Covid Week

 

I lost it with the neighbour’s Charlie this morning and shouted across the gardens like a loon

“ Will you shut that fucking dog up ?” 

A pure case of transference , but it has worked for a hour or so.

I’m still symptomatic of covid, and unfortunately it’s been a rather difficult week. I’m still breathless at times even though I’ve spent what feels like hours in a hot shower and under tea towelled menthol infusions .

Nights have proved to be especially difficult .

I can only liken the sensation to be breathing through a rigid and very long tube which is hardened with secretions like amber, where coughs have not the power of the ability to make things clearer.

By rights any ordinary virus would have broken by now into its snotty stage, but my secretions remain like toffee, and I am tired all of the time as well as headachy. 

Occupational health hold me to re LFT test today and tomorrow 

Today’s positive test flashed up in seconds 

And so I’m still isolating .

Ma Manley at the Still House left me some covid tests out this morning as I had run out. 

After I had collected them Mr Poznan cheerfully popped his head in through the passenger door window to say hello and got a shriek of “ Ive got covid!!!” in return .

He’s got a terribly weak heart and looked rather grey after I had bellowed at him.,

Bless him.

This is all a bit tiresome

But I know I’m one of the lucky ones

Sainsbury’s have delivered my food and the sun is shining 

It could have been a whole lot worse.

Bum Test and Roger The Dog

 

Yesterday the new postman left a small package through the open living room window.

“ It’s Your Bum Test !”he informed me cheerfully

He was right. It was my faecal screening test all 60 year olds receive in Wales to test for colon cancer

I’m looking at the test now, as I’m eating a banana that could in fact be a dry tampon for all the taste it’s given me. 

I’ve slept the majority of the day again today and have eaten just one packet of crisps and the said banana

I still have a headache and remain wheezy and breathless but my temperature is not as high as it was yesterday. I still feel unwell , which is irritating .

I heard from Susan, Mary’s breeder today. I have always been in touch since we bought Finlay from her back in 2002 and six welsh and Scottish terriers later we continue to correspond, albeit sporadically . 

A prickly and at times incredibly straight talking woman, I have always been touched that Susan rather likes me, but like me she does 

She trusts me with her beloved dogs, that I know.

Before lockdown I contacted Susan  regarding a new Welsh terrier, seeing that Mary is well over seven now and she was sad and apologetic. The soaring prices of puppies troubled her and at that time she had no plans to breed.

I understood her sadness, the silly prices of puppies probably sickened her 

Today , when I emailed her, I was surprised by her news.

She had the perfect puppy for me , well a choice out of two of different ages and both within my realistic budget .

And in a few weeks time , when things have settled down, a “good natured and benign”  Roger will be joining the ranks at Bwthyn y Llan 

Thank Fuck For The Vaccine

I’ve eaten my words today. 

Thank goodness I didn’t get to Rome suffering from covid 

I’ve spent most of the last 48 hours in bed. 

35 degrees with a bad chest could have been lethal. 

I’m mindful of my place in the covid demographic, 

It’s sobering

It wasn’t meant to be , I’m sorry Rachel .

I got up early this morning , put broad beans, a little chilli, garlic, ginger and stock into the slow cooker and after walking the dogs went back to bed. 

And apart from toilet stops there I have stayed until 9 pm.

The soup was like eating gruel, so I gave up

Late to the party I’ve  completely lost my sense of taste and smell too.

The girls and Albert followed me around the garden as it was getting dusk and watched me carefully as I cut long blooms from the leggy Nepeta by the gate. I collected a nice bunch which  I put into a glass of water  and placed it on the fire mantle. 

That about finished me off,

Even that small exertion made me feel breathless 

And tired

Which is sobering again 

Thank fuck for the vaccine 

I feel Shit

 

Sod’s law ….

Rent Free In Your Head

 I hate it when people say something “ wasn’t meant to be” if a plan doesn’t come off 

Of course it was meant to happen.

It just didn’t .

I’m full of the first proper cold I’ve experienced in three years.and so yesterday I licked my disappointed wounds mostly in bed, with vicks rubbed on the soles of my feet and slept most of the day and all of the night. 

My sister, Janet called up this morning and completed my birthday garden makeover. She observed that my chest cold couldn’t have done well in the 35 degree heat and fumes of central Rome and she was right of course. 

I’m wheezing like a fat walrus.

I made a spicy katsu curry with salmon and coconut cream and tidied the cottage as it simmered with lashings of coriander . The neighbours commented on the lovely smell.

I couldn’t eat it when it was cooked

More lemon water for me

My friend Ruth sent me a photo of her minuscule static caravan toilet in a successful effort to lighten the mood. The toilet was so small that I had to back into it slowly like an articulated lorry backing down an ally and when one of Ruth’s Findhorn friends asked how I was coping with the rather “rustic” arrangements I kind of shocked her by describing using the loo as 

“ lowering a family sized jelly onto an eggcup”

I will leave you with that visual

Fed Up

 I’m fed up today.

I don’t feel well either, which I know is probably a part of being fed up. 

Two mini holidays ruined in just two weeks.

I’ve messaged Trendy Carol and asked if the girls can stay a bit longer and then went back to bed.

I’ve only just got up again and ate, somewhat ironically, a thin Italian style from the freezer.

I’m returning to bed shortly 

Paradise By the Dashboard Light

I’m not travelling again by plane for a while. My next trip is not until Oct! The message that our flight was cancelled was given by an unfortunate red faced airport worker flanked by two policemen at our boarding gate. 

Look on the Ryan Air App was their only advice 

I’ve not long got home.

Gorgeous Dave is a calm soul but even he was a little disappointed ( note the sad eyes) 

We sang Paradise by the dashboard light on the way home which was fun

I emailed Fabio ,on night shift at Hotel Prati  even he was disappointed 

Fat Rascal

 I wrote today’s blog early this morning but felt dissatisfied with it

This is a quick, insipid blog filler.

Four fat Rascals were delivered  today

I’ve put them in the freezer to be enjoyed on an autumn evening with a nice cup of tea

It’s hot and humid and I haven’t packed yet.

Off to Rome later