Monday 12th July 2021 – A gift from Wembley
The son of a mate was lucky enough to have tickets for the European Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, and my mate looked after his dog while he was in London. His son, who lives “Up North” stayed overnight on Saturday night, to break the journey home. I visited my mate today with my two dogs, who could clearly smell that a visiting pooch had been in residence. I walked through the house to sit in his garden as my mate put the kettle. I returned briefly to the car for a dog drinking bowl. After only a few steps back into the house, I was commanded to “STOP!”, one hand held up by my mate, the other holding his phone to his ear. I only heard one side of the phone conversation, exclamations in broad Yorkshire; “BLOODY HELL! 10 DAYS? OH BLOODY HELL” His son had brought home a souvenir from Wembley – Covid, according to the lateral flow test that was mandatory for all fans who attended the match . Even if the subsequent PCR test proved negative, the result would not arrive in time for my mate to join those of us who attend a regular Tuesday night pub gathering tomorrow.
I called the dogs and made a sharp exit, but returned the following day to deliver essential supplies, left on the doorstep – a loaf of bread and a covid rapid test kit. I have not been updated with regard to any test results.
Saturday 17th July 2021 – A messy business
I was invited to take an Covid antibody monitoring test at home, and took the sample today. It was a messy process.
The test pack actually arrived yesterday. As instructed in the enclosed leaflet, I carefully unpacked the blood sampling kit and laid it out on a table, before watching an instructional video, which advised not to attempt the test unless I had consumed several pints of water during the previous day. Consequently I carefully re-packed the kit, spent the yesterday drinking water, and had to get up repeatedly last night. Suitably hydrated by today, I again unpacked the kit, and followed the video, jumping around and waving my arms to stimulate blood flow, plunging my hand in warm water, before piercing my finger with the supplied gadget, and massaging my finger in the direction of the puncture.
The blood flowed copiously. It flowed down the outside of the collection pot, it flowed over the packaging, and some of it flowed into the pot. The tiny plaster supplied was not sufficient to fully cease the flow, and a more substantial one was retrieved from our first aid kit. I cleaned the packaging to the best of my ability before sealing it into the supplied bag and posting it. I await the result.
Monday 19th July 2021 – Is this the end?
Today Covid restrictions ended, 16 months after they started. Masks need no longer be worn, no social distancing is required, we can meet and socialise where we like, and go to a pub, restaurant, theatre or cinema without restrictions. 16 months ago the restrictions were a novelty, a bit of an inconvenience that we were sure would only last a few weeks. It has been a long journey. It will take a few days for normal life to seem, well, normal.
Within a couple hours of the Freedom announcement, we popped into a moderately large local Co-op an hour before closing time. There were just six customers in the store, two, wearing masks, and a couple of staff, one of whom was masked. Having left our comfortable material masks as home, we opted to be barefaced, rather than wear the ill-fitting (and odd-smelling) surgical masks that we keep in the car. Shopping without a mask for the first time in many months felt exceedingly good, a freedom from restrictions.
Tuesday 20th July 2021 – Pub!
Tuesday evening is, as always, pub night at our local, where staff have been given the choice whether to wear masks. The barmaid didn’t, and neither did I when I went to the bar to buy a round, the only person in the bar since the rest of my party was seated outdoors – because we chose to because of the nice evening, not because we had to. I didn’t immediately summons the barmaid from the other bar, where she was chatting with other customers. I just stood, leaned the on bar, perused the beer pumps, and savoured a few moments of perfectly normal pub routine, before I was spotted and served.
Wednesday 21st July 2021 – Court case
I visited the Magistrates Court today, to apply for a Warrant. Face-to-face applications recommenced this week. Despite courts being public buildings, a sign at the door stated that the building was busy, discouraging the public from entering the building to watch a case being heard. Security officers asked all who entered to wear a mask, but the lady behind me refused, although was admitted anyway. My initial presumption that she was rebelling in protest at having to face justice proved incorrect – it transpired that she was a court interpreter. All but one of the staff and solicitors wore masks, although only half of their clients did so. Reporting to the Clerk of the Court, I discovered that I was not expected, this being a sign that things are returning to normal. The Justice System is not renowned for administrative efficiency.
For various reasons warrant applications cannot be in open (public) court. Pre-covid, I was escorted to visit the magistrates in a little room at the back, generally presenting our case as they enjoy tea and biscuits. On this occasion, after a delay of 2 hours, I was taken to present my case to a Magistrate in a deserted courtroom, just me, the Magistrate and Court Clerk. The Magistrate was seated behind a plastic screen, which we have all become familiar with in all sorts of settings. I presented my case, answered a few questions, muffled by the screens, and was granted my Warrant.
Thursday 22nd July 2021 – Dentist
A visit to my dentist, the first for almost 2 years. The visit involved, as might be expected, full Covid precautions, checking in from the street through an open window, directed to enter through the back door directly to the waiting room, but not until after a temperature check before being seated in a socially distanced waiting room. In the surgery my mask was repeatedly removed and replaced as I was examined, x-rayed, and I sat up, masked, while the dentist discussed my treatment, before I followed the one-way system to the front door to exit.
Monday 26th July – Manging our freedom
A week of freedom, a week since Freedom Day, a week without Covid restrictions, a week of seeing how well folk have taken over responsibility for themselves. It seems that anyone travelling between pre and post Freedom Day would not notice a lot of difference, just some limited relaxation of guidance in safe circumstances, which is what the Government hoped for. Of course, I have not entered the world of young folk, of clubbing and city centre bars, where the story might be different.
Yesterday I chatted to a friend who works for the NHS. Last week, in the three hospitals that make up our local NHS Trust, there were 62 Covid cases, all between 22 and 35 years old, of which 55 had not been vaccinated. This time last year there were over 500 cases.
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More vulnerability, more Covid cases, more testing, but I am proved clean
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Life in the UK changed for everyone in March 2020.