So Long 2020

I’d like to say it’s been a blast, but where do I even start with you 2020?! This time last year, I bid farewell to my annus horribilis 2019 and promised myself that this year would be better. Not making that mistake again. Goodbye emotional and physical pain, but hiya global pandemic!

On the bright side, my day job transitioned to working from home without too much fuss. We’ve been mostly cloud-based and paperless for years, so the “pivot” was more of a gentle twirl. Being confined to the house except for “essential” outings wasn’t exactly thrilling, but my furry coworkers were absolutely delighted to have me home 24/7.

Spangle was quickly promoted to inbox management. She did lack efficiency, but made up for it with her sunny disposition around the office and attentiveness during morning staff meetings.

Their roles on my desk were somewhat interchangeable. Unfortunately repeated infractions, including failure to show up to the office on time, frequent unauthorised snoozes on the keyboard, inappropriate furry butt displays during important Zoom meetings, and general anarchy, led to HR action being taken. Both furry assistants were moved to zero-hours, zero treats contracts. Their note taking skills were also questionable at best…

A few months into lockdown, my adorably disruptive assistants grew used to my constant presence and no longer even bothered to clock in. Occasional attendance at my desk endured when biscuit delivery times fell below my fluffy overlords’ acceptable standards. Staff morale may have waned, but at least they continued to adhere to the Covid-19 handwashing procedure!

Although I am incredibly grateful to have kept my job during the pandemic, pivoting my jewellery business to 100% home working was much more tricky. Our whole industry pretty much shut down overnight and I wasn’t able to get work cast, gold plated, or posted out easily. Customers were, without exception, completely lovely with the delays and I was incredibly thankful that orders kept coming through. Seriously, a huge thank you to everyone who supported small businesses this year - it genuinely meant the world to all of us!

On a more serious note, I’m so grateful to have kept my job through all this chaos. But pivoting my jewellery business to 100% home working was a little less straightforward. Practically overnight, the whole industry hit pause. I couldn’t get pieces cast, plated, or even posted without jumping through multiple hoops. Yet somehow, my lovely customers stuck with me and were patient, kind, and endlessly supportive. Honestly, every single order and encouraging message meant the world. To everyone who supported small businesses this year: you’re absolute gems (pun very much intended).

I also count myself incredibly lucky to have had both a garden and the best housemates a lockdown could ask for. Between the barbecues, Zoom parties, doorstep cocktails, and socially distanced baking sessions with neighbours, we managed to keep vaguely sane.

Although lockdown was lifted, I still wasn’t able to visit my mum, as she lives overseas and their rules were much stricter. We usually see each other every couple of months, so it was so difficult to be apart. Also, I really wanted to do something nice for my birthday this year, as last year’s was spent trapped in a MRI tube, but the universe decided this was not to be. Maybe next year I’ll have that party…

Anyway, for a far wittier take on the rollercoaster that was 2020, I’ll leave you with the brilliant Flo and Joan and their absolute gem of a song — it sums things up far better than I ever could.

And now, back to me! Thanks to the last-minute lockdown rules, none of us were going anywhere for Christmas - not exactly the festive miracle we were hoping for. It was especially hard not being able to see my family, particularly my gran, who’s 99, not in the best of health, and completely off-limits thanks to Covid restrictions. I made a half-hearted attempt at Christmas cheer by decorating a pot plant (it tried its best), and despite everything, I actually had a lovely little break from work. There was a lot of prosecco, an impressive marathon of cartoons, and a questionable amount of Real Housewives of Jersey (which, for the record, is only remotely tolerable after much booze and ideally in the company of an actual islander).

Here’s to hoping that next year brings fewer plot twists, more hugs, and maybe - just maybe - an actual birthday party. Until then, I’ll be over here cuddling my demoted furry assistants, and quietly daring the universe to behave itself for once.

I genuinely do not dare make any New Years resolutions or wishes this time. I have literally no idea what the universe will throw at us this time. For now, I’m simply grateful to have finished the year with my job intact and my sanity mostly holding itself together with gaffer tape and tequila.

On New Year’s Eve, I’ll be drinking champagne cocktails until watching the Cats movie starts to feel like a solid life choice. Here’s to you all - I hope you’re doing ok out there, finding small joys where you can, and being kind to yourselves. xxx