Actually, there is little more to write; I spent the day quietly, alternating between relaxing after a very late night on New Year’s Eve, and carrying out occasional household chores, after having got up, not unexpectedly, rather late!
I did watch part of the New Year’s Day annual concert of music mainly by members of the the Strauss family, live from the Musikverein Large Hall in Vienna. I imagine that tickets for this event are highly sought after and eye-wateringly expensive; therefore the New Year’s Day concert is firmly on my bucket list! This year, because of the pandemic, it was different; just like all the other events which are usually open to the public. Last night’s London fireworks display was beyond magnificent, but displayed to empty streets and parks. Alicia Keys played to an empty arena, nevertheless delivering a smooth and polished performance as if playing to thousands. And this morning in Vienna, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, under their almost eighty year old conductor, Riccardo Muti, performed with razor sharp perfection to an empty hall. Given the continuing the pandemic, I am astonished that so much tradition has continued and can only be hugely impressed by the virtuosic efforts on the part of so many to maintain a semblance of normality.
I remain cautiously optimistic about the weeks and months to come, especially when much of the population has been vaccinated. We were all led to believe that the necessary two vaccinations were to be three weeks apart. Now, it is being suggested that to speed up the process, the second inoculation be up to three months later.
Once again, midnight has passed. Time to “hit the hay”.
Thanks for reading, David, 00.16hrs January 2nd 2021.
David's Cruise 