I realise I have a hilarious and charmed life. I’m not sure if it’s because I see the funny side of things or because I’m just so grateful but following on from last blog….

Having been unwell for a few days with a temperature, sore ear, extremely tired, itchy eyes, foggy brain and just an overwhelming need to sleep I had been isolating since Saturday.

It was deadline again – that comes around quickly – but could only sleep Saturday but luckily on Sunday I was able to do a lot of work – SO grateful I did.

Monday I just kept plugging away and as long as I was sitting down I was okay. Still felt pretty bad and really thirsty but Panadol were a joy.

I had been hoarding my one RAT Test for such an occasion so decided to do it Tuesday midday only to find part of the kit was missing…

My smugness melted away as I had thought I had the only RAT test in existence, I rang the hospital and booked in for the next day for a PCR.

As I got into the car at 6.30am I realise I needed fuel – always need fuel – and thought omg I can’t go anywhere or see anyone with symptoms so LUCKILY we have a 24 hour no contact pump now in Rainbow! SO excited! Yep and grateful.
Put $50 in and had a glorious trip in air conditioned comfort to Gympie.

Got to King Street at 7.30am and jumped in the queue for the 8am opening. Fifth in line. Winning. Smugness overload. Grateful you know.

Turned the car off so I wouldn’t choke the incredibly friendly traffic guys and downloaded a book while I charged my phone – I don’t go ANYWHERE now without two battery packs! I also need a new phone that doesn’t need charging four times a day.

Feeling pretty smug – again- I read a little and felt gloriously grateful for the ease of life – to be able to get a test so easily and free and life was good.

Went to turn the car on as the nurse came to my window to get details and ….. Click. Click oh dear….oh please not in the Covid queue …no way …..people have surely been murdered for less.

Well she was a delight and after she checked my details without a judgemental look – she compassionately and sympathetically smiled at me and said she would go and to check if anyone knew about cars – amongst the nurses…

So out comes my new favourite man, a nurse and ….car enthusiast!!
He and my other new friend, the traffic controller quickly diagnosed my car and discovered battery was indeed dead as a door nail. Just decided right there at the hospital to drop dead.

How GRATEFUL it didn’t happen at Double Island with an incoming tide. But…the Covid queue really, just as scary.
So, the day before I was looking in my receipts tray – and noticed the RACQ membership and thought did I pay that? And ‘I must check I paid that’. But I didn’t get around to it. What’s another day I thought.

So I rang RACQ from the queue in blustery confidence ready to act extremely surprised and disbelieving when they told me my subscription was out of date. Ready with the but I was SURE I had paid it…etc.

But thank GOODNESS, in a moment of efficiency I had renewed it and my knight was on his way.
By this time the line is starting to move – well only those in front of me….

The lovely traffic controller came by and said don’t stress, we can move them around you. I have a large 4WD so I doubted it but he did and they did and not one curse from the other drivers.

The amazing nurse/mechanic came back and swabbed my orifices thoroughly so I when my car was able to start I could just leave.

The wonderful RACQ arrived pronto! He was so capable and what incredible service. How lucky are we to have this service.

He diagnosed the problem, had a battery on hand and did a quick switch and bingo – car good to go.
I will add at this point I’m not a neglectful car owner and had a new alternator and thorough service only a few months prior.
I paid the RACQ man $250 for the battery and was SO grateful I actually had enough money to pay for it.
He noticed a hose was loose so said better see a mechanic ASAP to get that checked.

So I popped down to the amazingly awesome Brad and Pete at Gympie Central Service Centre and they looked at it straight away and said……you can’t drive anywhere….you need a new radiator.
Ha! A new radiator hahaha NOT grateful. A new bloody radiator – who gets new bloody radiator. I have had fifty cars and never needed a new bloody radiator.

Finding it hard to be grateful at this point but…

He said they were double booked, so very busy but if there was a radiator in Gympie he would get it and try to fix it before morning for me.

Having no choice, I accepted as I was in a dilemma, I live an hour away and I couldn’t get in a cab or car in case I was infected and I was absolutely certain I was.

The coffee van came in – of course haha – so I grabbed a beautiful coffee from the super friendly driver, and grabbed a few Byron Bay cookies too because I knew it was going to be a long day and my black coffee for Brekkie was not going to sustain me.

Grabbed a chair from my car and sat in the shade to have a think, in front of the workshop, with my incredibly beautiful coffee and pondered my dilemma.

There were chargers, spare knickers, my medication, and even an overnight bathroom pack I had been given by the glorious Glenda for a book club Christmas gift in my car, I would be fine.

I also discovered the boot full of stuff I offered to drop to for St Vinnies for my darling friend Michelle who left town – so sad – which I’m sure had doona’s and sheets which I could use if I needed. They are never going to Vinnies either btw – just so you know Vinnies – they are much mine now.

My lovely 86 year old mother never comes to town on a Wednesday but this day she had decided to go in and get pool supplies so she swung by for moral support – when she stopped giggling.

I had a plan. I rang my next saviour Donna from the Victory Hotel and asked her if she had a bed for the night I could have. I couldn’t stay with mum or a friend just in case I was positive – and I knew I was.

I explained my situation and she said drive straight in and stay as long as you need to. GRATITUDE.
So mum and I decided if we both wore masks and I sat in the back seat with the windows open she could take me the five minutes up the road to the hotel which we did.

She had brought me some sourdough from Woolies and I had my three cookies so I would survive.
Donna gave me a beautiful self contained family room with kitchen and I just crashed.
I had only come to town for a quick test and home again and here I was staying overnight in a motel $1300out of pocket – $250 for the battery and $1000 for a new radiator …

My beautiful friend of fifty five years, gasp – doesn’t time fly, Kay, said she was going to Coles and could grab me a few things and drop them off on the way. She also picked up a knitted jumpsuit I had waiting for me at Kmart which I could change into, and some tomatoes, cheese, and a delicious mango. I was set for days – all my food groups were covered…… Grateful!

Had a great sleep woke up wondering where the hell I was.
The car was fixed and delivered to me at 10am and I went home with such gratitude to see my humble abode again, at 8.30pm my test results arrived…..negative. Negative! What!

Grateful! Amazed! But curious as I have all the symptoms and feel terrible.

So, that is how my last two days unfolded. I am now back home, taking it easy, immensely grateful for so much – great neighbours, great friends, great businesses – IGA delivered some groceries for me as I knew I would be isolating for at least a week….. and I not leaving the house for a week as I am not ready for my next unplanned adventure and I certainly can’t afford it.