Dispatches from Plague Island (197/365)

[white_hart]

The PCR test I did as part of Oxford's surge testing for all adults was, unsurprisingly, negative, so my hayfever is indeed just hayfever, despite my paranoia.

Given the way case numbers are going, though, I'm disinclined to do anything very social any time soon. I know so many people who have been pinged to self-isolate in the last week or so (or, in the case of T's BFF who he was supposed to be having lunch with today, phoned at 7am by the person he sat next to in a work meeting yesterday), and I'm pretty sure that ten days of not being able to leave the house would be terrible for my mental health, even without getting COVID.

I suspect I probably shouldn't be spending too much time worrying about how to implement our post-COVID "new ways of working" just yet. Or getting too attached to being back in the office. (I was in for three days this week, and it was lovely. But maybe working from home will be a bit better with new glasses I can actually see with?)

I have two weeks off at the start of September. We hadn't booked anything yet, because neither of us wanted to make plans that might have to be cancelled. Given how many more people are taking UK holidays this year, this meant there was always quite a strong possibility we wouldn't be able to find anything last-minute, but it's now also looking entirely possible that we'll be back in lockdown. Oh well, I can always spend the time getting a head start on my autumn/winter wardrobe.

Comments

[hilarita]

Hooray for test being negative!
Like you, I have time off in September, but really don't think it's likely that we'll go anywhere. Well, we might go to places that can be got to by car, provided we have a working car in the bubble, and that don't involve overnight stays. And that are outdoors.

[white_hart]

I might see if I can persuade T to start going for walks again - we stopped last March and never started again, but I miss it and I'm sure it would be good for him to get outside more.

[sfred]

I'm glad your hayfever is just hayfever.

[white_hart]

Thank you - so am I!

[cmcmck]

'They' are not doing the best of jobs are they? :o/

[white_hart]

They really aren't.

[alithea]

I'm just glad that our cottage in Yorkshire is just for the two of us and Sykes's new updated cancellation policy will refund our holiday if there's travel restrictions in place again by the beginning of September.

Hopefully you'll at least be able to get out and about locally.

[white_hart]

Fingers crossed you do get to go!

[crinolinerobot]

For a few years now we'd been planning a really special trip to Seville again for our 20th wedding anniversary - it was our honeymoon destination. Instead, we've booked a week in St Ives. And now we're not even sure if we'll get that. Appalling incompetent government... I hope you're able to find somewhere to stay, and we're not locked down again.

[white_hart]

I'm sorry about your trip, and I hope you at least get to go to St Ives.

[serriadh]

I’m so furious that the government’s insistence on “freedom day” means we can’t have some probably safe mild ease in restrictions (no social distancing outdoors, for example, possibly fewer pure hygiene theatre one-way systems) but keep indoor masks and social distancing because now we’re locked into all-or-nothing.

[white_hart]

It is utterly maddening, isn't it?