Saturday 31 December 2022

Christmas 2022











Hello, again! Finally :)
Thank you all so much for all your kind comments and messages on my previous post, both privately and on here. You have all been so kind, especially as I have been absent from this space for a little while. It will be time for a good catch up in the next few days, but first I thought I should write a few lines before this year ends. 

I have enjoyed a lovely Christmas. Simple and relaxed, which is just how I like it to be. The last day of school term came around very quickly in the end, and the very next day we were on our way to Edinburgh to visit the Christmas markets. If you have been reading here a while, you might remember this trip was originally planned for Christmas 2021, but I made the decision to postpone due to the constraints of travelling etc. I have to say, Edinburgh looked beautiful all decorated for Christmas. The markets were bustling, but not too crowded and everyone looked to be having a wonderful time. Our hotel was excellent, and we were staying right in the centre of the city, so we were ideally located for seeing the sights and visiting the markets. Everything was fine until the second evening. We had already enjoyed a ride on the carousel and I booked for us to go ice skating, which is something we love to do at this time of year. Once we had been kitted out, Lily sped off confidently and I followed at a slightly more controlled pace :) It felt good to be back on the ice again. Everyone was having fun, even those who could barely stand. Christmas music was playing and it was all so very festive. Then it happened. Almost as though in slow motion, I could see a young woman begin to stumble quite close to me. Then as I slowed, gently swerving to avoid her, she tried to steady herself by grabbing hold of me, but instead I was pulled right down, onto the cold hard ice, on my back. I was in pain, and the impact left me feeling badly shaken and nauseous. After a minute or two I was able to stand and a very nice young man came to assist me off the ice, by which time it was clear I wasn't seriously injured, just very badly bruised and in shock - thank goodness! It could have been so much worse.  

The following morning it was also becoming increasingly obvious that I was finally succumbing to the cold virus which had been doing the rounds at work. Smiling to myself, as I had been telling my colleagues for the last few weeks that it would get me just in time for Christmas :) I just found it odd, that rather than feeling the need to 'feed' this cold, I had lost my appetite instead, wondering if perhaps I was still just feeling shaken up by my accident. On arriving home I thought I should take a covid test, just to rule it out, only to discover I had a positive result!

As you might expect, I have been having to take things easy since then. Thankfully, my mild Covid symptoms have completely disappeared, but I now realise my sore back is going to take a while longer to recover.

It was still a lovely Christmas, I just made some adjustments. I didn't bake my own bread on Christmas Eve, I bought an iced sponge cake from the supermarket and Lily had the important task of adding the festive embellishments, I didn't bake the mince pies until the 28th and nobody even noticed! The door wreath never materialised. Lessons learned - I really dont have to try and do it all. The girls were here for Christmas Dinner, and all in all it was a very relaxed affair. We managed to get out for a short walk in the woods on Boxing Day but the wet weather has seen us spending most of our days at home. 

Boo has been very well behaved and all the Christmas decorations remain intact. The house is in disarray, the kitchen cupboards contain far too much chocolate and the coffee table is hidden beneath the usual pile of Christmas detritus. I have been procrastinating for as long as possible, but I think I will need to tidy it all up very soon.

I am still feeling rather fragile, but intend to concentrate on building up my strength over the next few weeks. 

Thank you, again, for always taking the time to stop by and read my little blog. Sending warm wishes to you and yours for the coming New Year. May it bring you peace, joy and happiness. 

J. X









34 comments:

  1. Only just catching up with all your news as it has been hectic here and even a quick look into blogland was not easy. You have my full sympathy with both your back and the Covid - we had extreme fatigue with the Covid and my back is still recovering after being bad most of last year. Pleased to hear you had a lovely Christmas though despite not being well. Wishing you peace, happiness and a healthy time in 2023.

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    1. Thank you, Vivien. I have been feeling very uncomfortable but nothing like what you have been experiencing. I hope you see some improvements this year. Happy New Year! X

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  2. I am sorry to hear about your accident on the ice. It is a scary and fast moving environment. I am glad you were not seriously injured and hopefully by now, the bruises have healed. Covid is rampant again, isn't it? I am happy to read you still had a wonderful Christmas, despite it all. Have a wonderful new year xx

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    1. It happened so suddenly that my woolly hat came off! Thankfully I didn't have anyone skate into me. X

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  3. Your photo's are beautiful and so festive. I'm so sorry to hear about your accident it must have been an awful shock for you and poor Lily seeing her Mum in pain and then catching Covid kind of adds insult to injury. I'm glad that you still had a lovely Christmas and yes it's really not necessary to do half of the things we do, I have learnt that with age it really doesn't matter if things aren't our version of perfect, now to me just being with family and people we love is perfect enough. Happy New Year wishing you all the very best for 2023.xx

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    1. Thank you, Linda. Christmas was certainly perfect enough. And there are several adjustments I will be taking forward to next years celebrations. X

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  4. So nice to see and read this post from you and catch-up on the ups and downs of your Christmas. Your photographs are lovely.

    Sending my good wishes for a Happy New Year.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you, Jan. I hope to be around more frequently, as my back improves. Sitting has been very uncomfortable for me, so far. X

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  5. Glad you are feeling better, Jules. Do continue to take it easy! Wish you and Lily a very happy and healthy New Year!

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  6. Sorry about your mishap on the ice and then the Covid bug but you sound to have weathered the storm. Here's wishing you and Lily a happy and healthy new year.

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    1. Thank you, Pat. I feel quite relieved, as it could have been far worse. Happy New Year! X

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  7. Ooh ouch! take care of yourself and hopefully by now you are feeling a lot better, both your back and post covid - here is to 2023 being a whole lot kinder, gentler and healthy. xx

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    1. The initial discomfort has now eased and I managed to get out for a gentle walk yesterday. It is sitting for any length of time that I am finding difficult :) X

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  8. I am so glad to hear that you had a restful Christmas and it was lovely even it was not what you had planned. Sometimes those occasions are the best ones in the end aren't they. I am so sorry to hear that you have hurt your back, that sounds very painful, I do hope that it slowly continues to heal. I am glad to hear that the Covid symptoms were mild. Wishing you a good recovery Jules and hoping that 2023 is a good year for you and yours.

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    1. Thank you. And apologies for the later publishing of your comment, I discovered it languishing in spam! I suspect I have badly bruised my tail bone, and it should hopefully begin to ease in time. I just need to take things easy for a while :) A very Happy New Year to you and your family. X

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  9. Oh, my friend. I am so sorry to hear of the fall and the virus. I am certain you will heal nicely as you rest and recover and care for yourself. Your Christmas photos are lovely! And yes. Thank you for the reminder that we mothers don't have to do it all erety year. I forget that often, and appreciate the reminder! Hugs and prayers for a happy and blessed new year!

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    1. Thank you, Billie Jo. I am feeling a little better each day.
      Every year, I try not to overstretch myself so much for Christmas and I didn't think I was doing more than necessary. Now, at least, I realise there is still more I can cut back on. X

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  10. Glad you were able to carry on and make the most of your trip. Enjoy the rest of your break and go back to work refreshed. Have a great 2023!

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    1. Thank you, Chris. I'm back at work tomorrow, although I'm not feeling very refreshed :) Happy New Year!

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  11. I'm so glad you were able to enjoy Christmas and wish you a very Happy New Year. Hope the back is recovering now and you feel better in yourself very soon.
    D and I were saying that this year has been a much calmer and simpler Christmas. As we both had bad colds, big plans got left and we still enjoyed what we did. Like you, lessons learned!

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    1. I even had myself convinced that I didn't do more than the necessary for Christmas! At least now I realise there is more I can cut back on going forwards. X

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  12. You are feeling fragile, for an important reason. You are!!!!!

    And because of this, please enlist the help of other members of your household, in putting your home, to rights. Please do not do it yourself.

    Take advantage of this situation, to teach them a good lesson. A home does not run smoothly or function well JUST because of the Mother.

    💛💛💛💛💛💛

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    1. That is a nice idea, at least, BBB.
      Fortunately, it is sitting that I find difficult, so I am still able to potter around and get the house in order. However, the motivation to do this is another matter :)

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  13. Oh, that must have been so scary! What a shame that she grabbed on to you. I know what you mean about pain and feeling nauseous. What a shame you got Covid again. Sounds like you still created a lovely Christmas. Enjoy that chocolate!

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    1. You can probably imagine that for a split second I had the worst case scenario in my head. Thankfully, I think the discomfort will ease in time. Happy New Year, Stephenie. Xx

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  14. I'm so sorry to hear about your accident on the ice. I hope your back is recovering and beginning to feel normal again. I'm also sorry to learn you had Covid, but it's good to hear that your symptoms were mild. Your pictures of Edinburgh are lovely - a place I'd love to visit someday. Happy belated Christmas and New Year to you and Lily! Hope it's a great one for all of us.

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    1. Thank you, Julia. I believe it might take up to twelve weeks before I'm feeling okay again. Thankfully my covid symptoms were easier to get rid of.
      I hope you get your wish to visit Edinburgh one day. It is a beautiful city. X

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  15. Ouch ouch ouch...think I may just have shed a tear...Happy New Year and take time to ease back on the doing and do some just being...easier said than done with a family to care for...I could well heed my own advice too. xx

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    1. I think I my have said something slightly stronger than 'Ouch!' ;)
      I will definitely be needing to take things easier for a little while - no marathon training for me. X

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  16. I hope you're now recovered from covid and that your back is on the mend. What an awful thing to happen when you're out enjoying yourself. I'm glad you were still able to enjoy Christmas and that Boo was well behaved.

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    1. Thank you, Jo. Yes, it was a shock to the system, I'm not used to falling over at my age! X

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  17. Oh dear,why do people think they can use you as a hand rail,bet she didn't get hurt did she.Do hope you are beginning to feel better,backs take such a long time to heal.what bad luck getting the Covid too.Absolutely Loving the pics,such good quality and beautiful as always,thank you so much for sharing them.Any pics of the mogs you know I love them.I have been mog and rabbit feeding and dog walking all over the Festive Season including Christmas day and Boxing day,only just finished lol.I am hoping to start posting again very soon.Take care Hugs xxx

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    1. I expect it was just instinct to reach out, it's just a shame the woman didn't grab the hand rail instead of me! And no, she didn't get hurt :)
      I'm looking forward to your posts. X

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