UK COVID Briefing 23rd June 2021 - NOT with Boris...

UK Cases: 4,667,870 (+16,135)
Losses of Life: 128,027 (+19)
In Hospital: 1,508 (Monday 21st June)
Using a Ventilator: 227 (Monday 21st June)
At least 1 vaccine dose: 43,448,680 (82.5% of UK adults)
Two vaccine doses: 31,740,115 (60.3% of UK adults)

3 out of every 5 UK adults have now had both doses of a COVID vaccine.

Some extra surge testing Bingo winners today, and they're over the border from me, in Yorkshire. From 24 June, all adults living in these areas should take a PCR test:
Wakefield North, South & East
Pontefract North & South

Five years ago my partner was in bed unable to control his own temperature, stay awake more than about 30 minutes or concentrate on anything more complex than Storage Wars.

He was 10 days into his recovery from Meningitis, and I was attending my first ever Blogging Conference, leaving him in the care of Elspeth, who regularly presented him with fluids and medicines, took temperatures, and opened and closed his windows accordingly all day.


I had a broken toe that I'd smashed against the bed frame, so I was wearing flip flops (not actually a wise move. My toe set bent and I couldn't get shoes on until it was re-broken). I was so exhausted that when I caught the tram home I zoned out, came to and tried to get off the tram 2 stops after I'd got on, no-where near my home. But I had to go to the conference because I needed to take time off being nurse, and I had people to thank.

In the most terrifying hours, when he first became ill, it was bloggers on my screen who told me I was doing the right thing and soothed me and told me it was going to be okay. When I was all alone at night, in a house full of worried sleeping children, having left my incredibly sick partner in the care of the hospital and terrified he might die, it was bloggers who kept me company until I slept in the early hours, and who were there for me when I woke at 6am.

The blogging community is huge and inevitably there will be losses, but this week I have watched this group of people come together in a mutual horror and sadness over the sudden loss of one of the old school. One of the pillars who felt like she had always been there and we had every right to assume she would be there a long time yet. The sudden death of Kate, best known for WitWitWoo, is a blow indeed. I met her several times and in real life she was as big a personality as she was online. I was always in awe of her. Tall, always perfectly dressed, with amazing hair and just oozing confidence and sexiness. I wished I had the balls to be as confident as her.

This weekend hundreds of bloggers have donned their swimsuits and bikinis and enjoyed the sunshine with confidence - they've all been a bit more #witwitwoo and the smiles show they've all enjoyed it. They took their life back for themselves for a moment and to hell with anyone who didn't like it.

My partner is now 5 years into his recovery and we are realising now just how broken he is. He can control his temperature now, but he can't remember very much of the last 5 years. He is failing to make new long term memories and is very forgetful in everyday life. He has permanent pain in his hands and legs, and his extremities don't have as much sensation as they should. He walks with a limp and tires easily. But he is still here. We are in that respect lucky.

In the last 5 years we've had to race straight through hospital triage 2 more times with my partner as he experienced massive bleeding due to pretty impressive tonsilitis and also when he attempted to have a heart attack. I have my own issues with my intestines refusing to stay in the correct place and am facing my 3rd surgery to stuff them back. We also lost one of our teenagers, destroying everything we thought was true and everything we expected to happen, and placing us somewhere we never anticipated. We have all become far more aware of our own mortality.

Kate's legacy is a fabulous one, because we should all be able to find the courage to do those things we want to do without listening to the scorn of others. We should all be able to laugh at those who tut. We should all have the confidence to #bemorewitwitwoo
Life is short. You aren't going anywhere, you are already there. Don't wait for the right time for too long, because it may never come. Eat the cake, wear the swimsuit with a big grin, throw water balloons with the kids. Stop what you are doing and step outside and just shut your eyes and feel the world turn. Take joy wherever you find it. Live your life for now, don't save it for later.

Here is my personal experience of how to spot Meningitis in an adult, young person or older child. No two cases of Meningitis are the same, just as no two cases of a cold are the same. There will be similarities because the way they attack will be the same, but it is how your body copes and reacts that determines what happens next. Some people will never realise they had Meningitis and some will die.
Fortunately my partner is still here.

More adults get Meningitis than children (although children under 5 are most at risk - know the signs).

Young people are the second most likely age group to develop Meningitis, with year 1 University students the most at risk group.

I shall not miss you....

Last year when I posted my 'goodbyes' on New Year's Eve and was so very glad to see the back of 2013, I had no idea that the second half of 2014 would make me wish I was back there again.

Today, 18 months after developing Meningitis, my partner still has a few memory problems, some residual pain and he does still occasionally fall asleep when stressed, but overall he's back to who he was. He even got back on his bike to take part in the Team Honk baton relay for Sport Relief. 2014 saw steady improvement throughout, and by Easter we had returned to a life where there were 2 strong parents in the house. Life did get a lot easier.

Wow.

When I started this blog 500 posts seemed like something impossible that would take years, yet it's come up so quickly I nearly missed it. I actually can't begin to imagine the amount of drivel I've typed! I'm so blinking perfectionist too, that I dread to think of the hours that equates to.....

I can barely believe all the brands who take a chance and let me review for them over the past 500 posts, those who I am now a regular blogger for (including LEGO wahey!), and Drumond Park, who sponsored me to attend my first really big conference at Britmums. I'm incredibly flattered.

I also had no idea of what would happen and how incredibly eventful the last 500 posts would be, what they would document. I started my blog as a place to keep reviews I was doing for Izziwizzi Kids and I didn't expect to see that end fairly soon afterwards. I knew I'd record birthdays and holidays, I didn't expect to document Meningitis and a broken leg. The blog hasn't just been my record of events and days out, it's been my memory and my timeline, my catharsis and my rock.

I've never needed blogging more than I did exactly 1 year ago tonight. Alone and terrified in a house full of young people relying on me, it was bloggers I turned to. They were the people who were awake, they were the ones ready to listen, give advice and support. They sat there with me all over the country while I told them my partner was in hospital seriously ill. They were there for me until I could sleep at 2am, and they were back online at 6.30am when I rang the hospital to be told my partner had a 'good night'.

He hadn't. He was incredibly ill with Meningitis and didn't really even understand why he was in hospital or what was happening. He couldn't give his full name or answer anything tricky like 'how are you feeling?'. He was shaking so badly that his bed was rocking and waking the other patients. He had a steady temperature of nearly 40 degrees. In the 48 hours after arriving at hospital they pumped him full of fluids and 3 courses of antibiotics, but he lost 2 stone in weight. You really could see him wasting away. Thankfully yet he hadn't started trying to leave.

Without my blog I would have a lot of trouble trying to remember how events continued. It really was my diary and I can't read my early Meningitis posts without remembering exactly how I felt. I can't really read them at all, I cry. Who am I kidding, I cry even thinking about reading them. Thankfully we had a good outcome, a great outcome. My partner is here beside me as I type - watching crap on telly and playing a daft game on his phone.

He has poor memory now, he can't really remember much he did today, but tomorrow he'll remember more. He can't remember appointments or details, and he can't recite a number over and over to remember it while he walks from one room to another, he has to write everything down. He's coping fine at work, and his tiredness has pretty much gone, although he still falls asleep when he's stressed (and I really wish I did because it's an excellent get-out).

He still has back pain, and leg pain and he walks with a limp, but we can be a family, we can carry on our lives and take our kids out for the day. We are the lucky ones.


If you ever, EVER, feel like you have the worst hangover ever and you've not had a drink or been in the sun all day. If you have a temperature that won't drop with Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. If you're in so much pain you can't lie still.  If you get cramping pains in the front of your thighs. And most importantly if ever you can't touch your chin to your chest - go directly to hospital.

Thank you for all those who've helped me along the way,  and especially to those Izziwizzi Playfest people who've been there from day 1 - you guys are still here, even though Playfest isn't, and I couldn't have ever hoped to meet such a great bunch.

 
Thank YOU for reading. If you can stand it, here's to the next 500...x

Today we did something awesome. Well, okay, I just did some driving - my other half did something awesome. He cycled a leg of the Team Honk Baton Relay.


The Team Honk Relay will see a total of around 200 bloggers and their families join in to take a baton from Land's End to John O Groats. In total the relay has raised over £22,000 for Sport Relief so far, and there are another 2 weeks before it reaches it's final destination.

We weren't originally down to do anything, and stepped in only a couple of weeks ago to help some friends who could and couldn't be there today, and I'm so glad we did. It was a fantastic opportunity to get the children out in the fresh air and it was a really gorgeous day for it!


My other half hadn't been back on his bike since contracting Meningitis last July, but we checked with his back specialist and as long as he doesn't suffer or do more than an hour he was given the go ahead. From that day onwards my partner has been out on his bike 'training' every day and he was determined to put on a good show for Sport Relief - and he did.


The baton started it's day with Karen from Grumpyishmum, who delivered it to Jen from MyMummiesPennies. We met up with Jen and family near Giant's Seat - fabulously dressed as the characters from Room On A Broom. They'd walked miles and started very early for a Sunday morning, they did fantastically.


We split up and off I went in the car with the boys, and my partner set off by bike....baton firmly attached!


Half an hour later and the boys and I met up with Pippa from RedRoseMummy and Sim from Simslifeblog , only a 10 minute wait before my partner was there too - complete with mud and grazes where he'd fallen off his bike. Thankfully avoiding landing in the canal....


Hand over done, and it was time to go home. I'm really proud that my family have been a part of such a great event, it was fantastic fun and the money raised goes to great causes.


We didn't actually raise a lot of money ourselves, but without taking part we wouldn't have found out that cycling doesn't hurt my partner as much as walking, so it's paid us back tenfold. He insisted on cycling to the rendezvous point, so in total he managed 8.8 miles today, which is far more than we'd have ever dreamed 2 weeks, 2 months or 6 months ago and a truly brilliant thing.


 Awesome.

It's now just over 7 months since my partner developed Viral Meningitis, and he's still in a lot of pain.

We're lucky that it's mainly in one leg, the other leg and his arms are now relatively pain free, but the one leg makes up for it.

Because of the ongoing pain he visited his Doctor and last Monday had a referral with a Spinal Consultant. We're not certain that is what he needs, but it's definitely something to look at.

When the Consultant examined him it was clear to all that he has reduced sensation and strength in his right leg. His right knee didn't respond at all to the test where they bash you with the little hammer. It was a bit disturbing to watch, I knew he had issues, but the extent did surprise me.

After a lot of pulling him about the Consultant decided it's definitely worth looking to see if it's anything to do with nerves in my partner's back, so he's booked in for an MRI in 2 weeks. If it finds nothing then the Consultant suggested physiotherapy might be the next thing to try.

When we were in there the Consultant asked several times if he had any back pain and my partner was adamant he didn't. As we left my partner said "I feel like I have pain now". By evening my partner's back was really bothering him, and he hardly slept that night. He went to work the next day and was in agony by teatime. The following day he couldn't go to work, and he couldn't drive. We went to the Doctor and he's now on strong painkillers which knock him out, so he's been asleep most of the time since!

Apparently it's normal to be in such pain when you've seen a Spinal Consultant, but I wish they'd warned us! At least it should go within a few days, and it's nice for him to take a break because he's been absolutely shattered working 5 (or more) days a week since Christmas.

Don't think we're really negative, we aren't, we still feel really lucky. We're just quietly resigned and if any good comes of this then that's all the better!

Exactly 6 months ago, all of a sudden, the lives of all of our family changed when my partner got Meningitis. On that day, after leaving him in hospital, I came home and wrote about what was happening. I still didn't know at that point that he had Meningitis, and I certainly didn't realise for how long, and how much, it would affect our lives. 

We were told and we've read no end of times that 6 months after you have Meningitis you've pretty much recovered, you've reached a level which is where you will be, with incredibly slow progression for any remaining symptoms. We are 'back to normal' but it's not where we were. Some of the symptoms have gone completely, some are hidden almost all of the time, most show up as soon as stress and tiredness come into play.

I think it's easier to list, so here in no particular order -

1. Tiredness. This is the biggie. He still needs naps and sleeps a lot, and it doesn't matter how much he sleeps, he still feels tired. When he's tired he can't cope. That's standard for anyone, but with him it comes a little more quickly and it's all consuming. There isn't any grey - he's coping, he's coping, he's done.


2. Concentration. He can't drive distances or concentrate too hard for too long, it really wears him out. After 2 hours driving he needs a nap, he just can't carry on any more. After a nap he's fine, but concentrating is still much harder for him than before and he favours the familiar, the easy.

3. Sharpness. He's pretty sharp now, he is back to making sarcastic and witty comments, not as often, but they're there. He can join in with us when we play games, but once he's tired he can't win, and he gets tired before the rest of us - whatever time of day it is.

4. Pain. He's still in a lot of pain and is beginning to accept this is likely to be his future and is looking at walking sticks. The B12 sadly wasn't magical and didn't just make him better, although it definitely improved his temperament massively, it didn't improve his pain. His limbs hurt and the more he does, the more they hurt. Lifting and carrying isn't something he's really capable of, and walking leaves him limping and sore. He has persistent pain in his arms from using a computer and writing ~ which is basically his work.

5. Stress. He can't cope with stress like he could at all. It makes his head hurt and he gives in. He goes for a nap or just falls asleep when it's too hard, that's his coping strategy. It's hell on me, but it's all he can do.

The response to Tesco not bringing our shopping on time.

6. Memory. Some things and even entire people and events (mostly from the 6 month period before he became ill) have gone completely. He can't remember them. The whole period around the time of his Meningitis is sketchy and intermittent and mainly missing. His short term memory is poor. He has to write down everything and still forgets. He can't take charge of moving things or knowing where things are because he can't remember and won't have any more chance of finding them than I do. He sets timers on his phone for everything. He knows that he's lost a lot of memories and that making new memories is haphazard and in his own words -

Anna from In The Playroom has had a fantastic idea for a linky - your top 13 parenting posts of the year. Hers are all really informative and useful, mine are more of a mix. These are the posts that get Google hits every day, the posts that I am most proud of, and a wild card or 2....








 






Yeah okay, there are 14, not 13, but I've never been keen on 13's and I'm less keen than ever now.... I hope you'll let me off....

Last week my partner had a load of blood tests done to try and see if there is anything besides Post-Meningitis Pain causing the cramping and slicing he still feels in his legs and arm, and I'm delighted to say they found something.

Not very exciting, which is just how we like it, he has a Vitamin B12 deficiency. The Doctor immediately asked if he was vegetarian. He isn't, but I am and I do the cooking, although I do give the meat-eaters bacon at weekends and pork sausage most weeks along with other bits and pieces.

My parter turned to me and said "where do you get B12 from?"......"Fish, Eggs, Meat and Marmite".


I can't stand Marmite and my partner's not keen, but I know how good it is for B vitamins, especially for veggies who can't get them from meat. My 3 vegetarian children were given it on toast from 1 year old so that they developed a liking and reaped the benefits. I used to use it a fair amount in cooking, but at some point I forgot. I'm now going to be putting a spoonful in with my veggie mince and soups. It's a handy thing and for that reason I can't help but love it.

My partners symptoms are that he's always tired however much he sleeps, he has pain in both legs that is really bad at times, and pain in one arm. He's short-tempered and a bit grumpy (but the pain and tiredness also explain that). All of these symptoms are standard post-Meningitis, but they could also all be B12 deficiency.

He has 5 injections over the next 3 weeks. Worst case scenario is that the pain isn't helped by the B12 and we have to look again for a cause, but he should still feel a whole lot better. Fingers crossed....

I last saw a Doctor about my leg on 26th September, when I was told the break was healing nicely, but the fact my knee was swollen and tender wasn't good, so I've been waiting all this time for an MRI scan. My scan date is now tomorrow and I am incredibly nervous. I've only ever seen them on the TV, and it all seems a bit scary on House!

I know I won't find anything out straightaway, but I do feel as though I've been in limbo for the past month and it'll be so nice to 'unpause it' as my younger children say...

It's now 17 weeks since my partner developed Meningitis, and last week I finally managed to convince him to go to the Doctor and talk about his ongoing leg and arm pain. The Doctor didn't have many answers but a quick examination and he was a little concerned about the level of sensation my partner has in places in his legs. We have no idea if this is to do with the Meningitis, but all of the symptoms started with the onset of Meningitis, so it's either the cause or the catalyst.

The Doctor has little experience of Meningitis, this is something we've found everywhere, no-one ever seems to know what happens afterwards. He sent my partner off to the Hospital for a range of blood tests and we should get the results from all of those on Friday. He's also going to do some probing on my partner's legs and see how extensive the loss of sensation is.

It's kind of a nervous week, but there is a real sensation that an impasse we've been tolerating for the past few weeks has broken and we're at least going somewhere...

I'm not sure if this is reflected in what my partner did tonight....









He's going to really feel it doing that in November though! I think bobble hat might have to be on his Christmas list....

I've delayed posting this. I had intended to post last week and be full of the news that my partner was back at work full time finally, but he's found it incredibly hard. I'd hope it would get better this week, but it hasn't.

Last week on Monday (7 1/2 weeks after becoming ill) he had no sick note and wanted to work full time all week. He came home early on Thursday, but otherwise he managed it. He slept a few times after work, but he was awake again for tea. On Thursday he was fast asleep at 8pm before the little boys even. We then spent a full day out at the Little Fun Fest on Saturday. Although I drove and we sat down as much as we could, he was already shattered and it completely wore him out.


Sunday was spent mainly sleeping, lying on the bed and watching drivel. He did have to pop into work for an hour, but that was the only time he didn't show how tired he was. Or how much he is in pain.

So, six weeks. six whole weeks. I can barely believe it.


I can remember the beginning as if it was last week, yet it almost seems like we've had our new life forever. It is still a new life, it's not the same as it was, but it's closer day by day.

My partner is now able to confidently drive, even after he ends his working day. His concentration and reactions are back. He's enjoying playing his Playstation and can play unfamiliar games without becoming instantly frustrated by them.

He is not yet back at work for an entire day. He is simply too tired. It's a physical tiredness and he knows his limits. He doesn't instantly flag any more, so he no longer has very many spells where he feels drunk and disorientated, but he cannot manage a whole day at work and most days he still has a nap afterwards.

He can walk about as far as our 3 1/2 year old. When we went to Blackpool he had a great time going around Madame Tussauds with us, and then he was done. Our 3 year old was worn out too, and they both started sitting down and wanting to go home around the same time.

My partner is still incredibly tired, this affects our evenings if he doesn't nap. He gets harassed by the children and snappy. He still gets headaches and they can come on suddenly, stress is a real factor. When it gets too hard, it really gets too hard.

Noise still affects my partner. He hates it when the children argue or shout, whereas previously he was oblivious. He definitely hears more, and buzzing noises or distant alarms really grate on him, again he never used to even notice them. I don't know whether this is a usual thing, or something quite bizarre and peculiar to my partner.

His thighs and one arm and back still hurt. His legs if he does a lot of walking usually, but his back bothers him most of the time. Occasionally he'll move wrong and wince, but usually it.is just 'there'.

We were given the impression by everything we've read or been told that a type of normal life would resume around 6 weeks, and I'd say that was true. We've settled into a new routine, naps and quiet time are part of our lives now. I've become used to driving everywhere instead of being chauffeured most of the time when my partner is in the van with me. The children are better at remembering to bother me with inconsequential things, rather than get short shrift from their Dad/Step-Dad.

Overall the children have only matured because of what's happened. The teenagers had to be left for long periods very suddenly, and they had to cope. They did fine and it's given them all a kick up the backside. One thing that bothers me is that our 4 (nearly 5) year old has become very clingy to me. He isn't happy for me to leave the house without him and screams if he thinks it's a likelihood. If I put on shoes, he does too. If I pick up a key he runs to me and wants to know my intentions. Occasionally when I'm not where he expected he panics and thinks I've gone somewhere without him. I never left him without saying goodbye when my partner was in hospital, and he didn't behave like this until a week after my partner was home, so I can only assume he's thought things through and come to some conclusions of his own, but I've tried to talk to him and he can't explain himself. It worries me to think maybe he knows that Dad is not as strong as he previously thought and that I'm more necessary than ever, and that concerns him. He's my little shadow, although I call him my assistant because it makes him feel proud.

Four weeks ago I had watched my partner have a Lumbar Puncture, and 3 hours later we'd had the results.

He'd been put into isolation with positive virus and bacteria results and we were both a mess.

He was on his 3rd lot of intravenous Antibiotics and still confused and in agony. Thankfully none of the children had really realised the gravity of the situation and the big ones were doing a brilliant job of watching the little boys and looking after themselves.

Four weeks later and this is where we are....


He's gone back to work.

He can only manage about 3 hours, and no-one else (including the Doctor or his boss) really wants or expects him to go back, but it's important to him. He wants to be normal, he wants to be better and for him going to work is enough. I'm driving him there because his reactions and concentration aren't yet ideal, and after 3 hours he's really shattered, but he's there and keeping everything ticking over instead of sitting at home worrying about them breaking everything in his absence.

When I fetch him his limp is bad and his legs and arms are very sore. His back aches and he feels generally very 'ill'. His head hurts and he comes home and goes to bed, but after a rest he's okay and he can switch off work and relax, which he couldn't do without going in.

He's admitted that he understands why people wouldn't dream of going back to work so early and he jokes about needing a wheelchair, but he's happier. I think by Friday he'll be exhausted, and I carry my phone about waiting for the call to fetch him, relieved when it comes. I'd be delighted if on Thursday he decides his week is over already, but I understand his reasoning (even if I don't really agree with it) and he's not suffering too much or pushing too hard yet. If he does then I'll tell him...you can be certain of that.

Men, eh....tsk....

This is a very special photo, on a very special day. 

This is a man who four weeks ago was seriously ill and developing Meningitis, and a week ago was still incredibly ill with a throat infection, and this weekend he came with his family to a Volkswagen show to see our friends and play with their children, and buy ice creams and look at things we can't afford and don't need..

I love this photograph because he's standing with us while we eat ice cream, leaning on the pushchair carrying our friend's sleeping baby and looking out over the show smiling. It's our first trip out since before he became ill and it was a fantastic day. He did it. It's a win.

We went out! Our children have been really brilliant so far this Summer and entertained themselves at home, but finally we've reached the point where we are able to take them out for the day as my partner is recovering well now from his Meningitis. The Tatton Park Volkswagen Show is an event that I've been to every August since 2003 and it would have been a shame to miss it as it's so close to home. It's organised and staffed by members of VW North West - who do an absolutely fantastic job.


It is held in the grounds of Tatton Park, which is a gorgeous place to visit and has an amazing play area for children. This is also the venue for the Foodies Festival and many other events throughout the year.

It is a one-day event, so camping is only available to traders who need to set up their stalls. Last year we accompanied our friends from Campertronic, Dave and Kate, as Kate was very heavily pregnant and had a 2 year old to wrangle too. Campertronic sell all kinds of vehicle electronics and accessories and Dave spends most of his day cycling around fitting alarms and central locking kits to people's vans and cars.

We had a fantastic weekend last year and this time we were due to stay with them again and help with the children while they manned the stall, but when my partner became ill it looked unlikely we'd be able to help. Because of his improvement over the last week we thought we'd give it a go and stay as long as we could, but camping was definitely still beyond us, so we travelled down bright and early Sunday morning. 

The Campertronic stall - all of our spare house keys were made here!

If you've ever been to any classic car show then you'll know it's mainly about the vehicles - but there's also room for shopping and food!

Plenty of  VW's to look at (often with their engine lids open - this is the default position for VW's).

You can buy almost anything with a VW printed onto it - bur out 4 year old's favourite stall was the stickers! He was desperate to spend his precious £2 buying some!

A hot dog, a balloon, a cupcake and an ice cream, what more could you ever want?!

......except maybe one of these - the perfect VW for a 4 year old...

My partner did an astounding amount of walking (as did the little boys) and we managed to see the whole show and be helpful and entertain our friend's children. There was also quite a lot of sitting in deck chairs soaking up the gorgeous weather - another sign of improvement on the part of my partner, who last week couldn't bear the sun in his eyes.

My partner managed until lunchtime before a very well-earned hour or so napping..

....while our 4 year old had fun with his periscope - spying on all the people in the stall!

We even got to actually test the 1stfone in use, as on our return to the stall at one point our 4 year old walked straight past and immediately realised he'd lost us, so stood still and rang me! I hadn't even realised he'd got lost because I could still see him - but he couldn't see us. It worked a charm and I was able to tell him to stay still and walk over to where he was waiting. Without it I'd have had to run to catch him and he'd have been far more upset than he was.

Some people are less scared of Tiggers than others

The weather was gorgeous, we had a bit of rain around 3pm, but by then my partner was flagging and it was time to start saying our goodbyes anyway. We couldn't have asked for more really.


When we got home I made a quick tea and we ate, and then my fella went to bed....and stayed there until 8.10am this morning. The children examined their selection of VW t-shirts and models and flashing bouncy balls, and I lathered myself in aftersun! How it is that we have all these gingers who come home pasty white while I ended up beetroot red I'll never know!

It's amazing what 48 hours of antibiotics can do. I think I love Alexander Fleming.

When I consider how scared I was on Sunday night, and how close I was to taking him back to hospital, and then I look at him 72 hours later, sat next to me laughing at the TV with no fever and no shortness of breath (well, okay, maybe a little, everything is still a bit more of an effort for him), it's magic.

Yesterday I delivered Girl no.3 to her friend's house for a sleepover and stayed for coffee. I'd left my partner fed, watered and  having his 4 hour afternoon nap and it was lovely to get out for a while and spend time catching up with their family - they just moved up here from Derby, and I moved up here 6 years ago. When I got home with the little boys it was my partner who opened the door to let us in, with a big grin on his face. If I could have bottled that moment I'd save it forever.


He continued to improve last night and over today and he even came with me this afternoon to collect my daughter from her sleepover and have a coffee - no big nap. He was flagging after an hour, but it's a really big step. I feel like a Mum listening to her child say a new word.

I really feel we are well onto the right track again. He has new pain in his hands and feet now because when he was ill over those 3 days they swelled up and were burning hot, but otherwise we're back to where we were and beyond it.

We were due to camp over the weekend with trading friends at a VW show at Tatton Park, and then on Monday we were going to Wales for a week. Camping is still far beyond us, we had to cancel Wales, but we're planning to go to the show for the day and see our friends and let the children spend money on ice creams and plastic tat they'll break before we get home. Normal stuff. My partner can sit in a deck chair on the stall all day and go have a nap in our friend's van whenever he needs to. It's bound to rain all day, but it won't matter one bit.

He didn't get any better. In fact he got a bit hotter and I had to wake him up overnight and make him take paracetamol and get out from under the duvet. He cooled down a lot straightaway and that's the only thing that stopped me from getting dressed and taking him to A&E.

He was clearly ill and it was a horribly reminiscent time. I can't begin to count the number of times I checked his temperature. I think I'm obsessed.

At 9am we were in with the Doctor and he'd ruled out any recurrence of Meningitis and confirmed Tonsilitis and throat infection. He also confirmed that my partner is likely to catch anything going and really suffer with it. He was a lovely Doctor actually. He referred to my partner's 4-5 hour afternoon naps as 'dedication' and he waited an extra few seconds to raise his eyebrows when my partner said he only wanted another week's sick note for work.

We went home via the Chemist for a 4th course of antibiotics, some Athlete's foot cream, another bottle of Full Marks headlice treatment and cold sore cream. It's an eclectic mix, but that's life with 7 children.

When we got home the 3 girls were all still in bed. This is significant because it was Girl no.2's 14th birthday. She wasn't even aware we'd ever been out, and we had time to put together her present before she got up.

When my partner was seriously ill and delirious his daughter's birthday present never left his mind. He was seriously ill on IV antibiotics and yet he was demanding to be allowed out of bed cos he had an eBay finishing! He couldn't even stand up or see properly, there was no way he could have worked out numbers. It made me smile, and it made me cry a little bit. I had to go outside the hospital to get a phone signal and then bid on the present. I then had to go back out half an hour later and see how it ended. He really calmed down after I told him we'd won the auction.

The next day when I went back to the hospital he'd been dwelling on it overnight and was panicking about how we'd pick it up. It was too big to post and only a 20 minute drive away. So close, yet so far. When he was allowed out early he was only home on condition he acted as he would in hospital, and the pain in his head, back and neck meant a 40 minute drive was out of the question anyway.

When he got home he put his computer on straightaway and got the email address of the seller, asked for her number and gave it to me. At the time I thought, 'typical, straight on the laptop'. Now I look back, he switched it off and didn't use it for another 4 or 5 days. He didn't even read his Kindle much those first few days. It must have really hurt to get that phone number.

We went out early in the morning 7 days later and picked up the most fabulous present any 14 year old could ever have. It was hard driving because I could see him wincing with every pothole, but adrenaline really is an amazing thing. He dismantled it and passed it to me and I carried it out to our van. Van loaded we went home content and he slept until teatime.

And so this morning despite his all-over pain and swollen hands, and while his daughter slept, he reassembled her present in our living room. With maybe a bit of help and hindrance from the ones who were awake. And I'm pleased to say she's delighted with it.


Maybe she'll never appreciate the effort it took, or maybe she will, but this image is one that seemed massively unimportant to me on several occasions when I had far more to worry about, but it was what my partner was using for focus. This picture has a real story, and that's why I'm linking it with Charlie Dove's brand new linky over on the PODcast blog "What's the Story".....