Well it was only a matter of time before I caught COVID once again, and today I am self-isolating, after testing positive for Coronavirus. I had been suffering from a tickly throat for a couple of days, just a niggly annoyance if I am honest, but due to the nature of my work, I was testing daily; each time, my lateral flow test was coming back negative. Not feeling too unwell, I carried on as normal, bought a tickly throat medicine and ate copious amounts of lozenges. Oddly, nothing was helping, and the mild symptoms just lingered and lingered. All the time, I continued to test every day, just to be sure, there was nothing going on.

This week, on Saturday, I was due to have a procedure in hospital, so it was important that I remained as safe as I could, constantly testing, social distancing and wearing a mask. Every time, the results came back negative, and I felt confident to prepare for hospital. However, on Monday this week, Darrell tested positive for COVID and I instinctively knew there was something wrong.

The new lateral flow kits only have swabs long enough for the nasal cavity. After quickly looking online and taking advice, I was told to try and swab the back of my throat as well as my nose, even though this isn't standard practice. Low and behold, I tested positive within seconds and immediately informed work.

The rules on self-isolation have changed recently and despite my COVID-19 app initially telling me to quarantine for eleven days, it was only a guide to how long I would have to separate myself from the World. The new rules state that if I take a lateral flow test on day five and six, and they are both negative, I can return to work. I would need two negative results over two consecutive days, then my period of isolation would end immediately.

Today is my fifth day, according to 'Track and Trace' who phoned me this morning, informing me I probably caught COVID between the 14th and 18th of January. My guess is, they determined this after I did a PCR test yesterday, but I can't be certain. The gentleman on the phone asked me all the standard questions about whom I had been in contact with. He assured me, that even if I am still testing positive on the day I return to work, it would be safe to do so, since I would no longer be infectious.

I am aware that a PCR investigation is no longer required, if you test positive on a lateral flow. However, in order to make sure I was actually infected with the virus, I wanted to do the more reliable laboratory analysis, especially after registering negative LFT's.

Yesterday morning I walked the short distance to the testing site and the temporary Portakabins, erected in the old Sainsbury car park on Commercial Road, Portsmouth, and did the test. Last night I received the news, I was positive and should continue to stay at home.

Tuesday was a particularly busy day, as I had to rearrange hospital appointments, thankfully with only a week delay. The lady on the phone was extremely helpful, even informing me I would not have to do a PCR test before attending my appointment. Initially, confused, I questioned this, only to be told, it wasn't necessary. Apparently, even though I would be free of Coronavirus on the day of my admission, I would still probably test positive on a PCR test. I would be able to bypass this element of my hospital stay and just attend at the new appointment time.

With both Darrell and I self-isolating together, we are catching up on some much-needed sleep and rest. I am unsure which strain of Coronavirus I have, but the symptoms are extremely mild. I suppose I feel a little more tired than usual, and I have a tickly throat, coughing on occasion, but nothing more than that. If I am honest, I have had worse colds; the way I feel at the moment, is like nothing I have experienced before. In many respects I feel like a charlatan having to self-isolate, but I do understand the reasons why.

If I hadn't had my vaccinations and booster, I can guarantee I would be feeling a lot worse. Yes, I do feel out of sorts, but nothing bad or unable to cope with. By staying away from  people I am protecting others, but I am not sure it is entirely appropriate to quarantine for such a long time, especially when, like most people, I have to work for a living. Nevertheless, all of us do need to support the most vulnerable in society; if anyone in an at risk category caught Coronavirus, they may not be as lucky as me.

Today, I feel completely different to the first time I had to self-isolate with COVID symptoms, back in March 2020. Back then I lost my sense of taste and smell and isolated for seven days. I did have a few days when I wasn't feeling great, but nothing too concerning; this time, I feel like I have a very mild cold! Also, the anxiety, worry, and stress I suffered with back in 2020 is no longer there, as I just wait for the day I am able to return to work.

All being well, I should be out and about again on 31st January and in hospital on 8th February for my rescheduled appointment. Darrell and I are at least able to spend some valuable time together, despite being ill. As Coronavirus becomes endemic in Britain, there will be more times I will have to self-isolate I'm sure, unless, of course, the rules are changed once again. The hope is, life will return to normal and all of us will just have to live with the virus, making our own personal judgements on who to be in close contact with. The only concern I have, is the possible discovery of yet another new variant, that is more dangerous than Delta or Omicron, and we return to lockdowns and shutdowns. If things remain as they are, then hopefully we can learn to live alongside COVID and use our own common sense, showing respect for friends, family, and colleagues when we have to and enjoying life as we did in 2018. I pray it's the beginning of the end for self-isolation and I never, never have to do it again!

Last week I went out for a meal and a few drinks with colleagues. This was the first time I had been out with people from work in a long time, just before the start of the pandemic. This was a nice, chilled and relaxing evening, and it felt good to be socialising on this kind of level once again. Of course, it still wasn't the same as it was before COVID, with fewer customers than I remember, but at least the restaurant was open and there were customers, enjoying each other's company. Laughing and joking, deep in conversation, everyone was happy to be out, without a care in the World, living life like it was 2018.

Could this really be a taste of the future, I ask myself? Are we finally coming out of this pandemic? Well, from what the experts are saying, Britain, ahead of much of the World, is moving back towards normality, as we enter a new phase, living with COVID-19. All of us will have to live alongside it and get used to being far more cautious around others, in a personal, measured way, continuing to protect ourselves on a daily basis. I, for one, will continue to wear my mask in a work and professional setting. That is a personal choice and I don't need the Government to give me guidance, especially since they haven't followed rules themselves.

The latest news conference from the Government made it clear, that restrictions will now be lifted and by March of this year, there will be no more controls in place. It is a scary thought, living in a World without limitations, as it was before 2019, but as disconcerting as that feels, I am well aware of the importance of living my life to the full. I want to start travelling, picking up from where I left off, surrounding myself with friends and family in the same way I used to. Most importantly, I want to stop being afraid of a virus that I can't do anything about.

As Britain returns to normal, it is important we remain aware of Coronavirus, because it will be around for a very long time yet. We shouldn't, however, let it impact on our lives negatively any longer. Everyone I know wants to move forwards, all of us have wasted too many precious months, living under the constraints of COVID-19. It may well be time to throw the masks in the bin, but it is also a period to remain aware of just what could happen again in the future. Taking responsibility for our own actions should be our overriding priority, as we navigate the new World COVID has left behind!

We are now in the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it looks like we may finally be heading towards the end of this dreadful period in history. The virus is now endemic in the UK, as it is in most other parts of the World, and it appears we will now just have to live alongside it. A colleague asked me a couple of days ago, if I thought we would ever see a lockdown again; after thinking about it for a brief moment, I said 'no!' From the noise made in Government and the general public's reluctance, it is clear no one wants to see another economic shutdown again, and who can blame them.

My views on the Government's handling of this pandemic are widely known. From day one, our bumbling Prime minister, Boris Johnson, has left the most vulnerable in society to the mercy of COVID. He has avoided making decisions that would have ultimately saved lives, and he has allowed this virus to spread uncontrollably, failing to understand the need for restrictions in order to protect the wider population. However, we are where we are. Coronavirus isn't going anywhere soon, and we all have to weigh up our own risks, when dealing with it; we have to use our own common sense and do what is right for us.

As you would expect, I have read much about pandemics over the last few years, and it does feel that COVID-19 is following a rather traditional path. In general, Pandemics tend to last four to five years, and more importantly, they normally get milder, just as the last flu pandemic did, a little over a hundred years ago. Omicron looks to be a moderate version of Coronavirus, causing nominal flu like symptoms in most people, and doesn't appear to be the killer virus its predecessor was. Could this really be the downward spiral in the pandemic? Can we really start to live life once again?

Many of my closest friends, colleagues, and acquaintances are contracting the virus on a daily basis; far more than during the first few waves. For this reason, I am constantly looking over my shoulder, worrying, when will it be my time. Thankfully, despite being pinging by the NHS COVID app numerous times, taking a lateral flow test every other day and a PCR test when needed, I haven't tested positive yet. The last time I believe I had Coronavirus was at the beginning of the pandemic, in March 2019. Since then, I have taken every precaution to avoid it – wearing masks, constantly sanitizing and social distancing when I can, has become a fact of life. I am proud I have managed to avoid it up to now, even when others have tested positive twice or more.

According to statistics, Omicron is seventy percent more transmissible and with 200,000 a day contracting it, it is almost inevitable I will get it at some stage. Boris Johnson and his cronies have made it blatantly clear they will not have another lockdown and despite my misgivings about this Government at the start, I have to finally say, I agree with them. Britain's fragile economy, especially after Brexit, could not cope with another economic disaster. As a nation we can not afford to pay furlough money to inactive people again, and we do need to get on with our lives, in as normal a way as possible. This is, nevertheless, where I part ways with the Government, and unlike them, believe in stronger preventative measures, especially during the long winter months.

I have got used to wearing a mask in a working, social and crowded environment and to be honest, it doesn't bother me at all. Psychologically, I feel better wearing one, and I have had very few seasonal colds. I hope mask wearing is made compulsory in shops and indoor crowded locations permanently, as well as on public transport. Going forward, I intend to wear face coverings whenever I feel it is appropriate, as I believe we all should. I fail to understand, just why people dislike wearing them so much, especially when they protect others.

Vaccine passports are another way of ensuring the safety of others; if you haven't had a vaccine, because of some ridiculous anti-vax agenda, then you shouldn't be allowed in venues such as pubs, clubs, restaurants, and theatres. People need to live up to their commitments and start acting  conscientiously, thinking of the wider population, rather than themselves. If you don't get vaccinated, don't expect to enjoy the benefits the rest of us have. There is no conspiracy, there is just a desire to return to normal and not to remain stuck in this perpetual cycle of lockdowns and restrictions.

All of us have to do what is right for our communities – the old, frail and vulnerable, healthcare, retail, transport, and hospitality workers who are confronted with COVID every day. Each of us has a social responsibility to protect those who need it most, that is the mark of humanity, that is the right thing to do! If all of us had done what was expected from day one, we wouldn't be in the position we are today. We can't change the past, but we can influence the future!

Today, I am nursing a slight hangover, after saying goodbye to 2021 and welcoming in the new year. I am not in the habit of celebrating New Year's Eve these days, especially at the moment, with the new Omicron variant on the rise, but I did nevertheless have a few drinks with family after work.

Like most people, I will be glad to see the back of this horrible year and, rather like 2020, confine it to the bin of history. Of course, despite the challenges, I have personally faced this year, I am also aware of just how important 2021 was to Darrell and me, as we were reunited once again.

Both of us had been planning for Darrell's return for a good number of months, before he arrived in the UK. Darrell had to be sure that Mum was fit and able to be left, and her cancer was under control and manageable while he is in Britain. Once he was confident in her ability to look after herself, he had to get the correct paperwork in place, from the Australian government, that would allow him to leave the country. With Britain operating on an almost normal level, I can't emphasise enough just how Draconian the restrictions down under were and still are. Darrell had to sign a document, agreeing to not return to Australia for at least three months. This was a difficult undertaking for him, considering his Mother's health. However, he had no option but to return before his visa allowing him to live and work in the UK expired. With plans in place, Darrell returned home in September.

2021 was another year dominated by the ongoing pandemic. Anyone who thought the virus would have been eradicated by now, would be sorely disappointed. Today, as I write this entry, record numbers of people are falling ill with COVID, yesterday nearly 190,000 alone. It seems that most only have mild symptoms from the Omicron variant, but this is an awful lot of people self-isolating, and it can't be sustained forever.

I am lucky enough to have had both my vaccinations, and the booster in late November. I have also had my flu jab and a Pneumonia vaccination, so I am as protected as I can be. Working in a busy supermarket, I am well aware of the importance of wearing masks, sanitizing my hands and protecting myself; despite this, colleagues, friends, and family continue to fall ill every day; thankfully, thus far, I have been fine – not even a cold!

There have been so many sad stories this year, from friends who have lost loved ones to the virus and others who continue to battle its effects. In some respects, I have become numb to the suffering around me and just carried on working as best I can. It isn't that I don't care, it's just a mechanism I have adopted, to allow me to cope with the terrible circumstances we are all living through. If I constantly dwelled on the hardship, I would never leave the house; life has to go on!

My priority has been for myself, Darrell and my family. When Darrell arrived in the UK, he was luckily double vaccinated, having been one of the first group of people to receive their vaccines, when Australia had barely vaccinated a few hundred thousand people. Despite this, he has had difficulties with paperwork and documents, including his status on his British health records. With the Government pushing the boosters ever harder, pleading with people to get their third jab as soon as possible, we both decided he should start the vaccination process all over again here in the UK. In December, he had another injection and will have to have yet another one in a few months time. This was the quickest and best course of action we could take, to ensure he remained safe as Omicron ravages the country.

2021 has also been a year dominated by my health. With a growing list of symptoms and ailments and my anxiety levels high, I have pushed further and harder for answers. Yes, I do suffer with health anxiety, but the pain I experience is real. It may well also be functional in nature, at least in part, but the effects it has on my wellbeing is immeasurable. For these reasons, I need to understand just what processes are at work.

Luckily, despite the pandemic, I did manage to have various procedures completed, that I have been waiting for, for a long time. During the summer, I had my gallbladder removed, which had been causing a huge amount of discomfort. Since its removal, I have never felt better, and I am just thankful I badgered and harassed the clinicians and Doctors to get this operation done.

I also had a gastroscopy, which also answered a few more questions about my gastrointestinal health, and I could once again start to live a normal life with the right treatment. There are many other niggles and annoyances I want dealt with; with the pandemic a major concern and restrictions commonplace, it seems inevitable that I will have to wait a little longer for these to be carried out. I hope I can finally see the back of them in 2022; only time will tell if that's the case!

With both Darrell and I working, we are beginning to make plans for the future. 2021 has been about dreams and aspirations; living through a pandemic has made us reassess our future plans. As a couple there is still a lot of travelling we would like to do, but our priorities have changed somewhat and acquiring a permanent home, here in the UK, seems to be our biggest challenge.

Living with my Aunt has allowed me to save consistently; during COVID, I have saved even harder, and that has actually meant all the difference in deciding our future. With a healthy bank balance, both of us would like to invest in a new home soon, maybe as soon as 2022. We are quite comfortable living with my Aunt, so luckily there is no rush to purchase anything yet. The circumstances of 2021 has allowed us to build up capital at a time when others are sadly struggling. The Coronavirus era has been a lucrative time for us; I don't want to sound uncaring about others who have suffered, but we have been left in a fortunate position, that will hopefully help us secure our future. Neither of us have made any firm plans about where we would like to be based in Britain, but having money has given us options, that we wouldn't otherwise have had.

This year I reached the grand old age of 50, not a milestone I was looking forward to with any sense of glee. However, my Aunt organised a party that I will always remember. This was yet another event Darrell wasn't able to attend, second to our 25th anniversary in 2020. It is sad that we have had to live separate lives for so long, due to a situation beyond our control, but it has taught us the importance of resilience during testing times. Together, we remain as strong as ever and can be proud of everything we have achieved.

2021 has been a difficult twelve months, but it has been a year of hard work and progress. I don't have the social life I once had; I no longer travel the World, as I would like; but I am continuing to build the foundations both of us need for success in the future. No one can predict what will happen in 2022, but my guess is, more of the same, and I will be writing something very similar this time next year. On average, pandemics have a lifespan of four to five years, so I believe these tumultuous times have more to give. As long as we use these austere months for personal enrichment and advancement, I feel sure we will reach our goals and begin to live life again in the best way we can.  I look forward to the day when society returns to normal, masks are cast aside and social distancing is a thing of the past, until then we wait, wonder and ponder what comes next; nothing lasts forever, everything happens for a reason, even a pandemic!