6.15    An early start today as I have made myself an appointment for ‘The Jab’ which seems to be the used name for the vaccination against Corona virus.  I am going to Ticehurst which was the nearest place they could give me, eleven miles away and I liked the idea of going to a small village hall and I chose 8 am with the view that there wouldn’t be many people there.

6.45    Putting the kettle on, the new kettle since my last one stopped working.  I am more pleased with my new kettle than I probably should be but I guess anything new or different relieves the same, same, same, tedium.  It is white for a start with a pattern like fish skin and when the light is on it makes diamond reflections on the work surface.  How sad is that? But I really like it.

7.15  I am on my way, it’s a bit rainy but thank goodness milder.  Lovely

travelling along country roads I haven’t seen in ages, jogging my memory of trips out before.

I have never been one to get nervous over needles and flu jabs but I am feeling slightly worried today because the minute I told anyone about the forthcoming vac, I heard a flood of terrible stories of dreadful reactions, each one it seemed, outdoing the last! I even began to wonder whether I would be better off without it.

7.46    ROAD CLOSED  Great, I have given myself plenty of time but I know how long diversions can be especially on country roads so I take the bull by the horns and squeeze past the sign hoping for the best and lo and behold nothing but a few cones and a vehicle left overnight.

I am directed by a smiley lady, into the village hall car park which I find to my surprise to be nearly full.  I then find myself in a queue outside the hall, not quite what I had hoped for at 8 am but after ten minutes it moves quite quickly and I am signed in in a little marquee, temperature zapped as I walk in to the hall and am directed to a seat. Sitting a metre next to me is a man whose over large ears seem to be accentuated by the mask handles wrapped around them. He tells me to watch out for people who will try to jump the queue and motions me to move forward when the next person goes through. He looks around all the time obviously hoping to catch out some poor unsuspecting soul and then nods his head at me as if we are in some mutual spy team.  Fortunately I get called to the next stage and ultimately to the pleasant young nurse who gives me my Jab which contrary to some stories I don’t even feel.  Through the dividing screen I hear Big Ears having a go at the nurse doing his Jab.  Apparently he was kept waiting too long!

Then it’s off to another room to be watched for five minutes for instant reaction or anaphylactic shock and back out into the drizzle.

13.30   Still no reaction,    I didn’t feel that Jab     Did she actually give it to me?