I hope everyone is alright and coping .

NHS has completely bowled me over.

I had a text on Monday, god that seems like a year ago., telling me I was not allowed out for 12 weeks.

I have had daily texts reminding me to stay at home .

Helpfully I have also been reminded to open a window.

In addition I get a letter every day with similar instructions…including the window.

Daughter Lou is using her phone to ring her oncology patients so it comes up as ‘unknown’ when she calls. I picked up this morning to ‘unknown’ and started singing

‘Hello is it me you are looking for?’

….ooops…it was in fact the Mr KIdney Consultant . Unbeknown to me he was doing appointments by phone. …he is an incredibly busy man, I know that because I have seen his tweets. So surprised was I to get his call, I mumbled and stumbled and wasted his precious minutes. But I got there in the end. He was as befuddled as I about how I could get an msu to a lab. So has suggested whacking in antibotics full dose for 2 weeks, to try to get bladder to calm down.

A little later the phone rang again: ‘unknown’ this time it was the clinical nurse specialist from the hospital. I know her really well. Wow I said, don’t waste your time talking to me…. but again, she insisted. this is what we are trained for, she said. It is what we do. She also was befuddled about how we can do msu, or bloods, or anything really. So we

updated the records regarding the bladder implant. Then she will email Mrs Consultant Bladder, who will telephone and organise new implant. No rush. I said. Please prioritise others. We finished the call with a discussion about gin. Wash your hands in it I said. Sip it She said!

Quite apart from opening the window and talking to hospitals, this surreal week for the world, has taken me to online pilates, online bridge, supporting various friends and colleagues tackling IT, ringing my children, parents and friends. Such a delight too, to whats app and read the ‘Tiger who came to tea’ to little O, actually I gave him a virtual bath too!

I salute the NHS what an incredible organisation. to be able to turn the clinics into phone calls to turn hospitals and exhibition halls into to Covid Centres, to carry on treating non Covids. move whole departments to new buildings, the enormous NHS ship which ran on elastic bands, can in fact change direction faster than we ever though possible. In fast those elastic bands can be upgraded , according to our new Treasurer, Rishi, who looks like he is 12 but seems to have the gravitas and common sense of an elder statesmen.

We can get through this. Those who have the Covid. Please get well soon. Take it slowly. I hear its energy sapping, brain explodingly awful.

Massive thanks for so very many messages from all over the world. Strength and positive thoughts to everyone.