Will be glad to be back tomorrow.

[streathamdave]

At the start of March 2020 I decided to quit a job that I'd fallen out of love with. It was the right thing to do for my mental wellbeing, but as it turned out at the wrong time as the pandemic unfolded. I was confident I'd get another job, and if I had to take a slight pay cut so be it. In this context I was unsure if I'd travel to the MK Dons away match, but decided I'd travel up (from London where I live) via train. Then a taxi to the ground. I got talking to the driver and (as things turned out) he correctly predicted that this would be the last game in some time. The build up to the game felt surreal in itself. That feeling that something big and uncontrollable was coming. I had a quick bite to eat pre match in a nearby KFC and then met a mate in the ground. Covid was a topic of conversation as well as the match and season so far. Arriving home things stayed almost normal for another week or so and I took my wife to a concert and then all the normal things stopped. I worked my notice mostly remotely until end of August then started my new job in September, but with new ways of working as I come into contact with large numbers of the public on a daily basis. I got to Christmas break late December ready for a good rest. For a day or so I was well, then my health started to slightly decline. By 23rd of Dec I dropped of a cliff health wise but still wondered if I could ride it out at home. I got what medical advice I could over the phone. By Christmas Day itself I had the thought for the first time that I might die. The medical advice I was getting was at that stage encouraging me to stay at home and I wondered if perhaps I was being overly dramatic. Christmas Day itself came and went with me only just about with it. It was my eldest daughters birthday a few days later and I can remember my determination that I was not going to die that day. I was in a steep decline by this point and my wife drove me into hospital on 2nd Jan. Lots of things led me to this, but this story is grim enough without going into details. I walked into hospital like a man in his 90s rather than early 40s. I spent a week in hospital with Covid in an acute medical unit. I have never been overnight in hospital up to this point. I have been actively involved in many sports including football, running, rowing, boxing, weights and to a lesser extent fencing. I've also been involved with dance and singing because of an interest in musical theatre. My body has not exactly been a temple, but I've done things to try to keep active. I found myself on various medications and on oxygen looking out of the hospital window and hoping that one day I'd be able to go about my life as the people outside were able to. The path since then has been a rocky one even after discharge. I have been treated at three hospitals this year as well as a couple of medical centres.  After discharge I had a few other health scares. The odds have always been in my favour (thankfully)but when in hospital I had a 1 in 6 chance statistically of not coming out. That would have dropped to about 1 in 2 had I needed intensive care.I had about a 1 in 8 chance of not making it past early June. I think I am nearly better now, although I  still have some relatively minor issues.My new job was terminated early and I can't do much about it due to dreadful employment laws in this country, but on the plus side I'm alive. I have some very ad hoc lower paid work at the moment, but I'm hopeful of better in the coming months. I'm driving up early tomorrow for the Portsmouth game. Funnily enough driving is one of the few things I've been able to do unaffected, walking on the other hand a different story ( long Covid now much better) Clearly I hope we win (and will be disappointed if we don't) but it is more than a game tomorrow for me. Meeting my Dad and one of my brothers before the game and keeping an eye out for others I may know. If you've made it this far well done. I am only too well aware that others have been through even worse. I wish you all well in whatever you have been through or continue to go through. Come on Rovers!

[idler]

That certainly puts life into,perspective. Glad you are feeling much better and looking to the future.
I hope that the lads can do it for you tomorrow. It's a long drive after a defeat or bad performance.

[sha66y]

Enjoy every moment, my first game too!

[drfchound]

Wow, that has been some journey SD.
I’m so glad that you are through the worst and I hope you enjoy your day at the KM.

[i_ateallthepies]

Crikey, Dave you've really been through the wringer.  Glad you've made it to the other side and still with a positive outlook.  Enjoy your day today and hopefully the lads can give you a 3-point tonic to see you on your journey home.

[silent majority]

Sorry to hear that Dave.

But pleased to know you're still with us!

[Filo]

At the start of March 2020 I decided to quit a job that I'd fallen out of love with. It was the right thing to do for my mental wellbeing, but as it turned out at the wrong time as the pandemic unfolded. I was confident I'd get another job, and if I had to take a slight pay cut so be it. In this context I was unsure if I'd travel to the MK Dons away match, but decided I'd travel up (from London where I live) via train. Then a taxi to the ground. I got talking to the driver and (as things turned out) he correctly predicted that this would be the last game in some time. The build up to the game felt surreal in itself. That feeling that something big and uncontrollable was coming. I had a quick bite to eat pre match in a nearby KFC and then met a mate in the ground. Covid was a topic of conversation as well as the match and season so far. Arriving home things stayed almost normal for another week or so and I took my wife to a concert and then all the normal things stopped. I worked my notice mostly remotely until end of August then started my new job in September, but with new ways of working as I come into contact with large numbers of the public on a daily basis. I got to Christmas break late December ready for a good rest. For a day or so I was well, then my health started to slightly decline. By 23rd of Dec I dropped of a cliff health wise but still wondered if I could ride it out at home. I got what medical advice I could over the phone. By Christmas Day itself I had the thought for the first time that I might die. The medical advice I was getting was at that stage encouraging me to stay at home and I wondered if perhaps I was being overly dramatic. Christmas Day itself came and went with me only just about with it. It was my eldest daughters birthday a few days later and I can remember my determination that I was not going to die that day. I was in a steep decline by this point and my wife drove me into hospital on 2nd Jan. Lots of things led me to this, but this story is grim enough without going into details. I walked into hospital like a man in his 90s rather than early 40s. I spent a week in hospital with Covid in an acute medical unit. I have never been overnight in hospital up to this point. I have been actively involved in many sports including football, running, rowing, boxing, weights and to a lesser extent fencing. I've also been involved with dance and singing because of an interest in musical theatre. My body has not exactly been a temple, but I've done things to try to keep active. I found myself on various medications and on oxygen looking out of the hospital window and hoping that one day I'd be able to go about my life as the people outside were able to. The path since then has been a rocky one even after discharge. I have been treated at three hospitals this year as well as a couple of medical centres.  After discharge I had a few other health scares. The odds have always been in my favour (thankfully)but when in hospital I had a 1 in 6 chance statistically of not coming out. That would have dropped to about 1 in 2 had I needed intensive care.I had about a 1 in 8 chance of not making it past early June. I think I am nearly better now, although I  still have some relatively minor issues.My new job was terminated early and I can't do much about it due to dreadful employment laws in this country, but on the plus side I'm alive. I have some very ad hoc lower paid work at the moment, but I'm hopeful of better in the coming months. I'm driving up early tomorrow for the Portsmouth game. Funnily enough driving is one of the few things I've been able to do unaffected, walking on the other hand a different story ( long Covid now much better) Clearly I hope we win (and will be disappointed if we don't) but it is more than a game tomorrow for me. Meeting my Dad and one of my brothers before the game and keeping an eye out for others I may know. If you've made it this far well done. I am only too well aware that others have been through even worse. I wish you all well in whatever you have been through or continue to go through. Come on Rovers!

You can’t knock a good Stainy lad down, all the best Dave

[roversdude]

SD the least the Rovers can do for you after all that is put in a performance. Good luck pal and hoping you are back to full health. What line of work are you in

[normal rules]

A more succinct version would make for a good pre match address to the players. As a reminder to them that what they do may be just a job for them, but to others it’s so much more than that.

[scawsby steve]

God bless you, mate. You're a good'un.

[Chris the Rover]

That’s a good read. Hope you’re travelling back happy after the game today.

[Spud]

Enjoy the game Dave, hope we win for you as much as anyone, that's quite a story.
I was at the MK Dons game too & was looking forward to my first game back today also. Ironically I'm finishing off my isolation having just had covid myself, luckily I've had nothing worse than mild flu symptoms.