We’re just a couple of weeks to the new year, but Omicron is what is dominating headlines.
Omicron across the world today. A new study now says that Omicron is more likely to reinfect than Delta with the risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant more than five times higher and so far, it has shown no sign of being milder than the Delta variant. Depending on the estimates used for vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection from the Delta variant, this translates into vaccine effectiveness of between 0 per cent and 20 per cent after two doses, and between 55 per cent and 80 per cent after a booster dose. According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, Omicron has been detected in 77 countries and more countries probably already have it, but it has not yet been detected. Because the variant is spreading so fast, the sheer number of cases could overwhelm health systems. As of yesterday, Singapore has reported 24 confirmed cases, of which only three are locals and 21 are imported cases.

The children are done with their exams and are on their Christmas holidays. They are quite busy catching up with friends, especially BB whose best friend will be enlisting in early January. They have tons of activities planned for the next two weeks, which is good for their social life.

Today’s quote is an exercise in daily affirmation which comes to us courtesy of Ralph Waldo Emerson. All it tells us to do is tell ourselves every day that every day is the best day of our lives. Simple right? But it is hard to do, as I can attest to, but we need to persevere and we will eventually get there.

So in the light of the recent COVID developments, please stay safe, and make sure you are masked and please get vaccinated and if you are eligible for the booster shot, go ahead and get it. It will protect you to a large extent from the virus.

It’s just a couple of weeks till the end of the year. I think we are all waiting to see if 2022 is better than the last two years.

After posting last week’s update I realised I had not updated my walking stats. So I am in the last province of Myanmar before I hit India’s borders. I will most likely not hit the borders by the end of the year but will do so in early January.

This past week has been all about doctor visits for us. GG had an ultrasound which showed up as completely normal, so all her issues are because of her thyroid. So we are still on medication and hope by the next review, she will have better results.

I also had to get a tooth extracted this week because it was quite decayed. I have always prided on having excellent teeth and having the dentist tell me that it is very decayed and even a root canal may not save it was very hard. It took me a while to digest the fact before I could sign the waivers for the extraction.

Today’s quote comes to us from Rhonda Byrne, an Australian television writer and producer, whose best selling book, The Secret and then the film based on the book is based on the law of attraction. She tells us to turn every situation in life into a positive one. This is akin to saying the glass is half full instead of half empty where we look at the positive aspect of a situation and perceive life through an optimistic lens instead of being pessimistic.

And after flipping and flopping, as of this morning, travellers from Singapore need not spend time in a home quarantine when they go to India. So this is really good news for all those wanting to visit family. I am seriously considering making a short trip to Mumbai early next year, and hope and pray that things stay the same, or become better and not take a turn for the worse.

And with that, stay safe, stay masked and get vaccinated!

We are in the last weeks of 2021 and Covid is still not done with us. The newest variety Omicron which has come in just as people are planning their year-end holiday and travel has put a pause or in some cases, a full stop to many travel plans.

The variant has been detected in more than 38 countries, though there are no deaths as yet attributed to this variant. Many countries, including Singapore and India, have increased testing on incoming travellers and have stopped flights to the southern part of Africa. Other countries including Israel, Japan have already started closing their borders to all foreigners, with others probably following suit should the variant prove to be more severe or dangerous. At this point, we can only wait and see how things pan out. I am planning a trip to see my parents in early 2022 and hope things settle down by then.

In other news, the world just got a new country this week. After 396 years of rule by the British, Barbados has gained its independence with Dame Sandra Mason sworn in as president, replacing the British Queen as head of state.

Today’s quote is a very easy one to internalise. Nothing is impossible, because the word impossible itself has the word possible in it, so everything is possible, you just have to do it! This quote is attributed to the gorgeously talented Audrey Hepburn.

GG had her review with her endocrinologist this week and though her numbers are still much better, they are still a way to go before she reaches normal levels. She has another review after six weeks, so I am hoping the numbers get better by then.

That’s all from me this week. Stay safe, stay masked, and get vaccinated!

We finally got more information on the Vaccinated Travel Lane to India and I am super excited to finally be able to meet my parents. And Singapore has also started more such lanes to countries like Thailand, Fiji, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Cambodia, just in time for the year-end holidays.

Today’s quote is from Paulo Coelho which is a lesson for all of us. If we really think small, our world will be small, but if we think big, then our world automatically becomes big. This is very important for all of us because when we think beyond our small worlds, the universe opens up for us.

GG & BB are busy with school with their mid-semester exams. GG will start her industrial attachment in early March, so she needs to start working on her resume and accomplishments. BB will have his industrial attachment in his last semester, so this means the two of them will not have a holiday together until the end of their poly life, after which BB will be called up for his national service.

A new COVID-19 variant, this time from Africa has been detected and many countries including Singapore have started to put a stop to travellers coming in many countries Africa, especially Southern Africa.

That’s all from me this week. Take care and stay safe.

Another week has gone by and we are inching towards the end of the year.

We got a piece of good news earlier in the week when Singapore announced a Vaccinated Travel Lane with India starting from the end of the month. Although no details are yet confirmed, this has resulted in travel agents and airlines being inundated with queries. I am also super excited about this travel lane and have already started making plans to go down to India to meet my parents after two years. Can’t wait for more details to be released soon.

Today’s quote comes to us from the celebrated children’s author Roald Dahl. He says when we have good thoughts, these thoughts shine through our faces like sunbeams and we will always look lovely. It’s from his book, The Twits and is part of a larger that a person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. One can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if they have good thoughts, the thoughts will shine out of their face like sunbeams and they will always look lovely. So those who have good thoughts radiate a kind of positive energy all around and these people are lovely inside and out, no matter what their physical appearance.

GG & BB are busy with school and we will also start the process of her reviews for her health condition. I am hoping the tests and the doctor’s review will mean a positive change for her.

That’s all from me this week. Stay safe, stay masked and get vaccinated if you are eligible.