Quietguy

The only contemporary Irish writer I've heard of is Brendan Behan - is it him?

Aravani Girl: An interesting, and sad, program about tg girls from Tamil Nadu, India, which was shown on UK satellite tv this week. Transgenders are known as 'Aravani' and are usually rejected by their families, unlike their Thai sisters, and live in Aravani 'family' groups.

My second choice would be Byron.

Very unlikely that we will be able to return this year. I'm still hoping I will be able to return in January, but I think it might not be until maybe mid or late 2021, or even 2022.

bbg would rather look for one of these (the mask not the girl, or maybe both).

Sounds like something Shelley might write. I only remember one line of his - 'Rise like lions after slumber.......We are many, they are few'.

Did you need to be given oxygen afterwards?

Yeah, it's just wishful thinking. I'd really like to get some warmth and sunshine in Jan/Feb and escape a cold dark dreary London. I think I could handle being confined to a hotel for 14 days if there was some sort of entertainment in the evenings, but not if I was just confined to room. I can't see many people taking that up, unless they are intending a long stay once their quarantine ends.

The Royal Society of Medicine: Covid-19: herd immunity in Sweden fails to materialise https://www.rsm.ac.uk/media-releases/2020/covid-19-herd-immunity-in-sweden-fails-to-materialise/

World is 'nowhere near' herd immunity to coronavirus, warns WHO. https://www.uk.yahoo.com/news/world-is-nowhere-near-herd-immunity-to-coronavirus-warns-who-140724322.html

Lucinda Ardern hits back at Trump over coronavirus 'surge'. https://www.uk.yahoo.com/news/zealand-reports-13-confirmed-cases-013620553.html

I did put Hitler first, then thought that was too obvious and edited my answer.

There's a possibility that Phuket might be opened to 'safe and sealed' tourists from October, where tourists are allowed in to stay at quarantine hotels and use specified section of beach. I might consider that for January/February if I couldn't get back to Jomtien. https://www.thethaiger.com/news/phuket/phuket-eyes-october-1-as-launch-date-for-safe-and-sealed-tourism-plan

Sterling rising a bit against baht. Better for expats on UK pensions, but not much use for those of us who can't get to Thailand.

Worker at Quarantine hotel contracts virus: https://www.uk.yahoo.com/news/worker-zealand-quarantine-hotel-tests-022640771.html NZ authorities believe new outbreak came from Australia or UK: https://www.uk.yahoo.com/news/new-zealand-coronavirus-outbreak-came-from-britain-or-australia-111529249.html

Goebbels? I think he was propaganda minister then.

If you go to a country after it has been added to quarantine list your travel insurance may be invalid. If you are already there when it is added you will probably only be given a few hours to return, and return fares are probably going to shoot up. If you arrive back in UK after quarantine starts you have to self isolate at home for 14 days.

Correct Pdogg. But to be strictly accurate it is a triple star system. The biggest star is Polaris Aa which orbits with the smallest star Polaris Ab, and they both orbit with Polaris B. Galileo wouldn't have known that!

What is the astronomical name for the 'North Star'?

I think he knew really!

Freddie Mercury?

^^^^ I see Sweden is not on list!

No. Mankind has always sought remedies for illness and pain and to try to prevent unnecessary death.