When things go wrong
I have
had it at last. I did not think that it would ever happen to me. After all this
time I thought I was immune. It is of course, what we have been dreading. But it
did not seem a big thing at first.
I had
a bit of a cold or so I thought, but I took the test kit out all the same. I
have done this so many times over the last few years it was hardly a big event.
‘Place
four drops onto the specimen well (S) on the test cassette.’ I had hardly any
need to read the instructions I knew them so well. But then the unthinkable
happened, two lines appeared.
“I
think I have Covid,’ I said flatly. Too quietly as it turned out because Mr T
went through to the lounge and switched on the TV with a box of chocolates on
his lap.
I
suppose we were in shock and could not take it in. Of course, Mr T tested
positive in a few days and here we have been. I rang 119 but it seemed to have
closed for the evening then I tried 111.
‘If
you are calling from England, please press 1…’ Here we go again pressing
numbers and not getting anywhere. But I was wrong I did get a person who took
me through a questionnaire and I had some help.
Then
another thing went wrong (doesn’t it always?) we had a notice to say that we
must not use our tap water. There was a delivery of bottled water to our
doorstep. We even had to wash our dishes in bottled water and that had to be
heated first. How on earth did my parents manage? I can remember the green
wooden pump in our yard which brought water for drinking. Our cold tap in the
wash house used rainwater which was for clothes and washing up. I suppose we
take our facilities for granted these days.
Here,
the bottled water kept on coming even in the night. Once I came across a man
with a head torch delivering packs of water in the dark. It was all very
disconcerting but there was one reassuring noise of normality. Suddenly here
was the owl which I heard hooting from our ash tree.
The seasonal rhythm of the garden goes on regardless.
And of
course, eventually our water returned safely and we had a message that all was
now well. I am left reflecting on our luck that when the service was cut, we
had back up supplies delivered which is more than can be said in some parts of
the world.
(Taken from my column in the Shropshire Star)
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