Tuesday 31 December 2019

The end of 2019

Before we enter the next decade I like to take a few minutes to reflect on the past year. Although the Christmas season started well, illness within the family spoilt some of the planned festivities. A mixture of flu (daughter and sil), sickness virus (son and granddaughter) caused havoc with plans. Christmas day was illness free and  I had a relaxed but festive day with my son and dil who stayed with me until they returned to Leeds on Saturday to then become ill. Everything went downhill on Boxing day when my daughter was hosting for the family. Her 5yr old couldn't stop being sick. The 2yr old's temperature had now risen to 39 deg and my daughter began to feel unwell. I went over early to help and somehow we managed to get a meal on the table for those well enough to eat it. The following day was worse as it was obvious my daughter had flu and her husband was also unwell. Fortunately my granddaughter had stopped being sick and just needed to rest. After sorting them out I took the youngest grandchild home with me as he needed more looking after and his mum and dad weren't up to it. With some relief I returned the 2yr old to his dad and his other grandparents yesterday whilst I had a day off to go and visit my brother and his family in Hampshire. It was so nice to be in an illness free zone. As a consequence of my Florence Nightingale impersonation I have not had time to catch up on any blogging or photographing a suitable New Year's Eve photo. I took these of Eros at Piccadilly Circus just before Christmas. Usually, at this time of the year, the statue is surrounded by security hoardings to prevent damage by New Year revellers.
2019 has been a mixed year but mainly good. The inevitability of aging means more loss this year -  a dear friend who I first met 47 years ago and an elderly aunt with whom I shared many happy family moments.
Travel is a big part of my life in retirement and this year I travelled more in the UK than abroad enjoying a number of previously unknown UK highlights which were on my bucket list. I was able to wander around the Isle of Man,  explore the  Eden Project, jump on the Giant's Causeway, visit the Isles of Scilly and find my way around The Hermitage, St Petersburg. I enjoyed another long distance walk with my wonderful walking companions around a section of the South West Coast path. Another notable event was spending a couple of fabulous days with Andrew and R from Melbourne. My 'Above the Underground' challenge continues. I did better this year and managed to visit and post about 20 stations. Of the 270 different stations on the underground I have now photographed and written about 113 of them. Still a long way off completion but as long as my legs keep moving I aim to complete this challenge
As another year ends so a new one begins and I am hoping it brings with it some hope for the future of our planet and stability for our political situation. Thank you to each and everyone of you who read my blogs and take the time to write your wonderful comments. To all my friends who I have met on my travels and I know follow my retirement adventures via my blogs - may I wish you all a happy and healthy 2020.


25 comments:

  1. What a nice retrospective of the year. I certainly enjoy tagging along with you on all your adventures, and I am so glad to learn you didn't get sick yourself after all that exposure! I look forward to the new year, and new decade, too. :-)

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  2. I look forward to a kinder more earth-friendly New Year, although how this will materialize remains a mystery. Thanks as always for sharing your world. Seems at Christmas you gave the greatest gift of all ... YOU, helping where it was needed!

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  3. ...may you have a wonderful 2020. Filled with more travels and photo ops that we all enjoy so much when you share your adventures. Hope the rest of your family is now on the mend and you remain free of being sick from your care-giving.

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  4. Hello, I am sorry about the family illnesses. I hope everyone is feeling better now. Thank you for the visit and comments on my blog this past year. I will enjoy visiting your blog also in 2020. I wish you and your family all the best in 2020, a Happy & Healthy New Year!

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  5. Hello. Goodness me, you really had a tough few days there. It's very upsetting when family are ill ,especially so when it's the little ones. Thankfully everyone is mostly better now and ready to welcome in the New Year. I am sure we will all enjoy your words and photos again in 2020.

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  6. A rough time of year for illnesses. Happy New Year to you.

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  7. Sending lots of healing energy hugs to all ~ not a good time for illnesses ~

    Happy New Year to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  8. Oh gosh - you poor things! Hope everyone starts feeling well and soon!

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  9. ...being sick is never fun and being sick at Christmas is the pits! I hope all are feeling better, Happy New Year.

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  10. Oh, my goodness, what a siege! You must have a very strong immune system to resist all those germs. Here’s to a healthy New Year for all!

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  11. Travel became a big part of our retirement this year. First we rented an RV then purchased on of our own. We took off on a snowbird adventure to Southern California where we used to live. I grew up in California so many of the places we visited were like a homecoming reunion. - Margy

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  12. Wishing you safe travels and a Happy New Year!

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  13. Golly that was a pure illness attack. It was a blessing you didn't come down with it also. I do hope they are all better now.
    Here's to a healthy, continued travels, and a happy 2020.

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  14. Gosh, that is not a Christmas you will want to remember. It was terrific to meet you once again. Our best wishes to you for 2020.

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  15. Happy New Year, may 2020 treat you much better than Christmas 2019 did :)
    Diana

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  16. Wow, you had quite the holiday with so many people sick and recovering. I hope they are all well now.
    I love your tours of the stations and surrounding areas. You are an intrepid explorer.
    Have a great 2020!!

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  17. You must be very tired at the end of the year with all your family being sick, it's a miracle that you didn't get it too ! I wrote two mails to you but they came back, have you changed your email adress ? I hope to meet you again in London this year, my year hasn't been good with my husband's accident. Hope this year will be better !

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  18. Well I hope 2020 gets off to a better start than the end of 2019. I hope everyone is recovered now and that you have remained well - a miracle considering how little ones like to share their germs. I look forward to following you on your travels. Happy New Year.

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  19. Happy and healthy 2020 to you and your family.

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  20. Did you find The Hermitage and the rest of St Petersburg to be fantastic? I totally loved it but it may have partially depended on what time of year you were there.
    Keep travelling in 2020 :)

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  21. Christmas seems to have been a bit of a nightmare! Hope that 2020 does prove to be better for you. Looking forward to more posts.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Tromso, Norway.

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  22. So sorry about the family illnesses … hope everyone is feeling a lot better now.
    My good wishes to you and yours for a happy 2020

    All the best Jan

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  23. Happy New Year to you too and thanks as always for the great posts on both your blogs. Again, hope everyone is healthy again by now!

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