Watching and waiting

I.

I cooked lunch for us. Clare is still in a lot of pain from the trapped nerve in her back, inconsolable, The rest of April Fool's Day passed me by in slow motion, not feeling any worse, no temperature, with heavy limbs and  a great tiredness. I slept uncomfortably until late evening when I watched this week's episode of French crimmie 'The Crimson Rivers'. I went to bed annoyed to find that it was a two part story, but not because we're compelled to wait for next week's thrilling episode, but because it's so long drawn out, and implausible. 

I can't imagine a high security prison in which standard security protocols aren't followed where guards don't walk about in twos not carrying radios, and there's a death squad on the loose, practicing mafia like ritual murders (mafia isn't mentioned) to protect dirty secrets whatever they may be. Oh come off it.

There's a scene in a prison ward where a man in a coma isn't wired to a vital signs monitor, nor shackled to the bed, nor is there a nurse or guard in attendance when the cute but tough gamine of a cop stabs him in the chest  with a syringe of adrenaline, like an A&E doctor, jolting him from coma to consciousness in a few seconds without killing him. Truth is stranger than fiction but whenever fiction mocks the powers of observation and intelligence of its audience, you wonder why you've watched.

It was interesting to see Philippe DuClos who played Robin the juge d'instruction in the long running flic saga 'Engrenages' playing a tired ageing dishevelled prison governor, looking much like Robin did at the end of his fictional legal career.

II.

Clare has tested negative two days in succession, but is still in a lot of pain. She has however succeeded in booking a Wednesday appointment with a local osteomyologist who works with Clive Taylor my local go-to back-man. We're both feeling sad about not being able to go to the Wriggledance show in Bath. They've had a full house for all their shows this week, which is great news.

Feeling a bit better, though symptoms have shifted. Head fog is clearing to some extent, but I have strange sharp muscular aches in odd joints, jaw and fingers especially, plus a mild sore throat. Cooking lunch was an effort, and much of the day was devoted to sleeping. I'd love some fresh air and exercise, but and not keen to take the risk of returning and feeling worse. Covid pushes you around, finds your weak spots. It's not a good idea to push back.

This evening I watched two episodes of 'Hidden' on BBC iPlayer. It's slow going and not easy to watch as much of it is shot in half-light showing off what can be done with high powered digital cameras. There are some interesting religious elements to the plot, not weird, but very much about a priest accompanying a marginal community with its broken dysfunctional people. Well presented, as is the story line about rural farms in North Wales being forced into poverty by changing times and circumstances. The portrayal of a few key characters has  a touch of Dostoyevski about them. I can see this winning awards.

Still feeling tired at the end of the day. The virus is taking its time to let go of me.