That was the Year that was 2020
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What did you do in 2020 that you've never done before?
Like everyone else this year, survived Lockdown, then Quarantine and home schooling and working constantly from home in a very small flat!
Did you keep your New Years Resolutions and will you make more for next year?
Partially.... I really do have to lose weight and get fit in 2021!
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Gosia from work
Did anyone close to you die?
No
What countries did you visit?
UK in Feb and July, before and in between lockdown.... lots of travel in Switzerland
What would you like to have in 2020 that you lacked in 2019?
My new Ipad and Laptop finally setup and working!
What dates in 2020 will remain etched on your memory and why?
6th October, when we officially became Swiss!
Sept 21st and 28th - when i had my eye / cataract surgeries
The day lockdown started..... Also many days where we realized we were losing Mum step by step
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Delivering on an every increasing book of work, with less people in tjhe team, during a pandemic....oh, and with 3 different bosses to boot.
What was your biggest failure?
Not going back to the UK every time I could before lockdown....hindsight...
Same as last year - not looking after myself, drinking to deal with the stress, continuing to put on weight
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Despite everything, I was pretty healthy. Got my peri-menopause symptoms under control
But generally felt old, achey, slow....
What was the best thing you bought?
my new lenses in my eyes - a huge investment, but definitely worth it...
Whose behaviour merited celebration?
AR, who took over as TL in Poland and worked like crazy, but also kept me sane...
Where did most of your money go?
We actually saved money this year, what with lockdown (ie no childcare) and no expensive holidays!
Spent money on my eye operations and buying a second hand iphone XR and a brand new IPAD PRO with logitech keyboard and apple 2 pencil - still love it!
What did you get really really excited about?
the kids going back to school after lockdown!
reading 124 books :-)
What song will always remind you of 2020?
Thanks to Patrick - "I'm a banana, I'm a banana....."
Compared to this time last year are you:
a) happier or sadder - happier
b) thinner or fatter - fatter and less healthy
c) richer or poorer - richer
What do you wish you'd done more of?
More exercise, more time with Alan
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Same as last year - worried less, eaten less, drank less
How will you be spending Christmas?
We were here in Zurich, had a lovely 2 weeks at home
What was your favourite month of 2020?
May, my birthday, my first haircut in ages, CH started to come out of lockdown...
What was your favourite TV programme?
Marvellous Mrs Maisel
What was the best book you read?
So many to choose from, but probably Dear Reader: The Comfort and Joy of Books: Cathy Rentzenbrink
R eview of books read in 2020
What did you want and get?
A Julahas Cape, thanks Alan
This one!
What did you want and not get?
Nothing I can think of
What was your favourite film of this year?
I have not been to the cinema once this year....
Of all the re-watches, ELF is probably still the family favourite.
What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I was 47, went for a haircut!
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
more time for me
more time with my parents in Bristol and the family
Being able to have their 50th Wedding Anniversary Party on March 21st...
What kept you sane?
Alan, many good books, getting more sleep, many many nice cups of tea - same as last year
Who did you miss?
My Mum - same as last year. My heart is breaking as she slips away from us.
Who was the best new person you met?
Got to know Ania a lot better and loved the fact that Anna returned to the team...
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2020
Keep calm and carry on
It's the new normal