Today, we both have appointments with a needle. Both are at the same medical centre but unfortunately at different times – 3 hours apart, in fact.

The medical centre in question is not our usual GP’s surgery but one beyond Archway in Crouch End. To reach it, we have to take two buses. That is according to the Apple Maps app on my phone which has proved accurate in the past. Let’s hope it is correct this time too.

We intend to go there for my appointment, which is the earlier of the two, and ask whether they will allow both of us to go in together. If they will not, then we will have to come back later for Tigger’s appointment.

Though travel is discouraged in Tier 3, especially if it takes you beyond your local area, it is of course allowed for “necessary” purposes such as going to work or attending medical appointments.

In case you are wondering what medical treatment both of us are receiving at the same time, I will briefly explain. Because both of us (for reasons I don’t need to go into) are classified as “vulnerable”, we have been offered Covid 19 vaccination. This requires two injections, three weeks apart, and today’s appointment is for the first of these.

Sunshine in Claremont Square

Leaving a reasonable amount of time for the journey (Apple Maps times the journey) plus a margin in case of delays, we went to the bus stop. We were lucky with the weather because the sun was shining and the temperature had risen to s balmy 11°C.

York Way, King’s Cross

We changed buses in York Way beside King’s Cross Station.

We boarded a 91 bus and I was able to follow our progress on the Apple Maps app on my phone. The last part of the journey was a 5-minute walk to the medical centre. We arrived with about 25 minutes to spare.

At the centre were a number of people with ready to greet us and send us where needed to go. Inside we were shown to seats while our names were checked against their list.

At this point I wish to say that everyone treated us with great kindness, consideration and good humour. Despite working to a schedule, they took their time over us and did not hurry us. We asked whether Tigger and I could be treated together and this was granted, much to my relief. They then placed two chairs side by side for us while we waited.

After a short wait, we were called by a doctor and taken to a cubicle. She introduced herself, checked our identities and asked a few statutory questions. The vaccination was expertly done and I barely felt the needle.

Vaccination Information Pamphlet

We were offered an information pamphlet and then sent to a seating area where we were asked to wait 10 minutes before leaving, in case of reaction to the vaccination. Once again, despite being busy, everyone was very kind and solicitous of our wellbeing.

Somewhere in Crouch End

As I had “navigated” (with the help of Apple Maps) to arrive here, Tigger took her turn for the return journey. She had noticed that the 210 bus ran nearby and also knew where we could conveniently change to a 43 that would carry us to the Angel. (Did I mention that Tigger carries in her head an encyclopædic knowledge of London’s bus routes?)

Aboard the 210

When the bus came we had to go right to the back to find seats.

Archway

The 210 delivered us to more familiar territory at Archway and here we changed to a 43. This route is fairly busy and I noticed that on couple of occasions, the driver displayed the “Bus Full” sign and did not allow more passengers to enter.

The Angel crossroads

The 43, in its turn, brought us back to our home patch at the Angel.

By now, the weather had turned for the worse and it began pelting down with rain. Happily, we didn’t have far to go but, first, we needed to call in somewhere. Can you guess where?

Saint Espresso

If you said “Jusaka”, give yourself brownie points, but no, not Jusaka which has taken to remaining closed at weekends. Instead, we went to Saint Espresso (just to left of centre in the photo) where they now know us and give us a friendly greeting.

Carrying our coffee, we made our way through the pelting rain to home. Owing to the kindness and understanding of the good people at the medical centre, we will not have to make a second journey to Crouch End this afternoon.

I’m sure we’ll find something else to do with the time if only relaxing at home!

This first injection confers some protection but not complete protection. The second will complete the process but even then, the vaccine is reckoned to be about 95% effective and so one will still have a 1 in 20 chance of becoming infected. Only when a sizeable percentage of the population has achieved immunity will we be able to consider the disease conquered. Until then, we will all, whether vaccinated or not, need to continue observing the social distancing rules, not only for one’s own sake but for that of everyone else.