Shortest day of 2022
On this, the shortest day of the year, I’m treating myself to a mini review of my 2022 and what a year it’s been!
This time last year I was working my way through PCR test appointments and several precautionary Covid qualification forms in order to take my flight to Faro to spend Christmas with my friends on the Algarve and similarly, to fix my safe return home again. New Year’s Eve was an early glass of Champagne in a local pub with a couple of friends – we nervously finished the bottle and then scuttled out early, wearing our masks, keen to avoid any risky crowds. By February, the worst of the pandemic was over and a return to ‘normal’ life for me meant the spring and early summer passed in a flash, catching up with friends and colleagues at the theatre, football matches, taking long walks and short breaks away and even visiting each other at home. Although I nearly lost a section of my back garden fence in February, thanks to Storm Eunice and the worst winds in 30 years, by May I was enjoying early summer in my garden, not realising that this was just the beginning of a long, record- breaking season of heat and drought. Climate change worries aside (can one really put them aside?) I none the less, loved reliably fine days out including at St James’s Park for the Royal Jubilee, Birmingham Arena for the Commonwealth Games, finally managing to visit friends in Criccieth after several Covid postponements, watching Wimbledon with no rain delays and celebrating our victory in the Women’s Euros thanks to local girl, Chloe Kelly. Autumn marked a change in temperature for me as I visited Norway which was already 10 degrees colder than home and yes, very rainy. I then went to Liverpool for an inspiring Labour Party Conference and it was still 10 degrees colder than home and also very rainy. Terrific World Cup matches have helped distract from the days of sub-zero winter freeze this past week or so and now I’m looking forward to a safe and cosier Christmas time. I wish the same for you and yours. Here’s to 2023!