When a picture really does speak a thousand words!

So here we are, end of week two of isolation. If I'm honest the days of this week have just seemed to merge into one, everyday being much the same. I did manage to sit in my garden for an hour yesterday though which was lovely. (It is very isolated and I was alone.)

The current times are incredibly tough in different ways for different people. An online friend of mine yesterday, however, opened my eyes to the fact that despite what is currently taking precedence in the news and absolutely rightly so, there are still people dealing with their own current heartbreaking situations. I'm not going to discuss the situation as it's not my story to tell, but it just goes to prove that right now despite not being able to go and see someone, people still need you, they just need to know you're still there, so pick up the phone, video call your friends and family, sometimes seeing a face is all you need.

So what have I done this week outside of my designated working hours? I've started to read a book called Malala - it's about the girl who campaigned for girls rights to education and subsequently got shot, it's a very good read so far!

I've made choc chip cookies.. mmm.. and homemade Pasties.

I also had some company from Bob our partially adopted street cat, I say partially as he comes and goes when he pleases, sometimes stays for a sleep, sometimes doesn't.

Oh and drink... I've had copious amounts of prosecco and Brandy with Baileys! (Not together or on the same night!) but it would seem that drinking on a school night doesn't really matter when you can't go to school!

OOPS!!

I'm going to leave you with this last image... When a picture really does speak a thousand words. Thank you to every single person in our NHS.

Pause and reflect.

One week of self isolation completed with many more to go... I'm not going to say staying in the house is easy by any means but I suppose when I think back to 2011 and the time directly after my transplant whilst in ICU and other hospital wards I was self isolating then, couldn't be in busy public places or use public transport, that lasted around 3 months too so I'm figuring I've got this!

I've missed the hussle and bussle of school life this week, my colleagues and just the general feeling of being a part of something.

But throughout the week whilst working from home I've taken moments in my day to just stop, pause and reflect.

The sun is still shining, the birds are still singing, and there's hope, there's always hope.

If you are self isolating for whatever reason then keep going, it's difficult but you've got this. Use this opportunity to do other things that you wouldn't ordinarily have the time to do, read the book, listen to the music, learn to play the instrument that's been sat in your room for almost a decade, untouched because you simply don't have the time.

Pen a letter to a friend, forget emails and other technology, go back to old fashioned pen and paper.


The above is how I'm using my time when not completing work tasks.

Stay safe, and above all listen to the advice from the government and medical professionals, because like it or not, they kinda know what they're talking about.


"Dum spiro spero" - Whilst I breathe I hope.

My own thoughts on Covid-19

I used the word Covid-19, because in all honesty I'm tired of hearing the words Coronavirus, or should I say I'm tired of hearing all the 'media hype.' That's not to say I don't think the current epidemic is serious, but more that I prefer to listen to the science not the media.

I keep hearing conversations or seeing comments about how people don't think hand washing will make a difference, or how it doesn't matter if people gather in crowds, comments such as 'well, if I get it big deal, it's only a virus, it's only a flu!'

WRONG!

To be fair for the majority of people in the UK if and when they do get Covid-19 it will be quite undramatic and they will recover relatively quickly and unscathed. However, that then brings me to think of the small minority I think it's roughly 5% of the population in the UK for whom that simple, unscathed scenario won't be the case.

I am part of the small 5%, my mum is part of the small 5%.

This was me in August 2011, recovering from a Double Lung Transplant. A second chance at life, the ultimate gift!
ICU or the Intensive Care Unit is not anywhere I would wish anyone to be and is certainly not somewhere I wish to be again any time soon. But you see, this is potentially and I must stress the word potentially where members of the small 5% minority could end up amid this virus outbreak.

So please if I decline an invitation in the very near future, don't take it the wrong way, if you visit me and I insist you wash / sanitise your hands, please don't take offence, if you're full of cold (albeit just a common cold), please keep a safe distance from me... I'm not being ignorant, I'm not being silly or OTT, my immune system simply cannot handle it like yours would.

I won't be partaking in the mass hysteria of panic buying or stockpiling- it's unnecessary! I will be, however, taking small but necessary measures to protect myself. If any of my work colleagues are reading this I would like to thank you for your support and understanding.

So here are my three pieces of advice (which guess what, mirror the advice of the scientists, and our NHS whom I trust wholeheartedly..

1) Wash your hands with soap and water... (I'd question anyone who doesn't already do this, but perhaps for now, do it a little more often.

2) Avoid over crowed, public spaces and where possible public transport.

3) If you do develop a temperature, or a dry unproductive cough then say home until your symptoms subside.