2020 Collage

On the last day of 2020 I’ve made a collage (not something I normally do) by choosing a photo from each month which I hope sums up this unprecedented year.  I don’t expect you to read all this but I wanted it in my journal so I can look back on it in future years.

January – spent a few days by the sea at Lytham St Annes marvelling at the spectacular sunsets. Never suspected that this would be the last time we’d be able to see the sea again until September.

February – joined in the annual Mono Month challenge on Blipfoto photographing the statue of the “Fab Four” on a trip to Liverpool. Had no idea at the time that this would be the only time we would be able to go to Liverpool this year (we still aren’t allowed to go there even now).

March – went looking for some sun in Porto, Portugal. Just starting to hear about this new virus in Wuhan, China and how countries were starting to close their borders. Not sure if we would be able to get home. We did……. and 3 days later the UK went into the first national lockdown.

April – Lockdown…..but the weather was great and we were allowed to go out for a daily walk around the village. People started putting teddy bears in their windows.

May – Still in Lockdown but the weather stayed fine and managing to get seeds and compost, started the vegetable patch (which would prove to be a lifeline throughout the spring and summer).

June – Lockdown started to be eased but Chester town centre remained strangely quiet. Very spooky in this tourist city which would normally be heaving with visitors in early summer

July – Friends who live in Wales and had been in stricter lockdown were finally allowed back into England and we met up for a walk. Unfortunately this would prove to be the only time we could physically meet up for the rest of the year.

August – the introduction of the “Rule-of-Six” meant we could start nordic walking classes again, but if we were to accommodate everyone who wanted to walk we would need more walks leaders (more and more people were realising the benefits of exercising outdoors and the class sizes had exploded). I trained to be a walks leader and spent most of the month either leading walks or planning new routes through the forest.

September – The schools finally went back and we took the plunge and had a holiday in Barmouth. Not quite the exotic destination we would normally have planned but bliss none the less.

October – At last, one bright spark in an otherwise depressing year, my great niece was born. Unfortunately I have not been able to meet her in person yet (or the rest of my family for that matter).

November – Lockdown #2.  Unlike the first national lockdown outdoor exercise was still allowed and nordic walking kept me sane.

December – Christmas like no other. No meals out with friends, visits to family, trips to Christmas markets…….

And 2021 ………… well, although we are going into even tighter lockdowns as I type this, there is light at the end of the tunnel now with 2 new vaccines approved and the roll out already starting (take that all those who mocked “experts” and “science” during the endless Brexit debates……. Where are you now !!).

See you all on the other side.