The Daily Echo: Day 216

A very relaxed start to the day with a very long lie-in to read my book. There was no getting me out of bed this morning – even John was up before me. This must mean that he is feeling a bit better. He has certainly seemed a bit brighter and less out of breath today when he’s moving about.

Once I was up, I got myself into a bit of a tizz with my brain unable to concentrate on anything for more than five minutes at a time. I ended up with about four jobs on the go, all at the same time, and I had have a strong word with myself to buckle down to at least one of them.

I was getting the washing out of the machine but only did half the job; then I was changing a plug on a heater, and left that half-done; as well as those two things, I was disembowelling the great big box of loo rolls that had arrived from ‘Who Gives a Crap?’ this morning, to put up onto the shelf; and equally, I was looking at bulb replacements for the ceiling lights in the kitchen – all while getting my breakfast ready and baking some pains aux raisins. Honestly, I have no idea what was going on in my head!! How on earth did I think I could do all those things at once? Not a clue. Probably addled from too much book-reading.

However, once I’d had a stern word, I pulled myself together and tackled each job one at a time. I got all of them done, bar the bulb exchanges, which will now wait until tomorrow.

John was enjoying watching a bit of rugby on TV. That’s a relief that rugby is back but he’s wondering what will happen to the Wasps match next week, with half the team down with COVID. He suspects they won’t be able to play, and have to stand aside for the next-best team, Bristol, to play in the Premiership Final. How very disappointing that will be.

While John enjoyed his rugby, I thought I’d better get over to Mum’s this afternoon to take her washing and some loo rolls, so mid-afternoon, I set off. I had a lovely walk there, carrying my bag, which I thought felt quite light. Of course, once I got there, I realised that I hadn’t got her washing. I’d just got the repaired heater and the loo rolls. Definitely away with the fairies today.

As it turned out, she needed some bread, so I wandered back home again and popped into the Co-op to buy one or two bits and pieces, picked up the car and went back again. I arrived just as the carer was there making Mum’s sandwiches for tea. Mum was grumbling that the bread wasn’t right. Very patiently, the carer smiled and said, “Don’t worry, we’ll change it now that Anne has brought a fresh loaf.” I apologised, but the carer was very kind, saying “We just want them to eat properly, don’t we?” I didn’t really have an answer to that, as I thought Mum was just being picky……. naughty me.

When I had first arrived at Mum’s she said she wasn’t feeling well and, it has to be said, she didn’t look her perky self. She has been claiming a painful back this week, which is an intermittent complaint every so often. I dosed her up with paracetamol and a cup of tea which seemed to do the trick and she wasn’t so bad when I left. Fingers crossed I don’t get a phone call in the middle of the night though….

It was ‘Strictly’ this evening, which I was seriously looking forward to, but which John was dreading. He very tactfully took himself off to fiddle about on the computer while it was on, and I settled back a bit more comfortably in my chair to enjoy the evening.

However, I didn’t really enjoy it all that much. There was a forced cheerfulness about it and the never-ending references to ‘socially-distanced’ and ‘within the current rules’, while the presenters looked earnestly into the camera, grated on me. I am hoping that, when they get to actually dancing, next week it will improve and be more relaxed. Otherwise, if they continue in this vein, I ain’t watching it. I really don’t want to be reminded of our semi-lockdown situation and the rules every five minutes in an entertainment programme. As you may be able to infer, I am wearing the Mrs Grumpy Gripey outfit today – hope to pick out a more cheerful outfit tomorrow.

In the meantime, I note that 16,171 people have succumbed to the virus today and 150 have died from it in the community. 55 people have died on 15 & 16 October in hospitals and hospital admissions are increasing fast – nearly a thousand admitted today. Locally, there have been 15 cases in the last seven days – only seven other wards are higher (out of the 28 in total) within the Solihull area, and the growth rate is high at 1.8. Crumbs.

And that was our Saturday, folks. Better than some, but not as good as others.

Take care everyone. God bless.