Dramatic news this morning: I have been selected to have a COVID-19 test. This is as a result of filling in a Q&A regularly on a research App and reporting feeling unwell over the last two or three days. In fact I think I had a stomach upset followed by unusually bad hay fever (unusually bad for recent years, that is), but this was enough to get me qualified for the test. They’re probably using me as a control.
I have to go to Leiston in Suffolk tomorrow morning. There are no test sites in Norfolk, of course. Why would there be? Dot insists on coming with me, though she can’t be tested as she has no symptoms.
This morning we went out in the car again (we’d been to the chemist on Friday), starting with the chemist, where Dot had to pick up her prescription, and then proceeding to B&Q on the ring road where we did click-and-collect to pick up some paint Dot had ordered. She is intending to paint the gates and possibly the wall by the bins, when it gets a bit warmer. The last three days have been pretty chilly, though today is the best of the three, as the wind has dropped. The B&Q operation was impressively straightforward, possibly because Dot was the only person doing click-and-collect. We have just walked up to the sorting office to post some cards, and it wasn’t too bad. There are markedly more people about.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday last week were warm. On the Thursday we walked up by the Cathedral and in the evening did our usual clap for the NHS with the neighbours. This was followed on Friday – after a walk up the Rosary – by a glass of wine for VE Day at 6pm. All the usual suspects came out into the street with their glasses of wine, and we met a couple from further down – Matt and Angela. The latter comes from Peterhead; so we had a little chat about Aberdeenshire. All every pleasant, but not up to the standard of Carrie’s street: she has been given a busking amp by some misguided individual, and led some singing from the green at the end. We didn’t sing, but talked quite a bit, sometimes creeping a bit too close to each other but mainly not. In the end it rained (the only time for days), and we had to break it up.
On Saturday it was very warm, and we did a long walk down by the river and beyond Carrow Road, then back along the footpath by the railway. Halfway round David FaceTimed us, and Oliver and Amy joined in, which was a nice surprise. It’s quite long walk, so I was feeling pretty tired at the end of it. Nevertheless I did some more Paston stuff.
During the night I felt a bit ill – head and stomach. I think it was something I’d eaten, and I haven’t really felt right since, because I developed this sort of hay fever which got a bit out of control. Nevertheless I had a good night last night, and I think the worst is over. Sunday was a rough day generally – wet, windy and cold. We Zoomed into the St Luke’s Service in the morning, and I led the St Augustine’s one in the afternoon. It seemed to go quite well.
The hay fever was bad yesterday, making me feel very tired, and I found it difficult to muster 4000 steps inside the house. Nevertheless, I did get there. We are now well into Season 3 of The Expanse, and in odd half-hours we’re watching a rerun of Gavin and Stacey, which is very funny. Spoke to Andrew on Sunday and Phil yesterday, as well as Dave and Julia, who seem to be surviving quite well.