Tuesday 10 November 2020

Closer to Home


 It has been a challenging week or so since my last post. I have spent very little time on anything gaming related apart from catching up on some reading. My heart has not really been in it simply because of some domestic stuff that is ongoing.

My younger brother, his partner and their grown up son all tested positive for Covid 19 and my brother has really been suffering with it. I have been in daily contact with him and he condition has swung first one way and then the other, somewhat alarmingly in fact, but at last he may be at the corner. I am not saying turning it because this virus has a nasty tendency to spring a surprise and start again - at least it has with my brother. We remain hopeful.

His partner had a similar bout although it did not last as long although her experience was also a horrible one. My nephew was a major concern as he has an autoimmune disorder that requires very careful monitoring. He has to take steroids on a daily basis and this might explain why his symptoms thus far have been relatively mild.

My brother Facetimed me from his sick bead and it was deeply disturbing experience. He looked awful and it was a real shock I can tell you.

As a family we have been fortunate so far. I know of some friends that have had the dreaded virus - the husband in one case, fortunately now recovered, is still feeling wrung out by the whole experience, as is the daughter of our Devon based friends - but we are still hale and hearty.

It goes without saying that at the present time we should all take care in our everyday dealings - regular hand washing, social distancing and wearing of masks where needed - and if I needed any prompting in this then the image of my little brother on his sick bed acts as a sobering reminder.

Take care all - it is always darkest before the dawn.

30 comments:

Jim Walkley said...

So sorry to read about your brother and family David but pleased there has been some improvement. Let's hope it continues.
By the way, your blog is another wargame site that seems to be blocked by Norton.
Best wishes and stay well. Jim

David Crook said...

Hi Jim,

Thank you. My brother really had a hard time of it although he has not been hospitalised. Hopefully he is over the worst of it but he is wary of false dawns as he has had a couple of those already!

Fortunately the rest of his family seem to be improving and so it just goes to show how this can impact people differently.

Blocked by Norton? For the ice of me I cannot thin why - perhaps some of the links I have posted may have something awry about them. Funnily enough I went through a phase a short while ago of getting loads of spam comments described as being from Norton. These have since stopped but it does make you wonder!

All the best and thanks once again,

DC

BigLee said...

Sorry to hear your news, it must be a real strain for you not being able to visit. The Second Wave has caught a lot of people off guard and its a real shock to experience it so close after weathering the previous months unscathed. Fortunately, non of my family have come down with it yet, but a few colleagues and friends have got it. Look after yourself and hope the family get better quickly.

David Crook said...

Hi BigLee,

Many thanks old chap.

All the best and take care,

DC

Jim Duncan Wargamer said...

Not the sort of story you want to hear but the virus is real and is impacting on everyone's lives. I hope everyone pulls through.

Take care and stay safe.

Robert (Bob) Cordery said...

David,

Life is like this sometimes. Everything seems to be muddling along quite nicely ... and then a major crisis suddenly rears its ugly head and stops you in your tracks. Luckily you are very resilient, and once your brother and his family begin to improve, you’ll bounce back.

All the best,

Bob

David Crook said...

Hi Jim,

Thank you.

All the best and take care as well!

DC

David Crook said...

Hi Bob,

Thanks - i certainly expect to at some point!

All the best and take care,

DC

Paul O'G said...

Best wishes to one and all for health and hobby time (in that order!)

David Crook said...

Hi there Paul,

Good to hear from you old chap! Many thanks and ‘right back at you’ as they say. I hope all is well in the new above and say hi to Right Stuff for me.

All the best,

DC

Maudlin Jack Tar said...

Best wishes to your brother and family.

alastair said...

Sorry to hear this... the virus does seem much closer to home this time around. I knew relatively few people with it in the spring but now have several friends and colleagues (and their families) all down with it... and in one case very gravely ill.

Jim Walkley said...

The Norton thing seems to have cleared now David. For some reason at least four of the wargame blogs I visit have been affected. Perhaps it's me or there has been an outbreak of misguided pacifism at Norton.Best wishes. Jim

David Crook said...

Hi Maudlin Jack Tar,

Many thanks old chap.

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Hello Alastair,

Thanks old chap. It is certainly catching up on the spring outbreak.

All the best and take care,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi Jim,

That’s a relief! I am at a loss to understand how my blog or indeed any wargames blog for that matter could be classed as being dangerous - perhaps only to the wallet perhaps?

Many thanks once again,

DC

tradgardmastare said...

Best wishes to your brother and his family for a recovery.. Also thinking of you and yours as you wait and watch.

Steve J. said...

Fingers crossed for all them to make a full recovery David. We are being as careful as we can as our son is on the clinically extremely vulnerable list, plus he is BAME, so a double whammy. With my wife still working in school and unable to furlough like last time, each cough etc is a worry.

Peter Douglas said...

Hoping for the best on your brother and his family.
Take care of yourself.
Peter

MSFoy said...

David - very sorry to hear about the problems in your family and for your friends. I sincerely hope they all get better soon - this really is a desperate time in so many ways. Perhaps, with some luck, the news about vaccine developments might mean that the numbers of new infections start to roll back soon - that would be a huge help. All the best.

'Lee. said...

All the very best in this difficult time David and lets hope the New Year brings us all some relief from this dreaded virus.

David Crook said...

Hello there tradgardmastare,

Many thanks old chap - on both counts!

All the best and take care,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi Steve J,

Thank you old chap. Touch wood we have avoided it but my brother was not quite so fortunate. They have all been poorly for over a week now and in his case there are few signs of any improvement.

Take care and stay safe,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi Peter,

Many thanks old chap.

It is just a waiting game at the moment which is very wearing - and obviously worse at my brothers.

All the best and take care,

DC

David Crook said...

Hello there MSFoy,

It brings home the reality of it all - away from the statistics etc - and seeing the state my brother was in was a real shock to the system.

Fingers crossed for many things and the vaccine is one of them!

Many thanks old chap, take care and stay safe,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi ‘Lee,

Let’s all hope so!

Take care and stay safe and well,

DC

Graham C said...

David,
My thoughts got to your brother for a full recovery. It’s all so easy for complacency to set in until someone you know is struck by this virus and as you say it’s effects are so varied. My son tested positive after losing his sense of taste and smell but thank goodness two weeks later everything back to normal !
As to the Norton issue my blog was blocked to a number of regulars for some reason Norton is identifying the blogs as high risk! For spam etc,
Take care

David Crook said...

Hello there Graham C,

Thank you old chap. My brother seems to be stable which is a good thing and hopefully this is a sign that things are heading in the right direction but we are all still keeping our fingers crossed.

Norton contacted me to say that all is well with my blog which is good news - I would hate to be the cause of any malware or virus based nastiness, dealing with one virus at the moment is bad enough!

All the best and take care,

DC

nundanket said...

Fingers crossed for your brother David. It must be a worry for you all.

David Crook said...

Hi nundanket,

Many thanks old chap. I spoke with him earlier and he has felt a little better this afternoon which is a good sign but we shall continue to keep our fingers crossed!

All the best,

DC