Christmas ,Cancelled Plans ,Traditions & Bugs

Edit , Thank heavens for online shopping - is what I say jingle all the way

Try to keep things simple and phone or do WhatsApp video with those you cannot see face to face.

We have had some similar issues this year health wise with colds/coughs and flu type things - even earache (which I've not had since a child) - that just won't go away and make us tired!
So much so that my husband is off for a blood test! I'm not really thinking it's something too horrible as we both have "it" but we have both been out of sorts and it's deeply frustrating.

Like you, I have managed to do all my shopping online.

Only such thing here was at the end of last February, when I was supposed to go to DD’s for her birthday, but felt v rough with a horrible bug I didn’t want to pass on. so stayed at home and dh went on his own.

But he had barely been there a hour when I had to phone and ask him to come home - sudden onset of painful, shallow breathing, I’d phoned 111 and ambulance was coming.

Then blue-lighted to hospital, and finally home again 3 weeks later!

Like you I had loads of things pre booked for Christmas and the new year. Last week a stepped down the kerb into a puddle which was covering a large pot hole. Broken ankle and finger which needed an op.
So most of what was planned is being cancelled, especially if they involve walking.
I'm sure DH thinks things happen by magic, questions like when is food arriving (pre booked delivery), what are we having for Christmas Dinner etc you get the point I'm sure.
Fortunately only my 88 year old mother is coming on the day not the 17 like last year.

Really wish you well so at least you can relax and enjoy Christmas Day. Nothing like being unwell at this time of year, reminds me when DH caught Covid on Christmas Day couple of years ago, right through to new year he was really ill. Merry Christmas

We have had quite a year of hospitals and illness starrting with husband in February. One very sad unexpected early death of a dear nephew and a great blessing of eldest daughter recovering now from emergency brain surgery. We moved house which was awful although we are very glad to be back here but I'm finishing the year off with a chest infection which felled me this weekend. Sometimes you just have a bad patch I think. I hope everyone here will be able to enjoy their Christmas in whichever form it takes and I wish you all good health in 2024.

There’s a great deal of Covid around at the moment. Might be worth testing before your MIL comes.

That’s sad to hear. It has been a tough time this year for everyone what with cost of living etc. Now nasty bugs are rife. Covid is on the rounds in offices in London. I just think if god gives you lemons forget the lemonade. Instead stick them in your drink of choice and raise a toast to getting well, putting your tree up enjoying every moment. I really do hope you all have a lovely Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year!

Covid is still around, it still causing havoc all over the world. Young ppl are being badly affected this time because they're not vaccinated. It's not a cold, it's not a tummy bug, Flu is still rare. It's covid and it's air borne. We've had warnings this week of a particularly nasty variant and to get vaccinated asap.

Ignoring covid is dangerous. The Govt refuses to help people in the UK because they made such a messs of it early on. Repeat infections leads to Long Covid. Over 2 million already have it, all ages. That is similar to severe ME.

If you have symptoms all family will also be infected. 40% are asymptomtic but still spread the virus. Isolate everyone until testing negative. Up to 20 days. Hospitals are heaving with babies & children with post covid pneumonia. Some don't make it.

It's a virus spread by people's behaviour. It can stay in indoor air for up to four hours. I'm meeting friends & family outdoors this Christmas, away from crowds and groups. Wearing a 3M aura mask.

The government is obviously hoping for herd immunity in younger people. In my opinion everyone should be vaccinated and re-vaccinated regardless of age.

Hi Nanatuesday. Sorry you’re having a rotten time of it. There are so many different bugs doing the rounds. I hope you’re feeling much better come Christmas Day.
I’ve been poorly for what seems like ages. One thing after another. I’m due to go into hospital tomorrow for surgery. I don’t feel 100% but I’m not going to cancel after waiting so long. I just hope it doesn’t get cancelled again.
To everyone who’s under the weather, get well soon and I wish all on Gransnet a very happy Christmas and a healthy and peaceful New Year.

I had a bad time health-wise through October but am more or less back to normal now. 9 for Christmas (with a nephew who's been very ill, poor lad) but we shall have a pretty good time all the same. I have cooked Christmas Dinner for 32 in days gone by, 9 is nothing!

Slightly off piste but......... there are lots of you on this thread with horrible coughs and colds so I'd like to recommend Vitamin D3. I'm a severe asthmatic and for more years than I care to remember have suffered from bronchitis twice a year. Each time I was be bedridden for a week with antibiotics (sometimes 2 courses) and steroids followed by a further week at home. About 6 years ago an acupuncturist recommended it to me. Since I started to take it I haven't had bronchitis or even a cold.

endre123

Covid is still around, it still causing havoc all over the world. Young ppl are being badly affected this time because they're not vaccinated. It's not a cold, it's not a tummy bug, Flu is still rare. It's covid and it's air borne. We've had warnings this week of a particularly nasty variant and to get vaccinated asap.

Ignoring covid is dangerous. The Govt refuses to help people in the UK because they made such a messs of it early on. Repeat infections leads to Long Covid. Over 2 million already have it, all ages. That is similar to severe ME.

If you have symptoms all family will also be infected. 40% are asymptomtic but still spread the virus. Isolate everyone until testing negative. Up to 20 days. Hospitals are heaving with babies & children with post covid pneumonia. Some don't make it.

It's a virus spread by people's behaviour. It can stay in indoor air for up to four hours. I'm meeting friends & family outdoors this Christmas, away from crowds and groups. Wearing a 3M aura mask.

Where do you get your information from? I've just checked my area and there are zero reports of COVID. That's not the whole picture of course, but even so?

Be careful with Vitamin D3. I used to take it until I went for a simple cholesterol blood test and found out I had hypercalcaemia and other blood disorders. Luckily after stopping taking Vitamin D3 & numerous blood tests, scans and drinking plenty of water my blood tests are back to normal.

endre123

Covid is still around, it still causing havoc all over the world. Young ppl are being badly affected this time because they're not vaccinated. It's not a cold, it's not a tummy bug, Flu is still rare. It's covid and it's air borne. We've had warnings this week of a particularly nasty variant and to get vaccinated asap.

Ignoring covid is dangerous. The Govt refuses to help people in the UK because they made such a messs of it early on. Repeat infections leads to Long Covid. Over 2 million already have it, all ages. That is similar to severe ME.

If you have symptoms all family will also be infected. 40% are asymptomtic but still spread the virus. Isolate everyone until testing negative. Up to 20 days. Hospitals are heaving with babies & children with post covid pneumonia. Some don't make it.

It's a virus spread by people's behaviour. It can stay in indoor air for up to four hours. I'm meeting friends & family outdoors this Christmas, away from crowds and groups. Wearing a 3M aura mask.

I am presuming you are not in the UK . I certainly would not say our government made a mess of our vacination program. All vunerable people are still being vacinnated in line with other European countries.
It is also not true that if one person is infected all the family will get it.
Isolation for 20 days ?
You wouldn't want to meet family and friends outdoors here you would freeze.
We have moved on since 2020 life has returned to normal for most people

There is certainly a lot of Covid around. I have just had it and know several people with it. This time for me it took the form of a bad cold. Unfortunately because it challenged my immune system I am now fighting off a UTI.

Covid has changed my perspective on Christmas celebrations! In 2020 I spent my first ever Christmas alone! I zoomed with my DD who was in Scotland and DS and DiL and their baby in Germany. 2021 was just me and DD together on Christmas day then last year our plans to spend Christmas with DS and family in Yorkshire was scuppered by Covid as they were ill so DD and I spent Christmas at home again. This year I'm with DD again but in her new home abroad. I've realised that we can't always plan for every eventuality and video calls may be the order of the day again. It is all too easy to build up our picture of the perfect family Christmas then when things conspire to ruin our plans we just feel immense disappointment. Even spending a Christmas alone was OK in the end. When the rules changed and I couldn't travel to Scotland the cloud had a silver lining. I'd been dreading the journey with not being able to stop over anywhere, and I didn't have to spend money on getting the car serviced after months of barely driving anywhere. Of course I shed a few tears but I realise now that the important thing is to be together in spirit, whether by video call or in person. Knowing we are loved by our families means we can cope with all that life throws at us. Have a Happy Christmas everyone, wherever you are and whoever you are with!

NannaTuesday i so sympathise. y problems are nowhere near as catstrophic as yours but causing as many problems.

At the beginning of November DH and I went down with a really nasty respiratory infection - and we have had it ever since. There have been stories in the press of the presence of a whooping cough type infection affecting adults as well as children, described by some as the 100 day cough, this is what we have. We have had sleepless nights coughing and otherwise just feeling awful, no energy, no stamina.

Thankfully, we had very few pre-Christmas engagements, and as I have a Christmas spread sheet that has me making one Christmas food item every week, I have managed that,

In the last 2 days DH and I have begun to feel better and now face trying to get the house decorated and everything done for Saturday when the family arrive. There will be seven of us, and ours is the only house able to accommodate that many, but everyone will rally round. I have appointed an associate cook and plan to get the trees decorated this evening.

But I think NannaTuesday, that what ever the deficiencies (in our eyes) of this Christmas, we will have our family round us - and what more can we want.