Mrs F's Diary: Farm shops, plant sales oh and a Covid test.

CV19 Weekly update to 13th June 2020

82 days since lockdown.

Weekly happenings. Starting Monday.

A very quiet ½ hour in Waitrose with no queues and very few people saw us stock up on a few basics. Shopping is fine now, if you time it right there are no queues, plenty of food and even flour is back on the shelves. The social distance thing in the shop itself depends on where you go Waitrose is fine, ASDA is a nightmare.

Ian went for a walk with the boys, Martyn, Max and Pauric , its was a long walk which apparently required quenching thirsts with beer afterwards. They ended up buying take away beer from the Crafty Tap and taking it to the park to drink, socially distancing of course. Not only was the beer rather strong it was very expensive, he was a bit tired when he got home, blaming it on the 8 miles or so he walked. Hmmmm. They only had 2 pints but one was over 6% and they had not eaten anything since breakfast. Pauric was resting his eyes on the sofa according to his wife; Ian managed to stay awake but did smell very strongly of beer!

I went for a walk with the girls, Sue, Coleen Angela and Adele, we walked from Bourne End to Cookham via Cock Marsh looking for a reported White Stock (no luck on that front). We did about 5 miles, the sun got out and it was really quite hot. There were a few people about but not too many to make it uncomfortable. We tried to work out which house was Steve Backshalls and have a possible idea which due to spying a Swallow nesting under the decking as he reported on Spring Watch. Further investigation is required. However we did cross paths with Lorraine Kelly (she lives along that stretch of the river too)as she crossed the railway bridge. Mind you she did see to think that we were Covid spouting lepers as she rushed past us, head cowered down. If she felt so bad she should have waited for us to crossover. Nuff said.

We ended up at Sue's house for a post walk coffee and cake. It was very nice to have different people to talk to and walk with. 1^st time in 11 weeks I have been out without Ian and with other people.

We also had a visit to the Italian shop in Maidenhead to buy some different foods, Scampi in preparation for a special lockdown birthday meal, Tuna for a change and Tortellini for a nice lunchtime treat one day.

Laceys farm shop lovely place, great fresh meat, homemade sausages and pork pies. Ian has eaten a lot of pork pies during lockdown I am getting concerned about his cholesterol level. They also had fresh Samosas and other lovely treats, which we indulged in.

We had met a couple when out for a walk on Sunday and they told us about this little nursery in Stokenchurch so we drove out there to have a look and ended up buying 7 plants. We got home just before the rain came, nice Wednesday morning.

Ian is busy sawing up pallets he got from the “loud” builders down the road. When I went to Adele’s she had made a flower stand from a pallet, I am going to have a go at doing one. Ian has sawn it to the correct size, I just need to paint it. I don’t think he it that enamoured by the idea, well he can always saw it up for kindling if it doesn’t work.

Ian got another haircut this week, it was rather daunting as it had got a bit long and need quite a bit off. It’s easy to snip the ends off but giving it a deeper cut a bit scary for both of us. Ian looked like a condemned man sitting there as I snipped away. He was greatly relieved once he looked in the mirror and saw the result. I must admit so was I

You can tell the dishwasher man has been as Willow is hiding under the bedcovers, he does not like workmen. His least favourite is a window cleaner.

Well you know that I report on a covid symptom study, on Wednesday Ian & I were not feeling too well, very tired and scratchy throats, runny eyes. So I reported this on my covid app on Thursday morning as hay fever symptoms. On Friday morning we get an invitation to get a test, random testing as we are not feeling normal. I booked the test (Secret Squirrel not allowed to tell people how we did it) and within 10 minutes we were on our way to Handy cross to get tested.

We were sent emails with codes and a barcodes on our phones. Our testing site is being run by the Army and it is like entering a scene from a film. All the testers were in Army combat gear and PPE (Not Hazmats) various stations were set up for the different stages of the testing. On our arrival they check your Vehicle reg as submitted on line and then hold up a notice telling you to ring a number, this then puts you through to the person holding up the sign, they check your ID and scan the bar code. They then talk you through the procedure and what we need to do as this is a self-testing site. Ian and I are not enamoured by this as we can see it getting messy, I am already in a heightened state of anxiety just by being there, we don’t for one minute think we have it. Even though Ian has been on at me or a couple of days to get tested as I don’t feel too good.

We move onto the next stage where we are instructed to crack open the window and 2 testing kits are placed on the dashboard. We are then talked through the process and told to move onto the next area and park up. If we have any problems just put on the hazard lights and they will come to assist.

We sit and read through the instructions and decide it best for us to do it one at a time, I go 1^st. You are not allowed for the swab to touch your tongue or cheeks and have to swab around the tonsil area. This is extremely difficult trying to do it in cramped conditions whist looking in the vanity mirror of the car. Much gagging and retching and I am still not sure I got it in the right place. Then you swab your nose, this is not so bad. Once done you snap off the swab and put it in a tube with liquid in it.

Now Ian’s turn, we decide it will be better if I swab him. Trying to get in a position where I can see the back of his throat and get him to keep his tongue still is a bit of a trial but we manage it, poor love he looks really stressed by it or should I say me! Anyway much gagging and choking later we think we have managed it. We then move onto the next station where we have to call another number. They then photograph your barcode and your swab test. The swab test and all the paraphernalia have the same barcode on it, this is all done through holding up signs or talking via the phone, Windows tightly shut. You then deposit your test into a box that they hold up to the window and you’re done. From booking the test we were back indoors in 30 minutes. There was a steady flow of cars arriving but no queuing or waiting at all. It was a very professionally executed operation quite the experience even if very surreal. Not we await the results. The only thing is that we are not allowed out until we get the all clear. Hey ho good job we are used to it and it’s going to be a nice weekend weather wise.

There is no news to the NUFC takeover, I am sure you are all dying to know about that.

Ian was supposed to be going to the Theatre to night with Martyn to see a Pink Floyd tribute band and we had a RSPB trip to Greenham common obviously both cancelled.

The "Stay Inn" was open again Saturday afternoon - evening. The Marlow branch bathed in glorious sunshine and blue sky for the most part, although it did pour with rain once the pub had shut. St Merryn was chilly and a glimpse of a waterproof coat was seen and rumours of thermal vest being worn. WSM started ok but had to retire indoors as it got chilly. Some food was served various themes of Italian, Indian and Thai. A good night "In /Out"

They seem to think its all over. I am talking about the people in gardens yesterday having parties and the drunk noisy people coming home between 1 and 2 this morning. Staggering past our windows and waking us up! Because of the rain, I know they have not been outside all this time! Just saying.

Points of Note.

TV adverts are starting to change with the shops opening from next week.

It is now becoming very obvious with people on TV who has a partner or family member that is capable of cutting hair. The weather man looks like he is wearing a wig, Home dyed hair and grey roots are all pretty obvious as are the ones that have managed to keep it all under control. My hair is becoming increasingly messy looking. I am not going to chop it any more as it is only a matter of weeks until I hopefully can take up the appointment I have made.

A low death rate of 55 was reported on Monday but that went up again to 286 on Tuesday. 40883 have been reported to die in total over this stage of the pandemic. Northern Ireland has reported no deaths 4 days in a row.

Most of our friends (all in a ballpark age figure) fear the easing of lockdown and would not go to a restaurant or pub (outside being the exception to the pub). I thought I would ask Carl next-door, he is 20, what his opinion on how things are moving. He said that he believed if we all obeyed the rules then lockdown could be eased, however because of the people disobeying the rules it is not safe to ease the lockdown at this time. Riots all over and overcrowding on beaches being the main culprits.

The roads are getting busier but no way near as busy as normal. Little things are creeping back into our lives. Our dishwasher is getting repaired on the 11^th and the replacement bed will be delivered on the 18^th. The original date for that was 26^th March.

The Hoo Ha over schools going back continues. Airlines are said to be suing the government over the quarantine ruling.

Some furloughed people are worried that their workplaces will not need them once the lockdown is over as they have managed without them so far.

Gloomy headlines, Britain worst hit in Coronavirus, Britain worst hit in Economy. The Government is now getting a hammering over how badly they have handled the crisis.

Zoos and Safari parks to reopen from June 15^th.

10.06.20 Daily briefing key points.

Boris did the daily briefing on Wednesday – he still seems to be dithery. All 5 criteria have been met for a further easing of lockdown.

It has been 82 days since the shops had to close up to the general public. They can open up on the 15^th as long as they adhere to social distancing rules and provide sanitizer.

Places of worship can open for individual prayer.

We are allowed to have support bubbles. As I see it if a person lives alone they can have 1 visitor and that person is able to stay overnight. I think that the PM meant it for vulnerable and lonely people but the Daily Mail has it as Boris lifts Sex Ban!

The Epidemic is shrinking but not fast enough to release lockdown further at this stage.

A high percentage of the population is still susceptible to infection.

People who are shielding must continue to do so, but are allowed out once a day, but not in public areas or for shopping.

We will not be relaxed to step 3 before July 4^th at the earliest.

SAGE say that we need to stick to what the PM says, the rate of infection is not low enough and there are no risk free options. They need to balance the risk and minimise a bad outcome.

People are clamouring to reduce the 2-metre rule to one metre, as it will help industry and the economy. Boris is under pressure here and it looks like he might fold on this one soon.

Meals of note or not as the case may be.

Pork Chops, New pots, Carrots and Broccoli.

Spag Bol.

Gammon with Mango and Pepper salsa, New pots and green salad.

Navarin of Lamb with green cabbage.

Sausage and beans.

Thai Green Chicken Curry.

Fish & Chips.
Beef Randang

Coronavirus test update.

Both tested negative as expected. Test results returned in under 26hrs