Merry Christmas
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One year ago, I opened my Christmas entry with “2020 has been a year like no other. With the recent surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, we won’t be having the Merry Christmas we all hoped for”.
The More Things Change…
As it turns out, 2021 was a year very much like the last one. The cases of the Omicron variant are increasing rapidly and, whilst we are not in a lockdown (so far), the guidance is to reduce contact with others as much as possible. The result is once again that we won’t have the Merry Christmas we hoped for. It looks like more restrictions will be coming into force on Boxing Day, with attendance at events very restricted for at least three weeks.
Caution is the Word
I’ve been pretty cautious throughout the year when it comes to contact, avoiding crowded places and meeting friends outside. The summer and autumn months saw many good walks with friends. Since October, I have ventured back into coffee shops but only if they looked quiet. I’m not sure when I’ll again feel 100% comfortable with such situations.
Before the Omicron variant numbers started exploding, I met up with friends, no more than three at a time, on various occasions. We have all agreed that our timing was fortunate. It certainly looks like we would not be able to do so now.
Looking Ahead
As the pandemic crawls towards its third year, there’s no doubt it has taken a toll on my mental health. I’m sure I am not alone in this. I suppose it could be “doom fatigue” from watching the news, reading online reports and scrolling through my Twitter timeline. I’ve tried to mitigate this by continuing to exercise, getting outdoors as much as possible and connecting with my friends, even if this is back on Zoom. And switching off the news and social media!
I don’t feel in any immediate threat from the virus, having been triple jagged. However, I do wonder if it is a case of when rather than if I will catch it. Continued caution feels like it will be the theme for 2022.
Next time, I’ll provide my MS year in review but for now, I’m going to sit back and enjoy Muppet Christmas Carol. It wouldn’t be Christmas for me without this adaptation of Charles Dickens’s work. Who doesn’t love fuzzy creatures and singing vegetables? The end of Christmas Carol is always so uplifting so let’s end with Michael Caine and Scrooge’s redemption.
With that, the only thing left to do is thank you all for reading and to wish you a very Merry, healthy and safe, Christmas.
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