Well it’s happened. A second lockdown. If Parliament agrees, from Thursday. Except it’s not a proper lockdown. Because schools, colleges and universities will remain open. So parents will be continuing to take the children to school and mixing and mingling and forgetting that social distance might help us all in this bugger's muddle we're living in. And we’ve already seen how it’s spreading amongst students. I’m not meaning to be overly critical. I’m sure I’ve said it before but regardless of any political affiliation any party would struggle to manage this situation, it’s horrendous. Unless of course you live in New Zealand and you have Jacinda Arden as your leader. You’re in with a chance then. But we don’t, we haven’t, and we’re not. It’s a balancing act like no other. The main reason for this lockdown is once again to reduce the pressure on hospitals and the NHS. I wonder if we'll start clapping for them again?
It won’t affect me that much. My sister won’t be able to visit, in fact she hasn’t for weeks now because she’s been in Tier 2, living in London and it’s too cold and frequently wet to be outside. I have occasionally seen my friend. In fact we had an enjoyable hour at a local nursery. It was the furthest I’ve been from my home since February! I had this weird sense that everything must’ve changed in those months. But of course it hasn’t. Looking from the safety of the back seat of a car life seem to be chugging along as it always did. Which is actually quite worrying isn’t it, if you’re in the middle of a pandemic? Where was the social distancing? Where were the facemasks?
The people who are going to comply with the guidance and restrictions are the people who have always complied. The people who won’t comply with the guidance and restrictions are those with never complied. Nothing really changes. Pubs, restaurants, bars, non-essential shops, cinemas, gyms, hairdressers et cetera will close for a month. The people that patronised them will find other means I’m sure.
It’s continuing to be a very difficult and challenging time. My dear uncle died last week. He was 89 , in a care home with dementia and my cousin advised that he was deteriorating. My other cousin had the unenviable task of travelling from Barnet to Ashford to tell his twin sister the news. Now she is the last of my father's siblings. It's hard. They've been there my whole life and I spent some wonderful holidays staying down in Kent and being with them. My uncle reminded me of my Dad. He was a thoroughly decent man. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. I don't think he was capable of a negative thought. I was very fond of him. And my dear friend lost her niece. The whole family are in shock. She was only 62. Her parents in their 80s and 90's are distraught. Neither of them expected to outlive their daughter.
I’m still struggling with poor health. After seven telephone consultations I finally had a face-to-face consultation and examination with the doctor. To give her due, she was very thorough. But I’m still no clearer to knowing what’s wrong with me. I’m waiting for one more test to come back to see if that throws any light on it. The tonsillitis was never tonsillitis. I apparently have an ulcer on my tonsil. It should go away on its own. But if it’s still there in six weeks time it may need to be investigated. If I’d had a face-to-face examination right back in August I’d have known exactly where I was and not had to endure antibiotics which obviously weren’t needed. The peeing blood which was a suspected UTI, and for which I took two further courses of antibiotics, doesn't seem to be according to the path lab who have had two samples now. Obviously I worry that there is something seriously wrong and because of covid it won’t be possible to have the necessary treatment timeously.But I also acknowledge that anxiety is playing a big part.
The summer now seems like some kind of dream. Those early sunkissed walks, picking blackberries, chatting with other walkers. Where has that gone? I’m struggling with my walking a bit now. I managed to get as far as the Bermuda Triangle today and I’m going to keep on trying. I took a photo of a lone crow which, bleakly, seems to sum up life.
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