Ah, Christmas is here again and this time last year who would have guessed how 2020 would go. It has been a few years since I did a missive, but I picked a good year to produce another.
But let us look back a bit first. 2019 seemed so normal but also marked a milestone. Kiara had finished Year 12 with good results and was accepted into Deakin to undertake the Nursing Degree she wanted. However, first she would take a year off, work, save and travel. Siobhan was going well at her Social Work Degree, Cath’s business continued to thrive and challenge, while teaching still kept me amused. Plans were made for a holiday in Europe for late 2020. Such optimism! Christmas was in Melbourne with lunch with cousin Debbie & Michael then dinner at sister-in-law Terri & Damien’s. Much fun was had with myriad cousins big and small.
For New Year’s we visited friends Susan & Pete in Mt Beauty, while skirting the start of the bushfires, which should have been a warning. January was packed with activity as Rod & Mary visited, then our cousin Vincent, we saw “Come from Away”, finally got to see our friends Peta & Brian first daughter Rudy and then went to Sydney to catch up with all the family there! Our biggest fear was with the growing bushfires (remember those?) would we be able to drive to Sydney and would we be able to get back. Fortunately, we escaped that crisis.
Remote teaching was an interesting experience, walking out of the bedroom into class – properly dressed – disembodied voices for students, remembering to mute when needed and unmute after – apparently something I was noted for forgettingJ – was anyone there or was I just talking to empty laptops? But you quickly learn to adapt and make the best of things. New skills are developed and now I am a dab hand at making little instructional videos, maybe. Siobhan struggled through trying to complete her course on line but seemed to be mastering zoom meetings for Socialist Alternative. Cath’s business was a bit up and down but eventually settled into a rhythm with businesses adapting to meetings online. Kiara with her job at Bunnings suffered the biggest impact but not what you would expect. With everyone stuck at home DIY went crazy and she was working almost full time sorting online orders for people and dealing with stressed customers and the occasional “Karen”. Listening to her unload after a day’s work was educational. Oh, also while she was trying to build up some hours for her license.
February seemed quiet after that but in the background this virus thing was ticking away before, bang! Lock down 1.0!
By mid-year things seem to be improving and while Europe was definitely off the cards we hoped for a small trip to the country. Alas, Lock Down 2.0 killed that idea. So back to remote learning, zoom meetings to see family & friends, teaching in the bedroom while Cath ran her business remotely from the library, Kiara & Cath developing their mask making skills and everyone sharing one small house. We envied the chooks easy going life and started seeing strange things with spoons. We became closer as a family if a little stir crazy at times. Dan’s morning briefings became compulsory viewing. How did he manage to do it for over 100 days without losing his cool! We celebrated each little milestone and analysing every new rule.
As we moved through these difficult times the shining light was ….. another Richmond Premiership – getting a bit monotonous but it cheers Cath up – and Storm winning again!
But eventually we made it out the other side and now coming up to Christmas it almost seems normal or at least the “new” normal. School is wrapping up, celebrations are happening, presents are being bought and trips planned – in a Covid safe way. Oh and our niece Natasha and boyfriend Alfred have moved down to Melbourne. Excellent!
So while much and nothing happened this year and 2021 is clouded with uncertainty, remember to enjoy what you have because you never know what is around the corner.
Merry Christmas, from Paul, Cath, Siobhan and Kiara.
PS: what I noticed as I went back through my 2020 photographs was how few had people in them. Sign of the times? Here is one from another time and place. Could be the dinner for my 60th from 2019?
