the best laid plans {blogmas day 24}

…of mice and men, shall be ground to a halt at 9am on Christmas Eve Eve, courtesy of the plague.

It’s just a cold, I said, as I declined a last minute invite for an art date on Saturday afternoon, but I feel a bit rubbish and want to rest up and get better for Christmas. It’s just a cold, I said, as my family shoved me in my room with my knitting, because they didn’t want anything, even a cold, three days before Christmas. It was just a cold, I rolled my eyes, as I did a test yesterday morning before escaping quarantine and locking in final plans for Christmas lunch.

Friends, it was not just a cold. With a shiver of 2022 deja vu, the pangolins revenge, the spicy cough, the ruiner of plans, that hallmark of the roaring twenties, covid, has come to visit. We avoided it for almost three years before we got it the first time, and for another two years before I collected it again. Both times, it’s been right on Christmas, but at least the first time we got out of iso on the 23rd, not getting a positive on the 23rd.

I’ve since taken up residence in my room, with multiple projects that I’m picking away at; bursts of productivity interspersed with pity parties and boredom. Overall, I feel well enough, so it’s just a matter of keeping occupied and avoid infecting my family. I’ve watched the Muppets Christmas Carol and Love Actually and all four episodes of Douglas Is Cancelled. I’ve scrolled far too much. I read a whole book in three hours this morning (a fluffy romance called “Here For The Cake”). I’ve been working on my cross stitch, but I’m bored of the red. I finished the current section of my shawl, and got bored. I completed another painted gnome. And got bored. I’ve even brought my sewing machine in, and if I can get my family to throw the iron my way, I’m hoping to spend my iso Christmas Day quilting in my goldfish bowl, after watching the kids unwrap their presents on the deck outside my room.

It sucks. I’m thankful it’s only mild this time around. I’m sad to most likely not be hugging my kids on Christmas Day. I’m enjoying some guilt-free crafting time. I’m annoyed after a crappy month the one thing I was looking forward to has been scuppered. I’m touched my mum still made us a Pav and dropped it at our gate for the kiddos to collect.

It’s a roller coaster. It sucks but I’m well enough and my family is staying well, and fingers crossed will remain so. We have space to spread out and keep me isolated but still connected with my loves. It’s going to be a Christmas to remember, and we have it much better than so many others this christmas, so I’m going timing my tantrums and text an order for another christmas drink and find another christmas movie to watch.

And so. With each and every one of my sixteen projects officially a fail, I’m clocking off for the festive season. I’ll be back on the 31st with my end of year wrap up, but until then, whatever you celebrate at this time of year, I wish you all the best of the season. Thank you for being here this year, and here’s to a bright, happy and healthy 2025!