2022 and all that

It’s been a busy day today: lots of dog-walking, translating, taking delivery of the Sainsbury’s shop and regular updates on Dad.

I was in contact with Dad more than usual because one of the carers decided that Dad “wasn’t himself” today. Richard is a new carer who’s obviously a bit over-anxious. I haven’t been unduly concerned for a few days now because Dad has actually been steadily improving.

Anyway, the carer made Dad call the GP and an on-call doctor arrived to give him a good check-up. This is what we could have really done with a few days ago, but the GP wouldn’t act on a phone call from me.

The upshot is that Dad’s absolutely fine and now we know his temperature, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and blood sugar levels are normal too. He was given some antibiotics to try and clear the last lingering traces of his cough, though they probably won’t be much help.

I have taken delivery of a big stash of PPE from the village support group in preparation for going into Dad’s house next weekend.

Love this picture by Banksy.

Birthday over, my main concern now is to finish a big job due for delivery so I can concentrate on Mum’s funeral.

When it might be safe for Dad to come out of isolation and back to mere lockdown is also exercising my mind a lot.

Eventually I or someone else will have to come into contact with Dad, not least to take him to Mum’s funeral. I’ll have to go into his house to start sorting through Mum’s things. But when?

Opinions vary wildly about when people are no longer contagious after having covid-19. The seven days recommended on the UK Government website seems over-optimistic. There are reports of people being contagious for much longer and even having a recurrence of the infection.

I liked this timeline on theconversation.com. It recommends that people should leave isolation when they’ve been symptom-free (particularly fever-free) for three days: much more tailored to the individual than a one-size fits all approach. I’m not sure about the cough. I’m prepared to accept that it might linger on long after Dad’s no longer infectious.

Not very hopefully, I looked on the Government website to see if home tests were available. Amazingly enough, things have changed and I managed to order one for Dad. To be successful, the tests have to be administered within 5 days of first developing symptoms. Dad will have had symptoms for 12 days by the time the test arrives, so I’m almost sure it will be negative, but at least it will show he’s no longer shedding the virus.

Time, lack of symptoms and a negative test result will go a long way to reassuring me. Another precaution will be for Dad and me to wear masks and keep our distance.

I’m sure that when the moment comes, it will still feel like playing Russian roulette! Not least because other potential vectors of transmission – the care workers – are also going into the house.

Am comforted only by the fact that this nightmare tightrope walk or Poker game is taking place in thousands of other homes throughout the world. I’m not alone.

Started the day with a stream of birthday greetings. Even the Mayor of Capena messaged me to say buon compleanno! Dan and Alex phoned from Australia and we ogled each others’ Lagottos on FaceTime.

Met Maggie for a coffee at Dethick church. Dad phoned to wish me happy birthday and then went on to say he had a slight problem. “What?”, I said with trepidation. “The bulb’s gone in the fridge, you’ll have to sort it out”. Phew. And breathe….He really sounds much better now and is hardly coughing at all.

Walked a bit further than usual as it’s such a beautiful day. The dogs were exhausted and thirsty by the time we got back.

Met quite a few other people out and about, enjoying the sunshine.