2020 has had a fair few… issues.

(Hello understatement!)

But I wanted to try and see it out with a bit of positivity, because amongst all the bad, there has been good, and I feel like it is important to acknowledge this.

In a weird sort of way, I enjoyed the summer lockdown, the break from having to try and live to a military schedule in order to make it to all the after school activities and also eat properly was much appreciated. I am still quite enjoying the slower pace of that now, in the peculiar lesser-lockdown state we are in.

Bearing this all in mind, I wanted to try and come up with 20 positive things from 2020. I’m not going to order them particularly, just write them as I think them!

1. I took my favourite ever photograph of Amber (after she climbed out of the bathroom window and onto the roof!)

I got it by pure chance – I wanted a shot of her sat on the roof, but she leaped for the shed just as I took it!

2. Fabulous muddy walks galore (sometimes with other people!)

3. I have learned more German through Duolingo and really enjoyed it.

4. UNEXPECTED SNOW!!

5. Pre-lockdown family adventure to Cosford

6. Staying with friends…

7. …and throwing the kids in an unheated hot tub. In February…

There is a video of this somewhere on Facebook but I have no idea how to get that on here.

Basically, we conned the kids into thinking we had prepped the hot tub in our friend’s garden, when actually all we did was turn the bubbles on. Then when they were in their swim gear, we picked them up and chucked them in, and laughed as they leaped back out and ran inside (to the warm towels we had at least prepared for them. We’re not totally evil!)

8. Poppy sitting!

Poppy dog came to stay at our house for a week and we had lots of fun. Amber wasn’t so keen, though.

9. Jet Wash Wiggle Bum!

And then, just before lockdown 1 was announced, Jet came to stay for a little while…

…and then stayed for a long while because we are serial dog thieves. (Just kidding – we haven’t stolen her, she’s just living here for a while to help out her owner ❤ )

10. Long, lazy walks with Jet, and hours playing in the river during Lockdown Summer.

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11. Homeschool fun!

I was dubious at first, but actually Lockdown School was quite good. Working at our own pace, doing all sorts of different topics and themes – it was fun (most of the time!)

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12. Family adventure walks discovering local areas (between lockdowns with extended family, and during lockdown just us)

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13. I rediscovered my love of cross-stitching

14. I got lots of flowers from a mystery lovely person(s)! (Yes, they still keep randomly appearing. Yes, they still make me happy. No, I still don’t have a clue who they’re from!)

15. Amazing day at Oulton Park watching cars racing in the rain!

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16. I’ve had fun doing silly things with my hair. I really love my current orange and black look!

17. All of the board games! I have missed actual in-person board games with friends, but I have enjoyed online board gaming, and teaching the kids new games, too. And we did manage to squeeze in a few in-person games sessions around lockdown measures. Online D&D was a highlight through lockdown and getting the kids started on their own D&D adventure has been lots of fun.

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18. Christmas! It might have been different to all our plans, but I actually quite enjoyed our quiet family Christmas Day. Despite the oven trying to ruin it by exploding half way through cooking dinner.

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19. Starting the Market Drayton Covid-19 Rock Snake

I didn’t think it would take off, but it is still there (looking a bit washed out after all the storms) and the odd new rock still appears every now and then even now.

Excellent challenge from my Mum to start one up here.

20. Talking of storms, one absolute highlight of 2020 was the weekend of spectacular lightning and thunder.

I don’t remember ever seeing lightning so constant for so long, so spectacular, so loud! It was just incredible.

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So there we go, 20 things I loved about 2020. It’s much easier to remember the bad, and the hard bits – but when I sat and thought, I could find the good parts underneath.

One of my favourite sayings comes to mind: Not every day is good, but there is good in every day.

What were some of your 2020 highlights?