I'm off work today - yes already! Had a terrible sore throat yesterday that went onto my chest and into my sinuses. No temperature and no coughing. Stayed off today because I didn't feel well enough to go into school. By lunchtime I'd developed a temperature and a dry cough. 1/

I phoned to book a covid test. Gave all my details (including my job) and was told there were no appointments near me available. Was told they'd send me a home test but then got told they didn't have any. I looked up where the nearest testing site was and just turned up. 2/

No problem. Went straight in. Got a bit freaked out by the weirdness of it all - some guy was pretty much hosing down cubicles after people left. Did the swab myself so no real advantage over doing a home test. Had to bag it up and let them scan it then register my receipt. 3/

I'll hopefully receive my results in the next 48 hours. I am slightly cynical that I couldn't book an appointment or get a home test after I'd told them I was a teacher. If you can't book an appointment for a test I'd recommend just turning up at a test centre. 4/