Unbelievably we are racing through February and life is beginning to get back to what counts as ‘normal’.
The family January flu generated a follow up appointment with respiratory consultant. He’s really nice, great, remembers, up to speed. He told me not to underestimate how ill January virus had made me.
He also said to remain active. I had to stifle my laugh via a cough. Active? Hah. With poor daughter 1 also ill and her family and the arrival of her baby. We have not underestimated how ill we have all been. But we have all had to be very active!

Meanwhile please accept my sincere apologies for all missed calls, invitations, messages…we are catching up. I’ve just realised I had tickets to a concert last night. Forgot. Oh and if you are wondering where your casserole dish is. It is in my car. All rightful owners are being reunited as I drive by. Masses of thanks to everyone.

The next appointment was with microbiology consultant in the dark alley off Tottenham Court Road. It’s Tropical Diseases , Microbiology etc upstairs and STD clinic is on the ground floor. To surreptitiously duck into the entrance requires skill. Avoiding eye contact with the condom shop and accoutrements, its a breathless wheezy walk up the stairs to Tropical Diseases and Microbiology. Given the current Chinese flu virus I thought maybe we would be in masks. But actually no one was.

The waiting room was as stifling hot as ever… a tropical heaven for any bugs as a breeding ground. As I wheeze and coughed people clutching drips and bits moved away from me. After a while, the consultant came out to speak to all of us. I’m sorry, she apologised. I’m at least an hour late. My bookings show 10 patients all at 1500. But only myself here. I cannot do it . Whoever booked it is bonkers…I’m sorry…Please go off for a coffee etc but come back.

I did go for a cup of tea outside. Back past the condoms, into the nearest coffee shop and then back again..condoms..sprays(?) …malaria drips..

My turn came …She was nice, awesome in fact, as ever. Making a plan to use less heavy duty stuff ie Gentamicin and Fosfomycin. More Nitro and CoAmox. She had had no lunch. I offered to get some food for her. She refused.

NHS is incredible. But the staff do need lunch. Simon Stevens please note.. Matt Hancock?

Meanwhile our GP miraculously rang and sorted an appointment. His inbox had filled with clinic letters about uti, virus, flu, asthma and pneumonia. He was corncerned. We had a great chat… laughs jokes and he sent me to Aand E for chest xray. Just to be sure.

He told me there is a game between doctors. That reminded me of school staff rooms. Survival is inappropriate jokes! The GP race? They are guessing who are the first 30 patients to think they have Coronavirus. even though they have never been any where near China. He reckons he is already ahead. And NO, I’m not on his list! Patients have rung in with bizarre stories. Thinking they have the virus because they were sitting next to someone who might be Chinese. Poor Chinese, I understand they are getting horrible abuse . This must stop.

Poor NHS.. Time wasters clogging the system.

Meanwhile despite the mega antibiotics I was given in hospital, unbelievably, my bladder erupted into infection. How the hell? Jerome has been on the case. Antibiotics script was sent via chemist. So I’m kind of OK.
Of course.. I am.