THE POSITIVE PROFESSOR
PROFESSOR KAROL SIKORA
SOCIAL media’s voice of calm Karol Sikora has been signed up by the Daily Express. Readers can now enjoy his soothing advice in these troubled times that have won him hundreds of thousands of followers on Twitter. If you need reassuring everything’s going to be all right read Professor Positivity.
AS a family, we absolutely adore dogs. Chico has helped enormously during the past year – and he certainly keeps me active when he runs off chasing rabbits!
I was upset to read that dog thefts have increased by 170 per cent since the pandemic started.
Higher demand and lack of other criminal opportunities has led some extremely unpleasant people taking advantage. Expensive pure breeds are at greatest risk.
After reading into more depth I was surprised that a dog being stolen is treated the same as an inanimate object. That seems wrong. Whether a tweak in the law or sentencing guidelines is needed is one for the lawyers but something has to change.
It must be so difficult for the families who have been affected by this and sadly that number is growing.
There was a great announcement earlier in the week from a charity I’m involved with, Medical Detection Dogs. They’ve managed to train their dogs to detect even the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer with high specificity and sensitivity.
Chico is too busy going through dustbins to help the research, but pets Midas and Florin certainly deserve their treats for the work they are doing.
It could potentially lead to completely new diagnostic technology based on the pathways of detection in a dog’s nose. It could save countless lives.
It’s a very exciting area of research and the team involved have done such amazing work when too often this year non-Covid developments have been pushed aside.
Dogs truly are man’s best friend. If you are considering getting a dog, I would strongly urge you to check the rescue shelter. There are many looking for a home. Chico was once a street dog from Barcelona and he has been a joy (when behaving himself).
THE Queen has been forced to cancel one of the biggest events in the royal calendar because of the pandemic.
She has reluctantly agreed that the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey cannot go ahead as usual.
Even if lockdown restrictions are eased by then, March 8, social distancing rules will make it impossible to have the abbey filled with 2,000 people taking part in a multi-faith ceremony.
It normally involves performers from all over the Commonwealth celebrating the 54-nation association. The organisers are looking at arranging a possible alternative celebration.
They are still trying to decide if a handful of people might be able to gather in the abbey or whether a TV special can be filmed elsewhere.
Resigned
A spokesman for Westminster Abbey said: “Because of the pandemic we are talking with the Royal Household, the Royal Commonwealth Society, and the BBC about the best way to celebrate.” The Commonwealth Secretariat confirmed it had cancelled an annual reception that the Queen normally attends at Marlborough House after the service at Westminster Abbey.
It said the day would be celebrated with an extensive schedule of virtual events, “about which more information will soon be made available”. It added: “To comply with restrictions made necessary because of Covid-19, the Secretariat is not planning for any events to take place at Marlborough House this year.”
The Queen, 94, is understood to be saddened by the decision but
resigned to it as her programme of official events faces chaos for a second year running.
She is usually joined by a large number of members of her family as well as the Prime Minister and other leading politicians.
Last year’s event was the final engagement that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended with members of the Royal Family before quitting their official roles.
This year’s service was due on the day worldwide attention is likely to be focused on Harry and Meghan’s interview with US talk show host Oprah Winfrey, which will be screened in the US at 1am UK time that day.
It will by no means be the only set-piece royal event to be called off this year.
Jeopardy
The annual Royal Maundy service, when the Queen hands out special coins to pensioners is also in jeopardy.
A decision on whether that service, due to take place on April 1, will go ahead will have to be taken shortly.
Summer garden parties at Buckingham Palace and Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh have already been called off.
Around 8,000 people from all walks of life attend each of the parties, which recognise those who have given service to the country.
Buckingham Palace’s summer opening to tourists is also in doubt. The Royal Collection Trust, which oversees visits, usually shares the costs of temporary structures such as toilets and entrance halls but now faces considerably higher costs.
The trust, a charity, is expected to decide by the end of this month. The Chelsea Flower Show, which took place in virtual form last year, has been postponed and moved from May to the autumn, although another online event will still be held in the spring.
And doubts persist about whether Royal Ascot will have to be held behind closed doors again as it was last year.
It is also uncertain whether a great British summer of pageantry will go ahead.
A large crowd usually gathers at Windsor Castle to see the procession of the Knights of the Garter on the Monday of Ascot week. Palace officials and the Army will decide next month whether Trooping the Colour can go ahead in June.