Review of 2020

So it seems that we are now at the end of the year 2020.  What a year it has been!  Instead of focussing on the bad, which seems to be what a lot of people are doing, my focus is on the good, and there has been a lot.

Moving to the Isle of Wight, has been a big highlight for me, and although the move has not been without its trials, there has been much good about it.  I have enjoyed being able to go for walks, spend time working in my new garden, and just admiring the ever changing sea view.  

Eating fresh vegetables and fruit grown from my garden.  

Making jams from fruit grown in the garden.

I got a new car - not something I was expecting.

I have been almost pain free for some of the year whilst on steroids, and although I haven't had that good fortune since stopping the steroids at the beginning of August, with the pain returning and spreading with a vengeance, I have, apart from that, remained healthy and for that I am grateful.

I have enjoyed the time on my own, but equally enjoyed having my husband visit when he has been able to.  

I have enjoyed having the dogs with me these last few months, which have helped me when I have been feeling a bit down with the pain.  They also continue to make me go out walking when I haven't felt up to it.

Selling our other house - that was a relief.

Having our younger son move to the Island and having him accept our help more.  I have especially enjoyed being able to go for walks with him along the beach front.  Something I never expected would happen.

I have had another piece of good news, but don't feel able to share it here.

So all in all, a pretty good year.

A Very Lovely Christmas Day

What a stunning morning to wake up to for Christmas Day

The sunrise just got better and better!

The day was just perfect weather wise.

I laid the table the night before.

Just as we were about to eat.

A smaller gathering than usual with just three of us, but feeling blessed that we could still celebrate together as with the advantages of technology we were able to connect with my older son, his wife and my mother in law and her partner.

Delicious food.

My 'traditional' desserts. 

Fresh fruit salad

and pavlova of course - the first time I have ever made one in an AGA!

A late afternoon walk round the village to see the lights and decorations,  the sky greeted us with a beautiful sunset, the beauty of which I didn't manage to fully capture as I just had my pocket camera with me.

The conclusion was our house was the most colourful that we saw.

Hubby had worked hard putting up the lights, and I re-potted the 'Christmas' tree that I had dug up at the top of the garden in preparation for where the new summer house is going to be built next year.

A deluxe version of JRR Tolkein's 'Letters from Father Christmas'.   I have to admit to being a bit disappointed with the size of this, but it is still lovely.

My favourite Christmas gift from my husband, a Robin Rive (Made in NZ) Panda.  

My wedding anniversary gift (from 21st December), a pretty pendant.

I hope everyone else had a lovely Christmas.

 

Two on Thursday

 The highlight yesterday just before the heating people came out for I think it is the fourth time in two weeks (!), I saw a couple of Jays in the back garden which was wonderful.

I've seen one before which I have posted on this blog, but to see two on the actual lawn at the same time foraging for food was exciting.

Of course it highlighted the fact that I must clean my back windows!  

Wow Wednesday

Mornings like this make it all worth while, makes you forget the pain, and the extreme unpleasantness of some people.  

and then the sun started to rise...

Just wow!  What a wonderful world we live in.

 

Advent 2020: Day 7

 

A Crown for Day Seven

A very foggy/misty morning. 

Sock progress

I had quite a busy day today.  I clean my younger son's little flat on Mondays now he has moved down to the island.  It was certainly very foggy on the way to his place as it is slightly inland on the way there and hadn't cleared like it eventually did where I live.

I then had to take my car in to have its new tyre.  So hopefully no more problems!  

The rest of the day involved various phone calls and letter writing to councils, Drs and specialists!

Advent 2020: Day 6 - Sunday Strolling

 

Sunday saw me enjoying a lovely walk at Sandown.  It was a perfect day, if not a little chilly!

The war memorial looked lovely from all the tributes left in November on Remembrance Day.

Love these painted rocks.

The pier looked good shining in the light.

Waves

Beach huts.

The garden 

Advent Day Six

Advent 2020: Day 5

 

Behind Door Five.

I forgot to take a photo of the garden today as the weather was so miserable... 

The wool I am using for my next knitting project

 

Advent 2020: Day 4

A bit drier today... just the odd shower one of the which I got caught out in when walking the dogs.

Light through the clouds on the ship in the distance

 

Advent 2020: Day 3

A rather blurry picture for Day three - sorry!

Today's view - It ended up raining all day.

Taken last night.

Today I had to take my car in to have the tyre checked as it has keep losing pressure since I got it.  Apparently it has a hole in the side wall of the brand new tyre and it needs replacing...of course they aren't going to replace without charge.  Grrr... it is clear it has been faulty since I bought the car, but hey ho that is the way it goes.  

 

Advent Day 2

Day Two in December of my front garden view.

It was a nice enough day to do some more work up in the garden.  I strimmed the grass where I removed the grapevines and also the top corner above the glass house.  I ask racked up a very large garden waste bag of leaves.  It was quite an act trying to drag it down the garden!

Still getting raspberries off the canes...I had this for dessert this evening.

I assembled a new desk for my sewing machines.  The plastic temporary one is now up in the shed.  This is more study and has a bit more room under the table for my legs, as the plastic ones had angled struts.

Another dishcloth knitted... I don't feel like knitting anything more involved at the moment, and knitting these keeps me from falling asleep while trying to watch something.

Behind the second door.