Friday – Mainly sunny and cold. I went out twice – once to post Dot’s sympathy card to Anne and later to take the football tickets to Naomi. I didn’t feel too bad doing that but I do seem to have taken on Dot’s cough, though in a rather less virulent form  – I hope. Ellie brought us round some Vitamin C and iodine, which apparently kills germs and viruses.

I finished writing my sermon, and had to cope with the house alarm, which kept going off despite not being set. Eventually Wilf came at about 5pm and seems to have fixed it. He says there was a loose connection. Jonathan gave me a Daily Mail for some reason, and Des got us fish and chips. Everyone is very kind.  Steven rang, concerned about his aunt, who is dying. (She later died.) David FaceTimed us around lunchtime to see how we were. 

Saturday – Cold but dry. Felt lousy. We both stayed in bed most of the day: listened to football: Norwich losing 1-0 till 90th minute. Then sub Forson scored twice. Wild scenes. I got up to cook pies for supper , which we ate while watching documentary on Vera. Arranged for Liz C to read my sermon tomorrow. Dot rang up Ray, who is quite ill with stomach problems. Had bath and went to bed. Chest very tight. Not feeling good. 

Sunday and Monday – Not much improvement. Apparently only 11 at church and only two in music group – Matt and Phil. We missed the taking down of decorations and Neville and Mary’s drinks gathering. Dot still has quite a bad cough, and we both feel that we’re carrying a huge weight. Struggle to do anything really, and not sure if taking iodine is a good idea. Mark and Sarah kindly bought us some soup and a ready meal (very nice) on Monday. We watched a fair bit of TV.

Last night I couldn’t sleep till about 4am. Felt lousy when I woke up, but improved after going to loo – bit of a stomach upset. Grim weather on Sunday, but Monday was cold and sunny. Lots of snow and flooding elsewhere in the UK. Happily Oliver’s flight back home went OK – as far as I know. He is now at home in Walthamstow, and Amy has returned to Southampton. 

Tuesday – Sunny, dry and cold. Feel we may have turned a corner after a bad night (for me). Very strange semi-dream involving cubes of textiles and half-remembered places. Dot and I got up latish morning and cleared up the house – I did the kitchen and Dot did the decorations, then I put the stuff Dot had gathered together into the loft. Put the bins out. I had a bath, shaved and did my nails, then went to sleep. Felt fragile after that, but we had venison grillette sandwich, and I began to feel better. Watched a double episode of Silent Witness, which was excellent, and by bedtime I thought I was making progress. 

Wednesday – Sunny, dry and cold. Dot seemed quite a bit better, though there was plenty of stuff floating round her head and chest, as there was round mine (try not to picture it). Late up again. I came down to say a brief hello to Bridget, who came to clean. I had already brought the bins in and moved the car for her. While she was here I didn’t feel at all good (we stayed in the living room to keep out of her way). After she’d gone I felt even worse and went up to lie on bed: Dot came up to pray for me. She left me for half an hour – I dozed and then suddenly felt better (lighter).

Came down for chicken soup and fruit, and we watched Paddington 2 again. Brilliant film – lifted us both.  Then watched Songs of Praise, which ended with two inspiring songs, one of which was new to me. Also saw good little documentary on Culross, a village in Fife. Dot missed orchestra rehearsal of course, but Janet kindly came round to deliver her folder of new music. New venue – Sewell Centre – seemed good. Graham in bed with cold and cough, and Debbie panicking about the DCC. I just want to go to sleep.