Category: Gaming

Danni

2025 Update

Computers, Danni, Gaming, M.E., Penguins!, Physical Disability, Real Life

Happy 2025!

Things have happened since my last post, and though I have several drafts from the past year, I’ve not been able to finish them. So list it is. They’re mostly in chronological order. I’m hoping to expand on some of them later with photos, but trying to do those posts is partially why it’s been over a year since the last one. This blog is mostly for my future reference anyway 😊

As I’m not expecting anyone to read all this, the TL:DR version is a lot of things happened, but no longer having care workers in has led to an improvement in health so I’m no longer completely bed bound, just mostly. I’m happy! Izzy and Sammie are doing well! There are penguins!

  • I managed to get on the ramp for my birthday (18th June)! That was the only outing I managed in 2024 other than the care home stay and hospital visits, so I’m really glad I managed it. My birthday was lovely, and I got a helium penguin balloon that took about 6 months to stop standing up.
  • In July Sammie graduated with a foundation degree. I’m so incredibly proud of her, and watched her graduation ceremony at home, as though I really wanted to go I wasn’t well enough to even push through. Izzy did though, and took her out for food afterwards. (Her grandparents were also at the ceremony.)
  • I met my brother’s partner. He’s awesome! I’m very happy for them both, and they’ve since moved closer to where I am. My body was not so happy about the visit, and I crashed hard. Worth it though.
  • Izzy got a little blue fairy penguin tattoo on her arm. It’s my favourite type of (real life) penguin, so it reminds her of me. Little Dude is so adorable, and it’s hard to contain my emotions when I see him.
  • The home care situation got worse. Izzy was having to micromanage the care workers while also trying to work, and I was panicking and having nightmares because I had no idea who was coming or when. At the end of October, Izzy cancelled them, and I started sleeping better again.
  • Izzy got me a 4K TV in a sale as an early Christmas present. It’s big, and meant I can now actually make out what was happening on Twitch and YouTube. Penguins look amazing on it 😊
  • In November, I found a new lump in my left breast, resulting in an urgent appointment at the breast clinic. Luckily it’s not cancer (it’s a fibroadenoma, which is a type of benign tumour). The appointment went as well as it could, and they even agreed to do the follow up by phone so I didn’t have to go back unnecessarily. At least one part of the NHS still works.
  • I crashed hard after, so Christmas was very quiet. I still have presents to sort out when I can get my brain working. Izzy made her roast potatoes with Christmas dinner though so it was amazing.
  • Somehow Sammie is 21 now?! Time makes no sense. She’s amazing though, and I’m so proud of her.
  • I sent Izzy and Sammie to see a pantomime. They loved it. I watched the CBeebies one which was fun.
  • As of this year, I’ve started being able to watch some films and TV shows in bed. Watched Wicked with Izzy (one of her current obsessions) and it was amazing. Improvement is good!
  • Got a cleaning company in for a declutter and big clean. They also helped organise removing all the stuff, which was a big stumbling block for Izzy. It helped a lot, even if I could only manage about an hour in my room over two days.
  • In February we were meant to have a new care agency come out to assess us, but they ghosted us. We heard from a neighbour who used to work for them that it’s probably for the best. We’ve not heard anything from social services about it since, but Izzy is coping okay for now.
  • Izzy was meant to go to Belgium on holiday in March, but she couldn’t find a care home who could take me so she had to cancel. This obviously really sucked, but it did mean I didn’t relapse again.
  • She had also booked tickets to go see Starlight Express in London the night before getting the Eurostar. She was really upset about missing it as she’s currently really into musicals and she loves trains!
  • I worked out that if we prepared well enough, she went down that afternoon and came back on the first train the next morning, I could probably manage one night, as my hands had improved enough that I could manage my own tablets in a pill box. So we tried it.
  • It went okay! The hardest part was taking nearly two hours to do a pad change in the middle of the night (usually takes about 5 minutes with help) as I had to rest between each movement and my hands still don’t work great, but we now know I can do it as a one off at my current level of health. This wouldn’t have been doable a year ago.
  • I slept through most of the next two weeks. I also needed to get Izzy up nearly every night, which also confirmed I do still need nighttime care. Luckily we had prepared for this, as we’re now well aware of what happens if I overdo it. At least it was for a good thing, and me staying home helped it be less bad.
  • By the 3rd of May I’d recovered enough for Izzy to try a day trip. She went to The Deep in Hull as she was stressed (mostly with work) and thought penguins would help. They did! I was asleep most of the day, which was ideal as I didn’t need anything. This also meant no payback! We’re planning more day trips for her when we can.
  • Throughout the last few months, outside of crashes/payback, I’d been working on improving my sensory exposure and being more upright in bed. It’s been working. The hardest part is trying not to do too much at once.
  • I’ve also been more able to go on my computer, and set things up so I can stream games from my computer to either my TV or my tablet, so I can play them without needing Izzy’s help to get things set up. The lightened controller SpecialEffect lent me has also been key to this. Yay independence!
  • By the 10th of May I felt confident enough to try being hoisted in my wheelchair. And it was fine, so I ended up going out, and to Tesco for the first time in years. It was amazing seeing how much has changed, what’s popular now, and penguin spotting. Prices have definitely gone up.
  • I also got the bus back up the hill as Izzy is very out of practice and she’d still needed to get me up the ramp. Apart from my wheelchair not fitting on the first bus we tried, it went well! Apparently my motion sickness has also improved. I still felt fine when I was put back into bed which was also a good sign.
  • Later that week I’d had basically no payback other than my neck going into spasm as I’d held my head up by myself too much, so I went into the living room to keep Izzy company while working. It’s so nice just to be in a different room.
  • On the 18th I did something big that was technically overdoing it cognitively and physically, but I’m pretty sure it’ll be worth it. More on that in a future post.
  • Izzy and Sammie went to see Grace Petrie! They loved it! I got awesome photos of them, and bridges!
  • Since then I’ve been mostly recovering from big thing, my best hours have been in the middle of the night, and I’m in the few weeks before my B12 injection where my fatigue is much worse, so I’ve stayed in bed. I’ve still been able to more for myself than last year, and if Izzy didn’t have to be asleep at 3am for work I’d probably be okay to at least go in the living room. Silly sleeping patterns!
  • Being able to have Izzy in here more often, and occasionally even cuddles, has made a massive difference to my mood. She’s amazing and I love her 💜
  • Another thing that has helped my improvement has been the Visible app and armband. I’ve had to tweak stuff to make it work better for me (compared to a healthy person, even on my best day symptoms like fatigue and muscle pain are severe) but that and the heart rate tracking have really helped me with my very modified version of pacing. I wish it were more affordable for those who need it.
  • The last thing is we’ve bought a 3D printer. I was planning on getting it this weekend but Izzy talked me into getting it last night (Thursday 6th June). We’ve been talking about getting one for years, but with the decluttering Izzy’s been able to find room for it, and I’ve been able to save up enough. We’ve got so many ideas and plans!

As is usual for me, this is way longer than I thought it would be when I started it. No longer having the uncertainty around care, knowing what things use my energy most and being able to sleep when I need to have massively improved my quality of life. Decent care workers, like the ones I had in 2022-early 2024, do help me and especially Izzy, but inconsistent ones who won’t follow a written care plan make things actively worse. We’re doing good.

I’m so lucky to have my family, friends, and especially Izzy. I wouldn’t be here without her.

Danni

Not ME Awareness Day

Autism, Danni, Gaming, Goals, Important Stuff, M.E., Mental Health, Physical Disability, Real Life

I was planning to blog on Sunday, which was ME Awareness Day, but instead because I have ME I slept through it instead. To be honest I’m not entirely sure I would have said anyway – I’ve already said what it’s like to live with Severe ME, and that we need more physiological research. The recent NICE guidelines are a massive improvement over the old ones, but now we need doctors and hospitals to actually listen to them.

I guess I might as well do my update post instead 🙂

First thing: the charity which provides my adaptive controllers, SpecialEffect, was given a BAFTA Special Award. They thoroughly deserve it, having helped so many physically disabled people be able to access games, amongst other things. BAFTA asked the games journalist Laura Kate Dale to write an article about SpecialEffect and what they do, and alongside some amazingly awesome people I was quoted in it. Still can’t quite believe that happened 🙂

Below is mostly a rant, so feel free to skip it if you like. It’s mostly for my future reference. The Too Long; Didn’t Read version is that respite didn’t go well, lots of things happened, and though I’m struggling, I’m making progress on some of my goals.

Last post I mentioned I was going into respite, but didn’t know where. Eventually Izzy contacted Social Services and they found somewhere that would take me. The downside was it was 10 miles away. Izzy booked stretcher patient transport there, which apparently we could always do since I needed it? No-one told us that before. It meant I got there though, and it meant I wasn’t as ill as I could have been on arrival.

The stay in the care home did not go well, though there were a few good days when the right staff were on. The morning Izzy flew to America (I’m now allowed to say she went to the Game Developers’ Conference in San Francisco) she had to phone them at 5am to get them to help me, as I’d not seen anyone for 7 hours. They agreed to hourly checks, and even without them everyone on that floor is meant to be checked on at least every 2 hours, which didn’t happen many nights and some days. Multiple unnecessary bedding changes were needed during the stay, because I didn’t get pad changes when I needed them. And to top it off, I ended up with my first bed sore in nearly a decade, due to having a heavy plate on me I couldn’t move for several hours multiple times, and no alternating air mattress. And not giving me my prescribed painkillers when needed. I was running on adrenaline the entire time, and am still having nightmares about it.

The one big positive of the stay was it was near where Sammie lives, so I got to see her twice (would have been more if she’d not had a cold at the beginning and I was doing better). Those visits helped so much. Izzy also came between the two trips, both to try and improve my care (didn’t work) and to just spend time with me. I’ve got a photo of all three of us together which makes me happy every time I see it 🙂 I also heard the owls at night, which was pretty cool.

Coming home was interesting. Izzy forgot to book the stretcher transport until a few days before I was meant to go home (while she was still in Belgium), and by that point they couldn’t do it. Then she couldn’t get a wheelchair accessible taxi booked either. This meant the only option was public transport. The first 20 minutes or so in my wheelchair I was mostly fighting to remain conscious, but eventually adrenaline kicked in enough I was aware of things and made a request: to go on a train (Metro). This technically added 6 minutes to the journey and an extra change, but reduced how far Izzy had to push me (especially uphill) and meant I got to be on a train going over a bridge, and was able to look at other bridges! That part was worth it, even if I’ve still not recovered completely.

Since getting home it’s been mixed. I crashed, as expected. The home care agency put me on a doubles round without letting us know, and having two extra people in the flat was just too much for me. We also weren’t told who was coming, and they were arriving outside the times agreed with the agency (11am-12pm in the morning, 6pm-7pm in the evening – technically my calls are at half past but with 30 minutes leeway either side). It got to the point I was panicking just thinking about it, so Izzy agreed to cancel them for a week, and also told them when they came back to only have one care worker come in.

Then I had my B12 injection, and there were two nurses for that. And because Izzy was working I had to answer all their questions by myself. Necessary (it’s started to kick in now and I can actually be awake for a few hours a day, like now) but not great in a crash. I was due to get it while in the care home, and they said they’d sort it out, but obviously they didn’t.

Then the nurses insisted I needed my mattress replacing, which was true as a pipe was broken (though the foam below is also pressure relieving, so it wasn’t an emergency). They wanted to do it the same or next day as my injection, but since there was no way I was going to be well enough we managed to postpone it until the next week, which I’m very grateful for. It meant a night in the living room and being in there with Izzy while she worked for a day. Was lovely to spend time with her, but one of her work machines is way too loud for me to be in there while it’s on. I’m glad I have a working mattress again, but I wish there was a medium pressure setting as high is a bit too high, but low is a bit too low. It’s better than none though, and it does mean I’m sleeping a bit better.

Since then I’ve been mostly trying to recover from everything, and get used to the new care workers. Having only one in definitely helps, though I don’t trust them yet. I’ve been feeling really guilty because I know how lucky I am to be getting care at all, and I feel I should be coping better. Izzy tells me I’m a silly sausage. Most of the time I like being autistic, but I do wish I were more able to cope with change and anxiety. It’s exhausting.

Izzy’s trips both went well. She really enjoyed the work event, though failed to get me any peppermint Lifesavers (not helped by having a headache the one day she had free to explore). I helped by tracking her planes and telling her where she needed to go at each airport, especially for the really tight connections. Her cruise was apparently fantastic, and she met friends and went to the zoo and saw penguins, amongst other things. I unfortunately was too ill for a video call while she was at the zoo, but the photos and videos were great. She did a bit better on presents, getting me a soft toy penguin and stroopwaffels.

A gentoo penguin. It is in the water, with the top of its head visible above the waterline, and most of its body and wings below. It is looking directly at the camera. It has a black head with a white band around its eyes, and a beak that is mostly yellow with a black line on top. The body and upper wings are black, and the belly and under wings are white.
Gentoo Penguin in Rotterdam Zoo. Taken by Izzy Brennand

Apart from the first couple of weeks where I mostly slept, I’ve been well enough for some entertainment. I’m slowly getting back into watching my favourite Twitch streams, when the games are ones that I can deal with. I’m now up to 10 books read, so I should probably think about upping my goal there. I’ve completed three video games so far (A Little To The Left, Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery and Unpacking) so I’m really happy with that. I watched Mary Poppins Returns and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children while in the care home, so I’m doing well on that front too. I’ve also watched the first two episodes of Good Omens, though for some reason TV shows are still really difficult to follow. I’ll figure that out at some point, when my brain is doing better. I’m really happy I’ve been able to do as much as I have, especially since I’m still not able to move as much as I’d like.

I know I will get there eventually. I’m hoping my home care situation will improve (I’ve been offered the chance to move companies, which I’m unsure about right now but if things don’t improve with this one soon will take up). Being at home is much better than not. Izzy’s being incredibly supportive and understanding, and helping me when I’ve had nightmares, anxiety and panic attacks. I’m still able to do things and I’m even on my computer to write this, which is so much easier than on my tablet. It’ll be okay 🙂

Danni

Entertainment Goals for 2024

Computers, Danni, Gaming, Goals, Real Life

I like watching, reading, and playing things. Now I’m finally coming out of the November smol relapse (to contrast with the Covid big relapse) I’m actually able to plan what I want to achieve when it comes to entertainment. All of these are very health dependent, but hopefully I’ll manage some of them.

Reading

Reading 15 books I mentioned in my general goals list, before I realised it was getting way too long. I’ve managed 2 books so far, and I’m in the middle of a third. I’m not too fussy over what I’m going to read, but I’m hoping to progress with rereading all the Chalet School books I have access to on ebook, and continue reading Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books in published order, interspersed with other stuff. I’ve got well over a thousand books on my to read pile, so often the problem is choosing what to read next, though Storygraph can help there. I’m deliberately avoiding anything too heavy right now, but if I improve maybe I’ll change that.

Separate from actual books, I also want to catch up on my This is True premium newsletters and chapters of The Sisters of Dorley (which is technically also a book series, but I get it emailed to me by chapter via Patron so it feels different). I enjoy both, just got behind while ill.

TV Shows

I’m starting to be well enough to watch things again, and I’ve got quite a backlog. I definitely want to catch up with Doctor Who, Star Trek Discovery/Picard/Lower Decks, and Hilda. Izzy tells me the new Gladiators is good, apart from the hosts, so if I catch up with that I can watch with her. The shorts on Disney Plus are good when my attention span isn’t great. Taskmaster is always fun, and doesn’t require watching in order really. I’ve never watched Game of Thrones or The Expanse, or many other series that came out in the last ten years, so my problem is having too much to watch rather than not enough.

For live stuff, I’m going to be concentrating on Formula 1 races. I like cars go fast, and it’s something I share with Izzy (if I’m well enough she joins me in my room to watch). Silly season has already started, so it’ll be fun to follow that when I can.

Usually I’d also try and watch Eurovision, but this year it very much depends on what happens with Israel. I’ll figure it out nearer the time.

If I manage all of Formula 1, and at least one season of something else, that will be good.

Films

Another one where there’s too much choice. Top priority is the Barbie movie, which I’ve been told I’ll enjoy and is excellent. I got a code to purchase a free film in December and this is what I bought, so I’m just waiting for the right time. I still want to continue the Marvel films up to Endgame, and I think the next one I need to see is Iron Man 3. Also on the list are Star Trek: Beyond, the Warcraft movie, The Hunger Games from Catching Fire onwards, and lots of Disney/Pixar films.

It doesn’t help that new films I want to see keep coming out faster than I can watch them. This year I’m looking forward to Inside Out 2, and I’m sure there’s others I’ve forgotten.

If I manage 5 films this year, I’ll consider the goal complete.

Games

My favourite. Games are amazing for dealing with chronic illness, so long as I’m well enough to play them. I’m lucky to have a gaming pc, Steam Deck, Xbox One X, and my android tablet to play games on. I also have access to a modified low force Xbox controller and Xbox adaptive controller with low force switches, so I need very little strength to use them (Special Effect are awesome).

My tablet is the most accessible, as it’s got a decent sized screen, can be used with one finger if needs be, and it’s my main communication device so I always have access to it. I’m always on the hunt for interesting games that can be played with one hand on there, but right now I’m playing Godville, Penguin Island Puzzle (a 2048 game), Castle Solitaire, Cookies Inc., Usagi Shima, and Vampire Survivors.

My goals for my tablet games are to complete all the achievements on Penguin Puzzle Island, unlock everything in Vampire Survivors along with completing every stage on every character (doable if new content isn’t released too quickly), and continue playing the others while I still find them fun.

On Xbox (including via cloud streaming if that works better) I’m wanting to finish the Frog Detective games and Unpacking, and if Izzy is available play Untitled Goose Game with her. I have Game Pass so if I find any new games on there I can play them too. Or I can just stack the boxes in Arcade Paradise again 😛

I have so many games available on my Steam Deck and PC. This year I want to focus more on games that are actually completable to some extent, though if I can get on my computer enough to make playing World of Warcraft worth it, I’m definitely playing that.

I’ve started off well by completing the DLC for A Little to the Left a few days ago, then finishing all the achievements and seasonal content. I’m currently playing Sticky Business and Stray Gods, both of which feel like they should be completable this year. There are a few games I really want to try soon, like Dordogne, Cats Organised Neatly and Journey that also feel like they won’t take forever.

For longer games, I’d like to make progress in My Time in Portia, Mass Effect 3, and Plague Inc. Mass Effect requires me to be on PC really, but the other two I can manage on the Steam Deck. Too many excellent games, not enough useful time to play them all.

Overall, if I manage to complete 5 games I’ll be happy.

YouTube/Twitch

These are the easiest watching stuff things I can do. If I’m well enough to put the telly on, it’s usually to watch one of these, even if it’s mostly in the background to keep me company. I’ve got a backlog of paid for (membership/Patreon) videos I want to watch, so hopefully this year I’ll get caught up. Other than that I want to get back to watching my favourite Twitch streams (prioritising those I also moderate) and also watch/listen to Dice Funk and other things I like on Youtube.

That’s all of them. Lots of goals, but I’m not expecting to meet all of them and a year is a long time. If I continue improving (or at least not getting worse) then I should make decent progress. It also helps me when I have the energy to do things to know what I want to do, so I don’t waste it all trying to decide. I’m so happy that I’m now well enough to do these things 😊

Danni

Second Covid-19 Vaccine Get

Danni, Gaming, Gender Stuff, M.E., Mental Health, Penguins!, Physical Disability

This is my second version of this post, as just over a week ago I wrote one saying I wasn’t feeling too bad after getting the second vaccine. I just needed fact check something with Izzy, so went to sleep thinking I’d post it after I woke up. And I felt awful. I’m still not great but I’m hoping it’ll ease off soon.

I got my second jab on Tuesday 4th May, and getting it was fine. Same person as the first time which helped, as we could skip the don’t get worried if I stop responding stuff. For the first few days I had a sore, useless arm and felt a bit fluey, but not as bad as the first jab.

The evening of Friday 7th May I woke up feeling horrendous. High temperature, chills, shakes, worse ME symptoms, severe nausea, and just generally feeling awful. Izzy had her jab that afternoon but luckily wasn’t feeling too bad, as she had to give me all the meds I’m allowed. I was only awake about 3 hours before my body forced me to sleep again.

I think it’s a mixture of vaccine side effects and ME payback from getting the vaccine, compounded by having new problematic upstairs neighbours, so my rest is being interrupted. I’m finally doing a bit better, but still am much weaker than my normal. It sucks having to stop eating because I can’t chew any longer rather than having finished or being full. I’m hoping to be back to my normal soon, as once I’m fully protected (which is meant to be the coming Tuesday) I’m wanting to go on adventures and/or see people.

Izzy had about a day of feeling lousy then was pretty much fine. She took the Friday she had the jab off, but was able to work again on the Monday. She’s also excited about the prospect of seeing people again.

I’m going to bullet point the rest of the updates as it’s easier for me and I want to finish this post.

  • The sore arm from the first jab lasted 10 weeks. I really hope it doesn’t this time.
  • Izzy has started sorting the living room and has set up a computer for Sammie to use. For me to get in there we need to remove some old furniture and stuff, which requires help. Hopefully soon.
  • We got a new tabletop dishwasher called Bob. Bob is purple and my contribution was large googly eyes. It’s already helped Izzy so much.
  • Izzy has gone private for her gender healthcare, as we don’t know how many years it’ll be before she’s seen on the NHS. Expensive but worth it. She’s already happier because there’s progress.
  • Just after Izzy emptied her bank account to pay for that, we discovered we need to replace our fridge freezer. Typical. Our current one will need defrosting and the hallway needs the boxes of pads and stuff moving before we can get a new one delivered.
  • We’re pretty sure Izzy has ADHD as well as being autistic, but neither of us have the spoons to sort out an assessment for her. It does help explain certain struggles she has that autism doesn’t quite cover (though there’s a lot of overlap).
  • Izzy is also exhausted because she’s looking after me 24/7 along with being a game developer 40 hours a week for over a year now. If circumstances allow, we’re hoping she’ll get a break this summer.
  • We’re not sure when we’ll get the careworkers back in yet, but it’ll be before Izzy goes back to the office.
  • We don’t know when Izzy will be back at the office. We do know it’ll be a different office, and the new one is further away. We’ll have to take this into account when figuring out what times the care workers should come.
  • We also need to sort out getting a new cleaner/house help person. As they’ll eventually be coming in when Izzy isn’t here, it’ll need to be someone I’m comfortable being in the flat alone with, which I wasn’t with our previous cleaner. I’m hoping whoever it is can help me organise my room – I have a plan, but need someone to be my arms 😛
  • I have some niggly and routine health stuff to sort out once things calm down. Nothing super urgent but they need doing. For obvious reasons I didn’t want to go to the hospital until I’m protected from Covid-19, and nor did I want to tie up a doctor or nurse for things that can wait a bit.
  • When not experiencing jab side effects, I was getting on my computer and playing World of Warcraft once or twice a week. Not as often as I’d like, but enough to make some decent progress.
  • I’ve gotten obsessed with the mobile game Idle Brick Breaker. It’s just colourful balls breaking bricks to make big numbers, but perfect when my brain isn’t working. I wish it were a proper idle game that progressed while not open, but watching it is great.
  • Our new upstairs neighbours are drug dealers. We know this because they’re not quiet about it, and we can hear their shouted conversations. It’s also meant people visiting at all hours of the day and night, often banging on the communal doors, and sometimes ringing our doorbell or banging on our windows. There’s also a lot of yelling and arguments.
  • My biggest flashback triggers are loud arguments and things hitting the window. I’m struggling quite a bit with them, panic attacks and dissociation. It’s also making my ME worse.
  • The last time we had an upstairs neighbour involved with drugs he ended up getting murdered. Although that’s probably not going to happen this time, last weekend the flat upstairs was raided by the police as a man was found dead not that far away.
  • Izzy and our other neighbours are reporting this to the housing when they can. Last time we were seriously considering moving. Upstairs know I’m ill in bed as our nosy neighbour told them, but that doesn’t stop them making so much noise they wake me up with ear plugs in at 1am some nights.
  • Other than upstairs, it’s a pretty quiet area. Before they moved in the worst noise was the kids playing next door or the nosy neighbour vacuuming with her flat door open. Ear plugs deal with them fine.
  • Penguins are still good. Baby penguins are being born and they’re adorable.
  • We found a really friendly, accepting community on Twitch and Discord after a random raid. They like us both as individuals and as a couple. I overdid it for a few weeks watching streams and chatting because it’s just so lovely. They’ve really helped Izzy’s confidence as well.
  • I commissioned the below emote to use on Discord. I love it 😊
A cartoon purple penguin smiling and hugging a red heart.
Danni

Goodbye 2020

Computers, Danni, Gaming, M.E., Physical Disability, Real Life, World of Warcraft

I hope you all had the best Christmas/holiday season you could under the circumstances. We had an okay time, decided to spread it out over a few days with presents on Christmas Day and roast pork on the 28th. I loved all my presents, though I still need to sort some out for those who didn’t have wishlists I could pick from. Sammie came over on Christmas Eve, and after donning full PPE we finally had a hug which was the best present. It had been over a year as I wasn’t well enough when she came over in February then The Event stopped her visiting much through the year.

I’ve still not left my bedroom, but Izzy has promised I can go on the ramp to watch fireworks on New Year’s Eve and I’ll wear full PPE in case the neighbour shows up. The fireworks will be at 6pm instead of midnight because of The Event. Instead I’ve been playing a lot of World of Warcraft Shadowlands, watching TV and films, reading a lot of Wikipedia/Wikitravel/Reddit and also sleeping through migraines (6 in December, which I’m not too happy about).

The Event has had a big impact. I’ve known several people to get Covid-19. Most were only slightly or moderately ill, but one friend is currently in intensive care on a ventilator, and she wasn’t in the shielding group. Even those who weren’t that ill initially are having symptoms long after the initial illness has gone. As my ME was triggered by swine flu we’ve been really careful, and as the rates have increased in our area Izzy has stopped going to local shops at all and only goes out for my medication and exercise when it’s quiet. We’re really grateful she can work from home still and are praying and hoping my friend improves soon, along with all those who are still ill.

Izzy managed to get graphics cards! We bought a new one as Sammie’s main Christmas present, and then she got an upgrade for herself, along with an upgraded CPU and motherboard and a ton of RAM. This means I got what was basically her old machine with my case and hard drives in it. I now have a GTX 1080 which is making World of Warcraft really pretty. She has an RTX 3090 so can do ray tracing and stuff, which I’m slightly jealous of but she can actually make use of that power making games for work. I also managed to convince Izzy to come back to World of Warcraft so she’s been seeing the new zones in all their glory.

Most of our big plans are on hold until we’re vaccinated. We’re both in group 6 for the UK priority list, me for having ME and Izzy for having asthma. As even when there wasn’t a pandemic I didn’t get out much we want Izzy to get it first, though once I have it we can get the carers back in and look into a cleaner again (maybe my brother). Izzy’s been able to do some housework while she’s on holiday from work, but we’re not quite there yet. We have a lot of cardboard boxes to get rid of. Once we’re vaccinated we’ll be able to have Sammie over more often if she wants to which would be awesome. I also owe her and Izzy a trip to a theme park.

My hopes for the last couple of days of the year are to finish reading Because Internet by Gretchen McCulloch, play a bit more World of Warcraft, and see the fireworks tomorrow. I’ll do a seperate post for my goals for next year and a proper review of this one. This is mostly an update post to get back into the habit of writing.