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/2020/06/21/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/2020/05/09/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?