If there is one moment of the past 12 months it is one very recent. It occurred in the middle of lockdown and would like to re-live it but then without lockdown
On 23 March my first granddaughter was born and our daughter in law her self celebrated her birthday on 28 march.
My wife had flown to The Netherlands before travel bans came in place to be there. I stayed here in Dubai as our daughter lives here and we didn’t want to run the risk she would catch the disease whilst none of us would be here and wouldn’t be able to get here.
So we effectively split up to have both bases covered so to speak.
What some of you know but not many is the fact that the day my daughter in law checked into the hospital to deliver the baby, she was routinely tested for covid. Much to our shock she tested positive. So they tested my son as well who also tested positive.
As a result delivery was done in total isolation. Only medical crew in full hazmat protective gear was there. Day later our granddaughter was born and thank god she tested negative.
After a stay in the hospital they were sent home with strict quarantine instructions. My wife who was in our house 40 miles up, couldn’t visit. Meanwhile here in Dubai lockdown rules where tightened now up to the level we can’t leave our house not even for groceries without prior permission. And only once every 3 days.
But all restrictions and outstanding medical care worked out. My son and his wife were declared cured few days ago. And tested negative. The baby still tested negative as welll. And my wife could finally hold our granddaughter.
And handover our gift: a gift for both mother and daughter. We bought them a Rolex with the promise that mom would, one day, pass it on to our granddaughter.
Since we couldn’t give it directly we did a kind of ceremonial unpacking and made it into a photo shoot.
And it’s those pictures I like to share with you (some where shared earlier)
So now there is only one thing for me to do: wait until travel bans are lifted, get tested and if negative fly home to hold my granddaughter.
Hope you’ll see the happiness through the tough start.