Happy New Year

I spent the final evening of 2020 in quite the stereotypical fashion: watching a Bond movie and drinking champagne.

‘Skyfall’ ended with just fifteen minutes left in the year, so we bundled up and headed downstairs to the Thames Path to catch the fireworks in central London. We enjoyed another bottle of bubbles (socially distanced) with a couple of our neighbours, discussing the fireworks, the dumpster fire that was 2020 and our plans for 2021.

Nobody has anything major or exciting planned – just to get a vaccine and to stay well until that point. I’d just like to ‘keep going’ for the next few months. No major resolutions, just some healthy habits.

We had a perfect view of the fireworks down the Thames. We’re very lucky in that regard, and nothing blocked our view of the massive display just over the river. I didn’t bother trying to take any photos, as they never turn out as expected! I enjoyed what was happening in the moment and got really absorbed in the display. I had snapped a few moments of the (unplanned) display from our other neighbours earlier in the evening.

After a while, the cold set in. This was despite the thermal leggings and multiple layers of clothes I was wearing! No amount of champagne could keep us out on the path, so we gathered up our stuff and headed indoors.

It was well after 1am by the time we made it back to our apartment and that was that. A bit of tidying up, brushing of teeth, heading to bed. Another year over, but one of the most memorable and unpleasant for a very long time.

I hope the year ahead brings whatever it is you’re hoping for.