I awoke feeling lousy. However, I knew that I was going to have to get myself home, so I had better start on that task.

First thing: put a message in the facebook group telling everyone that I had the lurgy and to stay well away. Then I slowly packed my things, and even more slowly got them into the car.

I dropped my room keys into the slot and slunk away.

First stop, a Tesco in Stoke. I bought a meal deal there, staying as far as possible from everyone else. It’s one of the very few things that self-checkouts are good for, I guess. Then I started driving north.

Next stop was another Tesco just off Junction 43 of the M6. A good one to remember for future use. I bought some fuel and a COVID test. And from there I drove to Annandale to use it.

Of course, it was positive. Not a hint of doubt, no “wait for 15 minutes to be sure”. No, the line showed up strongly as the front of the water mark moved up the testing strip. No doubt.

So I phoned Marie to give her warning, and killed some time walking round the little loch at the back of this surprisingly pretty service area. When I got home, I went straight to my bedroom, carefully not touching anything en route. I got into my jammies and slept.