The Daily Echo: Day 211

We are COVID-free. How about that? I am relieved that John’s illness is not that, although we are still wondering what’s going on.

The doctors have been round and prodded and poked; stroked their chins and chatted amongst themselves. They’ve sent nurses along to take his temperature, oxygen levels, blood pressure, blood samples and swabs from various areas of John’s body (don’t ask). They’ve trundled him along to the X-ray department for a CT scan and dosed him up with antibiotics and nebulisers. They’ve built plastic barriers between the patients, and fed and watered him all day.

So they are researching and checking and monitoring. We await the results. Maybe tomorrow?

He says he doesn’t feel too bad unless he has to get up and walk about, and then he’s very puffed out still. But he’s entertained himself with the TV and chatting to me – although I haven’t been great company. Not feeling awfully motivated, I haven’t done a great deal today, so there hasn’t been much to talk about.

He tells me that it’s not particularly pleasant in the ward with other patients vomiting or soiling themselves there. Poor John. Must be horrible for him. He’s amazingly stoical though, and philosophical about the wait for results, or a cup of tea, or his dinner, or the fact that he was looking forward to his lunch only to be told, fifteen minutes beforehand, that he’d be ‘nil by mouth’ because they’re going to take him for a scan. Bless him.

I am still feeling a bit daft. Can’t decide if it’s fatigue or a bit of shock or anxiety – or a bit of all three. However, now that I know I don’t have to self-isolate any more, I shall go for a walk tomorrow if the weather permits. I would quite like to get out of my own head.

I must confess though, that it was rather lovely to wake up this morning very naturally at half past eight, knowing that I didn’t have to rush around. I am hoping that another good night’s sleep will ensure I am fully refreshed and not quite so ditsy tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

John has a bedside landline at the hospital which he uses to phone me, as it’s free. However, we have one of the call-minders here at home, so if an unusual number phones you have to press ‘1’ to talk to the person on the other end. I first picked up John’s call in the bedroom and programmed the phone to accept the call in the future. What I hadn’t realised is that you have to do that on every hand set. So, when he phoned me this afternoon and I was in the lounge, I had to go through the whole rigmarole again. Then had a bit of a kerfuffle later on when I’d left the phone down the back of the sofa, couldn’t get to it in time and tried to answer on yet another handset. Eeeeh…… first world problems, eh?

Talking of phones, I spent a goodly while on the phone to HSBC this afternoon. Having browsed the Lakeland catalogue the other day I thought I’d order some stuff for Christmas. The total expenditure ran into three figures so, when I tried to pay, the ‘puter said ‘NO’. Tried again, and the ‘puter still said ‘NO’. My phone beeped. It was a text message which I ignored. I was far too busy trying to pay. It beeped again. Ignored. Let’s try one last time…. more beeping. Oh, it was HSBC trying to tell me that they’d detected possible fraud. Someone was trying to buy stuff from Lakeland!! Ah……

A lot of faffing about with the automated system at HSBC. What’s your sort code? Account number? Date of birth? Inside leg measurement? Dad’s father’s mother’s maiden name? Colour of your eyes? “And the third digit of your telephone banking number.” I don’t ruddy know!!! Heavens above!! Put me through to a real human being, purlease.

Michael and Danielle arrived safely in Devon and sent some photos of the caravan they are staying in. It looks lush. Do hope they have a lovely time and the weather is kind. Not jealous at all. Much rather be at home.

Still, I have been ordering books, so have got plenty to choose from to read over the next few weeks, which I am really looing forward to. A great eclectic mix of stuff so they should keep me on my toes. If only I could locate some grey cells. They are very elusive at the moment. I’ll look for them tomorrow.

In the meantime, horror stories all around the country, I believe, with lockdowns slamming into place in some areas and more threatened. People’s opinions are divided about the best way forward on managing the pandemic in this country, but mostly, I note, not the scientists. They are pretty much united. If only we could listen and ‘follow the science’.

13,972 people have been confirmed as infected with the virus today and there have been 50 deaths in the community. The NHS figures haven’t been updated today as far as I can see, with yesterday’s report detailing 36 deaths in hospitals. A little confusing – perhaps it was the weekend wot did it?

Locally, there are now 10 cases of COVID in the village. So, although I don’t have to self-isolate any more, I think we have to be even more careful than we were, if that’s possible. *Leafs through the selection of books*. Which one shall I start reading to avoid going out, then?

Take care everyone, God bless.