We had hoped that the easing of lockdown would make it slightly easier to organise this year's COW (Conference of Wargamers) over the weekend of 2nd to 4th July, but as it will be held under the current restrictions, it has involved a bit of extra administration over and above what normally needs to be done.
We are only allowed to have thirty participants plus two tutors, so the maximum number who can attend is thirty-two. For the purposes of 'track and trace', I have had to forward their personal details to Knuston Hall, and I am now in the process of sorting out the menu choices for the attendees as this has to be done before they arrive at Knuston Hall. This all takes time and a considerable number of emails ... and no doubt last-minute problems (e.g. someone becoming ill or dropping out) will arise and these will need to be dealt with.
I am being kept very busy doing the above, and it is slowing progress on my two current wargame projects. However, as neither of these has to be completed by a particular date (unlike administering COW), this is not causing me any concern whatsoever.
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Bob,
ReplyDeleteYour dedicated work on organizing the July COW will be well worth it for the 32 participants. We are back in lockdown- again...all flights from Australia to New Zealand have been cancelled...masks to be worn indoors ..five people in homes...etc. Well- this Covid isn't just going away without a fight. Stay well there in London. Best Wishes. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteDoing the administration for COW is usually straightforward, but thanks to COVID, this year requires several extra admin tasks to be done. Luckily, most attendees respond quickly, which means that I don't have to do much waiting around before a task can be completed and I can move on to the next one.
Although our government is making all sorts of very positive noises about removing any restrictions (they are relying on having most of the 18+ population vaccinated by the middle of July), an new variant of the Delta variant has been found in the UK that is even easier to pass on. We will be all right as long as the AstraZencia and Pfizer vaccines are proof against it, but if they aren't, we could well see an even greater rise in infections and hospitalisations over the next few months.
The UK travel/holiday industry is complaining about the situation, but they seem to be blinkered to the fact that travel is one way in which new variants can be spread quickly. Stopping travel might just give us a long enough break to get some sort of brake on the spread, but this is not something that is going to go away tomorrow ... or for a lot of tomorrows.
Plans are already afoot for booster jabs later this year, and as far as I can see, this will be the pattern for many years to come, with people having a 'flu and COVID jab every year.
Depressing, but that is the way life seems to be panning out. Complaining about it is pointless ... but it seems to have become a bit of a national sport in the UK ... along with football!
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
Bob,
DeleteI've had the two vaccinations with AstraZenica without any problems at all...our authorities are moving towards only using the Pfizer in future...I guess as you say we may all need vaccination every year as new strains of Covid emerge...one thing is for sure we are moving very slowly on vaccination of the entire population- I think we're only up to 5 Million out of 26 Million. Anyway, I'm glad were vaccinated now. Regards. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI was vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine and Sue had the AstraZenica. At present the UK is well on its way to vaccinating the majority of the 18+ population with at least one jab by the end of July. My local council is doing all that it can to ensure that everyone is vaccinated ... and yet we are still seeing an overall rise in infections, mainly due to the Delta variant.
All the best,
Bob
Much appreciated Bob. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteTrebian,
DeleteThanks very much. I know that most attendees appreciate my efforts, but it is nice to be told that occasionally.
All the best,
Bob
I echo Trebian's comments - anyone who doesn't appreciate your efforts doesn't deserve their place at COW.
ReplyDeleteJohn Armatys,
DeleteThank you for your very supportive comment. It is nice to have one’s efforts appreciated by people who know just how much work is involved in running COW.
Luckily, I don’t have to do it all on my own, and I have my co-organiser with whom to share the burden.
All the best,
Bob