2020 wasn’t so bad after all!

Putting personal issues – such as health and family – to one side, in many ways I view 2020 has been the worst year of my life.  

The impact of Covid and the restrictions that followed have had a significant effect on my well-being leaving me feeling more anxious and suffering from poor sleep, for a large part of the year.

And yet despite the reduction in travel – two holidays cancelled and one shortened – and the absence of big, fun gatherings – such as parties and live events, there has still be a lot of good things about this year.

I’ve been looking through my blogs to find some highlights and there’s been rather more than I imagined.  Here’s a selection:

Trips

I’ve managed to fit in a few days out to Birmingham, London, Oxford and a few National Trust properties including Blenheim Palace and a impromptu overnight stop in Leamington Spa.

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/01/26/friendly-birmingham-brightening-the-january-gloom/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/01/29/frank-skinner-restores-my-faith-in-live-comedy/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/05/25/first-day-out-for-months-was-to-leicestershires-lovely-foxton-locks/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/06/07/day-out-at-blenheim-palace-gardens-filled-me-with-patriotic-pride/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/06/21/the-joy-of-fancying-your-wife-at-60/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/10/05/not-tired-of-london/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/10/06/on-the-london-tourist-trail/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/11/01/our-halloween-pre-lockdown-night-out-in-oxford/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/11/23/a-day-out-at-henry-moores-sculpture-park/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/11/26/am-growing-to-love-the-national-trust/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/12/08/loving-the-lights-at-blenheim/

Family

My youngest daughter got engaged this year and, with her fiancé, bought her first home.  Had a great Father’s Day.

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/01/27/the-joy-of-being-able-to-help-the-kids/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/02/10/choosing-a-starter-home-with-my-daughter/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/06/22/yesterday-reminded-me-how-blessed-i-am-to-be-a-dad/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/09/15/daughter-embarking-on-lifes-key-journey/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/09/27/theres-no-place-like-home/

Gardening

This became a big part of my life particularly in the Spring and Summer.

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/01/28/gardening-brings-me-closer-to-god/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/03/25/my-guilty-day-in-the-garden/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/05/22/my-bumper-strawberry-harvest-begins/

Holidays

We did manage to escape the UK with holidays to Morocco and France which included some memorable times in Marrakesh, the Loire Valley and Perigord.

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/03/02/tapas-tajine-and-jazz-finish-our-week-in-marrakesh/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/07/09/heres-to-looking-at-the-loire/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/07/10/chateau-de-mohs-street-art-parc/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/08/18/we-felt-vindicated-in-lovely-lush-loches/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/08/30/from-beautiful-perigord-to-masked-up-tours/

Achievements

Despite my descent into retirement I managed to achieve a few things – my first 10k race, becoming the Branch chairman of a political party and winning through in an interview process. 

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/03/08/my-first-10k-race/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/10/08/happy-first-meeting-mr-chairman/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/11/12/my-first-interview-in-30-years-via-zoom/

Social

I’ve gotten more sociable this year and really noticed more than ever how better I felt for being with people.   I’ve made a few new friends through getting to know neighbours – through the clap for carers and VE Day – and my political work and it’ll be great to get to know them more in the New Year.

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/05/03/social-life-on-the-up-during-lockdown/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/06/15/its-great-to-party-again/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/05/08/feeling-patriotic-on-this-surreal-victory-in-europe-day-of-celebration/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/05/09/an-understated-but-unforgettable-ve75/

Normal

When all this is over I hope I never forget how great normal things are like going to the pub, playing tennis, eating out and watching great TV.

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/02/22/just-a-perfect-day/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/05/18/it-was-great-to-enjoy-a-nearly-normal-weekend/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/05/20/back-on-the-tennis-courts-but-no-ball-touching-allowed/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/07/04/joy-is-allowed-again-as-pubs-and-restaurants-reopen/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/09/24/life-is-a-piece-of-cake/

Sport

No Wimbledon, no Olympics, no Euros football but there was Coventry City!

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/06/10/coventry-city-champions/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/09/12/quarantine-day-twelve-football-season-back/

Music

The sound of live music drifting our way, a concert in the park and just loving a new album lifted my spirits.

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/06/14/from-covid-gloom-to-dancing-in-the-street/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/09/20/scarecrows-and-sounds-of-swing/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/04/19/cheering-myself-up-with-morrissey-at-60-at-60/

Birthday

My 60th Birthday – the big bash wasn’t quite what I was expecting but a lovely picnic with Mrs Jones and my Live on the Drive street party are two things from this year I’ll never forget.

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/06/26/birthday-picnic-in-coventrys-war-memorial-park/

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/06/29/a-60th-birthday-lockdown-party-ill-never-forget/

Vaccine

Amidst all the Covid gloom, there was at least one piece of good news – the vaccine is here.

https://brianjonesdiary.com/2020/12/09/how-i-felt-about-hancocks-teary-moment/

How blessed am I?  Even in this worst of years I’ve got so much to be grateful for and isn’t it interesting to see where happiness comes from?

Published by brianjonesdiary

Dad, husband, brother and son. Interested in travel, politics, sport, health and much more. Semi-retired and aiming to making the most of life as I approach my sixth decade.

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: