In 2020 I promised myself that I would celebrate each month of the year with my favourite photos a bit like keeping a journal but simplified.. Therefore, before January vanishes from our calendars in a haze of lockdown memories here are my favourite images of the last year. When our future grandchildren ask me how we spent 2020 during lockdown. I will refer to these photos. Of course by then my memory will be even worse than it is now, so you could also call this an ‘aide-memoir’
…by then my memory will be even worse than it is now, so you could also call this an ‘aide-memoir’
January 2020 One Of My Favourite Photos
Friends 2020 Then:
Here I am, seated beside my dear friend Amanda on a windy beach, back in January 2020. We spent a glorious and happy day together. After saying goodbye we planned another meet up for spring, when the weather was warmer and thought no more of it! Needless to say it didn’t happen. I haven’t seen Amanda for a year.
Friends 2021 Now:
As I sit here writing this post in 2021 the first thing I notice is how close we were sitting and without masks! Would we do that today? In a word no, because our lives changed forever just a few weeks after this photo was taken. So for me, a very special memory of a ‘normal’ day out with my mate including laughter, coffee and buns, lunch and taking photos of each other. How I’m longing for those days when we can do all that once more, I will never, ever take the simple things in life for granted again.
Life changed forever just a few weeks after this photo was taken.
February 2020
An Ensuite Renovation from scratch.
Marc began work on rebuilding our en-suite bathroom in 2019, He stripped everything, the fixtures, old shower, lights, walls, until only the bare plaster boards were left. We lived with rubble and dust for months! (Luckily we have three toilets in our house) The room was finally completed in March 2020, but it was in February last year that I began to see our design plans come together. We now have a contemporary en suite bathroom with a nod to the natural world, modern rustic at its finest. The post is yet to come!
March 2020
The Last Normal Day Out
At the beginning of March when the word lockdown was not being used in our everyday vocabulary, I had one last normal day out with a friend. We visited Bridport on a Saturday, the vintage market stalls were out and it was chilly but bright. As with most ‘last times’ we had no idea it would be a last, the world was changing as we shopped, Again I look at this today and my first reaction is what no mask!
I look at this today and my first reaction is what no mask!
April 2020
First Lockdown Spent With My Boy
I regard Lockdown number one as a true gift. To be able spend this time with my son when normally he would have been preparing for ‘A’ levels. We were able to help him cope with exam stress and then the lack of exams and normal life. After some superb exam results we were also able to help him prepare for life at University and becoming independent. Harder for me than him at this point! We spent our days outside and he turned the conservatory into an art studio! The weather was glorious and we were content. Probably one of my favourite photos of the year it brings back wonderful memories during this difficult time.
May 2020
A crocheted University Blanket.
I spent most of May and a little bit of June crocheting. No surprises there I know! But this was a very special blanket. I was hooking it up for my boy to take to University. A little bit of home for his bedroom in halls, actually he lives in a mini flat with 5 others. It’s brilliant they have a huge kitchen and lounge area and their own bedrooms with ensuite shower rooms. The only thing they share are the fridges! He liked the blanket so much, he agreed to model for it. Hence this photo. you can read more about the Memphis Blanket in this post if you are a crochet fan.
June 2020 one of my Favourite Photos
Playing Trains in 2020.
One of our favourite times of the year, is when the annual Great Dorset Steam fair comes to town. For me it signifies the end of summer and the beginning of Autumn. We knew in June that it was cancelled and the teen got his model steam traction engines out for a ‘steam up’ just like they do at the steam fair! How we laughed when one of the dogs popped over for a look. It made for a wonderful photograph of a giant dog.
To Be Continued …
So there you have it. Six months of 2020 and 6 of my favourite photos, I have to say it is very hard to choose just one to represent each month. You must try it, most of these pictures will go into my year book of 2020.
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Laurie
A beautiful view of the past year. It won’t be long now until a little normal returns, I’m sure of it xx
Ashley
LaurieI agree with you Laurie I think it will be weeks rather than months now, almost there I hope!
ash xxx
Amanda Start
Awww Ashley… I had a little tear reading this – it feels like such a lifetime ago now doesn’t it? And like you I see photos, TV shows and movies where people are in crowds, close together, mask-free or hugging and I’m like “What the hell?!?” I find it odd how quickly the abnormal becomes normal. But I look forward to making the switch back one day soon. And meanwhile I sit, ticking off the unknown quantity of days until we’re all vaccinated and then onward more to when news of dwindling and finally non-existent numbers begins to break. Then we can sit side by side on a rock again, explore Dorset and snap photos as we go. Keep ticking off the days my friend!
Amanda xx
Ashley
Amanda StartIt really does Amanda, the next time will be different but I know we will adapt and still find the joy in a simple cup of coffee shared in a cosy cafe. I look forward to it, it keeps me going x