The place to start? How was 2020 for you? It has been a shitty 12 months for many individuals. If you’re a kind of idiots who thinks Covid-19 is a hoax, or if you happen to refuse to put on a masks in a store, or if you’re a kind of who has been breaking social distancing guidelines and do not care since you assume you’re wholesome, effectively you may go soar within the sea. As I write this, 12 days into 2021, I’m ready for a textual content with my Covid take a look at consequence. I took a take a look at at a stroll in testing heart yesterday after a few days feeling feverish, and have now taken a few days off work, which could effectively become extra, is dependent upon the outcomes! I’ve a detailed connection to Covid-19. Again in 2019, a couple of months after arriving again in England, I began working at an organization referred to as Abingdon Well being, and as 2020 developed, the corporate has grown and is a part of a consortium making Covid-19 antibody checks. And now we have been very busy, particularly over the second half of 2020. So, one plus for 2020 – I’ve had job! We’re nonetheless dwelling right here in York, England. My son must be doing his GCSEs this 12 months, however … attributable to Covid, seems to be like that is likely to be cancelled. My daughter completed a school enterprise course earier this 12 months and has had a couple of half time jobs, however attributable to Covid, jobs are laborious to seek out!
In the meantime, again in Phuket … we nonetheless have a home on the market. My spouse is in Thailand proper now, been there for like 4 months. She needed to do a 2 week authorities quarantine when she arrived – not allowed to go away the lodge room – fortunately it was paid by the Thai authorities for Thai nationals. We even have our home on the market in Chumphon. We had hoped to have bought already, however .. yeh, Covid. Journey restrictions in Thailand have been very strict, there are hardly any international vacationers, and it is robust for native companies, reminiscent of Dawn Divers the place I used to work and my good friend’s journey firm Straightforward Day Thailand.
How quiet is Phuket? Take a look on the photograph under posted on Twitter by my good friend Steve who runs the Pineapple Guesthouse in Karon.
Karon Seaside in the course of peak season, January 2021. pic.twitter.com/9nJefF5k1u
— Steve in Phuket (@Bangkokaddick) January 12, 2021
Life has type of been in limbo for a 12 months. Ready to promote our property so we are able to purchase right here in England, ready to see what occurs with Covid-19, and it is received worse once more. We have not taken any holidays. I took numerous lengthy weekends in the course of the 12 months, utilizing up my work vacation allowance little by little. And naturally I can’t actually complain. Many individuals have had a foul 12 months, misplaced jobs, misplaced revenue, misplaced family members. And let’s not even get began on the opposite information of the 12 months. I imply, right here within the UK now we have had Brexit and Boris, however that pales compared to the USA with continued and really justified anger about police killing black folks, after which the USA has had a proper wing, egotistical, narcisistic clown as President, who refuses to confess he’s ever improper, and gosh, let’s hope that’s throughout in 8 days any further 20 January.
Usually, my yearly Phuket weblog critiques over time – see listing on the finish of this put up – will present all of the locations in and round Phuket that we visited. 2020 was the primary 12 months for me since 1999 that I didn’t spend any time in Thailand. The primary 12 months since 1994 that I spent the entire 12 months within the UK! Getting used to life again right here shouldn’t be so laborious. However we actually have to promote our homes quickly! And I’m not positive I just like the winter. Some chilly days are good, if the solar shines and it isn’t windy, however some days are chilly, moist and breezy and I want I used to be having a chilly beer Chang on the seashore in Phuket! Anyway, we didn’t spend the entire 12 months in lockdown. I’ve half-heartedly began Jamie’s Yorkshire Weblog. And we did have a number of good days out in the course of the summer season after we all thought Covid-19 had gone away.
(above) Sundown in Knaresborough, June 2020.
(above) Roseberry Topping within the Yorkshire Moors, July 2020.
(above) Out driving within the Yorkshire Dales in August 2020.
UPDATE : My Covid-19 take a look at was POSITIVE! So the children and I can be isolating at house for an additional week.
So, please come on 2021, get higher quickly! I used to be possibly hoping we would have an opportunity to take a Thai vacation in the summertime, however we’ll have to attend and see. I hope if you’re studying this that your 2020 had some highs and your 2021 has some highs!
Greatest Needs from York (England), not Phuket
Earlier Yearly Critiques:
2019 – 2018 – 2017 – 2016 – 2015 – 2014 – 2013 – 2012 – 2011 – 2010