of minor and medium misfortunes

Oh boy, another one of those weeks. Nothing major, just a string of minor and medium misfortunes. 

It started with Alistair feeling a bit poorly on Tuesday night, sore throat and headache. We kept him of school on Wednesday. As the day progressed, he developed a high fever and there was no other option than to arrange for a Covid-19 test and start self-isolation. After schools returned here in Scotland, testing went up dramatically. It is of course no surprise that children get sick when they return back to school and mingle. It happens every year but this year is a little different. A child with a cold is immediately looked at with suspicion and I imagine the stigma of being the index case of a cluster of Covid-19 cases is not to be underestimated. What I am trying to say is that testing centres were completely overwhelmed. Of course this was entirely predictable and measures to increase capacity should have been in place.

It was a bit of a palaver. At first, we were offered a test in Stirling, some 25 miles from home. By the time we had finished wondering why we couldn't use the local testing centre, all appointments there were gone and we were offered one in Dunoon. Now, as the crow flies this is not so far away but it is on the Cowal peninsula and  to get there, there is the choice of the land route, some 70 miles or a shorter drive and a ferry trip. Neither seemed appealing but with no other option, Richard took Alistair to Dunoon. The drive through test centre was closed. I am not even joking. Along the way, he needed petrol, had to buy a ferry ticket (£45) and then needed to find out why appointments were arranged for a closed drive through test centre. Self-isolation flies out of the (car) window under those circumstances.  A no doubt tedious phone call later, he was given a new appointment at Glasgow International Airport, which is not actually in Glasgow but in Prestwick, some 35 miles from home (our local international airport goes by the name Glasgow Airport). Essentially, Richard and Alistair spent most of Thursday in the car. But we mustn't complain, we heard of someone who has been given an appointment in Belfast, which of course on the map is not all that distant (relatively speaking) but there is the small matter of the Irish Sea to consider. I wonder if a map stuck to the desk in the call centre work stations might be useful?

I felt a bit useless because I sat at home working and waiting for updates. I also felt the sudden urge of going for a wander around the neighbourhood and even shopping, which of course was out of the question as we all had to self-isolate. Sam had to cancel his work shifts because he was visiting.

While Richard was driving around the West of Scotland, torrential rains flooded our road. The water rushed into the gardens of the row of houses below us (we are on a hill), quite possibly into the houses but I don't know. Such a shame. I noticed some neighbours trying to unblock to drains and I saw one woman carrying buckets of water from her garden up to the flooded road, emptying it there. Cleary she had not thought this through. Of course with that much water all was entirely futile but luckily, once the rains stopped, the water cleared soon enough. I hope there was not too much damage. I didn't go out to help because we couldn't leave the house not because I am a terrible neighbour. 

On Friday I had a really long (3 hours) and really uncomfortable student conduct meeting over Zoom. I felt unsettled for the rest of the day, hoping that our conclusions and decisions regarding penalties were appropriate under the circumstances. I hope the next case will be less stressful (although it is of course always stressful to an extent because there is a lot at stakes). Alistair was still poorly and also developed a hacking cough but at least the fever had broken. 

Self isolation meant an online grocery shop. The shopping was left in our porch and as luck has it, a large part was missing. A quick called reassured us that the driver would be back with the rest but this didn't happen and we had to place another order, to be delivered on Sunday. Of course there was no risk of starvation, it was just a nuisance. 

Richard and I had to cancel a first dinner date with friends. We were looking forward to this but it can be rescheduled.

Finally, I broke Richard's favourite mug. He isn't not the kind of person who gets attached to such things but for some reason, he really loved that mug. We got it a few years ago as a thank you for looking after our friend's cats. I ordered him a new one from the pottery where the broken one was made. Each mug is hand painted and I hope the replacement comes close to the cherished broken one. With a bit of luck it will be here for his birthday. 

On Saturday we were all quite anxious to get results, one way or other. We tried not to get on each others nerves too much but although our house is big, it seemed difficult to avoid one another. The normal turnaround times for testing from drive through centres is 24 hours but with such high demand, it took almost exactly 50 hours. I am sure you are as pleased as we were to learn that the test was negative. 

Sunday felt so much better. I went for a run and then a blackberry scouting walk. I was listening to a new book (Moonflower Murder by Anthony Horowitz) and I knitted the first sleeve of my Love Note jumper. I watched This Farming Live on the BBC iPlayer and I sat on the sofa as night was drawing in and watched bats flying past the window. Sam went to work and then back to his flat. Richard took his brand new bike for a spin. James went outside to play. Annie was baking and studying and Alistair was playing on the computer. He is still coughing like a chainsmoker but he has been fever free since Friday afternoon and is cleared to go back to school. We are keeping him off because he is still coughing like a chainsmoker. I am quite worried about his social integration, having missed so many days during this first crucial period at a new school can't be good. 

As of today, the kids will need to wear masks now at school when they are moving around the building and maybe there will be less germ swapping. Fingers crossed.

So in summary, all is well now. I am looking forward to an entirely boring and normal week. Thank you for visiting xx