Another year ends and as I am writing this I can hear lots of fireworks exploding in the skies outside. The official London firework display has been cancelled once again so it is private parties or small family gatherings that I can hear celebrating with fireworks.
The end of the year is when I look back at what I have done this year and look forward to the plans for the coming year. However, as with everyone else around the world our lives have changed and we may never go back to the carefree travel we once enjoyed. I have just spent a couple of hours on facetime chatting to my friend in Canada. For the last 12 years we have met up with one another in various countries around the world but our last meeting was in 2018. We are not sure when, if ever, we will be able to meet up again. I had hoped that once we were double vaccinated things would change but as we all know that's not the case.
So what have I done this year. Well the couple of trips I managed were in the UK - Devon and Suffolk as well as three trips up to Leeds. I celebrated my 70th birthday with my children and grandchildren at a lodge in Centreparks which was a lot of fun. As part of the celebrations there were some terrific meals out including Tea at the Ritz, a day at the Chelsea Flower Show, Van Gogh's immersive exhibition and more. Surprisingly despite being in lockdown for a couple of months at the beginning of the year I still managed to visit and write about 22 different Underground stations. But the highlight of the year was the birth of my son and dil's first child in October.
A huge thank you to everyone who reads and comments on my posts. During the last couple of years the blog has kept me sane and given me a glimpse into other people's worlds. I wish you all a Happy New Year and sincerely hope we all keep safe and healthy.
A happy new year in return. As always, I set aside time to read your blog properly and it has entertained and interested me for another year.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! I hope for a better 2022 and the end of COVID.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year.
ReplyDeleteMarie, happy new year to you too. Travel plans have been put on hold here too. We do have some family gatherings which will put us on the road but visits overseas? When will that happen again? Keep on blogging. I do enjoy reading your adventures even if they are just local ones.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and yours. I’ve enjoyed seeing your part of the world throughout the years through your eyes. Isn’t it odd that all corners of the world share a similar virus angst and the disorientation it caused. We understand one another in that way. It’s our common ground.
ReplyDeleteYou picked three of the activities that I would have chosen myself: tea at the Ritz, a day at the Chelsea Flower Show and Van Gogh's exhibition. As long as you keep your mind and family social life active, it doesn't matter that wild, sweaty, rock and roll events are still not open.
ReplyDeleteA happy, healthy and safe 2022 is the best thing you can wish your children and grandchild(ren).
Happy New Year to you too. You might not have managed foreign travel but you have still managed to get out and about and entertain and educate your readers. I always find your station posts fascinating and so well researched. I hope you can enjoy your grandchildren this year and let's hope we can get the virus under control.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you! The highlight of my year was also the birth of a grandchild—a granddaughter finally after 4 grandsons.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you too, I've enjoyed following you and reading about your adventures.
ReplyDeleteFor me in some way these virus restrictions are good, as I can't travel for the moment at all ! As long as Rick gets worse and worse I can't go away, so I regret nothing I am anyway blocked. But it is not so true. A friend of mine a French whom I always meet in Egypt in our hotel went there for one month had no problems at all in Lille, no masks in the airplane, no other check up as usual in Hurghada, nobody asked for a vaccin certificate (and she refuses all vaccins) for a month she enjoyed a normal life without masks everywhere, no checking at all, in short a life as we had before ! Of course that is not the Caire, but anyway I think we are too pampered and too controlled, while they just let do the nature ! Of course some got a vaccin but it is not so hysterical as here ! Israel is already at the 4th vaccin !! I think I will ask for 10 in one to be completely sure, lol !
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Marie!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you — being able to “travel” by visiting my blogging friends has kept me from going stir crazy the last year and a half, too. Congratulations to your son and family for providing you with your third little grand baby to love! I’m sure you will find more adventures to blog about in the year to come and after the Omicron variant runs its course maybe we will all be able to resume something of a more normal life. Fingers crossed!
Great choices! Our 7th gr-child was born end of October, little girl named Dorothy/Dottie, after her grandmother. This was such a gift for all of our family.
ReplyDeleteHappy 2022 to you and I hope some travel will be included again in this new year. Mind you, grandchildren bring their own joy as well.
ReplyDeleteLovely post and photos ~ Happy New Year to you ~ be safe, be well. ~ Xo
ReplyDeleteWishing you a peace filled day,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Best wishes to you and yours for a super year ahead!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you were able to do so much in these hard times. It is sad that travel with your friend has been curtailed. we are lucky at our age because we no longer wish to travel overseas. However, after being Covid free in Queensland for over a year we have now succumbed to Omicron because the premier opened our borders when we were 90% vaccinated but it didn't stop the virus spreading. So now we don't even like socialising anymore. We get our ooster on Saturday.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you to -- and I completely agree with you about blogging during Covid. I always love your posts though -- in good times and not-so-good. Thanks for keeping it up -- and wishing you a safe and happy year , hopefully with travels.
ReplyDelete