Happy New Year!
Well, to start by stating the obvious ... it's been an unusual twelve months. A friend said to me back in January, 'Astrologers are saying this year's going to be so significant that people will be referring to "Before 2020" and "After 2020" for some time to come.' Spookily accurate, or what?!!
I THINK that Mr B and I caught the lurgy back in March - it was around in Brighton (UK) from January - but since in spite of having some really weird symptoms (uncontrollable shivering, rash, muscle cramps) neither of us had a cough, we were told it 'couldn't possibly be Covid-19'. Of course we now know that it's quite possible to have it without the cough, but it's too late for us to be sure. We've been fortunate in that with one exception, close friends and family have all been spared the worst and we haven't had to go through the horror of losing someone dear to us without being able to say goodbye. The loss that hit us hardest was that of our dear old dog, Spike, who'd been our lovely companion for twelve and a half years; and we were able to say goodbye to him at home, thanks to the wonderful Vets2Home people who helped him find peace with us by his side.
Spike left us in June, just as the first set of lock down rules were being relaxed; and this meant that in sharp contrast to many of you, we actually got out and about more than usual during the Summer months! Because we don't drive and couldn't take a nervous dog on train journeys, we hadn't been able to do things like go up to London for a river trip on the Thames to Greenwich until this year. And when restrictions have been in place, we haven't found them too irksome, as we're used to not getting out much and living on the edge of the South Downs there are some lovely walks within easy reach guaranteed to lift the spirits.
Anyway, whilst being confined more than usual at home, I've been doing lots of ... no, not writing I'm afraid, the Muse hasn't put in much of an appearance for me this year ... I've been doing lots of READING. According to Goodreads I've got through no less than fifty-nine books! As well as finally tackling the wonderful Wolf Hall Trilogy 3 Books Collection Set By Hilary Mantel, I've discovered several new favourite authors to binge on - Philip Hensher, Ben Aaronovitch and Ruth Hogan spring immediately to mind - and as always, it's been a pleasure to read and review books by author friends such as Jill Gardiner, Maggie Redding, Richard Gough-Buijs, Jill Bush and Angela Patmore. Thank you all so much for your wonderful words and stories, and here's to a New Year that will be for all of us, whether writers or readers, blessed with health, happiness and creativity.
Better times are coming, folks - let's all raise a glass of hope to 2021!
I THINK that Mr B and I caught the lurgy back in March - it was around in Brighton (UK) from January - but since in spite of having some really weird symptoms (uncontrollable shivering, rash, muscle cramps) neither of us had a cough, we were told it 'couldn't possibly be Covid-19'. Of course we now know that it's quite possible to have it without the cough, but it's too late for us to be sure. We've been fortunate in that with one exception, close friends and family have all been spared the worst and we haven't had to go through the horror of losing someone dear to us without being able to say goodbye. The loss that hit us hardest was that of our dear old dog, Spike, who'd been our lovely companion for twelve and a half years; and we were able to say goodbye to him at home, thanks to the wonderful Vets2Home people who helped him find peace with us by his side.
Spike left us in June, just as the first set of lock down rules were being relaxed; and this meant that in sharp contrast to many of you, we actually got out and about more than usual during the Summer months! Because we don't drive and couldn't take a nervous dog on train journeys, we hadn't been able to do things like go up to London for a river trip on the Thames to Greenwich until this year. And when restrictions have been in place, we haven't found them too irksome, as we're used to not getting out much and living on the edge of the South Downs there are some lovely walks within easy reach guaranteed to lift the spirits.
Anyway, whilst being confined more than usual at home, I've been doing lots of ... no, not writing I'm afraid, the Muse hasn't put in much of an appearance for me this year ... I've been doing lots of READING. According to Goodreads I've got through no less than fifty-nine books! As well as finally tackling the wonderful Wolf Hall Trilogy 3 Books Collection Set By Hilary Mantel, I've discovered several new favourite authors to binge on - Philip Hensher, Ben Aaronovitch and Ruth Hogan spring immediately to mind - and as always, it's been a pleasure to read and review books by author friends such as Jill Gardiner, Maggie Redding, Richard Gough-Buijs, Jill Bush and Angela Patmore. Thank you all so much for your wonderful words and stories, and here's to a New Year that will be for all of us, whether writers or readers, blessed with health, happiness and creativity.
Better times are coming, folks - let's all raise a glass of hope to 2021!
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