We are officially no longer super dodgers, Novids or Covid virgins! After 3 ½ years of managing to dodge the dreaded Covid, hubby and I fell victim to this horrendous virus. We both received the vaccination and the follow up booster but we still caught it as apparently the circulation of new subvariants of Omicron is more resistant to the vaccine. I always had a feeling that if I ever did contract Covid that I would be very ill as my immune system sucks big time but I did not prepare myself for the sheer terror that unfolded. We are both reasonably healthy adults who take regular exercise and eat a nutritionally balanced diet. Hubby had to take a last minute trip to the UK for work. He was only gone for 2 days but he brought back more than Marmite! He was so unlucky as technically his 2 day trip really boiled down to 1 day in the UK. He left on Wednesday afternoon and flew from Porto airport to London Gatwick. He travelled to his hotel near the airport and arrived just after Midnight. On Thursday he met work colleagues at the train station and took a train to Reading. He spent Thursday in a forest with a small group of work colleagues paintballing, then a pizza restaurant and travelled back to his hotel with a pit stop at Asda and Superdrug. Then Friday morning he left his hotel at 4am and headed to Luton airport. Somehow he managed to get Covid in this short amount of time. It’s absolutely crazy and so ironic as we both visited the UK back in July for 10 long days to celebrate my daughter’s graduation from university and my son’s 30th Birthday. We visited Bristol, Nottingham, Essex and London. I cannot recall the amount of trains, tubes and buses we took. We mingled amongst hundreds of people in crowded places such as Covent Garden and visited multiple restaurants and theatres yet remained unscathed. We actually did the maths and have worked out that for hubby to start experiencing symptoms on the Friday he must have contracted it on the Wednesday, the day he left Portugal. We have concluded that he must have caught it at Porto airport or on the actual outbound flight as he didn’t use public transport, he took our car and parked it at the airport. If it were last year everyone on that plane would have had to quarantine but the rules have changed now. 

Hubby arrived home bearing lots of British treats and I was delighted to have him back by my side. He had the sniffles and what looked like the start of a cold. We never get colds here in Portugal and are rarely ever ill as we live in a rural village and are quite isolated which helps a lot. Neither of us were worried as he had similar symptoms once before when he returned from the UK. I think it had something to do with the air quality on planes and his symptoms usually disappear within a day or two. Fast forward to Sunday and we were enjoying a day of gardening when I started to get weird achy limbs, especially in my legs combined with a really bad headache. By Monday my symptoms had deteriorated and I just knew this wasn’t a common cold so I decided to take Covid tests. We were both positive and then the hell was unleashed. I went through a whole heap of emotions including Why me? It’s not fair as I rarely leave my house! We are good people and live a simple joyful life but shit happens. I tried my best to stay calm and breathe but it was not easy. Part of me was angry at hubby but it was short lived as it obviously was not intentional.  

We both experienced completely different symptoms. Hubby had a really severe sore throat with lots of phlegm, a cough and loss of smell and appetite. He wasn’t too bad and still managed to work from our home office. I on the other hand had a wide range of symptoms which varied from day to day, my Covid journey was horrendous. My symptoms started with the most chronic throbbing headache right between my eyes that continued for 36 hours solid. It felt like someone was splitting my head in two with a sledge hammer! Then there was the added bonus which felt like someone jabbing a knitting needle through my eye socket randomly every 20 minutes or so. The headache was combined with severe muscle and joint pain mainly in my legs. Then the nausea kicked in followed by a sporadic cough. Here are a list of my full symptoms which I have ordered via severity:

Chronic headache.

Myalgia – Muscle and joint pain.

Severe nausea & heightened sense of smell – everything smelt awful.

Earache.

Chills, shivers and drenching night sweats.

Dizzy spells and loss of balance.

Loss of appetite.

Insomnia.

Cough.

Blocked nose.

Mild sore throat.

Dry mouth and dehydration.

Upper random abdominal pain.

Day 8 – Severe diarrhoea and abdominal cramps all through the night and following day!

Day 9 – Difficulty catching my breath fully.

My Survival Tips & Aids

Water.

Warm baths with Epsom salts and lavender essential oil.

Steam over a bowl & towel (to aid nasal passages).

Nasal spray (for blocked nose).

Ibuprofen (worked so much better for my headaches than Paracetamol).

Pure heat gel (for muscle aches and myalgia).

Vitamin C.

Wedge cushion to raise achy legs.

Ginger (for nausea) & bananas.

Nausea Nightmare

The nausea was so bad that I stayed in bed for days and I couldn’t even lift my head off of the pillow without feeling like I was going to vomit. I literally couldn’t sleep so I laid on my bed with my head hanging off the side and suspended inches over a sick bucket. I never ever actually threw up but the feeling was so strong. I could not face food and every smell made me retch and feel sick. I could not stomach my regular food or drinks. Coffee made me retch the worst and even water tasted weird like it had been poisoned. The only foods I could eventually stomach after a few days were marmite on toast, scrambled eggs, porridge, protein shakes and soup. I basically lived off protein fruit smoothies. Also the temperature all week was around 30 degrees or more so I had to recover in the heat. I kept on experiencing chills and my whole body shivered and shut down. One night I changed my clothing 4 times! My head was roasting hot but my body was freezing. I couldn’t take my temperature as we don’t own a thermometer and I had no one to visit the pharmacy for me. I knew it was important to keep my fluid intake up but I could not even face water. I usually drink between 2-5 litres of water a day and it was hellish to consume 2 litres but I did it sip by sip. My energy levels were completely depleted and although our en-suite toilet is literally half a dozen steps from my bed, the struggle of getting there to pee was like climbing a mountain. It literally felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I could not even distract myself with my phone or TV as I could not stand bright lights. As the days passed the nausea did not magically disappear but luckily I found some fresh ginger lurking in the back of the freezer. Believe me when I say I added grated ginger to anything and everything e.g. porridge and in my protein smoothies. I am not sure how much it helped but I tried. Any relief was temporary, maybe for an hour each day I felt OK then I would stand up and it would hit me, a rush of nausea, dizziness and fatigue along with mini blackouts. 

I experienced a bad reaction to the muscle cream where my foot burnt up and felt like it was on fire! My headache was so severe that I was literally crying. At one point I nearly got hubby to phone for an ambulance because I was in so much pain and I really needed a higher level of pain meds like an IV drip of Morphine. I suffer from chronic pain on a daily basis so I can take a lot of pain. The relentless headache which didn’t reduce with over the counter drugs was crazy. I am not an overly dramatic person but I was absolutely terrified. In my whole life time I think I’ve only ever contemplated suicide twice. Once after my failed back surgery and once last year when I encountered 10 weeks of severe tooth pain due to an impacted wisdom tooth and infected jaw with bone spurs. This was my third occasion! I literally said to hubby that I wanted to die. I actually contemplated taking a bath and slipping slowly under the water and never submerging. This meant hubby had to monitor my bath times, bless him. It is actually bizarre what feelings one can encounter when one has endured a pounding agonising ocular headache for 36 hours straight, desperation was the word of the week.

Soaring Temperatures

We just had to get Covid during a mini heatwave! It was the end of September/start of October and temperatures reached nearly 40 degrees! Thank God for air conditioned bedrooms.

Life Hurts, Nature Heals

After a week in bed and craving fresh air, I asked hubby to drive us to a remote local river beach for Vitamin D and Aqua Therapy. I only managed a couple of hours as I felt so nauseous and disorientated in 38 degree heat but I was hoping the magic of Mother Nature would work it’s wonder. Life hurts, Nature heals ❤️ and Nausea SUCKS!

Freezer Figs

Neither of us was hungry but we were rapidly running out of food. Why don’t you live out of your freezer? Because it is FULL of FIGS! We shop monthly then hubby usually visits the local village shop for mini top ups. Obviously we didn’t know we were going to be struck down with Covid otherwise we would have stocked up a bit more. When I say my chest freezer is full of figs, I ain’t lying! (ha ha). I am suddenly in awe of those weird manic folk who stock pile and have a basement full of edible goodies just in case an apocalypses occurs or Covid. I have never been more interested in learning the art and skill of canning. It now seems sensible as opposed to obsessive. Everyone seems to have some form of advice on what we should be eating. I have had suggestions from live yogurt, complex wholegrains, flavoured teas etc. Unfortunately my kitchen cupboard does not resemble an organic health food store and I don’t have any of these items in my house to try. People keep asking if we were still testing positive and I had no clue to this answer. I couldn’t exactly send hubby out to the pharmacy to infect everyone just to buy a couple of Covid tests. I am not sure how I can explain this in any more simple terms “We have No support” ZERO HELP! We also have no online food deliveries as we live in a rural village in Central Portugal.

Covid Cake

I really thought I’d feel a whole lot better one week in. I was wrong! The nausea was horrendous and I still couldn’t eat much and continued to live off porridge, protein shakes and eggs. It is really weird how we both got completely different symptoms. On a positive note: Hubby found sugar and flour in the back of our kitchen cupboard so he made me a Pão de Lo but he renamed it the “Covid Cake” (ha ha).

“If the people have no bread, let them eat cake.” (Marie Antoinette).

Deadly Diarrhoea

After 8 full days of Covid symptoms I really thought it couldn’t get any worse and then it did. I experienced one of the worst nights of my life. Severe abdominal cramps from hell accompanied by explosive diarrhoea. At the ripe old age of nearly 50 I literally shit my bed! I have no words, it’s game over. It literally shot out of my AH like a bullet from a gun. I was in excruciating pain from Midnight until 5am! Hubby nearly called an ambulance at one point. The pain continued into the next day and so did the code brown incident. I was shitting through the eye of a needle for 24 hours straight. I have IBS so I am used to abdominal abnormalities, a dodgy gut and random pain but this pain was not the same. I think I must be one of the unluckiest people on this earth as diarrhoea is not a common Covid symptom. People that do experience the shits usually get it in the early few days after their diagnosis. What can I say, I must be special. Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow – that is patience. The two most powerful warriors are patience and time. At this precise moment I had neither. I will spare you the code brown aftermath photos, just in case your eating (ha ha).

Pet Therapy

I know that Vitamin C and D is really important for recovery so I tried my best to waddle out to the garden and sit in my hammock for at least an hour each day after hubby finished work. He kindly accompanied me as I often felt faint. He would assist me to get into my hammock as it was so hard as I had zero energy. Then he took prime position on the palette sofa. I swear our chickens can sense that we are ill as they keep jumping up on us, bless them. Pet therapy is the best but do you know what isn’t the best? A slightly swaying hammock when you have severe nausea! Bejesus just the slightest to and fro of movement nearly made me puke. I really could not face foods rich in Vitamin D like salmon, tuna and green leafy veg so I resorted to vitamin supplements instead. 

We love our pets for their ability to be non-judgmental, for their unwavering loyalty, and their ability to give love even when the chips are down. I much prefer animals over people. They have far more empathy than most folk. Michonne, my favourite bird can sense that we are poorly and is embracing us with her LOVE. Pets are so precious.

Exercise & Energy

Exercise is important and I’m trying to keep with my regular routine right up to my surgery date but Covid abolished my plans. I did try to embark on a few power walks but I had zero energy and kept getting dizzy spells. On one occasion I had to phone hubby to come and get me so I decided to listen to my body, rest and recuperate. I can barely walk a few steps without feeling faint so power walking up and down mountain hills for 5K and 7K was just too much too soon and an unrealistic expectation. The exhaustion was fierce and as soon as I tried to power walk I felt a heavy weight on my chest and experienced heart and chest pains. I’ve never felt so drained of energy. I literally didn’t sleep for 2 whole weeks, I was delirious. Hubby managed to fall asleep within seconds as usual. I have no idea when I will be able to resume my regular exercise routine but for now I am listening to my body and at present it is screaming from the rooftops REST!

Vitamin D, A Palette Sun Lounger & Me

By Day 9 I was so over the nausea and abdominal cramps I decided to take control and fight back with every last ounce of effort I had inside of my frail body. I started spending 20 mins per day laying out in the 30+ degree sun hoping the Vitamin D will fight this virus. Unfortunately we don’t own any sun loungers or a pool so hubby made me a make-shift sun lounger using old palettes and cushions. Technically he just put 2 palettes on the floor and chucked a couple of old cushions on top but it’s the thought that counts. I lay out like a hippo basking in the sunshine. Then I took a cold shower and spent another hour or two in my hammock under the shade of our fig tree chilling with my happy hens. It has become a daily ritual and I am hoping that the sunshine will reduce the severity of my Covid symptoms and return me back to the land of the living as I’m so weak.

Everyone survives in different ways. Me? One day at a time, and when I didn’t think I was going to make it through the day I broke it into smaller sections of hours, minutes and even seconds. Most timeframes were ugly and painful. I cried like a baby and prayed like a Nun and somehow I got through the worst of it! I’m smiling because if you smile when your alone then you really mean it.

Rocky Helena

Day 10 of Covid, Day 2 of Sunshine & Smile therapy. I know I look like one of the back street boys with my dodgy baseball cap but needs must. I didn’t have the energy to wash my dirty hair. The nausea was still really bad but I soldiered on with a smile on my face. It’s devastating what a lack of basic nutrition, food and exercise can do to one’s body in 10 short days. The Covid diet has ravished my body. I definitely have a lot more skin and bone and less muscle mass.

“Nobody is gonna hit as hard as life, but it ain’t how hard you can hit. It’s how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. It’s how much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.” (Rocky Balboa).

Fight back with Fitness

By Day 11 of Covid I decided to fight back with fitness. Covid has destroyed my strong body and zapped every last bit of my energy but I’m not prepared to sit and waste away in bed any longer. I would like my abs to be defined again not my ribs! If you want to lose a few pounds I highly recommend the Covid diet, just kidding, it sucks. I love my priorities and sheer determination. I don’t have the energy to wash my dirty hair or to bend over to paint my toenails but with my strength training completed I contemplated a 7 km power walk/jog in the heat (ha ha). Now if I could just win the Nausea battle I’d be a happy bunny, a frail but happy bunny. It was an epic fail. I made it to the Church, sweating profusely and I nearly passed out and pooped my pants! At least I tried my best. Here I am strength training very slowly in my little oasis of a garden. I know I look as rough as a mountain goats toenail but I’m taking control and fighting back one slow and labored breathless rep at a time.

Real Friends are worth their Weight in Gold

I am not going to lie, our Covid experience was a living hell which I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. It was most definitely the worst couple of weeks of our life. It really got me reflecting on my social network and those who truly care. I lost my one and only real BFF to breast cancer. A lady with a heart of gold who would go through hell and high water for us. Treasure the few who really care for you when you are gravely ill/in trouble as when the shit hits the fan (literally in my case) people show their true colours. It’s a good job that we could not eat much as we don’t have any family, neighbours or friends here to help and support us and we don’t have online shopping deliveries. We only have each other. I have 461 Facebook friends and in the first few days only a total of 7 sent well wishes and only 1 Facebook friend offered to shop for us and visit the pharmacy. You know who you are and I will never ever forget your kindness. It really is a sad state of affairs when people just leave you alone housebound with limited food and medical supplies. My anxiety levels were literally through the roof. Now I know you are probably thinking, well I bet most of those friends don’t live anywhere near her. Yes you are likely correct but there are a few that do live in our vicinity and chose to turn a blind eye. They even have the audacity to recommend certain foods that I should be eating, it’s F laughable. We were never expecting folk to jump on a plane or drive miles to bring supplies but it would have been amazing for a local so called friend to drop off a loaf of bread and bring us medical supplies. I am usually quite a positive person but this whole experience has had a huge impact on me. What hurts me the most about this whole situation is the fact that a lot of folk post daily memes and little cute quotations about being kind and simple gestures that brighten one person’s day etc. then they just ignore their own advice and let you starve without basic necessities. I have a handful of Facebook friends who I know would have visited me if only they lived nearer. God bless these kind souls.

As the month ended we were rapidly running out of food and basically living off eggs that our chickens lay but we only have 2 hens now so even our egg supplies were dwindling fast. I didn’t want to risk others’ safety by sending hubby out to the store. It really was a sad desperate time as we don’t have a stockroom or pantry full of supplies. It really is scary as food, water, shelter, warmth and love are basic needs for survival. When did people become so bloody selfish and self absorbed? I know everyone’s a little selfish to a point but it really did hit home. People are not kind and most folk just don’t care unless it involves them or their own immediate little circle of family and friends. We all like to think that we are such kind people and that we go above and beyond for others. In all honesty, this is total BS. Most folk are selfish as F! They turned a blind eye and couldn’t care less. I’ve honestly never felt so alone! My moral in life is simple, you treat me good and I’ll definitely treat you better. I am courageous but I am stubborn as a mule. I am also like an elephant and I will never forget. I also believe in karma, what comes around goes around. Never forget who ignored you when you needed them and who helped you before you even had to ask.

I know as human beings we are not supposed to hate anyone, no matter how much they’ve wronged you. We are pressured into living humbly and thinking positively, no matter how hard life is. We should give much, even if we’ve been given little. Forgive all, especially yourself and never stop praying for the best for everyone. This is easier said than done at the moment. Can I come out the other side of this nightmare and retain my good character by choosing to be kind and forgiving? I’m honestly not sure! I don’t feel very forgiving at this precise moment, I feel neglected and angry and I am OK with these emotions because I believe in my gut instinct and I trust my feelings which are totally valid. Why should I bend over backwards and make excuses for folk who lack basic sympathy, compassion and generosity? My mum always said “Actions speak louder than words” and she wasn’t wrong. There are a lot of cold hearted people out there whether we want to accept it or not. I consider myself a good person who makes a positive impact in the world. Being less selfish doesn’t have to mean hard work. It’s just about seeing the world in a way that once again embraces and includes community. It’s not that F hard!

It is times like this when I miss my dear Mum. I lost her a few years ago but if she were here she would have rallied around and brought me home cooked dishes of pies and chicken stew with dumplings. What I wouldn’t do for a mum hug right now! This experience has highlighted to us just how oblivious people are. We both encourage people to show compassion in times of need. The smallest gesture can make the world of a difference when you are bedbound. Health is not valued until sickness comes. One of life’s greatest lessons is learning who your real friends are, what they will do for you, and how they will treat you when the going gets tough. When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on! Apologies if that turned into a bit of a rant, actually I’m not sorry. Honesty is the best policy and I meant every single word. Always speak how you feel and never be sorry for being real!

Positive Negative News

On Day 12 we decided to re-take Covid tests. I reluctantly sent hubby out to the pharmacy because I knew that he was now Day 14 and unlikely to be contagious. I also was more than desperate to visit a shop for food. OMG we tested Negative! Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax so I treated myself to a little self care. It’s amazing how clean hair and freshly painted toe nails can lift one’s spirits that along with a negative Covid test. I’ve never been so elated and positive about a negative (ha ha). I am still battling the chronic Nausea and abdominal pain but I’m smiling through the discomfort.

“For every ailment under the sun, There is a remedy, or there is none, If there be one, try to find it; If there be none, never mind it.” (Mother Goose)

The photos with hubby are hilarious, it looks like we are sharing a pregnancy announcement. Thankfully we are not as my ship has gladly sailed and hubby has had a vasectomy so if I were pregnant post Menopause, it would be a bloody miracle (ha ha).

I literally kissed my negative test result!
Photobombed by a cute Butterfly!

The Long Awaited Food Shop

Yippee we did a Food shop! I’ve never been so excited to visit Lidl (ha ha). After 2 long weeks of struggling through Covid and rapidly running out of food with no one to shop for us because people are selfish as hell, we can now fuel our bodies with proper nutrition. Bring on the feast fit for for a King and Queen. We started the food fest party with car journey savoury snacks. I tried a bite of hubby’s whilst he was putting the trolley back, I think he noticed (ha ha). Sharing is caring!

I think he noticed (ha ha)

Super Soup for the Soul

The first thing I made with all this food is Sweet potato, chickpea and lentil soup, a huge batch of 22 portions for the freezer. “Soup puts the heart at ease, calms down the violence of hunger, eliminates the tension of the day, and awakens and refines the appetite.” (Auguste Escoffier)

Weekend Water Therapy

Now that we have tested negative we decided to venture out for some Saturday Soulmate Aqua Therapy. Nausea and exhaustion prevented me from dancing the night away at our local Beer Fest. Chasing Waterfalls is far more beneficial to my health and Covid recovery than alcohol. We got drunk on Mother Nature! Calhão Mogueiro is a beautiful 10 m high waterfall located in the middle of the Loriga Glacial Valley, a short 25 min walk upstream from the famous river beach. The tranquil waterfall forms a pool of crystal clear water before the stream continues its course through a canyon embedded between granite outcrops, towards the fields of Loriga. A perfect glorious 30 degrees in October. What better way to recuperate and re-energise! The water was very cold but we both braved the “muito frio” water because I love to swim at sensational unique waterfalls. We also met some super friendly mountain sheep which made my day. I will write a separate blog post about this magnificent hidden gem but in the meantime enjoy these few photos.

Soulmate Spa Sunday

Hubby treated me as a reward for overcoming Covid! I shaved my legs and pits, de-muffed my unkempt lady garden and Abracadabra I was magically bikini babe body ready. What better way to recover from Covid than an afternoon at a Mountain Spa! WOW! Such an awesome place nestled in the Serra da Estrela Natural Park with breathtaking landscape views. We spent 4 glorious hours in the 30 degree Portuguese sunshine at Aquadome (H2otel Congress & Medical Spa). It was a truly amazing and unique experience and such a tranquil and relaxing Soulmate Sunday, just what the Doctor ordered. A spectacular dose of posh pure heaven and the perfect place to unwind, relax and recover. Again, I will write a separate blog post about this awesome mountain spa but here are a few photos to wet your appetite!

Overview

We are still experiencing some lingering symptoms from Covid but I already feel a whole heap better after my weekend of aqua therapy. There is something very therapeutic and magical about mountain spring water. My symptoms mainly consist of loss of appetite, random abdominal cramps and severe fatigue. I am just glad that my crippling headache has gone and that my nausea is a bit better. It really was one of the worst experiences in my life. Hubby got off very lightly with only mild symptoms but I was not so fortunate. I consider myself to be a strong, independent lady and a badass, resilient fighter but bejesus this bloody Covid tested me beyond my wildest expectations and it’s something I never want to go through again anytime soon. I can deal with lingering fatigue if the nausea and pain would just disappear. The nausea now comes in waves and I have a little relief. I still feel queasy with a lot of food smells and I can only stomach certain foods and much smaller portions sizes or I am in agony. I love my food and coffee so I just want my body to return to normal, whatever that is so I can enjoy food again because I like routine and I miss my usual regular planned meals, I’m so gutted. Meal times and sharing food should be fun not a chore. I have found a new friend in cornflakes. Whenever I can’t face an evening meal I eat a couple of poached eggs on toast but after nearly a fortnight of eating eggs and not wanting hot porridge or anything else savoury I found that cornflakes topped with a banana and ice cold milk light and very tasty. I’ve never prayed so damn hard in my life and I made a pact with God that if I made it through this ordeal I will never ever complain about being in pain again! The weird thing about Covid is that everyone will experience different symptoms. I think it was really hard for folk to sympathise with us because they obviously did not suffer that badly so they are probably wondering why we are making such a fuss. I’ve heard people say getting Covid is like a bad case of the sniffles or a mild cold. Well not for me it wasn’t! This Covid journey was a living hell for me personally and you will never truly understand my pain unless you have stood in my shoes. I can handle pain but this was on another level. My only concern now is that this abdominal pain might persist and turn into a long Covid symptom which lasts months or years.

I have always said that Health is my Number One priority and I stand by this. Unfortunately due to Covid I had to cancel my private pre-op medical appointment near Lisbon as we could not embark on a 6 hour round trip still feeling so fragile and still testing positive. I have rescheduled and hopefully my actual surgery date in November can still go ahead because we have already booked our accommodation and a house/pet sitter. I suppose the positive is that I got Covid in September and not November right before my surgery date. I am also grateful that we didn’t get it during our UK visit to celebrate my daughters graduation. If we had all returned to Portugal with Covid it would have ruined my daughters 3 week vacation here so there are some small blessings to be thankful for. This is the silver lining out of all of this Covid chaos. I also missed my favourite annual Medieval Fair which I’m sad about as I bought a costume for the first time this year and was going to dress up as Maid Marion and I even entered the photographic competition too. Oh well there is always next year. I am also very sad that we missed a local Beer Fest and I cannot plan anything elaborate for hubby’s 50th Birthday. Party celebrations will have to be put on the back burner until we are fully recovered. Now I am through the worst of this Covid nightmare, I can look back and feel grateful that my breathing was not massively or dangerously affected and neither one of us had to go to hospital. Others have not been so lucky and many people have lost their loved ones to Covid and were not able to say a final goodbye in the way they would have wished. This breaks my heart and makes my experience appear insignificant in comparison. If you have lost a beloved friend or family member due to this pandemic, I send my sincere love and condolences. To all the nurses and frontline staff: you are my hero and I appreciate your dedication and devotion.

I always say that life is short and this is why I try to have fun and smile every day. Life is such a precious gift. Every day, I count my blessings and I am eternally grateful for every aspect of my life. Even when I am faced with unexpected challenges I stay focused, strong and have hope in my heart. This experience also highlighted how amazing my marriage is and how hubby and I are a little team, always fighting the fight together. He really is the only one in this world that can understand me even when I don’t speak a word. He has the unique ability to sense my fears, worries, and my anxieties even before I realise them. Thank you for knowing me so well and for being a companion, a friend, and a comforter to me. It is a pure blessing to have you as my life partner forever. You know your marriage is rock solid when you shit the bed and eventually emerge from the bathroom to find that your life partner and soulmate has cleaned up the mess! That is real LOVE. Forget designer handbags and fancy jewels, clearing up my shit speaks volumes and trumps any tacky material gift money can buy. Believe me when I say, when I am back to 90% health I am gonna unleash my craziness full force. I will be dancing and prancing in my garden and jumping for joy as usual. Things will return to my normal chaotic fun filled life, which is obviously far from normal but brilliantly bizarre in every way. I will leave you a photo of our crazy spa fun. It’s difficult to look sexy and attractive when you have to wear a swim cap that resembles a condom. My hidden talent and party trick is that I can go from “Serene” to “Silly” in 0.6 seconds. It’s a talent not everyone possesses so I guess I’m a lucky lady (ha ha).