After a break from the ExCeL last weekend, it was good to return to find the centre a bit busier now that vaccinations have opened up to the over 40 age group.

Also interesting for this shift was the opportunity to share the centre with people involved in counting the votes for the recent local and London Mayor elections, identifiable by their party rosettes or security issued wrist bands. The ExCeL is massive, so there is no problem with the space available – the vote counting and observing happening in a completely different part of the building, with the Barts NHS volunteers still out in force to try to keep everyone socially distanced, sticking to the one way system and reminding folks to use face masks.

Graham was first stationed at the car park entrance, whilst Rosa was given the ‘top of stairs’ post and a slightly ominous heads up that this particular position was proving challenging today... Meanwhile I was sent to the main entrance, where I found myself supported by no less than three security guards and two police officers. Over the course of the shift, it transpired that ability of the various people involved with the count to follow the one way system correlated with their party political views on the reality or otherwise of the Covid-19 pandemic. A number of the volunteers were able to establish that Piers Corbyn and his entire entourage are exempt from wearing face masks, what are the chances!

Anyway, we saw a nice cat on the way home, look forward to another shift next week.