Not a good week for the Lenton family in general. David contracted a very nasty virus – possibly flu – and Oliver and Amy had a touch of it too, though they cast it off much more quickly. David is still full of cold and coughing, but says he feels a bit better. Meanwhile Andrew has been sectioned, though they haven’t found a bed for him yet.

Dot and I have done no better. She contracted a very similar virus to the one she had before, and was coughing so badly I insisted she went to see the nurse and got some antibiotics. I think she’s improving now, though we’re both very lifeless. In my case that’s partly because I lost some blood while trying to use my catheter, and we had to call an ambulance. I was also in quite a bit of pain. The paramedics arranged for me to see a doctor, who thought it might be kidney stones.

The pain got worse the following day, and in the end Dot rang the doctor (a different one), who thought it sounded like an infection and prescribed antibiotics. I asked about pain killers, and she wasn’t keen on anything stronger than Paracetamol, which were actually useless. After taking the first antibiotic I also took some Cocodamol, and this eased the pain enough for me to go to sleep. When I woke up late in the evening, the pain had gone.

Last night I was very uncomfortable again; so took some more Cocodamol: to be honest I was terrified that the original pain would come back. However, it hasn’t yet, though  I remain very tight round my lower abdomen.

We cancelled everything for last week, which meant Dot failed to see her team beat Nottingham Forest 5-1, and apart from going to the doctor, I only went out once – to the supermarket yesterday. I had to get someone else to do my sermon today (the vicar, actually). This morning it snowed, and the sky is leaden – which is pretty much how we’re feeling.