Book 6 of 2023: Legends and Lattes

I've just finished this book by Travis Baldree, that sees an orc fighter called Viv (!) set up a coffee shop in a fantasy town. Love, love, loved it. So heartwarming. And how brilliant to combine a coffee shop plot with a fantasy setting. In places it was a little predicable, but the characters were so well written it was a real page turner. 5/5 read for me. And I will definitely be reading the sequel.

The book was originally written as a NaNoWriMo book, well edited, then self published. Then Tor picked it up for a bigger print run / distribution. The book includes a really nice acknowledgements section that tells some of this story, and stresses the importance of good editing for a book like this. Hugely encouraging stuff.

And although I'm stuck at home I am glad I had good coffee and buns to enjoy during reading this! Because the book would have made me crave them otherwise.

No to Evusheld in the UK

This is such a disappointing result for immunosuppressed people like me. Other countries around the world gave Evusheld to their immunosuppressed people a year or more ago, offering them vital protection at that time - which worked - against the then variants. The UK government chose not to, and delayed the decision making process so much in a rapidly changing variants situation that now the much delayed result is no. On plus there is a new version of Evusheld being developed. And on plus NICE has admitted that the current decision making process in such a time critical setting needs to be speeded up hugely. But yup, very disappointing. I am very lucky that I do have some good antibodies finally after 6 Covid vaccines, with a 7th vaccine probably due in the next few months (which will probably cause another 3 month long neuro flare, but ...). But many immunosuppressed people are not so lucky.

https://www.nice.org.uk/news/article/nice-says-no-evidence-that-covid-19-treatment-evusheld-is-effective-in-protecting-vulnerable-adults-against-current-variants-as-it-announces-new-rapid-update-process-for-covid-19-medicines

Re Nicola Sturgeon

I've been a bit too offline the last couple of days to post my proper thoughts re Nicola Sturgeon resigning. I'm a SNP supporter and an indy supporter. I am very sad to see her go. But I also respect what she has done for Scotland as a whole. I think that people outside Scotland, and especially in England, often don't realise how popular a leader she is for many in Scotland, and how much her social democracy measures are appreciated here. It is too easy for pro unionists to look on from outside and view her as a minor and irrelevant figure. When for many in Scotland she is greatly appreciated, and does an important role. I wish her all the best in the future. I hope that we get a competent leader in her place. And I hope for democracy for Scotland and all.