We at the Preservation Society know it can be difficult being a foreigner in a foreign land … not having a command of the language, feeling isolated and simply not being sure what is going on.

So we will be giving regular updates on the extraordinary lock down in Slovakia, the reasons for it, what’s going on and what is the best thing we, as ex-pats, can do.

They will appear on the site and YouTube.

One thing you can be sure of is that your Slovak friends will be on hand to help out where they can and explain what is going on in this little enclave of the world brought to its knees by a greasy little ‘bad bug’.

Okay, so here we go… 2,890 new cases of coronavirus were reported last Friday bringing the total number to 40,801.

This is the highest number of cases since the beginning of the epidemic.

The results of testing with antigen tests in Northern Slovakia are not included.

The post-mortem of 25 patients confirmed they died because of Covid-19 increasing the number of victims to 159.

It is reported that they include two women aged  33 and 48 who died at the University Hospital in Bratislava, a 55-year-old man who died at the hospital in Brezno and another 55-year-old man who died in Vel’ké Kapušany. Other victims were 69 to 92.

New cases are focussed on  Sabinov (172), Prešov (160), Nitra (140), Námestovo (127), Tvdrošin (117), Košice (113), Bratislava (109), Prievidza (102), Banská Bystrica (99) and Bardejov (91).

The new cases are said to be linked to family celebrations and weddings in Northern Slovakia (Tvrdošin, Námestovo, Dolný Kubín) and in the district of Bardejov.

A new local outbreak was reported at a textile factory in Bánovce nad Bebravou. In Bratislava there are cases of pupils and staff of a few schools and kindergartens who tested positive.

Positive cases were reported among ice hockey players of the top league club HC Košice and HK Poprad and among football players at lower league clubs. The ice hockey club in Liptovský Mikuláš also has positive cases in their team.

#slovakia #lock-down #covid #coronavirus #deaths #hospitals #regions #police #army #fines #shops #friends

See them here

Covid 19 is a runaway train according to Slovak PM Igor Matovič as he mobilises the army to carry out millions of tests and imposes a curfew-style lock-down.

“It’s as if we were travelling on a train whose brakes have stopped working,” he said, according to the SITA newswire. “We have to stop the train in some way.”

The number of people infected by coronavirus keeps growing despite measures introduced on October 15. Now Slovakia is facing a three week lock-down from Halloween.

And it could cost the country €2 billion.

Matovic has ordered the testing of the country’s 5.45 million people and the military is setting up 5,000 sites across the country.

The army will be testing citizens over 10 years old. Those who refuse face 10 days quarantine or a fine of US$1,949.

A group of lawyers are reported to have described Matovič’s actions as unconstitutional and against fundamental personal rights.

But Matovič said “it’s the hardest decisions that any Slovak government ever had to take”.

The decision was taken as Slovakia faced a record increase of daily cases, after 2,202 people tested positive for the coronavirus on October 20.

At least 1,273 medical workers have been infected with the coronavirus so far, including 286 doctors.

The Slovak Medical Chamber called on Slovak doctors working abroad to come home to help. “Please, come home, we need you,” the head of the chamber, Marian Kollar said.

The situation is worsening in the districts of Martin, Ružomberok, Liptovský Mikuláš, and Sabinov, which are close to the four most affected districts of Námestovo, Tvrdošín, Dolný Kubín and Bardejov.

The Ukraine has put Slovakia in the red zone, and people arriving in the country have to show a negative PCR or go into isolation.

Slovakia has been praised for its response to the pandemic. It was one of the first countries in Europe to close its borders and introduce mandatory mask-wearing even before it had any cases.

Meanwhile, the number of people dying of coronavirus in England and Wales rose for the first time in five months in September. But it is still only the 19th most common cause of death.

Office for National Statistics data show 725 people died with Covid-19 – although not necessarily because of it – up from 576 in August.

This was the first time the number had increased since the first wave of disease slammed into Britain in April, when deaths soared from 1,700 to 31,000 in a month. 

On the positive side however, a covid-19 vaccine developed at Oxford University is said to work perfectly and builds strong immunity.

The hopes over the vaccine, which is said to safely trigger an immune response in volunteers given it in early trials. But, unlike traditional vaccines which use a weakened virus, or small amounts of it, the innovative Oxford jab causes the body to make part of the virus itself.

#covid-19 #coronavirus #slovakia #doctors #curfew #lockdown #Matovič #borders #tests #fines

A family-owned television station with almost 30 years of broadcast history has made it into the new age of ‘streaming’.

Airtv International has joined Roku, one of the world’s biggest entertainment and news platforms.

Roku was recently voted ‘favourite’ streaming system, with the most streaming app options, the simplest interface and the best search.

Rodney Hearth, president and managing editor at Airtv, said: “This is great for us and has meant a lot of work for our ‘backroom’ boys. But we’ve got there … the station came into being almost 30 years ago when we spotted a gap in the market for a family-friendly broadcaster.

“The main TV channels were becoming punctuated with violence, foul language and sex – not to mention such a narrow playlist of pop music. Not everybody wants to listen to Agadoo or Tie a Yellow Ribbon and watch negative films and soaps.

“We were living in Spain at the time and I have a background in television, so we decided to launch our own station with good music, wholesome programming and good interesting politics.

“We did well but decided we needed to move with the times. Roku and streaming are the way ahead for us. We are a breath of fresh air.”

Airtv describes itself as Family Safe sharing arts, film, comedy, music, documentary, opinion and news.

Rodney said: “We would invite you to forgo just one cup of coffee per month – for only $4.95 per month you can watch eight exciting and educative TV channels and in addition more than 20,000 clips and programmes.

“We believe in free speech, and challenging up-to-the-minute news and comment.”

And controversy is always part of freedom of speech – regulars on AirTv are Peter Hitchens, Katie Hopkins, Nigel Farage and Jordan Peterson.

A new addition to the regulars is ex-Fleet Street journalist Leigh G Banks who does an opinion programme with Rodney, Postcard, every week where they tackle racism, covid, politics – in fact anything in the news.

Leigh said: “Some of the guests on Airtv are a bit controversial and I was invited along simply because I don’t always agree with them.

“Rodney and I also see it as part of our job to puncture conspiracy theories and the fake news on social media.

“I have always been a newsman and it is good to have a platform to attack liars and cheats.”

Roku stock has soared 74% in 2020 as covid has kept people at home and streaming has taken off.

AirTV Arts: Ballet – Opera – Classical Music

AirTV Film Classics: Classics from the Silver Screen

AirTV Entertainment: Comedy – Shows – Documentary

AirTV Jazz: Top Worldwide Artists

AirTV Total Music: All Genres and some Surprises.

AirTV Opinion: Challenging up to the Minute Commentary on Today’s Headlines

AirTV Inspire: Spiritual Refreshment

AirTV Country: Sad to make you Happy

Get The AirTV *Roku Channel Here:

https://channelstore.roku.com/…/ca57…/airtvinternational

#rodneyhearth #leighgbanks #postcard #airtvinternational #covid #lockdown #trump #boris

The hedonistic 60s are making a hazy comeback thanks to the predilections of some of the era’s greatest artists.

We already know that Bob Dylan was the Mr Beaujolais Jangles of his generation and his mate Carlos Santana was one of the smoothest tokers in Vegas.

But some say that Bob gave up the booze in 1996 and that Carlos refused to take drugs on stage after he got stoned at Woodstock.

But things have changed!

A quarter of a century later, in his mid-70s the world’s greatest travelling troubadour bar none hit the rocks again … but this time with his own brand of whiskey.

Now he is known as a whiskey aficionado although his people insist it’s “not a vanity project but a passion project”.

Carlos Santana has jumped on the bandwagon too by doing a deal over his own cannabis brand.

Cheers to a whiff of success eh?

Carlos is actually joining Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson and Wiz Khalifa in sparking up a renewed interest in ‘blowing your mind’ and ‘smoking your brain out’.

His Mirayo ‘weed’ is described as a premium product created in partnership with Santa Rosa, California-based Left Coast Ventures. The company also produces brands like Marley Natural and Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart’s Mind Your head. 

And Dylan’s not the only musician with a spirits brand either. Booze is a popular hobby for rappers like Jay-Z and Drake, rockers like Sammy Hagar and country singers including Toby Keith.

Bob’s Heaven’s Door international portfolio includes a Tennessee straight Bourbon (84 proof, 700ml), Double Barrel Whiskey (100 proof, 700ml) and Straight Rye Whiskey finished in cigar barrels from Vosges, France (86 proof, 700ml). Each bottle features his ironwork designs.

Dylan’s songs are not short of whiskey references either, ‘Daddy he made whiskey, my grandaddy he did too / We ain’t paid no whiskey tax since 1792’, ‘He’s dressed up like a squire / Boot-legged whiskey in his hand’,  and ‘I’ve spent all my money / On whiskey and beer’.

Dylan’s move into whiskey is a savvy one though. Whiskey, brandy and cognac have experienced a boom recently.

Drinking was a trademark of Bob’s generation and Beaujolais was his drink of choice.

Guitar god Carlos Santana – in what could be seen as a bit of anti-advertising – says he cringes whenever he watches his debut performance at the legendary Woodstock festival in 1969 because he was so high after having a back-stage party with Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia.

But his Mirayo by Santana is described as “a sun grown cannabis line that honours the spiritual and ancient Latin heritage of the plant.”

The name is a combination of “my” and “ray” in Spanish.

Santana says it reflects his own philosophy of “determination, discovery, and self-actualization”.

“In my experience, it can enhance meditative reflection and creative expression,” he said. “It can dispel negative doubt to reveal the everlasting gift of our uniqueness. With Mirayo, I hope to help people use cannabis as a door to a more benevolent behaviour like kindness and compassion.”

#bobdylan #bob #dylan #carlossantana #carlos #santana #woodstock #vegas #copperkettle #drinkdrugs #drink #whisky #dope #heavensdoor #heavensgate #cannabis

We packed the boot of our ‘Bentley’ with lamps and books and stylish old clothes. It was time to head back to our European ‘heaven’.

Things were getting pretty tight out there, the city we now called home was going in to semi-lockdown again.

Being back in Britain had been markedd by soaring happiness and abject despair … we’d spent two hours with my 90-year-old mum in a dingy pub. And we’d seen Andrea’s elderly auntie too. On the doorstep.

But covid had stopped us seeing our grandchildren.

But now it could shut the ‘borders’ we needed to cross to get home … already the Czech Republic was claiming one of the worst outbreaks in the world and Hungary and italy were back on the ‘poorly’ list.

And Boris was ready to close UK cities like he was flicking switchesflicking switches.

It was time for us to try to get home.

#Covid #Europe #UK #family #lockdown #truth

George Clooney and Bob Dylan are to work on a new film adaptation of John Grisham’s baseball-themed book Calico Joe.

The project has Clooney and his Smokehouse Pictures partner Grant Heslov getting together with Dylan’s Grey Water Park Productions.

 Calico Joe is the story of a father and son, played out against the backdrop of league baseball in the United States.

“John has written a beautiful story and the chance to collaborate with Bob to bring it to the screen is just fantastic,” Clooney said.

Dylan said: “George and Grant see in this book what I see in it – a powerful story that will resonate with young and old alike. People in all walks of life will be able to relate to.”

A statement from Bob and George said: “In this climate, with the ever-evolving distribution landscape and different ways to reach audiences, we feel this is the perfect time to focus on development with the best storytellers.

“The calibre of talent involved, and quality of John Grisham’s amazing book is the exact type of content we are looking to develop and produce.

Bob released his new album ‘Rough And Rowdy Ways’ back in June, which NME called “arguably his grandest poetic statement yet” in a five-star review.

 The album went on to debut at number two on the US Billboard charts, making Dylan the only artist to have achieved a Top 40 album in the US in every decade since the 1960s.

#georgeclooney #bobdylan #johngrisham #calicojoe #joecocker #catfish #baseball

Oh, what a tangled web we weave when we practise to please … like all those people who asked us to do a webinar on how to make a living as a writer.

Sorry!

We zoomed in, we zoomed out, we picked up the computer and shook it all about.

We went live – then we went dead!

We shouted and then we cried

… but it could not be denied

the webinar had turned up and fried.

And, guess what? It was all down to 3G… they’d cut me off for using all my ‘unlimited data’ on loading a couple of writerly videos on to YouTube … I thought my data was unlimited! Their explanation was couched in unintelligible jargon and incomprehensible sales pitches!

And, eventually, they sold me more data – but then admitted we couldn’t get a signal in the Eccleshall area of the Midlands – we are staying there in an ancient Catholic manse and have to smoke under an old oak tree next to a creaking gate.

They were carrying out maintenance, you see.

Thank you very much 3G! That fixed it for me!

Next, Jessica’s life took a turn for the better and she was called away to Wales, new climes and opportunities.

So, we didn’t do the webinar….

Sorry.

But that’s enough of excuses …

Here’s my plan, I have pulled together THREE vids giving my views on how to make a living as a writer – I’ve done it for more than three decades and I’ve done quite well out of it, thank you.

I am a travel writer and live abroad, I am a broadcaster on many stations including the BBC, I am involved in making TV documentaries and I write for international newspapers and magazine.

As a journalist and writer, I fight for what’s right … and that’s what writers should do whether through prose, poetry or narrative.

Look to make to make things better, whether that’s from inside the darkness or from outside the light.

Have a look at the vids and pop your questions in the comments box below. We will answer them, I promise.

Cheers

Leigh and Jessica

#writer #writing #money #earning #journalism

President Donald Trump has ‘put people’s lives at risk’ with his decision to stage a drive-by outside the hospital where he is being treated for Co vid-19.

“Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential ‘drive-by’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die. For political theatre. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theatre. This is insanity,” . Dr. James Phillips tweeted. He is a Walter Reed physician.

Dr. Phillips, who is the Chief of Disaster and Operational Medicine at George Washington University as well as a CNN medical analyst, said Trump’s ride outside Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was irresponsible.

The stunt was just the latest example of Trump and his inner circle flouting public health recommendations. The President and those closest to him have repeatedly failed to wear masks when mandatory, practice social distancing and abide by the quarantine rules set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yesterday’s episode shows there’s no indication that Trump’s hospitalization is changing his approach to the pandemic.

“That Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack. The risk of Covid-19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures,” he explained. 

Despite the risk posed to others in the hospital, the driver and security staff, White House spokesman Judd Deere said that “the movement was cleared by the medical team as safe to do” and that “appropriate precautions” were taken, “including PPE.

At least 10 people in the President’s vicinity have recently tested positive. Some 7.4 million Americans — roughly one in 44 — have been infected with the virus in the world’s worst-affected country.

#covid #trump #hospital #driveby #danger

Today was a day of self care and love or REST.
I get super sad when I come home from travelling – it feels like pulling myself out of where I am meant to be.
So today I made some Truffle Fettuccine (made with truffles I brought back from Croatia) to make this I blended black olives, garlic, truffles and a little cold pressed organic rapeseed oil added this to a mushroom sauce- made from blended oat milk, cooked garlic and mushrooms and nutritional yeast threw in some courgette broccoli and fettuccine and garnished with a health dose of black pepper and Himalayan salt.
I had a small portion in true Italian style and served it with some extra veg with a tahini dressing (literally just 3tbp spn organic tahini, garlic, 1/2 tsp maple syrup, black pepper and water down till you have the right consistency)
This was my take on the post I put up a few days ago as I was craaaaaving that #trufflepasta backing in my life.

#truffles #vegan #veganrecipe #croatiantruffles #pula #futtuccine #veganpasta #tahinidressing #healthy #travellingvegan #himilayan #salt #healthbenefits #recipe #yummy #italianrecipe