Muddling through
KevRep. We were expecting the worst over the last couple of days. Georgina, Kev’s eldest daughter, phoned to say that a nurse had phoned her and said that, because a lung x-ray had shown no improvement, they might consider taking him off the ventilator with the obvious outcome. That hasn’t happened. Indeed, they did take him off on Thursday to see if he could breath on his own, but stuck him straight back on. In short: one step forward, one step back. I have to say that I go to bed each night expecting the terrible phone call. And, if I think about it, the whole thing does my head in.
As for Mum, bless her, she’s all over the place. We have someone going in three times a week and that keeps her in essentials (food and white wine). I’m speaking to her three or four times a day and it’s really tough. For both of us. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be on the precipice of losing a child, even if he is 62.
All of this needs to be put in context of where the country finds itself. It seems anathema to me that as we breech 1000 deaths a day (if you include those outside of hospitals) much of the mainstream news is focused on one man’s successful fight against the disease. I absolutely wish BJ a full recovery. But I also want to see glimmers that the government are doing more than just getting by. I think it’s accepted that, as we look to by pass Spain and Italy in the deaths stakes, we came at this too little, too late. That to one side, someone in the centre needs to give us the confidence, through honest – even if they hurt – facts and figures, backed up with an achievable plan. I don’t get that. To be honest all I get is adjectives and adverbs when what I really want is nouns and numbers. It is also, I think, honest to say that the two countries coping with this the worst (US and UK) are led by popularist governments. Give me a boring, uncharismatic centrist any day. I’ve had enough of flag waving and bunting.
Anyway, how are we? (Clearly a bit frustrated and miserable.)
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Happy simnel cake day
OK, I think. I had a day’s virtual work with the MoD on Thursday, which was good. I popped to Tesco on Thursday evening, which was the second most stressful thing I have
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queuing up in the war zone that is Tesco …
ever done (the first was the same thing, the same time last week). I know it sounds ridiculous, but I felt less anxious patrolling the streets of Kabul then I do foraging the aisles of a superstore.
To add to the excitement we, that is much of the street, had a sewer blockage on Thursday. Bless Wessex Water. They were on it quickly enough and within 24 hours our back garden was no longer awash with poop and stuff. It didn’t take long to sort, and it will do the grass some good.
Finally, and you only have until 7pm on Sunday, log onto YouTube and watch Jesus Christ Superstar. Along with the National Theatre (we’re not great play people), Andrew Lloyd Webber’s channel is screening free stuff. There’s no indication what musical will be on next weekend, but when I find out I’ll let you know.
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Tim Minchin, as Judas … fabulous
Oh … and I did some editing of Blood Red Earth. My first beta reader has cone back and has a number of comments, one of which wasn’t – this is rubbish. So that’s good.
Keep safe. Stay at home. And don’t let the government spin you that 1,000 deaths a day for the next week is a job well done. It isn’t.
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getting older and slower by the day
