A busy end to the week...

I had an early start this morning and was up at 6.30am, taking a test, as usual. It was negative, as I expected it to be, and I do wonder how Keith and I managed to avoid getting Covid. Was it because we'd had the flu jab as some people are suggesting? Or are our immune systems very healthy? It's a mystery, as Sophie, earlier in the week, was sneezing everywhere, so the germs must have been literally flying about!

A box of tests had arrived so I took three into work to give Sara back the ones she had lent me. When I arrived, Sheila told me that one of the leisure centre staff, who had spent a lot of time in our office yesterday, had tested positive. I remember her saying she had a cold, and alarm bells rang then! I gave Sheila a test to use as she had been sitting very near her but thankfully it was negative!

Work was very busy today and Kathy was still off. Denise came in at 1pm which meant that Sara and Sheila could come off the phones, lucky things, and get on with their own work. Sheila gave me lots to do when I'm in doing admin next week - all the playscheme places to put onto the system, as well as the swimming crash courses, so that will keep me very busy! As yet, there aren't any more films to put on, which is a bit worrying. I send the MD the average attendance every month, and in December it was just 24 seats filled out of 150. Is it worth it at the moment?

It was bliss to escape at 4pm and head home for Wine Night. Keith had been to the doctor today about his tummy problems, and all looked to be OK, which was a relief. The GP was trying to arrange a scan, but at the moment, with the NHS stretched to capacity, that may take some time.

Sophie has to take a lateral flow test tomorrow and one on Sunday, and if they're negative, she can go back to work on Monday. Over the last couple of days, she has been much better with no sneezing or dry throat at all, so she's keeping everything crossed that she'll be fine!

Keith didn't go to the pub, and we sat and played cards before ordering dinner. Yesterday I had made a right idiot of myself by ordering fish and chips from a place in Broughton by mistake... I had seen someone on Facebook recommend them, and had done some investigating at how easy it was to order online, and had inadvertently ordered a meal for all of us! The poor delivery man had turned up just as we were about to eat dinner and I was mortified! Keith had gone over today to try and pay them, but they said not to worry, so we ordered tonight. The fish and chips were delicious, and lovely and hot! We'll definitely use them again, and how lovely that they deliver!

We couldn't help watching two more episodes of The Tourist after dinner. We're all enjoying it and couldn't wait for it to be shown every week, so we're bingeing on BBC iPlayer!

Called into work...

I was just sitting relaxing with a coffee and watching Escape to the Country this morning when my phone rang. It was Sheila asking if I could go into work and cover Kathy's shift, as she had to go and sort out a problem with her aunt. I owed work a shift so I could hardly say no, and the alternative was doing housework, so I took a test, had a shower and prepared to go into work.

I arrived just after 10am, and I was as busy today as I was quiet on Tuesday. Sara wasn't in so I tackled some of the 88 customer service emails, sorted out a load of cinema invoices that had been authorised in my absence and answered many, many phone calls. I was working with Denise and Sue so it was a very pleasant shift!

At 4pm I sped home and sat with Sophie for the last half hour of her working day. Keith and I played cards at the island while Sophie cooked dinner this evening - chicken enchiladas which were delicious.

After we'd eaten Sophie and I watched the end of Pride and Prejudice and even Keith enjoyed it, I think!

Nasty man!

It was great to have a lie-in this morning as Sophie couldn't go to the gym (well, she can't go anywhere at the moment!). I took a test first thing and it was negative again, so that was a huge relief as I thought that by now Keith and I would have been showing symptoms.

Sophie hadn't been able to get a laptop to work on so I offered to go down to Brackmills to fetch one for her, otherwise she would have had to take today as a holiday. I drove down in gorgeous sunlight and collected it from one of the staff who backed away from me like I had the lurgy... well, I suppose I still could have but I was wearing a mask and made sure I kept my distance!

Back home, I caught up with a lot of little jobs that needed doing and sat with Sophie while she worked at the kitchen island. It was just like old times when we were in lockdown!

We were expecting the heating engineers today and they arrived just as I was making lunch - typical! That's a tip... if you want someone to arrive, start cooking or preparing food! Sophie and I moved into the conservatory when one of them came down to the kitchen to give the boiler a service. I took an instant dislike to him as he quizzed me, in a very condescending tone, about how long it had been since it had been serviced and why the carbon monoxide alarm was in the hallway as it was "no use" being there! He also said that the screws weren't fastened properly on the outer casing, as if I had deliberately sabotaged it! 

The other man was upstairs fiddling about with all the pipes and things in the airing cupboard and I think they both had great difficulty in getting the boiler going again when Mr Nasty had finished servicing it. Ha! Serves him right! They left the kitchen in a bit of a mess and charged us another £500 for the privilege. That's over £1000 we've now spent on the central heating, but when you consider it hasn't given us any trouble in 21 years, I suppose that isn't bad! Let's hope that's the end of it now!

After they'd gone, Keith and I drove over to Mawsley to pick up the lateral flow tests Sophie had ordered. I made sure I kept well away from everyone and bought Sophie a nasal spray for her nose. She is really only suffering from a blocked nose and a dry throat and still has her sense of taste and smell, which is good.

When we arrived back home I went and had a bath. The weather has definitely become colder now, which shouldn't be a surprise. It is winter after all!

After dinner this evening, Sophie and I went upstairs and watched Pride and Prejudice starring Kiera Knightley and Matthew McFadyen. We both loved the film and have decided to try and visit some of the houses used on the set!

One of us succumbs...

I was at work at 8am this morning, and as Keith and Sophie had nowhere to be and were still asleep, I was up on my own. I took a test at 6.30am, and again, it was negative, which was another relief. It's like living on a knife-edge all the time!

The drive into work was horrible. It was dark and raining (and sleeting as well) and the temperature was just 4c, so a bit of a shock to the system! The traffic was much heavier, as most people have returned to work today.

I had very little to do in the two hours set aside for admin work. Sara and I chatted about New Year and I thanked her for helping me out on Sunday. At 10am, Jo, Louiza and Denise came into work, and at first, the phones were very busy, but then it quietened down a bit, so the time did drag! I wished I was at home with Sophie, who had received the result of her PCR test - she was positive. 

Although we'd been expecting it, the news was still a shock. She received lots of information from the NHS about what she needed to do, and they asked where she'd been from the 26th to the 30th December, which was unexpected. Had she caught the virus in Birmingham or London as we'd thought or had she come into contact with someone before that? During that week, we'd been shopping in various places, and out for lunch at Pizza Express, so we were baffled. I texted Mike in the evening to let him know as he had been at home during that time frame. 

Sophie and Keith had been very busy today, though, and had taken all the Christmas decorations down and cleaned the living room and conservatory. Sophie had even managed a workout in her bedroom, so apart from a sniffly nose, she was still feeling fine!

After another delicious supper of chicken in a white wine sauce and dumplings, we settled down to watch The Tourist, which we'd recorded over the last few nights. I have to say we really enjoyed it and might binge-watch it on BBC iplayer!

Testing times!

I didn't have to be at work until 9am today, and I took a test as soon as I got up. It was negative, which was a big relief! 

Kathy and I were working together today and there was just the two of us in the office. The centre itself was quiet and one of the reception staff told me that a couple of people had phoned in sick with Covid. It's literally everywhere at the moment!

The phones were busy today with people booking swimming sessions, so the shift passed quickly. Sophie had texted me to say that she'd been to Mawsley to pick up the lateral flow tests she'd ordered but they were closed. Even Brixworth pharmacy was closed. I hate to say it, but wouldn't it have been a good idea for these places to be open today to help people with getting tested? I know it's a Bank Holiday, but we're experiencing huge infection rates and people need to know if they have the damn virus!

She had received her PCR test, and she had taken it and posted it back in the priority postbox at Mawsley. Let's just hope it doesn't take as long as our holiday tests to be delivered!

Sophie still felt stuffed up, but other than that she felt fine. Keith was also OK, despite spending most of the day with his daughter! They had opened windows, though and tried to keep their distance!

Dinner tonight was a very spicy chilli with jacket potatoes and salad. Delicious and perfect as the weather is turning colder!

Plans thwarted...

Sophie woke this morning with a cold and a sore throat, which was not a good sign. We were due to leave to go to the Rugby at 12pm so I made her take a test, just in case... it was a good job I did as she tested positive... Can you imagine if she hadn't?

At first, there wasn't a line, but as the minutes ticked away, one appeared. She was very upset indeed, but I said it was bound to happen sooner or later, and any one of us could have picked up the virus anywhere - the pub, work, going shopping, last night when we went out, the list goes on. We're having to try and live our lives now alongside this virus, and all of us have been double vaccinated and boosted.

Keith and I did a lateral flow test straight afterwards and both our results were negative. We're now just having to wait and see if we develop any symptoms. Sophie ordered a PCR test to be delivered and they estimated it would arrive within the next few days.

I tried to get in touch with Anthony to let him know we weren't able to make the Rugby today, and then I drove over to Tesco at Kettering to see if I could get some lateral flow tests as we were now out of them completely. I'd ordered some on Friday, but with the Bank Holidays, they might not get to us before Tuesday.

Unfortunately, Tesco had no tests at all, and after quickly buying something for my and Sophie's dinner this evening, I went to another couple of pharmacies in Kettering but had no luck. Back home I called my manager, Sara, and explained the situation. She had some she could lend me so I drove over to her house in Rushden and collected three, making sure to keep my distance and wear a mask. At least now I can take a test before I go to work tomorrow.

Sophie had the classic symptoms of a cold - stuffy nose, slight sore throat and bouts of sneezing. She kept away from us for the rest of the afternoon, but when was she infectious? Today? Or yesterday? We hadn't got a clue!

With the extra time, I managed to put a colour on my hair, which was great as I had started to resemble a badger! The weather today has been gloomy and dull but it's due to get colder next week, with even a chance of snow in some areas.

Although we had expected it sooner or later, it was a shock to think the virus was now in our house. My worry is Keith getting it as he does suffer from coughing in the winter and any cold he has goes straight onto his chest. We'll just have to keep our fingers crossed!

Hello 2022!

After our late night (well, for us anyway!), it was a late start to 2022. After a couple of coffees, I cleaned out the fridge and threw away some old food lurking in there. It was much better to see what we had rather than a jumble of food!

I then gave the kitchen a thorough clean, and hoovered the house, but will leave a deep clean of the living room and conservatory until Wednesday, when we take the decorations down. As it was so mild, I also opened all the windows and let some fresh air in. Lovely!

Sophie was arriving at 3pm, and before we picked her up, we went to scout out somewhere where Keith could drop me and Sophie off at the Rugby on Sunday. Keith has decided he can't go, and he phoned Anthony on Friday to ask if Sophie could go in his place. 

Sophie arrived and had had a great time in Birmingham and London. She said that Zain had a bad cold which dampened their festivities a little bit, and as soon as she got home she did a lateral flow test, which was negative thank goodness. I am resigned to getting Covid at some point, as it's spreading so quickly, but we'll keep on taking tests two or three times a week to check!

We were looking forward to going out in the evening to The Saracen's Head at Little Brington - a meal out on New Year's Day is one tradition we like to keep! The drive over was dark and the roads were quiet. We noticed that The Althorp Coaching Inn was still closed, which is a real shame. I wonder if it will ever re-open?

The pub was busy with people drinking, but very few dining. We were seated in the quiet dining room and enjoyed big juicy prawns served with chorizo in a spicy sauce to start. Sophie and I shared a bottle of Chardonnay which went well with the sea bass we both ordered. The fish was served on a bed of gnocchi with pancetta, and the gnocchi defeated me! They reminded me of the potato dumplings we have had in Berlin!

I made room for a couple of scoops of ice cream but Keith and Sophie tucked away a chocolate brownie and apple crumble apiece! Phew! It was only 8.30pm when we finished and we were the only ones left eating. We waddled back to the car and made the dark journey back home. 

It was then heaven to don our nightwear and collapse on the sofa with BBC 4 and a music programme before bed!