Day 360 - Review

 REVIEW

Prompt - Review : Review your week, month or year in a journal entry or poem format

The final month of 2021, the second year of the global pandemic that has done so much damage around the globe.  Throughout those two years I've always been conscious that we, my wife and I, are less affected than most, lucky to lead the life we do.  Other than contracting the virus itself, but making pretty full recoveries (I have been left a short of breath, which appears to be a permanent legacy), the only limitations on our lives have been genuine 'first world problems' that are of little significance in the bigger picture.  Missing out on gigs and rugby matches and travel are not major issues, certainly not compared to all the people who have been reduced to poverty, had their health suffer, lost loved ones, been lonely and desperate.  We have each other, a cat, a nice warm home, enough money to meet our needs, far more than the basics of life.

December 2021 has been more of the same.  It began, for me, alone, as Barbara was visiting family down south.  That in itself was a change as it had been impossible last year.  She returned the day after, and I had two nights out.  One a pub meal with other volunteers and staff from where I do my 'work'.  The second an evening match, watching Edinburgh beat Benetton.  So the month started well.

Then it was life as usual.  Going into the office on a Wednesday afternoon.  The usual minutiae of daily life, the shopping and cooking and doing some writing.  Getting out every day,no matter the weather, although it was mostly dry but cold anyway.  Good to be wrapped up in winter clothing, albeit confusing when we had a short warmer spell, and I could feel the sweat forming after a few hundred meters.  Barbara had a meal out with friends, and another few days away with family, this time in Windermere.  And, as the month wore on, some xmas preparations.  Although since it's just a quiet time for the two of us, and our main present to each other is a trip away next February, there wasn't even much of that.

But covid has intervened as well.  A mid month music gig was cancelled due to the musicians contracting the disease.  And then another, for the same reason, a few days later.  Finally the government has, sensibly, called for a mini-lockdown after xmas and we have lost the Hogmanay gig in Greyfriars Kirk we were so looking forward to.

Still, there were other highlights.  The Crawford 'staff night out' went ahead as planned, with a trip to Dundee on the twenty second to watch our comedian friend Aidan Goatley perform.  That was fun.  And although there was no more live rugby to go to (and, not strictly relevant here except for the sense of loss, I won't be going to Murrayfield to see Edinburgh play Glasgow on second of January, all the worse because I'd managed to book the best seats I've ever had in the stadium!) there was a stunning highlight in watching Edinburgh beat Saracens, at the latter's home ground, in a live TV broadcast that had me shouting and jumping up at regular intervals.  Oh, and I got to watch 'my' NHL team, the New York Islanders, playing live without having to stay up into the middle of the night, as they had an afternoon faceoff which translated into seven in the evening here.  Pity they lost on penalties though!

And we had xmas day yesterday, with presents and food and just having a nice time being with one another.  Like most days.

What's left for this month?  More of the same I suppose.  Getting out every day.  Eating well. Writing and reading and TV.   Tomorrow the chance to watch Edinburgh again, this time away in Glasgow.  Some volunteering work, by phone.  And being together.  

Covid times are bad times for many, but have still been happy times for us, and December 2021, despite the occasional glitch of lost opportunities, has been more of the same.  Roll on 2022.