What's That Smell?

 This is a Covid conversation.

I have never tested positive for Covid, but I am absolutely certain I've had it at least once, and it has left a bitter taste in my mouth. I didn't think it had struck until Christmas Day 2020 when there was a piece on the radio about unusual symptoms, some of which were around smell - parosmia. I had experienced two of the things described - smelling cigarette smoke constantly, I'd had that for a couple of weeks on the run up to Christmas, and certain things smelling sour, at that time I couldn't stand the smell of coffee grounds. If The Chap had made coffee but not emptied the pot straightaway the smell was horrendous. So that was that.

Fast forward to last Autumn when the tap water took on a strange smell, like that sea smell, but if sea smell wasn't pleasant. I couldn't drink the water, I changed washing up liquid and cleaning products, used only disposable cloths because I could smell it on the washed dishes and on certain clothes when they were drying. The plumber came out, someone from the water company came out and took about a dozen samples - they all came back clear. Eventually it more or less stopped. 

Now it's back. I can't face the smell of onions, cumin, the worksurface cleaner I use, a number of things, thankfully it's not as bad as it was originally, but it's not pleasant. So far I am delighted to report I can still enjoy mint, basil, petrol and citrus* - my favourite things without any problems. 

*I only consume three of these