A Very Different Christmas

~ beetleypete

Our plans for Christmas 2022 were very simple. Nothing remotely grand, just a Christmas Morning visit to Julie’s children to see everyone open their presents, then back to Beetley to get ready for the traditional meal in a restaurant at 3:30pm. Just the two of us, booked well in advance.

Then Julie became unwell, and tested positive for Covid-19. She was hoping that would be over and done with by the 25th, and the plans could stay the same. But she is still testing positive, five days later.

Yesterday, my cough and sore throat got worse, and I wasn’t able to do much, as I felt so ill. By 8:30pm, I was coughing do badly, I decided to go to bed. But that helped nothing, as I felt as if I was drowning in the amount of nasty stuff coming up from my lungs. I tried sitting up in bed. That didn’t help. Lying flat was not an option, as that made me feel like I was fighting for breath.

As a consequence, I haven’t been asleep at all, and I have currently been awake for 26 hours. I have tried to sleep this morning, but every attempt has left me in a fit of coughing. I will try again later after taking Ollie out, and warning other dog-walkers to avoid me completely.

One hour ago, I did a Covid test, and have tested positive for the first time since the pandemic. This means I am unable to go to see my doctor and get antibiotics for what I am sure is a chest infection. However, Julie was able to secure me a telephone appointment later today, and if the GP agrees to prescribe drugs, we can get someone else to collect them for us, and put them through the letter-box.

The next step for Julie was to cancel the meal. We had paid a deposit of £10 each which we wil lose, but that’s not so bad. Better that than to sit in a crowded restaurant on the 25th, coughing and spluttering and not being able to enjoy Christmas Dinner. Then she rang one of her daughters, to cancel the morning visit to see the present opening. With two small children in the house, we cannot risk infecting them with something nasty.

Christmas has evaporated before our eyes, like morning mist driven away by sunshine. Julie is naturally upset to miss out on her family time, and we are both sorry to have had to cancel the restaurant.

I am not sure what is going to be happening with my blog during the next week. There is a chance I might recover quickly of course, but if that doesn’t happen I will be absent from my blog, and those blogs I follow.

Thanks to everyone who has left the kind comments on recent posts. I apologise for just ‘Liking’ them, and not replying properly, but please be aware that they have been read, and are much appreciated.

Best wishes to all my blogging friends, Pete.

48 thoughts on “A Very Different Christmas”

  7. Here’s wishing you a speedy recovery. I’m sure even though the initial tests were negative, a part of you must have thought it was probably Covid.

    We just went through something similar over Thanksgiving. We were meeting our future daughter-in-law’s family and agreed to meet at a place between our distant locations. We had forked out money for airfare and an Airbnb when the night before we were to leave, we found out that someone in her family had Covid. It was a tough call because we wanted to meet them before the wedding in June, and we wouldn’t have been to get a refund on any of it. We stayed in separate houses a mile apart and stayed apart for a couple of days. Eventually, we got together (staying a lengthy distance apart). Fortunately, we did not get sick.

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  11. The bug is indifferent to our plans. Get well soon. There will be other days for family and restaurants. We’re in for a deep freeze so it’s pajama pants and whatever falls out of the fridge and pantry for the next four days! Best of the holiday spirit, though. No deposits or stopping that.

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  12. (1) “Christmas has evaporated before our eyes, like morning mist driven away by sunshine.” More like: Christmas has darkened before my very eyes, like a sunny day chased away by ominous storm clouds.
    (2) I’m very sorry you caught Covid. I hope it’s easier on you than it was on me.
    (3) You may not be able to go visit friends and family right now, but take heart! You have many well-wishing friends right here at beetleypete!

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  15. So sorry to hear it, Pete. Your symptoms were definitely suspicious so I’m not surprised it’s covid. 😑 Wishing you both a speedy recovery and health and wellness in the new year. Have them save your reservations for 2 weeks out.

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  18. I’m sorry to hear that, Pete, and am keeping my fingers crossed for you and your wife to get better soon.
    Take care,
    Pit
    P.S.: Here, we could always see our doctor, even with Covid. Not in his office, though, but outside. We had to wait in the car and the doctor came out to check us. The other way possible was/is a “televisit”, via the internet. And we could always pick up our medication – without any personal contact – at the drive through of our parmacy.

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  19. Sorry to hear you’ve got Covid and that your Christmas is ruined. I’ve been looking after 2 of my grandchildren today who have been coughing and spluttering and sneezing. I’ve had a mask on all day, but wonder if my Christmas plans will have to be altered too…?

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  21. Very sorry, Pete. Especially because you and Julie have been conscientious, your infection should be a reminder to everyone to take “pandemic” seriously, and resume/continue taking precautions for the sake of others – but it’s not what I’m seeing in the shops.

    You have each other, and Ollie, which is the best Christmas of all. XX

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  33. Take a deserved break Pete, you’ll be back bouncing next year.
    Ollie can be Santa Paws.
    What do you call an elf that runs away from Santa’s workshop? A rebel without a Claus!

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  38. Pingback: A Very Different Christmas | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  41. So sorry to hear that, Pete; it’s always harder to feel any improvement when you can’t sleep, and not being able to get the right medication without a lot of difficulty just exacerbates the problem. I hope you can get something out of the festivities, even if it isn’t what you were planning. Just take your time, and we’ll still be here when you get back 😀 Cheers, Jon

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