On Saturday 9th December, exactly one calendar month after my surgery, I went to bed at 8pm. Headache, dizziness, tearing eyes, a sore throat. I wasn’t feeling any better the next morning so I sent a message on Viber to say I would be unable to play at our session. I also suggested Giannis, our accordionist, should lead the session. Giannis is not the most assiduous reader of Viber, so he arrived at the session not knowing about my illness or my suggestion that he lead the event! It did not go ahead, so it was a disappointing end to the year.
Five of us got together on 23rd for a practice, more unfocused than usual but very pleasant. At this time of year, I always make mulled wine using Jamie Oliver’s recipe. I made a very decent drop, I must admit. The wine, combined with seasonal sweets, made for a very pleasant evening. Here is Jamie’s recipe: https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fruit-recipes/jamie-s-mulled-wine/ My recommendation is to follow the recipe to the letter, and don’t be mean with the nutmeg.
Things are shaping up for January. We will be closing the Christmas period with our Twelfth Night gig on Friday, 5th January. Then we have our session on 14th and a scheduled gig on 28th.
My illness turned out to be Covid. And I wasn’t the only one to withdraw. At a lot of people have been infected this month. The big change is that in my own circle the infected have not suffered any serious breathing difficulties.