OYSTERHOOD is reclusiveness or solitude, or an overwhelming desire to stay at home.

— @HaggardHawks

It was all about food: Salieri’s and ours. The day started off badly – with syringes and my desperation – but by noon, Salieri was eating the special thyroid food on her own, and most importantly: visibly enjoying it. I think the trick was the temperature, either room or slightly higher. She does not want the stuff straight out of the fridge. Full success. I broke out into a horrible rendition of “Ode to Joy” several times during the afternoon. My poor neighbours.

My love and I could celebrate tonight with a feast at The Hoghouse and what a feast it was. It all went very well with a pint of their porter, my favourite of their wonderful beers. And I brought some goodies home that are going to keep me happy throughout the weekend :)

The best pastéis de nata in town, and way beyond, me thinks.

The rest of the day was work and … READING! Yes, two mornings of reading in a row. I finished a manuscript that I hope to publish, and tomorrow, I will finish a novel I have been ‘reading’ for weeks. It feels good to be able to focus.

A friend phoned at lunchtime and we spoke about lottery wins and travel – the days we could just go places without giving it much thought …

I also met with one of my authors on Skype to discuss ‘what’s next’. It’s a good question in all respects. But since yesterday, I have been thinking about the advice David Duchovny got from one of his teachers: ‘You don’t have to go back.’

Two more weeks until my second jab. Fully vaccinated by mid-September. Just imagine!

Be kind. Wear a mask. Support local.

“Physical distancing remains one of the key strategies to curb this pandemic.”

— NICD