Sigh...

I had my first face-to-face experience with a Covid-Denier yesterday. Face-to-face because she doesn't "believe in masks & I have difficulty putting them on", even when a complete stranger is coming into your house to measure it for flooring & you have no idea where he's been, or who may have coughed on him recently, or sneezed in his vicinity, or... we all know this

But, apparently, we also "know what a bad cold is like, or the 'flu"

I was invited to remove my mask while I was in her house, but the above statements were more than enough for me to keep it firmly on - in fact maybe a little tighter than normal... & you couldn't convince me to take my mask off for 2 million dollars & free kittens for life

White, Northern English ex-pat, aged 60+, living on Sydney's northern beaches. there's enough information there to place her in a few stereotypes, none of which are renowned for forward-thinking

I went for my weekly Covid test about 90 minutes after this encounter. I got the 'all-clear' by text last night & this was the first time I've been thoroughly relieved. Even though this woman exhibited no symptoms, it was worrying enough just to be in her house, because god only knows what other healthy precautions she's decided are too difficult to bother with. I don't know how rapidly Covid can manifest, so maybe yesterday's test was too soon... & perhaps psychosomatically, I have that feeling in the back of my throat that suggests an oncoming cold... or worse

Friday Five Time

These questions were written by [livejournal.com profile] upupandaway.

1. Growing up, what sayings/phrases do you remember your mother using? Your father?
We were all fans of 60s-70s British comedies, so lots of catchphrases from Monty Python, The Goodies, Dad's Army, Are You Being Served, Benny Hill, Fawlty Towers (I still call annoying Mrs Richards types "Scabby old bat!!"), It Ain't Half Hot Mum. Love Thy Neighbour, The Kenny Everett Video Show...

2. What book/song/other did your parents use to put you to sleep?
I learned to read pretty young, before I went to school, so my memories are mainly of reading myself to sleep - the usual kids stuff like Dr Seuss, then Secret Seven, Famous Five, Hardy Boys... then whatever books we were reading for school. I still read myself to sleep

3. What did you fight with your siblings over?
The usual 1st vs 2nd child stuff... how much more my sister could get away with than I could & how much more was done for her, than was ever done for me!!

4. Do you and your siblings still fight?
Yes... & it paints those childhood grievances in a new light... I've grown up far more resourceful, self-reliant & street-smart than she has & these days I mostly argue with her sheltered, spoon-fed views of the world

5. What was the worst fight you had with any family member?
My paternal grandfather & I once faced off at opposite ends of the dining table. He grabbed a ketchup bottle to hit me with, I grabbed (ironically!) the Fathers Favourite sauce bottle & was more than ready to return the condiment...