Living in the Covid world

Yesterday I made my first trip to London in 4 months for a dental procedure.

Like most of the world I dislike a dental appointment for its discomfort and cost. As one who has got by in life by always seeking the positive side of some crisis I struggle with the dental chair.

My best effort is it has to be done and when it is done it is over.

The appointment had been vacated because of the lockdown. I originally saw a local dentist for a tooth that fell out but decided to continue the treatment with a dentist I very much liked who practised from my late parents’ home.

It was a wise decision as the London dentist Jeremy advised that the gap had not been sufficiently cleaned or cleared, hence the appointment.

I cannot imagine my dental work is of much further interest to anyone but me so I will continue with my perceptions of travel and “getting on with things” in today’s world.

Things are very much slower and those in authority very much bossier in ensuring that the government regulations are observed.

Before travelling up to London I had to drop off my cat at the vet.

He had a hypoglyecemic fit eight days ago as he is diabetic and his glucose level had descended.

I rushed him to the vet and – two days and £1,350 later – he was well enough to return home.

The difficulty now is assessing the correct level of insulin and a review was fixed for yesterday.

I thought I could drop him off en route to the station but was informed that I had to wait outside the vets for my appointment at 10.

After 20 minutes I was informed I could sit inside as space in the waiting area had been drastically reduced.

The main station, the trains and Victoria were reduced by I would guess 50% less passengers.

My carriage had only one passenger.

I did not see anyone disinfect the train but it seemed clean enough.

My dentist and his hygienist wore Perspex visors covering and a mask.

Jeremy joked that it was probably my closest human contact in 3 months.  Although I felt like Dustin Hoffman in that horrific dental torture session in Marathon Man I could only admire Jeremy’s dexterity.

The train back was similarly deserted but twice the inspector or – as they call them ‘on board supervisor’ – insisted my mask covered my nose though I was the only person in the carriage.

I collected my cat at 5.30.

The front desk of the vets has to field the calls, attend to the animals and owners and take payments. The taking of payment is an elaborate process as three times the receptionist left her station to go to an area behind her.

Another significant bill but finally my day was over. It had quite exhausted me and I struggled to stay awake till my normal hour of retiring and at 8-45 pm gave up the battle.

Despite a dull pain I slept like a baby. I was quite exhausted by the day and it will be sometime before I take on such tasks again.