Saturday 9^th May 2020

An interesting time line has emerged. During this afternoon’s family Zoom get together, Ros, in Baildon, West Yorkshire refers to media interest in a Bradford Community Choir. Coincidentally, while browsing Apple News, I come across a BBC article about this. In December a choir member returns from a business trip to Wuhan, and develops a “hacking cough”. During late December and January many members of the choir become ill with lung infections, including difficulty breathing. The choir meet in Baildon, and have a drink afterwards at a local pub. At the end of January the pub landlady develops a lung infection, with symptoms including breathing difficulties “like breathing through treacle”. Pre-lockdown Ros sang with a choir associated with the Bradford choir, which share some members. On 20^th January we visit Ros in Baildon, to introduce Ellie to Buster. In early February Chantal notices that she has difficulty breathing when walking up local hills, worse than usual, noticing it in particular during a photographic trip to the Cairngorms (when fortunately, poor weather limited planned ascents). On 24^th February her breathing difficulty was such that she visited our GP, who promptly referred her to Glenfield General Hospital on the same day. After several tests the consultant advises that nothing sinister is going on – Chantal “just has a virus”. I don’t recall mixing much with the local community in Baildon in January, apart from Ros, but we opened several well-used field gates. As I said, probably just an interesting timeline.

Today we visit a local pharmacy for dressings for Chantal’s booted-and-blistered right foot, and I pop in the adjacent Co-op for essential supplies. Chantal asks out loud if I am really going to queue just for beer? Obviously a ridiculous question, which amuses a few people in the queue. I also buy, on request “cherry tomatoes on the vine” for a neighbour, taking great care to choose packs with the latest eat-by date. On our return home Chantal points out that I may have taken great care about dates, as trained to do so, but have actually purchased plum, not cherry, tomatoes. I have now been the regular retail-buyer for the household, Andree, and to a lesser extent, for our neighbour for over six weeks, but it seems I still need to keep practicing. Our neighbour was very understanding.

Posted: Sunday, May 10th, 2020
Category: News and Views from the Oakstump
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