A rainy day

This morning we were up early as we had to be at the pharmacy for our 8am appointment for the PCR tests required to travel back to the UK. The UK rules require a lateral flow test within 48 hours before entering the UK or a PCR test within 72 hours before. As tomorrow is a Sunday and the pharmacy is closed, we had to have our tests today to travel on Monday, and as their tests are collected by the lab at 8.30am we had to have the PCR tests which give us more time as we are driving back, in case we have traffic. The rest of the family who are flying back had lateral flow tests later in the afternoon as that timing worked for their flight times. 

The nurse doing the test warned us that in Switzerland they do a nasal test using a long swab which goes from the nose right down into the throat - in the UK the test used comprises two separate nasal and throat tests using the same swab, and the nasal test goes in as far as the top of the nose. This method used here is extremely uncomfortable and actually quite painful! There were many Swiss people in the pharmacy also getting tests done for travel purposes. 

Switzerland has now gone onto the green list for UK travel purposes, although the nurse was telling us that Switzerland is not in a good situation as hardly anyone is vaccinated. She said that as the government were offering free lateral flow tests people prefer to come in to get tested regularly rather than have the vaccine. However those free tests are now stopping so she was hoping that more people would get vaccinated. I would rather have the vaccine than endure that horrible nasal swab again! In The UK all the testing is free and about 73% of the population has had their first vaccine with 65% fully vaccinated.

It was raining and cold this morning, so Gavin went out for a walk with Xena, Luke and Meriel went for a different walk, and Adam and Pip did some yoga at home. I made soup for lunch which was perfect for today's weather. This afternoon the boys went off to play golf, and as it was now sunny and bright I went for another walk with Xena where I took photos of the fungi as can be seen in the extra. It started raining again on the walk but we did not get too wet. 

A quiet night at home as tomorrow there is another birthday!