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Rage In A Cage
Feb. 27th, 2021 05:50 pmThis week has been dominated by the sclerotic rollout of vaccinations in Germany, particularly in comparison to the UK. This has been a source of most frustration, only heigthened by seeing some of my friends get the vaccine. This is a little weird considering my 65-year-old father only got his on Wednesday, and my 62-year-old mother not at all, but there is no doubt that the NHS is performing wonders. I am delighted some of my friends and family are now protected, but it's only heightening my own sense of frustration that it'll be a long time before I'm at the front of the queue (quite rightly to be honest). With talk of vaccine passports just to get into pubs, nevermind going travelling, all of this is making me quite anxious. In fact, I don't think I've been this consumed by anxiety for such a long time.
In Germany, there has been a huge scepticism regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine and it's not available to the over-65s, which has left over one million sat on shelves, and this has been the source of most of my frustration. Some people aren't even turning up to appointments, which is despicable in a pandemic. However, things are slowly improving, with nearly 165K vaccines administered yesterday compared to 140K at the start of the week and 90K two weeks ago. I must also remember that Germany has vaccinated three times as many people as the UK with their second dose, and these people are in the harder to reach categories. Furthermore, there are still supply issues in the EU, which isn't aided by European factories exporting to the UK while there is no return traffic. The forthcoming approval of the Johnson and Johnson jab, expected on 11 March for a 1 April rollout, could be a game-changer too as the EU has ordered 200 million initial doses with 200 million more afterwards. Many of the problems related to the German rollout are being worked on, and the increased supply in the coming months will make things much easier. This may take a little time, but ultimately I am optimistic, even if that optimism is charged with deep anger.
Not aiding this is the nationalist rhetoric exposed in much of the British media and some of the commentariat. Indeed, headlines like 'Germany has lost the vaccine war' and saying Brexit has been the cause of Britain's faster rollout, which is demonstrably untrue, has only cemented my view that leaving the UK was the right path for me. I'm sad to admit that the feelings I have for my home country are more of hatred than love these days. I accept there are many great things and people there, but it's a source of such frustration as it could be so much better, let alone more equitable. Hopefully, one day, my love will return as when I lived in the US in the mid-Nineties, I remember having great pride when my mother told me that we were representing our country. I even wanted to be an ambassador in my youth and was once a civil servant. I'm hoping being away from the UK a while will make me appreciate it more.
The unlocking program released on Monday has made me wish I was still in the UK to a degree, but I am aware that these dates may change and I'm optimistic that Germany will catch up. It's also unlikely I'd be offered a vaccine until late-June anyway, regardless of where I am. Furthermore, even though the R rate is ticking up slightly here - as is the number of cases - the introduction of swift testing suggests some degree of unlocking will happen in March and I believe the trajectory for full relaxation will be similar to that of the UK.
Not having many options to go out is starting to grate, and the drudgery of the same routine week-in week-out is starting to take its toll. I can't remember the last time I was creative, while I am worrying about a load of bureaucracy I need to do later in the year but that I can't do right now. The census is the next one (21 March) followed by taxation (post-April), while we are still waiting on getting a new flat and the card permitting us to remain in Germany. Regarding the former, I went to a house viewing in Spandau on Thursday morning, visiting alone as Wolfie has bust his foot. I was the only one looking around what turned out to be a building site as the houses were just being constructed. It looks like a perfect place for us and one we would like, but a moving in date of 1 June could be a struggle as our maximum six-month tenancy at our current place expires in early May. We may be able to ask them for an extension though, under the circumstances, so we'll see. We were asked on Friday morning whether we could have a viewing later that day at another Spandau property, but the landlord swiftly cancelled this initial request as 'we had taken too long to respond', even though it was less than an hour. Considering I was trying to rearrange my work day, we told the estate agents to cancel our interest in this house as having a landlord like that would be a nightmare.
The one advantage of not going out is the money we are saving, with my salary adequate enough under the circumstances. However, in the long-term this won't be viable so I am hoping there will be a salary increase at my review in April. Things are looking promising, with me having been made head of US strategy on Wednesday, which will see me spearhead the company's expansion plans in the biggest iGaming market in the world. Considering I was hired as an editor, this is quite a positive development and I am hoping this will bode well going forward. Of course, nothing is guaranteed, but in the long-term, the current situation is not tenable. This is particularly the case due to the higher than expected rental prices in Berlin. I guess we'll see what happens, but I am enjoying my role, so hopefully it'll work out.
As usual, having a full-time job means I am struggling to find any free time to do much else. On Thursday, there was an 'Oh God What Now?' live Zoom stream with the usual crew, which was an enjoyable way to pass an hour and a half. Later that evening, we did our usual Geoguessr with Stray's crew and on Friday, we listened to Gothicat's set on Catnip Radio yet again. Next week will be Crabulon Day as it's March 4th. It's incredible to think that when I first proposed the idea last August, we are still in this position regarding the virus and lockdowns. On Monday, I jumped onto VR Chat to chat with Blacksnip, but I must admit the lustre of virtual reality has already started to fade so I'm not sure how often I'll be on going forward.
The only other development was I found a place earlier that stocks UK craft beer. It's a burger place in the food court on Arminius Strasse, where Fox B told us there was good fish and chips. There's also a poutine place. Early today, I decided to check it out and while looking at the range of artisinal stands, I spotted a beer fridge with Tiny Rebel beers in it. Fortunately, there were nine we hadn't had, so I decided to come back after walking up to Wedding. I ended up chatting to the shopkeep, who admitted his German is worse than my own, so we ended up doing all communication in English. I also got talking to his business partner from Somerset, who let me sample some of the English cheddar cheese he uses in his burgers, as well as recommending one of the cheesemongers in the market for blue cheese. I also managed to buy the beers off him, and he was telling me it was costing him €15 a crate to import the stuff. The beers were expensive, between €5.50 and €7, but considering Brexit has made it impossible for me to get them shipped over from the UK, I think it's a price worth paying. Even better, he also said he may be able to get hold of some Brew York beers for me too, as well as ones from the likes of Vocation. He also sold the back bacon I get from the cheesemonger so I got a packet of this too.
In Germany, there has been a huge scepticism regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine and it's not available to the over-65s, which has left over one million sat on shelves, and this has been the source of most of my frustration. Some people aren't even turning up to appointments, which is despicable in a pandemic. However, things are slowly improving, with nearly 165K vaccines administered yesterday compared to 140K at the start of the week and 90K two weeks ago. I must also remember that Germany has vaccinated three times as many people as the UK with their second dose, and these people are in the harder to reach categories. Furthermore, there are still supply issues in the EU, which isn't aided by European factories exporting to the UK while there is no return traffic. The forthcoming approval of the Johnson and Johnson jab, expected on 11 March for a 1 April rollout, could be a game-changer too as the EU has ordered 200 million initial doses with 200 million more afterwards. Many of the problems related to the German rollout are being worked on, and the increased supply in the coming months will make things much easier. This may take a little time, but ultimately I am optimistic, even if that optimism is charged with deep anger.
Not aiding this is the nationalist rhetoric exposed in much of the British media and some of the commentariat. Indeed, headlines like 'Germany has lost the vaccine war' and saying Brexit has been the cause of Britain's faster rollout, which is demonstrably untrue, has only cemented my view that leaving the UK was the right path for me. I'm sad to admit that the feelings I have for my home country are more of hatred than love these days. I accept there are many great things and people there, but it's a source of such frustration as it could be so much better, let alone more equitable. Hopefully, one day, my love will return as when I lived in the US in the mid-Nineties, I remember having great pride when my mother told me that we were representing our country. I even wanted to be an ambassador in my youth and was once a civil servant. I'm hoping being away from the UK a while will make me appreciate it more.
The unlocking program released on Monday has made me wish I was still in the UK to a degree, but I am aware that these dates may change and I'm optimistic that Germany will catch up. It's also unlikely I'd be offered a vaccine until late-June anyway, regardless of where I am. Furthermore, even though the R rate is ticking up slightly here - as is the number of cases - the introduction of swift testing suggests some degree of unlocking will happen in March and I believe the trajectory for full relaxation will be similar to that of the UK.
Not having many options to go out is starting to grate, and the drudgery of the same routine week-in week-out is starting to take its toll. I can't remember the last time I was creative, while I am worrying about a load of bureaucracy I need to do later in the year but that I can't do right now. The census is the next one (21 March) followed by taxation (post-April), while we are still waiting on getting a new flat and the card permitting us to remain in Germany. Regarding the former, I went to a house viewing in Spandau on Thursday morning, visiting alone as Wolfie has bust his foot. I was the only one looking around what turned out to be a building site as the houses were just being constructed. It looks like a perfect place for us and one we would like, but a moving in date of 1 June could be a struggle as our maximum six-month tenancy at our current place expires in early May. We may be able to ask them for an extension though, under the circumstances, so we'll see. We were asked on Friday morning whether we could have a viewing later that day at another Spandau property, but the landlord swiftly cancelled this initial request as 'we had taken too long to respond', even though it was less than an hour. Considering I was trying to rearrange my work day, we told the estate agents to cancel our interest in this house as having a landlord like that would be a nightmare.
The one advantage of not going out is the money we are saving, with my salary adequate enough under the circumstances. However, in the long-term this won't be viable so I am hoping there will be a salary increase at my review in April. Things are looking promising, with me having been made head of US strategy on Wednesday, which will see me spearhead the company's expansion plans in the biggest iGaming market in the world. Considering I was hired as an editor, this is quite a positive development and I am hoping this will bode well going forward. Of course, nothing is guaranteed, but in the long-term, the current situation is not tenable. This is particularly the case due to the higher than expected rental prices in Berlin. I guess we'll see what happens, but I am enjoying my role, so hopefully it'll work out.
As usual, having a full-time job means I am struggling to find any free time to do much else. On Thursday, there was an 'Oh God What Now?' live Zoom stream with the usual crew, which was an enjoyable way to pass an hour and a half. Later that evening, we did our usual Geoguessr with Stray's crew and on Friday, we listened to Gothicat's set on Catnip Radio yet again. Next week will be Crabulon Day as it's March 4th. It's incredible to think that when I first proposed the idea last August, we are still in this position regarding the virus and lockdowns. On Monday, I jumped onto VR Chat to chat with Blacksnip, but I must admit the lustre of virtual reality has already started to fade so I'm not sure how often I'll be on going forward.
The only other development was I found a place earlier that stocks UK craft beer. It's a burger place in the food court on Arminius Strasse, where Fox B told us there was good fish and chips. There's also a poutine place. Early today, I decided to check it out and while looking at the range of artisinal stands, I spotted a beer fridge with Tiny Rebel beers in it. Fortunately, there were nine we hadn't had, so I decided to come back after walking up to Wedding. I ended up chatting to the shopkeep, who admitted his German is worse than my own, so we ended up doing all communication in English. I also got talking to his business partner from Somerset, who let me sample some of the English cheddar cheese he uses in his burgers, as well as recommending one of the cheesemongers in the market for blue cheese. I also managed to buy the beers off him, and he was telling me it was costing him €15 a crate to import the stuff. The beers were expensive, between €5.50 and €7, but considering Brexit has made it impossible for me to get them shipped over from the UK, I think it's a price worth paying. Even better, he also said he may be able to get hold of some Brew York beers for me too, as well as ones from the likes of Vocation. He also sold the back bacon I get from the cheesemonger so I got a packet of this too.
