Top 7 for 2020

Last Updated on 30 December 2020 by Colette

A couple of years ago I did a “Top 7 for 2018” post after being tagged by a friend and I thought it would be interesting to bring it back for 2020 – especially with it having but such a weird year!

If you fancy joining in you need to share:

Your Favourite 7 Posts from 2020 – They can be any posts at all that you are proud of.

7 Things You Loved The Most About 2020 – Whether you visited somewhere, or just had one of those moments you will never forget, if you loved it, list it!

7 Things You Are Looking Forward to in 2021 – Whether those plans are set in stone or you something you would like to do this year, share with us.

My favourite 7 posts from 2020:

I typically find it quite challenging to pick out my favourite posts – I end up spending ages looking through things I’d forgotten I’d even written!  I always share a post featuring my most viewed posts of the year but these are not necessarily my favourites or even ones which were written in 2020.  So, in no particular order, here’s my seven favourite blog posts of 2020:

1. Will we be sending our children back to school?

This post was written as much to get my own thoughts in order as anything else but it clearly spoke to a lot of people who felt the same bring in a few days of record traffic and a lot of really lovely comments. (I followed it up with a post a while later about how the return to school was going for us and explaining that we were still happy with our decision)/

2. Where to visit Father Christmas in Manchester

This post has been a real labour of love – keeping it updated regularly as things changed on a weekly basis. But it was worth it as it has been a key factor in my achieving record traffic to my site for a couple of months – and of course, hopefully, it will have been helpful too! It’s always made me smile when friends have been searching for info on google and then messaged to tell me that my post was the first thing they came across!

3. Lessons learned on a late season camping trip

I loved writing about testing ourselves with a late season camping trip and what we learned (which was essentially that we can camp in late September but would probably rather not!) It was such a lovely moment of normality in a crazy year too!

4. Did cutting Amy’s hair short help?

This post is on my favourites for a few reasons – partly because it was nice to be able to write a largely positive update about something which had caused us such stress and worry for so long and partly because I know it is a post which has helped others in the same situation. In fact only last month I had a really lovely message from a lady on instagram thanking Amy and I for sharing Amy’s story and telling us how much it had helped her.

5. Introducing Poppy

At the start of the year, we decided that we’d look at getting a puppy in September – once all our travel plans and festivals etc had happened. When we realised that was all going to go to the wall, we brought our puppy plans forward and it was without doubt the best thing we could have done!

6. Sixteen things to do in York

I loved writing this post – thinking about all the lovely things there are to do in York (and realising how few of them I’ve actually done with Dave and the kids – I definitely need to be more of a tourist in my hometown sometimes!) I know it has helped a few people to plan their adventures in York which makes me really happy!

7. Road tripping with kids

I wrote this post really early on in the year, when travelling was absolutely still on the cards! As it was, it became quite a popular post with people starting to think more about UK based holidays and road trips or perhaps driving to France as a safer option than flying. Our kids are well versed in long car journeys now and hopefully this post will have been useful!

7 things I loved most about 2020

Obviously pretty much nothing about 2020 was what we’d planned or hoped for – but there’s definitely been some pockets of loveliness that I think it’s important to focus on.

1. Poppy!

Of course our beautiful lockdown silver lining had to be top of the things I have loved most in 2020 – she has brought so much joy to our days and has given us a reason to get out and about even when the temptation was to stay tucked up in doors for days out on end.

2. Having Dave at home more

For pretty much as long as Dave and I have lived together, he has been up and out for work before I’ve even got out of bed (or, in the early days we were up and out at stupid o’clock together because of our commutes). The kids are well used to the fact that they don’t see Daddy till tea time each day. So, with him working from home since March, we’ve all really appreciated him being here more – being around to have lunch with us, to help with getting everyone ready for school (something I’ve especially appreciated on days I’m teaching myself!)

3. The few days we spent in London

There have been very few nights spent away from our own home this year – which has made the occassions we did get away all the more special. Our trip to London in the summer meant we got a few days away without the kids, in the company of some of our oldest friends – we ate, drank and made merry and it did us the power of good. Fingers crossed for more of that next year as we’ve missed it so much!

4. My birthday weekend – even though our grand plans were shot down to next to nothing

Turning 40 on the first day of Lockdown was probably one of my least favourite days of the year – the shock of what was going on in the world around us, the fear of what was to come and the disappointment that came with realising that everything we had planned to celebrate our birthdays was going to be cancelled meant I spent much of my actual birthday in tears. But the weekend before my birthday, which should have been filled with steak and cocktails (and a pretty dress which is still sitting in my wardrobe with the labels on) was spent getting drunk in the company of some of my closest friends at home at our dining table. And I wouldn’t have wanted to spend that time with anyone else.

5. Making over our back garden

Our back garden has been a bit of a state for the whole time we’ve lived here – every now and and again we have a burst of energy and get it tidied up and maybe even lay new turf – but before long it’s a soggy mess again. This year, after about ten years of discussing it, we took the bull by the horns and finally laid artificial grass as well as creating a small seating area to make the most the sunniest bit of the garden. It certainly made the summer at home much easier to deal with and, now in winter it is helping to keep the house free from muddy paw prints!

6. Regular work at my favourite school

I’ve been supply teaching for 8 years now and could probably count on both hands how many schools I’ve taught in in that time – I tend to find schools I like, who like me – and work there pretty regularly. This term, I’ve been teaching three days a week in my favourite school and I’ve loved it – working three days has felt hard at times as it has really limited the amount of time I have available for other things (blogging, housework etc), but it has given me some much needed routine, human contact outside of the house and has obviously been good knowing we’ve had a regular income for the last few months. Happily, the job has been extended through to Easter now which is a bonus!

7. Beach days and pockets of normality

In a year of change and restrictions, the odd pocket of normality found on a late season camping trip or beach day has been incredibly precious. Those times where we’ve managed to spend the day at the beach, basking in the sunshine, paddling in the sea and eating ice cream with friends or family have felt “normal” and have meant the world.

7 things I’m most looking forward to in 2021

It almost feels a bit bold to write down the things I’m looking forward to in 2021 as almost all of the things I had planned for and looked forward to in 2020 were taken away from us. In what I suppose is an act of self-preservation, I currently find it hard to “look forward” to things and get excited for them for fear of everything having to be changed again (and as someone who likes to plan ahead and know what’s going on, this isn’t my idea of fun!)

However, things I’m looking forward to in 2021 are:

1. People

I miss people. I miss people so much. I miss having people in my house. I miss going out for meals and drinks with people. I miss hugging people and spending time with them at my own free will!

2. Live music

Live music has been a big thing for Dave and I since forever – obviously less so since having children, but there’s always been a gig or two on the horizon. This year all our plans had been festival based but of course they were soon cancelled. We actually bought tickets to take the kids to see The Streets at a drive in gig in Leeds back in July but even that ended up getting cancelled. So yes, in 2021 I’m tentatively looking forward to more live music – we have tickets for a gig in June, but I guess we just have to wait and see!

3. Travel

Despite our grand travel plans for 2020, the furthest we got was a few precious nights in London. We have nothing specific planned for 2021 as yet – we had intended to take the kids to France for May half term but we haven’t committed to anything yet (partly for financial reasons but also just because we don’t know how things will stand travel wise!) Here’s hoping we get to leave Manchester more than we have this year – and if we can leave the country then so much the better!

4. Festivals

Festivals have been a big part of out summers for a few years now and we really missed them in 2020. I’ve got my eye on a few festivals for 2021 – fingers crossed they are allowed to go ahead because frankly I can’t wait to cover myself in glitter and sing loudly in a field with my kids and my best friends!

5. Custard

Ok, so I’m not actually looking forward to custard, that would be a bit weird. What I am looking forward to is the freedom to spend more time with Kirst. I’ve missed my best friend terribly this year, as have the kids. They adore their Aunty Custard and Uncle Chris and of course haven’t really seen them at all since March. Festivals, theme parks, over night stays and afternoon drinking are all ranking high on my wishlist for time with Team Fox.

6. Wearing lipstick

I miss wearing lipstick so much but we all know the lipstick and masks don’t make good bedfellows. I hate wearing a mask. I’m not sure they will ever completely go away but I’d certainly like to have the choice about whether I wear one or not!

7. Getting dressed up

I think I’ve “got dressed up” twice in the whole year – once back in March when I had my birthday day out with the girls and then again in the autumn when we had our belated birthday meal out with my parents. I miss having a reason to put on a frock – don’t get me wrong, I love the comfort of leggings and loungewear but I love spending time getting ready to go “out out” too!

As I’m sure you can imagine, I had to dig pretty hard in places to find the positives and the things I’m looking forward to but ultimately, taking the time to seek out these moments, the things we are grateful for, and to remind ourselves that are still things to enjoy and appreciate on tougher days is of great value.

If you fancy joining in and sharing your Top 7 for 2020, I’d love you to link back to this post – and if you want to tag me on twitter (@Lollinski) I’ll retweet your post too x