with her new guide dog, and then continued to fill in for her when she was moving right afterwards.

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If anyone wants to know more about the Zoom calls, or wants to join me and Patty on Fridays to talk about books (or anything else we feel like chatting about) - whether visually impaired or not - let me know, and I'll make sure you get the information you need.