Harry's Blog

I have the flu. No I'm not doing the usual blokey thing and calling it flu when I have a cold. It's definitely flu and I spent much of the weekend asleep as that was preferable to trying to move around when my limbs feel like they are made of lead. I've not even started with the full-on cold-like symptoms yet, so I'm only scaling the shallow foot-hills of what is likely to be a pretty crappy week for me.

Poor L has been suffering with the same thing for the last two weeks and it migrated to her chest giving her a horrible hacking cough. Given the size of the baby bump now this wasn't at all comfortable for her and she yelped in pain every time she coughed. Thankfully though my beloved L is feeling much better now and although still coughing is over the worst. Both twins are fine though and are growing well, which means L can't see her feet now.

I'm hoping I'll be over this bout of flu in time for Christmas, but it's not exactly going to be an amazing advent this year. We really wanted to be able to visit my sister and her husband and our little nephew C. But we just can't afford it. In fact thanks to the delights of Barclays Bank, debt and L being unable to work, we can't actually afford Christmas at all this year. Having gone over the figures it seems that we can pay all the usual monthly bills, but we'll have nothing left over to buy anyone Christmas presents for family or each other.

We've got a roof over our head though, money for heating and food - so really there's nothing much to worry about. I just feel a little sad that we're really going to struggle to buy a few presents for loved ones. I also really wanted to get L something special for Christmas as she's found it particularly hard not being able to work for the last few months. We're both absolutely thrilled about becoming parents, but it's a hard slog for L and she deservers something special.

However I'm well aware we have a lot more than many people do at Christmas. And I am excited about our first Christmas day together without the stress of going to in-laws for dinner or visiting friends. Instead it's going to be a lovely quiet Christmas day for us here in our flat. Given the choice of having lots of money for presents or being able to snuggle up with someone who loves you I know which one I prefer.

This time last year I think we had the Christmas tree up and the flat decorated. There's not a spec of tinsel to be seen here at Cartmel Bar HQ yet. L, who loves messing around with Christmas decorations, has been too unwell to put any up yet. And I really have not patience for tree decorating. But I do think we'll finally get around to sorting out the tree and decorations this week. I think that's what we need to bring more of the Christmas spirit home.

This time next year there will be four of us for Christmas. I know from my own experience with young members of my extended family that Christmas is much more special when there are children involved. And although our babes will be too young to appreciate next Christmas, we've some wonderful years ahead of us being woken up at 6am to the sight of a lounge looking like a wrapping paper explosion.

Of course it also gives us the excuse to play with all the great toys that are around these days. I for one can hardly wait until the kids are old enough for Lego.