I started blogging 3 years ago. I haven’t blogged as much as I would like but I hope it’s been informative.

Let’s face it 2020 has not gone as anyone planned and who knows when it will be back to “normal”.

After several weeks of feeling mentally rubbish and hating everyone I realised I couldn’t snap out of the mood so increased my antidepressants a week ago which reaffirmed mine and many others thoughts that this pandemic is leading to a mental health crisis.

Whilst I understand at the moment the government is focused on the physical effects and spread of Covid-19 I am concerned at how the future response to this mental health epidemic will be managed.

The go to for mental health treatment seems to be drugs and I am all for them in many situations. Many people don’t understand how helpful these drugs can be but there is another option I believe strongly in.

Talk therapy should not be underestimated, it gives everyone a chance to chat through what they are feeling and learn they are not alone. This view was confirmed by my hairdresser; almost everyone who goes to see her talks about what they have been up to, how they are feeling, what’s annoyed them. If ever there was proof talk therapy is beneficial and people are widely using it this is it. It almost makes you wonder whether hair dressers should receive a therapy fee.

I understand the major restrictions at the moment of face to face counselling but with so many digital platforms available for online chats would it not be worth to have more group counselling session?

Counselling should be available to those affected directly by Covid-19 and for those who have not had it but by starting to treat it now it will prevent an epidemic later,

Today is day 2 of World Primary Immunodeficiency Week raising awareness for those living with Primary Immunodeficiencies (PIDs).

Having lived with this for 32 years it’s a cause I feel strongly about.

These are a group of over 300 different conditions that affect how the body’s immune system works.

People affected by PIDs have parts of their immune systems missing or not working. This leaves them with reduced or no natural defence against germs such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, which surround us everyday.

The consequences are that people with PIDs get infections more often than is normal; they can take longer to get better when they have antibiotic treatment and even then the infections can keep coming back.

This susceptibility to infection is one of the most common symptoms of PIDs. Often PIDs are diagnosed early in a child’s life. However, signs of immunodeficiency can also occur in older children, teenagers or adults.

Having a PID can also lead to other illnesses and life with or without these can be concerning.

With the current Covid-19 pandemic it is an extremely worrying time for everyone and especially so when you have a PID.

Depending on the type of PID a person has and their other conditions many patients may be classed as “extremely vulnerable” and have been advised to “shield” for at least 12 weeks only leaving their homes for medical procedures that are necessary.

Being on immunosupression, having myelodysplasia etc means I’m in this extremely vulnerable category and so I’m not allowed to leave the house except for medical procedures as stated above. Luckily I have so many amazing friends around that I have plenty of people to collect prescriptions for me, get food etc and due to my status my amazing dog walker can still take my gorgeous Minnie out for a walk.

My sister is only 15 minutes away and has done some “essential visits” to me to get/deliver bits but we then chat through the window.

As they are over 70 my parents are classed as vulnerable and are not meant to leave their house so we speak on the phone everyday and introducing them to Zoom has been amazing. Other patients are still “vulnerable” but do not need to take such extreme measures but I reckon if you speak to most PID patients they are shielding as much as they can.

The issue with this is that getting bits if you have no friends and family around e.g food delivery shops. We all know how difficult it is to get a food delivery slot but for those more susceptible to illness complications and no-one around to help them it is a nightmare leaving them with hardly any food or ways to get any.

The one thing this pandemic has shown is how much community spirit there still is around, with groups of volunteers being set up to help those in need. Even I have had 2 calls from the Red Cross to check I am okay and aside from my ataxia stopping me from hoovering the stairs I am.

So what I’m trying to say is do your bit to help others even if you don’t know why they’re having to do what they do, if you have a food delivery slot ask your neighbours (especially the vulnerable ones) if they want to add anything to it and of course don’t forget to clap for carers and keyworkers tonight.

As many of you know I returned from South Africa on Sunday and here is my experience of what the countries were doing for COVID19.

Our flight to Capetown was uneventful with my wheelchair being delivered straight off. We then encountered immediately after disembarking a queue where every passenger was having their temperature checked for one of the covid19 symptoms.

This definitely put me at ease as it was an indication they weren’t ignoring the virus even with the low number of cases in South Africa at the time.

On the 15th a major public address from the South African president  announced they were stopping those from high risk countries (UK)  entering the country, shutting some border entries and ports.

It was only a few days before we left that major changes were implemented, with no alcohol to be sold after 6pm, restrictions on how many people can be in a restaurant, restaurants shut after 6 and no alcohol to be bought or consumed in public on public holidays.

Arriving back in the UK on 22nd March, no temperatures were taken, their was no social distancing at Heathrow and to be honest apart from announcements on the plane no acknowledgement was made. The only noticeable announcement was from our cabin crew as passengers had taken loo roll from the planes bathroom making me wonder what is wrong with our public and especially glad I was wearing an N95 mask as obviously chaos was about to rule.

I’m now self isolating for 12 weeks due to NHS guidelines and if I do have to open my door I wear my mask.

Everyone should do their bit by staying home and keeping their distance.

A text a few weeks before our Capetown trip my amazing friend Tammy told us she had booked us in to a drag/cabaret theatre evening but that the show was upstairs but no problem as the guys would carry me up. Cue minor panic as I hate being carried in my wheelchair but my wish to see the show won over.

I really shouldn’t have worried!!!!

From arrival I didn’t feel like it was causing a problem as they carried me up the entrance step and lip before asking me if I wanted to be carried to the theatre before or after everyone.

So after everyone else went up two gloriously hunky men carried me in my chair to my seat.

The show was hilarious and I laughed so hard and the girls were so lovely before 2 yummy men carried me back down again when we were ready to go.

Many of you know the fear of letting others be in control of your wheel chair and causing extra work for people so I cannot praise the staff at gate 69 in Cape town enough for making me not feel an imposition in my chair.

More places should do more like this to assist people without them feeling like they’re causing a problem. Many UK places should take note. Gate 69 you’re amazing!