Ben has had covid this past week. He started feeling unwell on Friday night over a week ago. On Monday he took a lateral flow test and it was positive. He says he’s felt achy, very tired, was a bit feverish and headachy for a couple of nights, and lost his appetite. He’s much better now but has lost his sense of taste and smell and still feels lethargic.
The rest of us are all fine so far. We all had a cold in the two weeks preceding his so we just thought he’d caught what we had. It’s possible we did all have covid too but I tested myself and it was negative so we don’t know. I’m honestly surprised we’ve all gone so long without having had it because we’ve been exposed to it numerous times but I think the vaccines have protected us and only now that their effectiveness has diminished with time has Ben got sick. His last booster was about a year ago.
Elizabeth went on a school camp last week which was her first time away from us aside from the odd sleepover here and there. They went to an outdoor centre in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
It poured with rain all week but Elizabeth was well kitted out with waterproof trousers, a good waterproof coat, and waterproof shoes. I had a chuckle when I saw on the packing list sunscreen and two pairs of swimmers. I think the sunscreen was wishful thinking. Sunscreen in October in Scotland haha. I still have no idea what they thought they might need swimming togs for. They came home unused. Yes, I know I go swimming mid-winter in the North Sea but it seemed unlikely they’d take children cold-water swimming. Or at least I’d expect them to get parental permission first.
Elizabeth returned with lots of muddy, wet clothing and smelling worse than a dog that’s just rolled itself in a decaying fox. She went all week without showering once. I don’t know how she can stand it. Aside from the rain and the crummy accommodation she said she had a good time. It was a new experience for her I guess.
Rocket, our newly adopted hamster, has settled in well to his new home. I’ve even seen him use the wheel lots of times now. He loves it and is always getting on and off. It’s way too big for him as it’s meant for a Syrian hamster but he manages it.
We think he’s a Russian Dwarf hamster so of course we’ve decided he’s fled Russia like so many others to escape the tyrannical regime and is applying for refugee status in the United Kingdom. But don’t tell anyone just in case Suella Braverman deports him to Rwanda. What a cutie he is!
rachel.blog 
Sometimes they use swimsuits if one of the activities requires them to shower afterwards and the shower facility is open plan. (I found this out on our trip in the summer, the adults luckily just went back to the chalet to shower.)
It doesn’t sound like showering was the plan though!
I’m glad she had a good time. Some of our kids were really nasty to each other when we were away. But for others it’s an amazing opportunity to push their limits, both physically and emotionally.
Rocket looks different from our hamster so I’m starting to be able to tell the difference between the types now. We get that blue and pink stuff all over the floor.
Ah that makes sense about the showering. I wondered whether they may have had swimming on the plan with provided wetsuits but that never happened. Maybe the weather meant they had to cancel?
Thankfully Elizabeth reported back that everyone was really nice and there’s apparently no nastiness at all. It’s a really nice school and her year is very friendly and kind.
Rocket sure is a cutie. He makes that wheel look easy – lol!