Rash move

The youngest returned home from her Christmas holiday on Saturday with severe tonsilitis. Antibiotics have helped, but she’s still been very crook.

On Saturday night she showed me her chest, which was covered in a rash. It was one of those “I’m a 52-year-old mother, I should know what to do” moments where I had absolutely no idea what to do.

So I checked with Dr Google, who assured me that a rash is a common symptom of bacterial tonsilitis. So I sent the youngest to bed and hoped she’d feel better in the morning.

I got up and went for my traditional three walks on Sunday morning, but the youngest didn’t stir. I kept sticking my head in the room to make sure she was still breathing. I could see her eyelids fluttering slightly, so took that as proof of life. She finally emerged from her slumber at 10.30am, still feeling pretty blergh.

Despite her illness, it’s been good to have her back. I made potato and leek soup from scratch yesterday, even the stock, and the kids and I sat at the kitchen bench having a very entertaining chitter chat together.

Things have been a bit quiet around the place with the youngest away and DD in lockdown. I’ve kept myself busy by tapping away on the computer and watching the 11am NSW Health press conferences, and I’ve even allowed myself to have a few afternoons off to watch tellie.

Doing nothing doesn’t come naturally to me, so I felt very guilty about settling myself down on the sofa. But a few people had recommended that I watch Bridgerton, so I turned on Netflix and there it was, already on full screen, beckoning me to press “play”. I decided it was definitely a sign … well, it’s a sign that it’s the most popular thing on Netflix at the moment, but hey.

As The Australian enthuses, Americans have taken a “fusty old British period drama” and given it “some swagger”.

It’s also from the woman who produced Grey’s Anatomy, which I loved when Sandra Oh was still part of the cast.

In case you haven’t heard of Bridgerton, it’s a Jane Austen-esque TV series with lots of raunchy sex and a soundtrack filled with classical covers of modern hits, including “thank u, next” by Ariana Grande, “Girls Like You” by Maroon 5, “In My Blood” by Shawn Mendes, “bad guy” by Billie Eilish and “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift.

I hoovered my way through the first four episodes on Friday arvo/evening, concluding with a very sexy wedding night scene. Oh my!

I finished the series off yesterday and will move onto the Margaret Thatcher era of The Crown next. Although contracting work begins again in earnest today, so my time will be limited.

Life and work keep getting in the way of each other. I’ve had to ask my ex to come over and take the youngest to the orthodontist this morning, tonsilitis permitting.

I never normally have to worry about the appointments, as the orthodontist only works at our local NIB clinic on a Monday, which isn’t my co-parenting day. But Christmas holidays – and unexpected work commitments – have thrown the schedule into disarray.

OK, I’d better get cracking – I can hear the dogs scratching at their door. I hope your new year is off to a good start and hasn’t seen you locked out of your own state or anything awful like that.

Song of the day: Vitamin String Quartet “Bad guy”