Clouds drifting by

So far, the mice (yes, plural. There are, apparently, two) are evading capture and ignoring the sonic repellents. The mouse trap has been sprung at least twice but all it caught was a roving Ferrero Rocher. Some carers are amused, some are not, and one wants to take them home with her.

I've ordered more sensitive traps and I'm hoping some swiss roll will tempt them in.

~~~

My doctor's coming tomorrow to give me my 2nd Covid jab. I was surprised to get a phonecall about it today as I thought it would be longer before I got the 2nd jab. Apparently, it's only 4-12 weeks between doses for the Astrazeneca. I'm just hoping I don't feel ill after it. I didn't with the 1st.

~~~

Ruth, my Occupational Therapist, rang yesterday. She's received the go ahead to get me a Neater Eater. I'm rather astonished as it's £5,500 to buy one. (That's not a typo.) I don't know when it'll be delivered.

It's amazing how long you can spend trying to get to sleep. Tonight, it's joint pain that's keeping me awake.

I think I've been awake since about 2. I must have dozed on and off as there's no way I've been awake for 5 hours.

Paracetamol isn't working either.

ETA: And now my gas central heating isn't working either. :o(

23. When you think about your future, what are you most afraid of?

How much more my condition will degenerate.

BBC article.

Letting water get anywhere near your contact lens can let Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK) infect your eyes.

AK is "a rare but serious eye infection caused by a micro-organism that's common in tap water, sea water and swimming pools".

Symptoms of Acanthamoeba keratitis include the following:

Sensitivity to light and excessive tearing
Blurred vision with eye redness and pain
Sensations of having something in your eye
Severe headaches

The health secretary for the Government (link goes to the BBC website), said that:

"an ageing population and a "dementia time bomb" meant helping carers stay in work was an "economic necessity" for the country."

By carers, he meant 'unpaid carers'. If they leave work they'd have to receive benefits as even carers can't live on fresh air and no food. The benefits, btw, are meagre. Yes, their rent/council tax are paid, but the rest of their bills are supposed to be covered by the invalid care allowance they receive. Minus the bedroom tax if they're receiving housing benefit and have an extra bedroom, of course.

When I stopped being a carer the invalid care allowance was the princely sum of £92 a week. It was only that high because I had no other income and was looking after my mother. Any other income/caring for your partner or spouse and that invalid care allowance drops to less than £60 a week...and that's the current rate.

The same article said:

"Meanwhile, a report has warned England is facing a shortfall in the number of people able to give vital unpaid care."

I've been a carer. I looked after my mum for 12 years - 10 of those years were without any kind of day off. It's health-degrading, nerve-straining work, as you're on call 24/7 endlessly. Well, until your health degrades to the state where you're unable to provide care any longer.

So, the Government wants people to do that at the same time as holding down a full time job. Apparently this country is filled with people who don't need downtime or even sleep.