Ireland day 1407. Tuesday 05 August 2025- Covid Again

Today’s summary	Had an almost entirely sleepless night, punctuated by extended bouts of coughing. I feared the worst and a lateral flow test this morning confirmed it. I have got Covid again, for the second time since we came to Ireland. I felt pretty rotten all day and spent it in bed being looked after by Val. I do hope she doesn’t catch it. Inbetween brief dozes and coughing fits, together with Val, we managed to finish off our UK tax returns. I also did some Spanish homework but have sent apologies for tomorrow’s class. A light dinner of rocket, chicken and salmon, followed by blueberry sorbet.
Today’s weather	Not been out at all today but it looked nice and sunny in the morning with more cloud later. Dry all day with a strong westerly wind. Appx 19c
Today’s overview location (The blue mark shows the location of our route)			Close-up location (The blue line shows where we walked) (No GPX today)

Commentary

I don’t know what it is about me and holidays in Ireland, but I do seem to be developing a bit of a track record of getting ill whenever I go on them. Covid before the Wicklow Way in March 2022, shingles after Skellig Michael in September 2024, norovirus on Tory Island in July this year, and now Covid again after Doolin.

After a night in bed when I got almost no sleep because of the coughing, I eventually dragged myself to the bathroom to do a Covid test. The dreaded double red line appeared and the latest illness was duly diagnosed. There’s not really much you can do to speed up the exit of the coronavirus from your metabolism, but knowing what’s wrong is in itself quite reassuring.

I spent most of the day in bed – not so much to try and hasten recovery, but more because I generally felt so grotty and tired, that I couldn’t really do anything else.

Nevertheless, from my recumbent position, together with Val, we did manage to finish off our UK tax returns. A major step forward, until the whole process starts again in January, with the Irish one. I also did some Spanish homework- enough to keep my Cervantes tutor happy at any rate, though I have emailed him to say I won’t be at the class tomorrow. You’re recommended to keep away from other people for five days after testing positive for covid, and I don’t want to risk infecting the whole class.

It’s early evening now and I still haven’t got up. I think I’m going to head to the bathroom in a few minutes to clean my teeth, have a shave, and get a shower. That, combined with a magnificent feast of salmon, chicken, rocket and tomatoes followed up with home made blueberry sorbet that Val has magicked seemingly out of nowhere is bound to perk me up a bit. I might even get dressed and flop on the sofa to watch some tv with Val – if she can bear the coughing. Then it will be time to retire back to bed and to try and get some sleep. I do hope I manage better than last night – but most of all, I really hope Val doesn’t get what I have!

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)

Not really looking my best as I sip my Ribena.   Ideal nourishment for poorly husbands.   Thanks Val, for looking after me so brilliantly today.
On her way to the shops this afternoon, Val spotted that the meadow outside the Casino had been cut.   A good harvest, I hope

Interactive map

(No map today)

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