Cycling at a distance

Yesterday my son and I went for a bike ride.  Before then, it was a trip to the shops as well as trying to get our lawn mower fixed (still not working and our grass is still growing).  There were a few times that he got too close to others in my opinion, but it was great cycling with him.  His fitness has got a lot better now he cycles to school and it was also fun to play throw and catch with him in the garden.  He has improved over the last few weeks and I think that it is better than be at this.  Which is annoying in a way because he was so bad when we started, but I am also proud of him.  I did have to tell him not to cycle so fast though as I do not want to have to take him to A&E! But we did use the time out on our bikes to deliver some supplies to some friends of ours.

And now for a version of one of my favourite songs because it tells the story of how my wife and I are together, even though many thought that we would not last.

The Samaritans and mental health

A message copied and pasted from what I was sent by e-mail. 

If you are struggling with thoughts about suicide, it is important that you talk to someone urgently. It is vital that you stay safe.

Are there any friends, family or neighbours you can speak to? Speaking to someone over the phone, by video message or any other means available is very important.

The Samaritans offers a listening ear any time of day or night and is entirely confidential and non-judgemental. You can call 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org

Have you looked at the Stay Alive App?  It has lots of information which can help, including a safety plan. You can download this from Google play or Apple App Store.

https://www.prevent-suicide.org.uk/find-help-now/stay-alive-app/

Try to reach out to someone you can talk to. Don’t suffer in silence.

Bravery and the NHS

I cried today.  I spoke to a lady about her mental health.  She was concerned as she felt it was not that good.  She has been panicking before going to work.

She works in our local hospital.  Our hospital that is filling up with COVID19.

I told her that she has every reason to feel anxious and that I was amazed that she is still going in.  And I had to try hard to stop her from hearing the tears in my voice as I talked to her.

My job has risk, but hers has so much more.  So when I clap for the NHS today, I will not be clapping for me, I will be clapping for people like her.

Back to the front

I have been back at work.  In my job, where we are now, we have yet to hit the peak, but we are dealing with more with COVID19.  At the moment, there is not much that we can do, but the more that are affected, the more we will be able to do in the community, which means that we will be exposed to it more.

At the moment, my wife faced more risk when it came to exposure when she went to the supermarket to stock up on supplies.

What I need to do is to focus on what I can do now, not on those who have died helping others and not on the storm that is to come.

Day 14 in isolation

Today is my last day in isolation.  I have mixed feelings about this and was anxious for most of the morning before I started my work from home which distracted me.  I spoke to one of the others at work has to socially isolate due to the medication they are on who made me feel better.

I know that we screen people at work before they are seen, and that there is probably a greater chance of catching COVID19 from someone at the supermarket than from someone I see right now.  Well the logical part of me says that.  The issue arises of what to do as someone becomes more unwell.  Also, the numbers of those affected by this disease will increase and when that happens, the chances of me seeing someone who is unwell with this will go up.  We do have PPE to wear if needed, but it is so flimsy, I am not confident that it really offers any protection.  Hence the GIF.

But I feel sorry for myself.  I have just watched the news which has shown a team working in ITU in London.  They are at much higher risk than me and are still seeing and helping people.

On a more positive note, played throw and catch with my daughter who is looking forwards to being able to go out for walks again.  And have watched The Clone Wars with my son.  One bright side of all this is that I have had time to spend with my family.  Something which I am now going to have less of.

Day 13 in isolation

As I type this, I have heard news that Boris has been admitted to hospital due to COVID.  I wish him well and hope he gets better soon.

I do not like the way that people like me in the NHS feel exposed by the amount and quality of PPE that we have (let alone those who care for people in the community).  And needless to say, I do not like the way that he made the suggestion that the NHS would get a huge dividend after Brexit, let alone the cuts made to it while we was a Tory MP, and the lies and manipulation that have occurred about the NHS while he was been in power.  And as noted before, the inability of our nation to test for COVID19 properly is down to cuts made by the Conservatives (though locally, this was while he was out of parliament).

But, he did not act like Trump and Jair Bolsonaro when it came to COVID19.  He listened to scientific advice on how to manage it with the limited resources available to the nation and when that advice changed he adapted.  His stepwise manner in bringing about the lockdown was well executed though could possibly have been done sooner.  And he was also lucky, the decision of the Premier League to cancel matches after Arsenal was struck down by COVID19 helped in not spreading this horrible disease like happened in Spain and Italy.

So, like many who do not agree with him politically, I do wish the best for him and a speedy recovery.

But back to the family, today was spent relaxing and doing bit around the house.  I have ordered the last two scrubs that I could find on the internet in my size that should come back soon.  And we made use of the garden today playing throw and catch again.  We need to use it more really, but it really needs to be cut!  And as you can see from the title, I will be back at work soon seeing patients face to face.  And while I am keen to help my colleagues, I am feeling more nervous.

Day twelve in the Big Brother house

Today has been both fun and interesting.  My wife and I had a long chat with my son about how he has appeared to learn how to avoid work.  He was not keen on this chat but had to be reminded of how well he had done in his sats last year.  Watching Star Wars, there are lots of quotes about the importance of hard work.  He has so much potential and it is heartbreaking when it appears that he just wants to squander it when so many others do not have it.  Educationally, he has the potential to be a Jedi, or he can take the quick and easy path to become part of the Sith.

Anyway, we spent some of the sunny day playing throw and catch.  I tried to repair our lawnmower only to find that I had bought the wrong spark plug on line and could not change it anyway as I lack the tools to do so.

We watched Knives Out, a pleasant film and one with an ending that I had guessed wrong.  And now I am watching how a little green alien is brainwashing a bounty hunter with my son.