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Yeah that makes sense.
I had done a PCR test on ~22nd Dec too which came back negative as well, and I thought people generally tested positive for a reasonable length of time after having it (probably wrong on this).
Just seems to be the tests suggest I didn’t have it then but the symptoms (although relatively mild and not complete) and timing coinciding with rise in cases etc makes me think otherwise.
Not really important overall but I just thought the Bupa test was worth mentioning as reasonably reputable company, not overly inflated price and possibly interesting for some.
(And yep, aware that it doesn’t equal immunity but worth emphasising)
MisterEd
The three most likely explanations are that:
a) you were no longer infectious by the time of the first PCR test on the 17th Jan and so it came back negative (same for the 26th test)
b) you were still infectious at the time of the 17th PCR test but it was a false negative, and then no longer infectious for the 26th PCR test
c) the January bug wasn't Covid-19 but just a cold/flu type thing and you'd had asymptomatic Coronovirus at another time - hence the antibodies and no other time feeling unwell
[EDIT] Just remember that immunity isn't binary. Just because you have some antibodies it doesn't mean your body will be able to completely combat any subsequent reinfection. This is why the vaccination programme is so important as it give you even better protection against the virus.