Covid-19

I decided to update my Facebook profile picture today. To show people the real truth, the fact that basically I look shit at the moment, and that I have hardly seen anyone since Christmas. I thought it was time that people saw the truth, and why I had become a complete hermit before social isolation became a real thing, just less than a week ago. But there is more to a person than beautiful looks. They don't even need special gifts or talents, just kindness and an ability to accept others for who they are. Moreover, as much as I miss seeing my friends because of my illness and constant pain and fatigue, I miss my NHS doctors - the support they have given me over the years is tremendous. I now can't call on their help at the moment. I am on my own and need to use whatever resources I can to accept this situation. But in many ways, why worry? I am well supported by state welfare, for which I am tremendously grateful. I have a lovely flat and garden. I have food in the fridge. I h

So firstly a few statistics: 9640 diagnosed cases in the UK at the time of writing this blog (so number maybe higher)  465 deaths in the UK at the time of writing (so could also have changed) In spain, 4089 are dead, and they have had to use an ice-rink as a temporary burial ground.  10k ventilators made by Dyson have been ordered for UK hospitals  500 beds of 4000 should be ready for the Nightingale Hosptial, which will be in the Excel building and ready for next week.  A 'tusnami' in numbers are expected of Covid-19 patients in London.  Finally, free parking has been granted for all NHS workers, but they still do not have enough protective equipment at the time of writing.  I, myself did not have a good night last night. I slept badly and had some coughing episodes, although these have not carried on today. I have a splitting headache, and have felt very fatigued. My throat is dry and my peakflow/spirometer has dropped by half, so I am more breathless than

The day started badly with some kind of flashback dream and I woke earlier than normal, early enough to get the end of Petroc's programme on Radio 3 - usually I only make it in time for Essential Classics which starts at 9am, and rarely before 9.30am. I had breakfast and then felt hideously fatigued so went to bed. I must have slept for about 90 minutes because when I went to my phone there was a missed call from a concerned neighbour because I had not responded to our street WhatsApp group about a potential visit to the post office depot. Because by this time  I was feeling like I had a temperature and with a dry sore throat I decided to decline the kind offer just in case I was harbouring any germs, never mind Covid-19, which, by the way, Prince Charles has, although Camilla doesn't. See - it even gets the Royal Family! On Facebook one of my friends had put to use a different colour heart by way of response depending on how you were. I put an orange heart which meant I was

It sounds like a lot of people have already thought of the idea of diarising or blogging their journey of Covid-19 as all the obvious domains had gone - so I have done the best I can. Today is the first official day of real social distancing and it is earrily quiet. I received a new washing up bowl by Royal Mail  - the first post I have had in a week. I asked the postman about receiving any actual letters to which he replied, 'you'll be lucky, we are incredibly short staffed, you'll have to go to the depot', which begs the question of avoiding any unneccesary social contact and defeats the object of social distancing. Later on I saw the police - I asked them if they were there to enforce the new social isolation rules that came out last night, but they said they were just there to break up gatherings of people, not to enforce rules.....yet. We are allowed to go out for exercise - either alone, or with one family member once a day, we are allowed to go out to the p