After the storm…

Well, it was certainly a stormy night last night, with the wind howling round our house and rain lashing against the windows. But we woke up to the most glorious sunshine this morning and my thoughts immediately turned to going for a walk. First of all though, we had a bit of a clear up after Christmas…..

Christmas Day was very, very different for us. No longer the full family gathering at our house with bodies littering the lounge for three or four days on the trot. We did get to see everyone, but we travelled.

I went to the 8 o’clock church service, knowing that there wouldn’t be many people there, and we managed to get out of the house just before ten o’clock to whizz over to Kenilworth. The whole clan, Paul, Harriet, Catherine, Ellie, Lily and Freddie, had gathered in their lounge, the patio doors open, two picnic chairs, a blanket and a chimenea pulsing out warmth just outside for John and me. Everyone was pleased to see us and Freddy was particularly thrilled. I had taken the parcels over beforehand but they were still in the garage, so we played Santa which was quite exciting.

A little drop of Bucks Fizz and a whole load of virtual hugs and kisses later, we thought we’d better set off to visit the Sutton Sleaths, where we were greeted with another lovely sight of a burning chimenea and outdoor sofas for us to sit on. More Bucks Fizz, or beer, or wine if you wanted it and fabulous company. There was Michael, Danielle, William, Thomas …and Andrew, who is ‘bubbling’ with them over the Christmas period. This time gifts had already been opened so it was fun and games in the ‘Man-shed’ with a ‘Hot Wheels’ car track that Andrew had bought for William. I think all the boys loved that particular gift.

Dinner was nearly ready at the Sutton Sleaths, so we left to let them get on with it and then popped over to Mum’s. She was funny. She had absolutely no idea that it was Christmas Day and her Christmas Dinner was still sitting on the side, uneaten again. I soon served it up for her and she enjoyed her lunch. She exclaimed at our Santa outfits, giggling at us, so I said, “Well, it is Christmas Day, after all.” Is it? She wondered. “Is it, really?” Yes, it really was, so we got out the sack of parcels for her to unwrap. She was hesitant. “Are you sure it’s Christmas?” she said. “Am I allowed to open the parcels?”

Once she got going, she enjoyed her parcel unwrapping and the couple of hours that we spent with her. We watched the Queen at three and whom Mum hardly recognised, but there were photographs to look at and exclaim over; new hankies to be pleased with; chocolates to savour and a letter from Australia to pore over.

We left Mum’s at about 4 o’clock, intending to put our turkey dinner on to have an evening meal. As we were driving away, John said, “I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking we might just have a ham sandwich. I’m knackered.” Well, to be honest, I was tired as well, having been up and on the go since seven in the morning. So, I didn’t think twice and agreed. “We’ll have our Christmas Dinner tomorrow.” we said.

Normally, at Christmas, we Skype Graham and Gail. I was getting worried. I hadn’t heard from them for nearly three weeks, and there had been no reply to my texts. In the evening, I thought I’d try getting hold of them again on a Messenger phone call. There was no reply. I tried again on a video call. Still no reply. I fretted. As always, John came to the rescue and phoned from the landline. He got through. And the reason for them being incommunicado was revealed. They had a new phone. Ah…… Messenger wouldn’t load up. Oh…I see….. but then, they’d been busy anyway. Gail hadn’t been very well. In fact, she was in hospital having an operation for breast cancer.

They do things fast in Australia. No sooner suspected, than tests were done, and then more tests, diagnosis made and whisked into hospital to deal with it before you can say ‘kangaroo’. Operation on Christmas Eve, Gail? That alright with you?

On Boxing Day then, we just spent the day opening the rest of our parcels, getting our lovely lunch ready, eating it and worrying about how Gail was faring. Traditionally, we eat a starter, the turkey dinner and a Christmas Pudding, but we were full after the mains. We’ll eat the pudding tomorrow, we said. We really are stringing out our Christmas Dinner. As we settled down in the evening to watch TV, still with Gail on our minds, there she was as if by telepathy, on the other end of the phone, having been discharged from hospital, reassuring us that everything had gone to plan and she was recovering well. Slightly relieved……

And today? Well, we went for our walk, over at the Lavender Hall park. John texted the family beforehand and asked if anyone fancied a walk with us? Yes, please. They did. All of them, apart from the girls, who were doing girly things. How blessed are we? Had a very lovely time.

And this evening, we played a Zoom version of ‘Articulate’ with the family. It was a bit of fun, but stilted and seemed to be an awkward process. There was a hiatus while baby Thomas was fed, and then we girls threw in the towel as we were trailing by what seemed like millions of moves. We stayed on Zoom and chatted for a while before tiredness got the better of us and we gave in.

So, on what is Day 11 of our second Tier 3/Day 26 since the start of Tier 3, and Day 284 since our March incarceration, here is a quick rundown on today’s COVID figures:

  • 30,501 people have been confirmed as infected with the virus
  • 316 people have died in the community
  • 150 have died in hospitals in the last two days
  • And, as of 20 December, over 2 thousand people a day are being admitted into hospital with COVID.

Hoping that you have all had a good, festive Christmas despite being apart from family, if you were. God bless. Take care of yourselves.

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