I always do a yearly review post, and well even if 2020 has been a bit pants,I’m looking through my photos and there has still been plenty of stuff to be thankful for. We have survived living through a Global Pandemic. That can only be a good thing!
In January was Wil’s 5Oth Birthday and thankfully he got to celebrate with friends in real life. Yay! Though planned trips and gigs to continue the celebrations through the rest of 2020 have been delayed, hopefully he can carry them over to next year……
February. A pretty quiet month. I think we would have gone out more, if only we had realised that our lives would change quite dramatically, in just a few short weeks.
March. Wil, Hugo and I managed a wknd away at our caravan in Cumbria before lockdown was announced. Then one day in early March I was sent home from work….and never went back. Luckily I was furloughed and Wil has remained in his job throughout 2020. Having him carry on going to work as normal meant our everyday lives didn’t change as much as some people’s.
April. We had a long dry Spring which for me meant lots of walks with Hugo….and lots of baking. I can’t say my baking skills improved that much, but I did manage to make both Banana Bread and Rock Cakes. I never tried the Joe Wicks Workouts though, so I have put on a few pounds. 🧐
May. One positive thing about travel restrictions this year , discovering more of my home county of Lancashire. I must admit in previous years we have hopped over the border to The Dales or had days out in The Lake District, rather than explore locally. Lancashire is lovely too. I appreciate what’s on my doorstep more now.
June. Sometime in June restrictions eased and friends were allowed to meet up again…outdoors. The new going out became drinking in the park ,like a bunch of teenagers. 😉
July. Finally we were allowed to stay over at our caravan once again. Having bought it in Summer 2019 , Wil and I had been looking forward to spending lots of quality time there this year. Luckily we managed to grab a few weekends away in Summer.
August. Wow things were beginning to feel almost normal. We had the best time spending a long weekend in Ravenglass & Eskdale with friends.
September. Managed to add a few more Wainwright’s to my very short list, using the van as our base. New additions are Arthur’s Pike, Bonscale Pike above, Hallin Fell and even Skiddaw.
October. Autumn colours were glorious in 2020 and I noticed far more different species of fungi than any other year. Enjoyed a few nice walks with family , which is always good. Found a new job cleaning in a local secondary school ( phew!) after the cafe business I had worked in until March finally admitted it wouldn’t be opening up again.
November. Back in lockdown for a month. Blah. Bad timing for little old me as I had been looking forward to going out for my birthday, somewhat optimistically. My lovely friends did organize me my first Zoom Party though. 😊
December. Christmas has actually been pretty good , considering. Lots of walks with friends & or family. Socially distanced meet ups & a very nice Christmas dinner bought from Holmes Mill. ❤️
I know that the next few months will probably mean we move up a tier in Lancashire and things will probably get worse before they get better, but here’s hoping for a very happy and healthy 2021.
Thanks for bobbing by occasionally, I really appreciate it.
sunshine and celandines 
It’s always lovely to look back and remember the best moments of the year, thanks for sharing 🙂 all the best and happy new year! PedroL, from Portugal
This year has been one on it’s own! So much has changed, plans scuppered or amended but we still managed to find new places to explore (I agree with you about finding more about your local patch), new jobs (me too) and really appreciating that precious time we managed to get in between lockdowns – here is to 2021 !
It looks like you had quite a reasonable year in spite of various restrictions. As you say, things could probably get worse before they get better but I’m sure there’s a light at the end of the tunnel somewhere – here’s hoping for much better times in 2021 🙂
And for you too Eunice. Xx
I think you’ve made the best of a very strange year, and couldn’t agree more that it’s encouraged many of us to explore our local areas more than we would have before. Best wishes for 2021. X
Best wishes to you and your family as well. xx
Shazza – a Happy Christmas to you. Your blog is one of the things that has helped me this year! Looking forward to reading about your 2021 walks
That’s very kind, and exactly how I feel about your blog too. Walks and wildlife are great tonics in these difficult times.
I enjoyed that post of your year and realised that people are coping in their own ways. Well done & I do hope you are enjoying your new job. Glad you had a nice Xmas even with all your restrictions & a belated Merry Christmas. Take care, stay safe and huggles.
Really nice round-up, Sharon! And yes, the next few months are likely to be grim but here’s hoping for better things come April/May,
Yay, let’s hope so. Looking forward to Spring! X
Not a bad year considering all that’s happened this year. Keep blogging and have a great 2021.
Thank you, you too!
Wow what a year indeed! I think its not that bad.Great thing you focused on the good side instead of counting the catasthropic things.
I wish you all the best for the coming year and stay safe…keep on writing!
Stay safe too and have a brilliant new year. Thank you. X
All the best and HOPE for 2021. 2020 in pictures a year of memories in a year with fewer opportunities, Our van has just been MOTed just 10k miles in 12 months normally near 20K. Pictures and walks very local this year.
Hopefully you will get to travel more next year. The van will be ready!
It’s good to look back and realise that good times are always possible- loved this review and seeing all the wonderful places you went too. Happy 2021.
Aw thanks Cathy. Happy 2021 to you too. X
Lovely photos and you made much of a pretty crap year. Here’s the 2021 hopefully getting better xx
2021 will be an improvement I am sure. Thanks Christine! X
It’s definitely been a year when we’ve all needed to make the most of what’s on our doorsteps. I always make my own calendar from photos from the previous year and there were fewer than normal options for including in 2021. Your post has inspired me to do my own annual post on what’s on my calendar so thank you as I’ve been struggling a bit with what to write about and a new idea is just what I needed 😂
Oh brill. I will look out for it. 🙂
Not a bad year that, considering. Here’s to a better one.
It has been a very weird year, but you have certainly made the best of it, as we have tried to do too. We were all really hopeful in the summer, weren’t we, and yet now it’s almost as bad as it was in March. I’m sorry the café you worked for went under, there must be thousands of casualties like that. Still, the vaccines offer a few glimmers of hope so on we go! A happy new year to you, Wil, and Hugo. All the best for 2021, May it be SO much better than 2020 for us all.
I hope it’s a great one for you too Anabel and we can all get back to exploring further afield. I’m incredibly thankful I found a job and one which I still have weekends free for walks etc. X
Your year looked like a jolly good one – all things being as they were! 🤞 2021 will be the year we can venture further afield, pop into the pub, have a meal out and do all those nice things we’ve been deprived of in 2020.
Yay! X
A reminder of much to be thankful for. Here’s to 2021! X
I think next year will be a strange year. People not sure whether to carry on looking local at the places they discovered in 2020 or head away to find new things. Either way lots more people will stay in the UK with Brexit. Love your photos and well done for increasing your Wainwright numbers. Lots to do but I reckon you could pick off a few more next year
Thank you, a few more Wainwright’s next year sounds good, we have some planned already, when we can get back up.
I enjoyed your 2020 roundup, despite the limitations some great pics. My fave was the bright display of celandines – such a clear yellow. Followed by all pix of Hugo – a photogenic hound! Wishing you a safe and outdoorsy 2021.
Aw thanks Alison. Those celandines were such a bright cheery sight. Have a safe and outdoorsy 2021 too. Xx
Lots of lovely moments during the pandemic – despite the restrictions – thanks for sharing them with us. I wish I had more photos of what I’ve been up to – like you, I’ve discovered more in my area than ever before – new parks and outdoor spaces being many of them. Wishing you a happy and safe 2021.
Thanks Tina. I do take rather a lot of photos. Can’t help myself! Wishing you a happy and healthy 2021 too. X
Thank you.
Some great pics. I’m hoping to be abel to get out and about a bit more in 2021 😄 x
Thank you and I am looking forward to your Bronte explorations. 🙂 Xx
I’m desperately hoping for a trip to Penzance next year to explore Maria’s heritage xx
Oooh that would be interesting. X
Was planned for this year but you know… 2020 got in the way x
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Yes here in Manchester I’m expecting Tier 4 soon. Bring on 2021! Thanks for your posts this challenging year.
Amazing photos
Thank you.
Like a previous commenter said, it looks like you did make the most out of a peculiar year (to put it mildly). I hope the start of 2021 has been gracious to you and yours. 🙂
Thanks, it hasn’t been so bad, though we are in a national lockdown once again.
So I’ve heard, and it sounds really unpleasant. Hopefully it won’t last long…?
Im not sure , probably until at least March. But vaccinations have started being rolled out. So there is hope. X