Results matching “Christmas”

Over the winter, I have managed to use up a few beauty and skin-care products despite being in a third strict lockdown and not leaving the house most of the time. I decided to post these products to help me remember which products I would purchase again, and it may help others too. So, let's begin from left to right.

British Rose bubble bath: Included in a gift set to me, this bubble bath had a faint scent of rose when placed into running water. Would I buy it again? No, although this was a fairly decent product with a good lather, I would not buy it again.

Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Body Booster Mousse: This product promises to add some bounce and body to your hair when sprayed on. Would I buy it again? I am not sure. When I went to use this product, I noticed that the product was damaged and had leaked out into my drawer before I really had the opportunity to use it; it's a product that I would only try if I have a reason to style up, and there has not been an opportunity in the past couple of years.

Good Housekeeping hand soap in 'peppermint swirl': I received this Christmas peppermint scent for the holidays one year. Would I buy it again? No, the product does not really lather up and does not have too much of a scent. It seems like a sub-standard product when compared to Bath & Body Works, which have a very similar hand soap.

Bath & Body Works mist in 'Fresh Sparkling Snow': This is a quick misting fragrance spray that is a fresh scent. Would I buy it again? Although I love the brand, I probably would not buy this mist again as it doesn't really have longevity. It is fine to use around the house or if just needing a quick top off to head to do a couple of errands.

Mary Elizabeth Spearmint & Tea Tree Nature Balm: This product can be used in multiple areas - lips, nails, hands, and heels. It contains moisturiser and is made from natural products. Would I buy it again? I found the product to personally be a bit too sticky instead of absorbant, so I would not purchase it again.

Fake Bake Sport Daily Tan: The fake tan product can be applied overnight or during the day over a few days to add a subtle glow to skin. Would I buy it again? No, and this is because I don't really do fake tanning. The product has a bad smell like most fake tan, and it gets on bed sheets and rubs off easier than it stays on skin.

Zolly Soy Candle in 'pink champagne': This little pink jar is a champagne-scented candle made with soy. The product smells like champagne and is a zingy and party scent rather than a soothing one. Would I buy it again? I received this as a free product, and the candle burned slowly to allow the maximum use of scent, but I would rather have it in a different scent.

Marks & Spencers mini essentials nail polish: There is not a colour on the nail polish, but it is a tiny little bottle of blue with glitter polish. This colour goes well with blue jeans and a casual look. Would I buy it again? I would if it was available, but I am happy to buy the same or similar colour in another brand. This brand did tend to apply fairly well and stay put.

Marks & Spencers lip gloss in 'wowee plum': This shimmery gloss has a faint purple tint to it. Would I buy it again? No, the product is far too sticky. My hair kept sticking to it.

Lyn Candles in 'cinnamon' and 'relaxation': I picked up these candles from a family-operated shop in Exmoor, and they had all sorts of different fragrances. Would I buy it again? Yes, the candles lasted a long while and burned evenly. I enjoyed both scents. The cinnamon was very festive for the cooler days, and the relaxation helped manage stress and long days.

Dove Energy Glow daily face moisturizer: This tinted facial moisturiser helps add much-needed moisture and glow to skin, a perfect combination for the dark winter months. Would I buy it again? I would consider purchasing this again, but the fragrance was not my favourite as it had that "tanning" scent.

Lush lip balm in 'Maple Taffy': This lip balm helps add deep moisturising to dry lips, and this product is one of the autumn flavours, The product is a little bit thick but is perfect if your lips are really needing extra TLC. Would I buy it again? I would purchase lip balms from this brand again.

Ed Hardy body lotion and perfume in 'Born Wild': I purchased these products in a gift set in the after-Christmas sales a few years ago. The scent is a fresh 'young' one. The body lotion had extra shimmer to it. Would I buy it again? I enjoyed the products and the fragrance. The perfume does not have the longevity that I would like, but it was fine to wear around the house to do some errands. I preferred the moisturiser more as it absorbed into skin and had a nice shimmer to it. However, I probably would not consider this a "must buy" product.

Mentos bath bombs: Designed for the bath based on the fruity Mentos sweet brand, these miniature bath bombs are a candy for the bath. Would I buy it again? No. I bought this product because of the packaging and because I love Mentos. I thought that it was cute. However, the product did not have any scent, and each bath bomb was individually-wrapped and a struggle to open when I wanted to use them.

TonyMoly "I'm Avocado" face mask: Avocado is good for the skin and helps keep it moisturised. This came in a cute package design with an illustrated avocado. Would I buy it again? I would not consider this product a "must buy"; I've used better moistirising masks.

Aliver exfoliating foot mask: I bought a pack of five of these lavender-scented foot masks to use to try to help me remove hard skin on the bottoms of my feet. The product is worn like socks, but you have to wear them for about 1.5 hours to get the full benefits. Would I buy it again? No, I actually did not have any change in my feet after using the products as directed.

Fruit Sorbet Antioxidant Peel-Off Mask by Superdrug: This product promises to protect and revitalise skin. Would I buy it again? I am a fan of the Superdrug face masks, so I would purchase this again.

Boots bath gel in banana and chocolate flavours: I received these products in a set of other Boots body lotions and shower gels. I used up the banana and chocolate flavours. Would I buy it again? No.

Oshima Tsubaki Hair Cream: The yellow tube is a leave-in conditioning product that promises to make hair shiny and moisturised. It includes camellia oil. The product should be applied to damp hair after a clean. Would I buy it again? No. This product was heavy on my hair and left it feeling and looking oily.

Additionally, I had lost the berry red shade of lip gloss that I was using, and I cannot remember the name. I was about twelve remaining applications of the product before finishing it when I dropped it at Spitalfields Market. I suspected where I dropped it, but I did not venture back to collect it because my feet were shot and there were a bit too many people around where I needed to go.

When we entered the first couple of months of 2020, I felt relieved and excited at what was to come for the year ahead. I had finished my freelancing job at the end of January and started a new job in February. I was looking forward to reclaiming my personal life as I had been over-worked over the last few years. I was desperately looking forward to enjoying many adventures abroad and visiting my family abroad. Unfortunately, the year did not go to plan for anyone, and today marks one year of pandemic lockdowns.

On the afternoon of March 16, my colleagues and I were told to work from home. I don't think anyone understood the severity of the pandemic and virus at this stage. I certainly did not, but medical staff were quickly being overwhelmed and people were losing their lives due to this and due to the lack of known treatments. So, the first lockdown began. A year later, we are still in lockdown and have had restrictions throughout the past year. We will be locked down for another few months at least. I am hoping that the vaccines will help surpress this pandemic and allow us to get back to normality and keep us in some form of normality.

A year on now from the first lockdown, and I wanted to highlight some areas of what it has meant for me and what I have also seen change in the past year.

Work & Working from Home

Since 2015, I was used to working from home in a full time or part time capacity (depending on the project), so this aspect hasn't changed for me and was a continuation of my life (minus the pressure to work myself to death). Overall, I enjoy working from home and prefer it as I've previously spent far too much of my life before 2015 in long commutes. Commuting for four hours of your life a day is not fun, and that's what my life had been like previously.

I know that working from home has either been uncommon or non-existant for a lot of people. Video conferencing tools and chat tools to help manage long distance colleague relationships and meetings were familiar to me but not to many others. I think those reluctant in home working now realise that they can trust their employees and that the work still gets done.

The company I am working for allow Friday afternoons off, and this has helped to provide a balance between work and personal life, which is ultimately more difficult to manage when working from home. I know that some still struggle with the balance, particularly those who have small children or when their school-aged children were unable to go to school due to the lockdowns. 

Social Life

Even though working from home was common to me in previous years, I did not feel isolated because I was still able to go out for a meal or to visit friends. The lockdown put a stop to this. I did manage to see a couple of friends once in late summer, but it's been over a year since I have seen anyone outside my home with the exception of others on my street and the postal workers! It will still be a few months (or at least a year in some cases) before I am able to meet up socially with my friends and family. This time has been very difficult, particularly when life has been difficult with some people I know, and I am unable to do anything to be there for them. It is feeling stuck, and it is harmful to mental health, which I will discuss later. 

Although I have been unable to see my friends and family and my social life has been non-existant over the past year, I have still managed a chat (although it is not nearly the same), and one decent social item to come out of the pandemic is community.

Community

Over the last year, I have noticed that community has been pulling together. From clapping for the National Health Service to socially-distanced drinks with neighbours, I believe that most of us are trying to make the most of a bad situation. Here are some examples that I have seen in the community over the past year:

• Clapping for the NHS
• Giving to charity to help those who have lost their jobs or loved ones and also to those who have children struggling with meals while children are stuck at home
• Giving technology to children in need to help them with their education
• Socially-distanced drinks with neighbours and creating a sense of community in our road/area; it has been great to get to know everyone, and this has allowed a social aspect.
• Putting hearts or toy bears in windows, lights and Halloween decorations on display, and yarn-bombing on post boxes to bring smiles
• Helping look after each other, particularly when individuals are unable to leave home due to shielding and need a helping hand
• Providing surprise Christmas gifts to people
• Donating food, technology, and time to help other members of the community
• Local businesses providing support to the community and community services - free coffees, doughnuts, etc.

So, while our social lives have been non-existant largely, at least a sense of community has helped fill a bit of the void, and hopefully there will be many large community parties in the not-too-distant future.

Local Exploration

I'd previously touched on this aspect in relation to my working from home, but it is worth a larger note because we have all been stuck at home and in our local areas for a year. I moved into the area that I am living in now at the end of 2015, and I had not yet explored a lot of what the area has to offer until this year. Of course, I actually did have plans to explore a couple of places in the spring of 2020, but the pandemic hit and I didn't actually leave the house during the first lockdown. Not being allowed to travel out of the local area has meant that everyone has had to exercise and get out of their houses locally. In my Friday afternoon walks this year, I have enjoyed visiting amazing local places. 

Arts / Exhibits / Museums / Attractions

Readers who know me know that the arts, museums, and other attractions (zoos, exhibitions, etc) do mean a lot to me. Unfortunately, these areas have suffered the worst and have had to shut for the past twelve months. Art and creativity has always been one of my main interests; this goes as much for creating as well as appreciating art. Continued learning about the world around me through museums and attractions is also important. All aspects are coping mechanisms with life.

Not being able to partake in these ties to mental health and well-being, so the fact that we (as a society) cannot do this for the past year has a very detrimental effect on community and society as a whole. All of these are an important part of society and community and help personal and individual well-being and purpose. I am saddened that they have been largely forgotten about at times when we need them the most. 

Shopping / Eating & Drinking

Both of these activities are social ones for me. While I have never been an avid shopper, I do appreciate browsing shops, particularly when I am visiting a new place. I do also enjoy the social aspect of visiting pubs and restaurants, and I enjoy visiting them for a change of scenery and to "get out of the house". Sadly, shopping and restaurants/pubs/cafes have been taken from us for the majority of the past twelve months, and it will still be awhile before we can enjoy these again. Shopping has primarily been a pain for me because I've had to do without or shop online. 

Shopping online is not something I enjoy. It is not a new concept for me, but it's one that never did too often. Most of us have spent a fortune on one online shop that I will not name. I don't like supporting this large online retailer; it has stolen High Street business, and some shops will never reopen. While there are times when it is useful to shop online, there are certain items that I'd like to look at before I buy. For example, I prefer trying on clothes before I buy them. I have also bought items online during the pandemic, and it is a huge hassle. Plant pots that I have bought turned out to be the wrong size: once too small for even a tealight and once too large for my succulents. Clothes do not fit and are about a size too large (or small) or they do not look like the image. Items have been delivered broken. Items have been delivered with missing parts. Items have been delivered that are nothing like what I ordered. Items that I ordered were delivered with substituted items or expired items that I will not eat/use.

Additionally, I've had to go without some items. They have sold out or discontinued the items or perhaps the items are not available to buy online. Additionally, I am unable to get a delivery slot for my preferred supermarket.

I also have some other things that I will not buy until the shops reopen, and these are items where I do need to visit a shop. These items relate to the house with the majority of the building work completed just before the 2020 lockdown. I need curtains or blinds (I'm unsure which), new couches (mine are over fifteen years old), and I need to exchange incorrect items. I've had to go without items deemed unessential.

Holidays

It has been eight years now since I have had a proper break/annual leave. Last year, I did have four short long weekend breaks amounting to ten days off in total. Changing my employment last year meant that I am allowed to take time off, but there is no point in doing so when nothing is open and going abroad is out of the question. Staying at home does not cut it for me.

Travel is important to me and something that I enjoy and look forward to. I enjoy the thrill of seeing a new place. By chance, I got into full-on projects and rolling-monthly contracts since the start of 2015, and that started a crazy cycle of a few years. Previous to that, I would plan a trip to give me something to look forward to in the months ahead. I am looking forward to seeing new places again.

Mental Health & Isolation

Everyone has suffered in some way during the pandemic. I have had my struggles. Being stuck at home has been very difficult, and then there is the anxiety about when we will be able to safely go out again and see friends and also questions as to whether life will get back to normal. I have also had regrets about working my life too hard and not taking breaks since 2014. I've been hard on myself, and this regret has angered me as well. 

Not being able to see friends and family, particularly when people are going through bad times, is also difficult. I have felt helpless. 

I know that when things get tough for me, I tend to drown myself with work or withdraw into myself. This is not healthy, but it makes an effort for me to speak to people. I also focus on other things. I over-think things.

Everyone has their way of dealing or not dealing with it. There will be much impact for years to come.

Also, although many have helped others in the community, I can see that some people have gotten more rude and more selfish. I guess this is part of it with everyone having their battles and going through stuff.

Illness & Health

Illness can be linked to the mental health concerns mentioned above. The pandemic and lockdowns have impacted our mental health, but they are also causing other health concerns. A couple of items to add from a personal level for me are being out of shape due to a lack of exercise. I did not leave the house at all during the first lockdown, and that played heavily on me. I am still not going out at all some weeks. Like most people who live in a city, there's a lack of nature, and this provides well-being. There's also a point to where one gets bored of visiting the same places.

My health has taken a nose-dive with being out of shape and other problems due to the pandemic. Weight is easy to put on with comfort eating during the lockdowns, and I am drinking much more too. I never did drink a lot, but I have been drinking more in the lockdown. 

The NHS is also back-logged due to the pandemic with appointments being cancelled and people suffering in silence because they are either too afraid to speak up about problems or do not wish to add to the burden.

Pets

I am happy that I have my cats. They can annoy me sometimes, but they have enjoyed hanging around me, even if they just sleep and beg for food all day. They have enabled me to cope.

During the lockdown, I read that over a million people or something similar got a pet in the past year. I've had my two cats for a few years now.

Other

I have a couple of other observations here to mention. One is the fact that I have not had a hair cut since November of 2019. My hair is a mess. I have attempted to trim it myself; it does not look good, but I am sure that they can fix it. I have not concerned myself with my hair because I do not have the skills to do it myself and feel that we just have to make do at present.

The other item is make-up. With not being able to venture out, make-up has become pointless. I think skin-care is still important, but the make-up industry is probably being harmed. I think make-up products for lips and blusher is probably the lesser-used products because of wearing masks.

The other item to mention is that builders and tradespeople are in top demand during the pandemic. They are over-worked with a lot of new jobs. Although the majority of my building work finished right before we went into lockdown the first time, I still have to wait for several months for them to come around to complete and rectify some of the issues. I was also without a working stove from the start of the pandemic until Christmas Eve! 

Conclusion & What I am Grateful For...

I just have hopes for the future that life can start to get back on track soon. At the moment, I have my fingers crossed for June 21st, as the government have stated that is when the restrictions will end. I know that there will be some more minor changes before that. It has been a year of these lockdowns, and yes, it does feel like a year. It has not gone quickly for me. It has been slow and unforgiving. I just hope that I am able to see my friends and family abroad soon and to be able to have holidays abroad too. I have not counted that this will happen in 2021 though.

Throughout the pandemic and the really bad times, I am grateful for my friends and family to chat to on the phone and on social media. I am grateful for my pet cats; even though they can be annoying and expensive, they have kept me sane. I am grateful for a nice community. I am also very grateful for my job. I am loving my (not so new) role working for a fantastic company and enjoying the perks - books! Books have kept me sane as well. I am looking forward to making up for lost time with holidays and friends and family abroad; I'm disappointed that I did not take the holidays but I cannot see how things could have been different at those times. No one expected a pandemic, and I thought that if I worked hard enough, then I could have some time off later. Only later came during a year of the pandemic. However, there should be bright times ahead when I can enjoy those things and make up for the lost time. It will be another few months, but I am anxiously waiting. 

The Celandine Route is located in the borough of Hillingdon in west London, and it follows the River Pinn from Hayes through Ruislip and then finishes at Pinner. There is a twelve-mile walkway through meadows, parks, and woodlands along the river from end to end. The route is named after the Lesser Celandine, a yellow flowering woodland plant that thrives in wooded shade. The walk can be completed in six hours, but I only walked a part of the route from Eastcote House to Pinner. I walked the route in the middle of January.

I started at Eastcote House, which I previously wrote about here: Eastcote House at Christmas. Eastcote House has become a favourite local place of mine that I have been visiting once every couple of weeks during this difficult time. Although the house no longer remains, the stables, cafe, walled gardens, and flower beds remain and are cared for by community volunteers.

I enjoy sitting in the walled garden and having a bite to eat for lunch. In early January, this little robin stood next to me during my visit, and it chirped away happily.

The River Pinn is located just below Eastcote House on the slope downward to plains where visitors can cross the river and muddy turf on a walkway and wooden bridge. 

I visited since my walk, and the river was much higher. We have been getting a lot of rain and snow.

Along the route, information boards explain the route and what different types of plants and animals can be seen along it. Each area is also marked as a route. At the bottom of Eastcote House is a large flood plain that takes several minutes to walk. Part of the walk is paved, but most of it is not. The large amount of people and dogs that walk the route mean that it is very muddy in places. 

Some of the first signs of spring were noticed on my visit at the end of January with these purple crocuses.

The walk is a pleasant one, and I enjoyed this part of the walk the best with its large trees and open area. However, it was so muddy in a couple of places, and that was not at all enjoyable.

There is a small bridge near part of the walkway, if you wish to walk close to the river. It was so muddy. I did not walk through it.

Crossing a narrow road meant that I was on the other side of this flood plain and met with another and more narrow plain with large houses on both sides. The river bent around and changed direction here, and this was probably the muddiest bit, even muddier than the picture with the bridge in this post. There was no way to avoid the mud. 

A couple of photos below show the worst area with the mud, and the other photographs show the entrance to the wooded area entrance.

Here at the wooded area is a part of the trail that leads off to the main roads and housing estates in Eastcote or Pinner. The Celandine Route is marked on the map. A bridge links one of the housing estates with the route.

The wooded area was less muddy because the trees soak up the water. The walkways were defined through the trees and follows the river closely.

There was one muddy patch, but it was not too bad.

The below photograph shows how close the trail is to the river, and this is probably the closest that it has even gotten to the river.

Foamy dirt settles on top of the river where it funnels around a turn in the forest. There are houses on both sides with one side having the woods back onto the properties.

At the other side of the wooded area and before we say goodbye to the river, there are community allotments along the path. 

The house at the very end of the trail, before the gate to exit the wooded walkway, has a view over the river and a large decking area. I thought it was a cafe.

The Celandine Route heads to Pinner Memorial Park, but I had a little walk to Pinner Village Gardens, which is a large garden area that was laid out in the 1930s, according to the signs. It's a bit hibernating at the moment due to the cold winter months, but I can see how this would be an attractive spot. There are little gardens set out amongst the grounds and play areas for children.

At the other end of the gardens is Marsh Road, which leads to Pinner underground station and the main street with cafes and shops. I did not wander to the High Street, which is an attractive place, due to running out of time. I did not want to walk through the park land and grounds alone in the dark.

The actual Celandine Route ends at Pinner Memorial Park. There is a museum here to visit, and I will visit it once it reopens. The museum is the Heath Robinson museum, and he was an illustrator for books and a cartoonist. 

I walked briskly back to Eastcote House Gardens, and if approaching from the Pinner direction, Eastcote House is in front and across the bridge. The building seen is the dovecote, and you can also see the walls of the walled garden.

I'll leave you with a sunny photograph of Eastcote House.

I think that the route is probably very muddy in the winter and autumn months where there is more rain. I hope to walk the route again soon, although walking in the mud is not the most enjoyable of activities. I hope to visit during the different seasons to spot some of the plants and animals and enjoy what the local area has to offer. I would also recommend if you are not local to the area once the restrictions are lifted.

At the end of December, I visited the National Trust property Scotney Castle in East Sussex. I was lucky to have a bright day which rewarded me with reflections on the water in front of the old castle. This is the most picturesque place in the property. I originally visited Scotney Castle in 2013, and you can read about my summer visit then and see photographs here: A Day Spent at Scotney Castle in Kent. My visit was prior to even tighter restrictions, and I've not been able to visit any National Trust places since then as, despite having many within a thirty-minute drive from me, they are all more than five miles from my home. I am just waiting for restrictions to be eased so that I am able to have proper walks again.

The old castle at Scotney dates from the 1100s, and it is located on the edge of a small lake. The new castle was built in the 1800s. I was able to visit the interior of both castles on my summer 2013 visit, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, both of the buildings were closed.

At the end of December, the new house was still decorated. Visitors could look into a couple of the windows in order to see a couple of Christmas trees inside the house.

I just had a quick walk around the lake to get some exercise. It is a nice walk here with beautiful views.

After walking around the lake, I walked back up the hill and passed the old ice house.

I cannot wait for attractions, museums, galleries, theatres, and cinemas to reopen again. I have really missed visiting National Trust buildings, and it's been over a year since I have been in one. They are normally shut over the winter months, and the last time I would have been inside one was sometime in December in 2019. It's nearly been a year now that we have been in lockdown, and I have been experiencing some serious lockdown fatigue this month. 

January is never my favourite month, and I am glad to see the back of it soon.

I received this selection of Yankee Candle Christmas fragrances (known as "Christmas Memories") as a gift in 2018. The collection contains twelve different candle fragrances, and eight of these are fragrances only available in the United States. Over the Christmas holidays, I used these candles. I do have some favourites, so keep reading to find out what I thought.

Cherries In The Snow (USA Exclusive):
This was one of my two favourites of the fragrances. It is a strong-smelling fragrance, and it filled the room with a pleasant cherry smell. The scent is described as having a fruity cherry scent with almonds and an icy freshness. 

Red Berry & Cedar (USA Exclusive):
Provided as a bright red candle, this is a festive scent with warming cedar and red currant berry, which I found to be a warming and festive scent that I enjoyed.

Christmas Thyme (USA Exclusive):
Thyme, lemongrass, and sandalwood provide an earthy festive scent. I loved the scent of this candle, but it did not burn at all for me. The candle kept putting itself out. I didn't have the problem with the other candles, so I imagine it was a faulty candle or the wick was not thick enough.

Candy Cane Lane (USA Exclusive):
Peppermint, cookies, and vanilla icing are combined to create this fresh and sweet scent. This was a little too sweet for my enjoyment.

White Christmas (USA Exclusive):
Evergreens and a woody and frosty smell help bring the outdoors inside when this candle is lit. I enjoyed the fragrance, but it did not have a long throw.

Balsam Cedar (USA Exclusive):
Another pleasant and earthy smell, this was my second favourite scents in the collection, next to the cherry scent. The scent reminded me of a fresh pine tree and has a natural scent with juniper berry and cedar.

Bubbly Pomegranate (USA Exclusive):
A fresh and fruity scent, this candle smells delicious as fruit punch. It is a citrus blend, and I enjoyed the scent, but the throw of the candle was not as strong as I would have liked.

Christmas Eve:
This is another sugary and sweet scent with festive candied fruits and sugar plums in a warm house. The scent has a good throw, but it is not one of the scents that I enjoyed. I found it too sweet.

Red Apple Wreath:
Sweet apples, cinnamon, and maple are some of the fragrances that create this blend. I enjoyed the scent, but it did not have a strong throw at all.

Christmas Cookie:
The sweet and sugary fragrance of 'Christmas Cookie' is a buttery and vanilla scent. I am not keen on this scent at all and do not like the sweet or vanilla scents. This one did have a good throw, but it just was not the scent for me.

Christmas Memories:
Spices and sweets and blended together to create a vintage festive "homely" smell, and this one brought me back to my childhood and reminded me of what I think Mrs. Claus' kitchen would smell like! The scent was okay, but it's too sweet.

Holiday Lights (USA Exclusive):
A fragrance inspired by sparkling Christmas lights, this is a fresh/cold scent with jasmine and praline. It's another one of the sweet scents that I do not care for.

Throughout December, we were given Friday afternoons off from work. I tried to make the most of them by planning visits to London. On one of the Fridays between the lockdowns and increased restrictions took place, I visited The Ivy Chelsea Garden for lunch. I have been wanting to visit this restaurant for awhile, and they do book up well in advance, and I booked in advance and managed to get a table for lunch.

The restaurant was decorated for Christmas, and they always do a nice display at the front. The interior of the restaurant is spacious with trendy decor.

To start, I ordered a glass of one of their festive cocktails - a Poinsettia. I also ordered a soup to start from the festive menu.

I ordered the roast chicken and a side of the truffle mash for the main. 

To finish, I had the creme brulee. 

So, what did I think of my experience at The Ivy Chelsea Garden? The restaurant gets a bit busy, and with the coronavirus pandemic, the service did not seem to be as attentive. I also wanted to minimise my time, so had to ask for the bill and extra drinks. I thought that the food was alright, but it was not the best meal that I ever had; I feel that the food is a bit over-hyped. Would I return? I would not go out of my way to return as there are other better restaurants in London.

I recently visited Bodiam Castle; this was my second ever visit to the castle after visiting a few years ago with my parents in the spring. I saw Bodiam in the winter months this time, and the castle has a different mood depending on the season. Bodiam Castle, located in East Sussex, is a moated castle built in 1385 by Edward Dalyngrigge, a former knight of Edward III. The castle was built to defend against the French. Since 1925, the National Trust has owned and maintained the castle. 

On the morning that I visited Bodiam Castle, it was a little chilly with some ice in the fields. There is a short walk up from the parking to the castle.

Near the castle is a pill box. It was built during World War II in case Britain had enemies inland. Canadian troops were stationed here.

Visiting the castle in the winter provides views of the castle all around the castle from the moat with beautiful reflections and without too much interference of the views from foilage.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, not all of the grounds were accessible. Visitors could not enter any castle rooms, but they could walk around the castle grounds and around the interior ruins of the castle. Any tower or anything that involved climbing stairs was off limits to visitors.

This block of the tower was the servant's area.

The stoves and kitchen had a couple of very large ovens at one corner of the castle.

Near to the kitchen is a tower and well.

The castle was decorated for Christmas as I visited it in the period between Christmas and the New Year.

I had a hot chocolate and enjoyed it with views of the castle in front of me.

Afterwards, I had a wander around the castle and walked around the moat, capturing some amazing views and reflections with my camera. It was partially sunny when I visited.

I previously visited Bodiam Castle a few years ago. For more photographs, see: 

Days Out: Bodiam Castle

"Tis the Season" is a Christmas store located in the Amish Country in Ohio. The store is open all year around and has over 22,000 square feet of Christmas on display. Visitors can browse the different Christmas displays and buy from any number of ranges and styles of Christmas decorations. The shop started in 1996 and is located in Berlin, Ohio.

The Christmas store makes a nice visit if you are in the area, and it's basically a Christmas overload. For more information abour the shop and the opening times, see: https://www.tistheseasonchristmas.com

Eastcote House Gardens are a few buildings, parkland, and gardens that make up the remains of Eastcote House, which was demolished in 1964. There are nine acres of grounds here to enjoy here and a couple of nice pubs nearby, and Eastcote High Street, which has some nice shops and cafes, is under a ten-minute walk away. The dovecote and outbuildings were not demolished due to public interest, and volunteers maintain them and the grounds.

Eastcote House was one of three large houses in Eastcote; the other two (Highgrove House and Haydon Hall) were located close by; Highgrove House still remains.

Eastcote House was first recorded in 1507, and it was known as "Hopkyttes". It was lived in by a family until the late 1800s when they moved and let the house to tenants and sold off part of the estate for housing. In the 1930s, the house was used by Scouts, Guides, and as a welfare clinic. Under the council's use, the house deteriorated and was demolished by the council in 1964.

In 1974, the walled gardens were awarded Grade II status, and the herb garden was planted for the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II.

There are plans for the coach house to be converted into a tea room.

The trees outside the coach house were decorated with Christmas decorations.

This was my first visit to Eastcote House, despite it being local to me although a bit of a trek away. I have seen photographs of it from the spring and summer, and it is well-maintained and does look very nice here. It is a popular local park and grounds.

I am assuming many of us want this year to disappear, and oh has it been an interesting and terrible challenging year. I think a lot of people had high hopes for 2020, but we are probably all in agreement that this year has been terrible in one way or another, although people have come together for a sake of community, which is one good quality to take from it. There is much uncertainty and a lack of stability around the world at the moment. Some people have gone through much worse this year, so do not take my words the wrong way; I won't reveal it all, but it has not been a very kind year for me/my family. Of course, it could always be worse, but it's been rough and challenging. I'm still alive. I have a job. I am grateful for what I do have but regretful of various things that have been out of my control.

Personally, I entered 2020 on a high; it was going to be "my year" because the past several have not been kind. January marked seven years of freelancing, and despite the first contract (which ended up lasting two years), I have endured a few long-term rolling monthly contracts and full-on 24/7 contracts that contributed to a lack of stability. In that time, I was told to cancel holiday plans, including milestone birthday plans. I was messed about with contract cuts due to outsourcing and budgets. I had to take on more workload because the company required more work and/or did not have others with the required skills. I did spend some of those holidays working too. Being in this lifestyle prompted me to work extra days and avoid any long-term planning. It simply was not possible to make any plans. On the occassion where I did have a longer-term contract, I was messed about with cuts at the last moment and then had a booked holiday that affected being able to start another new project. It was the first holiday I'd booked after two years, and it screwed up my chances of securing a new project. (I could not cancel that holiday as it involved other people from overseas.)

After such a challenging time, my goal was to rectify the past few years where I had been longing for stability and wishing to focus on my well-being. This has been a goal that had been carried over the past few years, and frankly, I failed for a few years in my promises to myself in my 'New Year Resolutions'. Now, part of that was just being unlucky with the contracts secured and poor timing. Sadly, due to the coronavirus pandemic, many of my hopes remain unfulfilled. This year leaves me feeling incomplete....so many words, but 'incomplete' is probably the best to encapsulate all of the feelings.

This wave somehow sums up my feelings of 2020...

This prolonged lack of stability and inability to take time off to travel (something I enjoy immensely) is why I made the decision to accept a permanent job toward the end of last year. I started the new job before the mid-March lockdown. This was the first step in solving my problems. Like everyone else, I had plans. (Obviously, some people went through a lot worse than I have, and I am blessed in a lot of areas so far and despite the before-mentioned challenges, I do not want to jinx anything.) I'm just continuing/trying to be patient and optimistic, but it can be very difficult to do so at times. It has just been a very difficult and disturbing year.

Like many, I have felt largely in limbo, and I've felt so many other feelings. I, like others, have suffered in my lack of enjoyment of life and of not being able to do the little things that I enjoy from life. I think most have felt the same, and yes, it could be worse if measuring it against others who have not been as lucky. Despite all that, it has been challenging personally for me, and I think we should be allowed to admit and say that, despite whether or not we have lost someone and not been there to say 'goodbye' or lost our incomes. This will echo most people's feelings perhaps. We are all traveling our own paths, and it's not possible to measure what others are going through nor fair to compare to what others are going through.

'Social distancing' was a term coined for this pandemic

For me, part of this situation that I find myself in this year largely seems like a continuation of the past few years for me, although only on a personal scale. Like I mentioned earlier, I had to cancel my plans (milestone birthday, birthdays, visits to see family) or postpone them. I expected to "work hard, play hard later". Though, the "play hard" has not yet come, and the last time that I really felt really content was in 2013. When I think about it, I really could not have done anything differently, though. I was messed around, and that had consequences. Then, the right permanent job came along at the right time. Unfortunately, this "right time" was the time when "something" happened in China in 2019 to cause a global-scale pandemic.

We celebrated hope with rainbows...but it also is Pride

In keeping in line with the previous years, I thought that I would take a look back at this year 2020, although writing this has been far less than enjoyable than in previous years. This is certainly one year that I am glad to see the back of, and I just hope that 2021 is a much better year overall, although unfortunately I do not see any positive changes for several months. I am hoping for things to feel a little safer and "better" by the end of summer, 2021. If it happens sooner, then even better. I guess we just have to be patient a little while longer. It's not even the end of 2020 yet, and I am so frustrated about it.

January: The year started with my final month of contracting, which included finishing up and handing over my busy workload. During the cold January, I found myself at South Bank on my final busy day, walking around in the cold and gloomy weather in my least favourite month. I got to explore this area a little more during the past few months, but I was not based at South Bank that often as I was working on site at Sunbury-on-Thames or from home. The first time that I got out this year (in mid-January) was to enjoy afternoon tea with my friends at Rhinefield House in the New Forest, although I had to drive myself and my back was in terrible pain because I slept twisted. It took a couple of days for my back to recover, so I struggled through and left early.

Scones at Rhinefield House

Once again, Canary Wharf's Winter Lights appeared for 2020, filling the gloomy January days with some bright lights. It was bigger and better this year with a lot of larger, interactive artworks. The crowds were also out in full numbers this time, and it gets larger every year. The event has become a popular one now due to the interactive nature of the artworks and social media. There were even more street food options on the route as well. Unfortunately, the one or two-week event will not run in 2021 for the obvious reasons, but there will be artworks on display over a couple of months that will also enable visitors to come and view the objects from a distance and to avoid crowding. It won't be the same, but it is something I am really looking forward to next month.

Canary Wharf Winter Lights 2020

The end of the month brought a wonderful orange sky on my visit to Bournemouth (Lunch at Bournemouth's Urban Garden) to see family. We enjoyed a lovely meal out at Urban Gardens restaurant near the Lower Gardens in the centre of Bournemouth, and the food was amazing. After eating, we had a walk with my two-year-old nephew around the beach, and a beautiful sunset filled the sky.

Bournemouth January sunset

The 31st was a Friday this year; it was my last day contracting, and it was also the day that we found out that Brexit was going ahead and when it would happen. I began mentally planning the places that I was going to visit in Europe before the end of the year and after I passed my new job three-month probation, so I was expecting a holiday in the middle of May, and Berlin was my first choice destination. I couldn't afford to book before-hand because of the costly home renovations. (At the time of publishing this post, the majority of the work has just recently been completed.)

London is Open tube sign

February: The first day of my new job was on the 3rd of the month since the 1st fell on a Saturday. I spent this month settling into my new job. I was enjoying the walking in my morning commute from Holborn through Covent Garden to the Strand. I love this part of London, and I had the chance to explore it a little more and enjoy my lunch walks and trying new places. One of the lunch highlights was the cheesey pizza from Pizza Pilgrim's and The Cheese Bar. I was really looking forward to enjoying this area in the different seasons, especially at Christmas. I have fond memories of my little morning treks to the office.

Pizza Pilgrims and The Cheese Bar extra-cheesey pizza

Near the beginning of the month, I visited my friends at Kingston Lacey for a snowdrops walk. The snowdrops here are beautiful with so many different varieties, and I did not realise there are so many different varieties of snowdrop. We got lucky with the weather as our planned visit coincided with sunny weather. We enjoyed a pub lunch before our snowdrops walk. I had a great time and took so many photographs, and I thought that some of the photographs I took turned out really good. I hope I didn't drive my friends crazy by taking so many photographs.

Snowdrops at Kingston Lacey

Valentine's Day was a low-key event this year. I actually did not see it advertised a lot, and companies seemed to be late to market it for some reason. Anyway, I enjoyed the giant cookie cake from Blondies Kitchen, and you can see more decorations in London here: Valentine's Day 2020 in London.

Blondies cookie cake, based in Selfridges

The end of February brought Pancake Day, and I was happy to find that there are a few pancake lunch options at Covent Garden. Since I was working this year, I did not attend a Pancake Day Race like I have done in previous years, although the best Pancake Race, located off Brick Lane, does not seem to happen anymore. Instead, I got to induldge on pancakes. This time, I opted for Pancs in Covent Garden, and I tried their special Oreo pancake. It was very filling and sweet. I sat outside on the table in the courtyard of the market and listened to the singers and bands that perform daily here. It's always a great atmosphere here. 

Pancake Day at Pancs

My pancake visit was also the first time that the coronavirus was being mentioned a lot in the news, so I remember being extra careful to sanitise my hands and not touch my face. I always carry hand sanitizer with me and use it before I eat if I am unable to wash my hands, but I was extra cautious at around this time. Of course, there were not any restrictions yet, so everyone was just living their lives normally besides the extra caution. I don't think anyone would believe how quickly things would change.

March: March was the month that life completely changed. Before the change, however, I spent the first day of the month at the Desire Jewellery & Silversmithing Fair in Chelsea Hall, and I loved looking at the beautiful creations and colourful gemstones. The coronavirus was still in my mind, and everyone was being careful, but we were not frightened. We just went about our lives.

Desire Silversmithing in Chelsea

One exhibition that I had been wanting to visit for a few months was Troy: Myth and Reality at the British Museum. I enjoy this period of history and the story (although it is fiction, there are some elements of fact to the story as well), but I did not book the exhibit right away. The weekend dates kept selling out almost a month in advance, so visiting on a whim was not an option. As the exhibition was so popular, booking three or four weeks in advance still meant that the weekend dates had sold out, so the only time for me to visit was on its last day. The museum was popular that day, and the exhibiton was over-crowded. Coronavirus was in my mind with the large crowd and people coughing around me. The exhibition was interesting with information about the story and its influences in art and media from the past to the present day.

Frieze of the Trojan horse from the exhibition in the British Museum

In early March, I continued to enjoy my lunches and exploration of Covent Garden and Soho. I was excited to explore more and excited for the spring and summer to arrive when London comes alive. We'd had a particularly wet time throughout February and March, so I was looking forward to better weather. Two of my lunch highlights were Lunch at Curry House CoCo Ichibanya (Leicester Square, London) and Lunch at Shake Shack, Covent Garden. At the end of February, Leicester Square launched a sculpture trail with iconic film characters (Leicester Square's Iconic Film Characters Sculpture Trail: "Scenes in the Square"), so I spent one lunch looking for them in early March.

A delicious Coco Ichibanya chicken katsu

On the 16th of March, everything changed for me. On the end of that day, we were told to work from home due to the coronavirus. This led to the start of my 100-day confinement and the change to the world as we all know it. The official lockdown did not happen for about a week later, but I was already well into lockdown before it was then enforced. All plans for the year were then cancelled (or postponed and cancelled later) from here on out, although at the time, no one really knew how long things would take or that we would be continuing to deal with them today.

A rainbow during lockdown

April: The next three months (spring) really is going to be boring to read. I continued working from home, which was basically a continuation of my life from the past few years. Easter came and went without any interaction nor celebration. April had a pink super moon. People on my street stood outside to clap for the nurses, doctors and other staff that make up the NHS and key workers. Rainbows were used as a symbol for hope and for the NHS with banners and drawings hung in house windows. City centres and roads were empty. Shops, pubs, and restaurants closed. Even McDonalds closed for a few months. The weather was wet for the start of lockdown, but we also had some very nice sunny days. I saw beautiful rainbows. The whole world seemed to look to the skies and also to nature with the lack of pollution and road traffic. There was an anxious and eerie feeling. I continued to work through it. Many could not work and were either furloughed or became unemployed.

April's Pink Moon

We were blessed with some amazing weather, and I had afternoon tea delivered to me on one of these hot spring weekends. The afternoon tea was from a local Ruislip company called Honey Bee Cakes, which delivered through one of the delivery companies. I spent a lot of time in the warm sun in the garden listening to jazz or swing music, sipping drinks, and reading magazines. I spent hours talking to friends and family on the phone. I spent some time trying to get the house and garden in order, although the builders did not finish everything, so it was tricky. I was able to read my backlog of magazines, though.

Afternoon tea in my garden

May: In early May, we had a long Bank Holiday weekend for the 75th anniversary of VE Day, and many events were due to take place. Due to coronavirus, these were all cancelled. Instead, some streets had street parties, including my street. The road that I live on also hosted a party on VE Day seventy-five years ago, and one neighbour printed photographs and made a banner about it. I sat outside in my front garden, listened to the VE Day special, and had afternoon tea. After the tea, I had socially-distanced discussions with neighbours on my street. We had a sense of community. It isn't the weekend any of us had planned, but we still celebrated safely.

VE Day street party, socially-distanced of course

Over the course of the lockdown, I ordered some home-delivery treats to keep me going and to obtain some sanity. I'll note a few of my favourite ones: Popadoodledoo, Dollies Cookies, The Botanical Baker, Me You Meringue, The Cookie Mail, and Jo's Cake Co. Anyone who knows me knows that I have always had a real weakness for cookies, and cookies seems to be a popular lockdown treat.

Popadoodledoo skeep cake pops

In late May, protests also started to happen for Black Lives Matter, and this became a hot topic across the globe, especially for the next few weeks. This led the way to many discussions and changes. 

'Racism is a Virus' mural by Zabou, photographed during the summer after the lockdown

June: June is my birthday month, but we were still in full lockdown then. I had a lockdown birthday and ordered the smallest cake I could order from a local baker. Due to my lockdown birthday, I have postponed birthday plans for a proper celebration once it is safe to do so. I shall be deferring this year's birthday to another day next year (hopefully, although I will probably have to defer next year's too). The queen does it. She has two birthdays a year. I shall be doing the same to make up for birthdays I could not celebrate! It is only fair.

Lockdown birthday cake

In late June, I also celebrated one hundred days of lockdown during which I did not leave the home (or block as I did technically leave once on VE Day for a walk around the block). On the 100th day, the weather was gorgeous, so visited Whipsnade Tree Cathedral, and it felt very strange to see the world outside of my home again. It was also a frightening experience to be outdoors again and to see other people. I am sure that many other people are struggling with coping too. The day after also a lovely day, so I went to Coombe Hill in the Chilterns in Buckinghamshire after work for a walk and some much-needed exercise.

Coombe Hill in Buckinghamshire

Also at the end of the month, Merlin the cat decided to eat part of a dried lily. The lily came in a birthday flower bouquet. Merlin had to stay overnight at the vet's, and he cost me a lot of money. Merlin costs a lot of money by getting into things that my other cat (Lancelot) does not. Merlin needs to be pet-shamed.

July: By the middle of the month of July, some places were gradually reopening across the country. I took the advantage to book a long weekend away in Northumberland in the middle of the month and another long weekend away to Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire at the end of the month. I also spent a lot of time out on walks, making up for the lost time spent stuck at home and indoors for nearly four months. When I was not working, I spent the month "making up for lost time".

Claremont Landscape Gardens

I am a member of the National Trust, so I started to explore National Trust properties again, such as Claremont Landscape Gardens. I am disappointed that the houses have been shut since the middle of March. A few buildings and houses did partially reopen at the end of summer for a month or two, but none of them were fully open, and most of the National Trust buildings remain closed during the autumn and winter months anyway. The gardens and parks on some of the properties were open so that people could get out. I personally enjoy the houses and buildings more, but I made the most of my membership. One of the highlights for me was my visit to Sheffield Park & Garden. It was one of the first properties that I visited after the lockdown, and it offers beautiful walks around ponds. The ducks enjoyed my company as well, and there were many ducklings and ducks looking to be fed. I ate a scone at one of the benches on the side of a pond, and they came up to me to beg for crumbs.

Sheffield Park Gardens

Another highlight was Nymans Gardens, although I did not stay long because it was an afternoon visit, and it was just a little bit too busy for me to feel comfortable around people. The house was closed, but the gardens and park could explored. The gardens here are beautiful, so I am looking forward to visiting it another year when it is kept up to its best. Many of the gardens were shut down and neglected during the lockdown, so they are not at their best this year. Also, I missed all of the spring colour this year due to the properties being closed all spring.

Nymans Gardens

In the middle of the month, I visited Northumberland for a long weekend. Hadrian's Wall has been on my list of places to visit in England, and I felt that it was a safe visit since the ruins can be enjoyed outdoors. Most museums, historical sites, and castles had not yet re-opened from the lockdown, so this was a tour to see as much of the wall as I could while getting some exercise and trying to increase my fitness levels from the 3.5 months where I did not leave home. It was hard work in places. I did see some amazing and beautiful places and learned a lot about Roman history in Britain. I visited so many great places (read about them here: Hadrian's Wall), and I also walked a couple of small sections of the wall. Milecastle 39 to Sycamore Gap is an amazing walk, and Walltown Crags also offers some expansive views of the wall.

Walltown Crags views of Hadrian's Wall

Another breath-taking place that I visited in Northumberland was National Trust's Wallington Gardens. Like all of the other National Trust properties, the house and buildings were closed, but we could walk around the grounds and walled garden. The walled garden is a must-see, and it's a huge place to explore. Even though the staff were not gardening and maintaining to the full levels over the lockdown, I could see that this is a beautiful garden, and do hope to return some day.

Wallington

At the end of July, I visited the Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire area. By then, even more attrractions were open. I primarily visited this area because it is an area that is not too touristy and not full of people who may be passing viruses around. I was able to visit a couple of National Trust properties, such as Kedleston Hall and Gunby Estate, to have a walk around the park and gardens. Kedleston Hall has expansive park land with wildflower meadows, and Gunby Estate has beautiful gardens filled with butterflies. I would love to visit the houses in both properties, but I have to wait for that.

Kedleston wildflowers

The weather during this final week in July was hot and sunny, and one highlight for me was a fleeting visit to Skegness to see the beach. I enjoyed an ice-cold slushie on the beach and visited Skegness Model Village. I did not stay for long as there were small groups of people in some areas, and I did not want the risk. I would love to return to this area again once it is safe to do so.

Skegness Model Village

Other highlights on this visit included the ruins of two monastaries: Roche Abbey and Monk Bretton Priory. Roche Abbey was located down a long cobbled road that winded down into a valley, and Monk Bretton was located inside the subburbs of the city of Barnsley. Both set of ruins were interesting to walk around, even in the scorching weather. I had Monk Bretton to myself; it is free to visit but both are maintained by English Heritage.

Monk Bretton Priory

August: After an eventful July, August became just as eventful. For the first time since mid-March, I ventured back into London at the beginning of the month. The streets were quiet, but the nice weather had brought some people out. Going into London the first time on the tube was daunting, and subsequent visits have been equally daunting. My first visit was to Covent Garden, which I felt may be quieter and a good re-introduction to London. I did not have any problems on this visit. Covent Garden had some artwork, including a rainbow and a large-scale print "Love, Hope, Joy" by Anthony Burrill.

Love, Hope & Joy in Covent Garden

I also visited London in the middle of the month to see street art in Camden and then to visit Mercato Mayfair for lunch. Mercato Mayfair was on my list of places that I planned to visit in March, but I did not get to visit due to the lockdown. This beautiful church between Marble Arch and Bond Street contains a variety of street food sellers, and visitors can enjoy their food inside the church or on the rooftop terrace. I was able to enjoy lunch here on a Friday, and I virtually had the place to myself. I will return to try additional street food, but the pizza hit the spot on the day that I visited. (When doesn't pizza hit the spot?!) 

Pizza love at Mercato Mayfair

At the end of the month, re-visited Northumberland, but the purpose of my trip this time was primarily to see the castles and ruins that were not open during my mid-July visit but that had since re-opened. I saw so many amazing castles and ruins, and two of my highlights included the large Warkworth Castle, which has tunnels and a large keep to explore, and the fortified English-Scottish border house of Aydon Castle. Both are very different examples of castle in Northumberland.

Warkworth Castle

On one particularly windy day, I spent part of the morning exploring Tynemouth Castle and Priory. The views were amazing, but it was so windy that the visibility was not great. Not all of the buildings were open, but there is a mixture of an old monastary ruins and a battery from the second World War. Although I did not explore it this time, the village of Tynemouth looks lovely too with a street of independent shops and pubs that lead up to the castle, and I do hope to return once it is safe to do so. Hopefully, the weather will be nicer when I do return. 

Tynemouth Castle & Priory

The highlight of the August Northumberland visit for me was Dunstanburgh Castle. This is an amazing castle, which is really just a long wall with a keep and impressive views. There is a walk to the castle from the nearest village, and the walk is along the coast with views over the sea and of the castle. The weather that day was perfect for it as well; it was not too hot and not too cold, and the sun was bright.

Dunstanburgh Castle

Another English-Scottish border castle visited on this trip was Norham Castle, which is considered to be one of the original Victorian "romantic ruins", which were fashionable ruins to visit in Victorian times. This castle inspired many paintings and poems as a result of its status in those times. The castle did have a fair number of visitors when I visited it toward the end of the afternoon. The weather was perfect during the visit.

Norham Castle

September: September was another busy month of making up for lost time, and the middle of the month was the highlight for me because I had a long weekend in Exmoor. I have never been to Exmoor before, so this was a "taster" trip to explore the area. It is an area that I certainly will be returning to. Although the trip was for a long weekend only, I was able to enjoy an evening wander around Ilfracombe after eating fish and chips. I do wish to return for boat rides and other attractions that are currently shut due to coronavirus.

Ilfracombe harbour

During my visit to the area, I revisited Tintagel Castle for the first time after my very first visit fifteen years ago. The castle is now more accessible with a bridge so that visitors do not have to walk up the steep steps to visit. The views are impressive, and this castle has always been one of the best castles to explore in England. After Tintagel Castle, I visited Boscastle in Cornwall. Many of the attractions were shut here, so I do hope to return to Boscastle. I did climb the hill for amazing views, and I'd love to walk to the waterfall at some point. I had amazing weather for it; it was sunny and not too warm.

Tintagel Castle

One of the highlights for me was a quick walk in the Valley of Rocks in Exmoor. This coastal path has amazing views and a tearoom a short walk away. I plan to return here one day and walk to the village to visit the attractions there. Many attractions continued to be shut during my visit, and I would not have had enough time for them on this visit anyway.

Valley of Rocks in Exmoor

Additionally, Dunster Castle and the iconic and infamous Tarr Steps were also nice places that I visited in Exmoor. Dunster Castle was partially open for visits, and it is a fascinating place that I hope to return to when it is safe to do so; it also has a lovely village and mill. Tarr Steps is an ancient stone bridge that visitors can walk across, and I ended up on a long woodland riverside walk here as there was a one-way system in place due to the pandemic.

Tarr Steps in Exmoor

Another highlight of September was a visit into London to enjoy afternoon tea at Fait Maison. This was my farewell to summer. I love the beautiful decor at Fait Maison, and the bright and sunny day made my visit even more special. I find that September's weather is often nicer than August's, so sitting outside was not a problem.

Fait Maison afternoon tea

I did also enjoy a couple of National Trust properties in September, and Standen House was the most memorable; I visited at the end of September as the leaves were starting to transform for autumn. Standen House was one of the first National Trust buildings to partially-reopen as they started to slowly reopen some from mid-August. The whole house was not open, but visitors could explore a few of the rooms. The Arts & Crafts house is worth a visit in the future, once it is fully open of course. 

Standen House

October: At the beginning of October, I visited Chiltern Valley Winery for a wine, beer, and liquor tasting and tour. I took half the day off work and went to Basildon Park earlier in the day to enjoy a visit to the part of the house that was open and to walk around the grounds. After Basildon Park, I had a meal at Henley-on-Thames before the winery tour. We learned about Chiltern Valley Winery's history before walking into the vineyard where the grapes had been harvested that morning. We saw the bottling process and the beer-making process. It was an enjoyable day out.

Wine tasing and tour at Chiltern Valley Winery

London hosted two sculpture trails in October: Frieze Sculpture in Regent's Park and Mayfair Sculpture Trail. I visited both of them at the beginning of the month. Frieze Sculpture in Regent's Park normally takes place between July and October, but I am happy to announce that they still managed to host it for a couple of weeks in October. I saw a few people visiting the sculptures. The Mayfair Sculpture Trail is new for this year and was hosted with a special gallery weekend as well as a month-long sculpture trail that visitors could navigate. Some of the sculptures were placed for the trail, but others are permanent. The creative fields are suffering at the moment, so I am glad that both events went ahead as we all need the arts.

Frieze Sculpture Trail

For the first time since early February, I caught up with friends for a meal and had a walk around Mottisfont Abbey. This was the first time that I've had any face-to-face human contact with anyone I know outside the house (excluding neighbours). This was my first walk around the estate and grounds at Mottisfont Abbey, and it was a pleasant walk along the water.

Mottisfont Abbey

The autumn colours looked gorgeous this year, and I got to escape the house a couple of times in order to enjoy them. I visited Sheffield Park Garden and Winkworth Arboretum. Unfortunately, the sun did not shine during either of my visits to see autumn colour this year, but I thought that both Sheffield Park Garden and Winkworth Arboretum are great places to visit in the autumn. Maybe I will be luckier next year with the weather. All of the sunny days, and we did have a few, were during the weekdays when I was working.

Sheffield Park in the autumn

At the end of October, I visited east London to see new street art. At the end of my walk, I visited Spitalfields Market and Humble Crumble, which were selling their tasty crumble in a miniature pumpkin/gourd. As well as being delicious, the crumble was also cute and seasonal. I also spent a lot of time throughout the month of October helping organise a community fund-raiser and Halloween trail. Part of this fund-raiser ended up being due to a terrible tragedy involving a little girl that took place in the community toward the end of the month.

Humble Crumble pumpkin crumble

November: On the first day of the month, I met up with the friends that I saw at the end of October for Halloween afternoon tea at Waddesdon Manor. This was the first time that I have been to Waddesdon Manor for afternoon tea. The food was delicious, and the service was also very attentive; I could not fault it at all, and I loved the Halloween-themed desserts.

Waddesdon Halloween afternoon tea

Unfortunately, the country went into a lockdown again on the fifth of November, cancelling my plans for the month, which included Thanksgiving and a light trail at Stourhead. I prefer Thanksgiving to Christmas, so locking down for "people to have a normal Christmas" is controversial because many others do not (or will not, due to the virus) celebrate Christmas. Even if I did have my family near, I do not think it would be a good idea to meet up with them anyway, so locking down in November means others have to suffer at that expense. (I would have preferred that businesses stay open with social distancing and mask-wearing instead of the message to get numbers to fall for some less strict measures at Christmas, which is sure to end badly.)

On the day before this second lockdown, the country had sunny and fairly warm weather, so I took a half day off at short notice to explore Donnington Castle and Ludgershall Castle and just escape the house. I had previously visited Ludgershall Castle in the summer, so I was surprised to see how different it was in the autumn.

Donnington Castle

Bonfire Night (November 5) was the day that the lockdown took effect. Those who wanted to celebrate had to have lockdown bonfire night fireworks. I enjoy a good fireworks display, so I had to settle with a bottle of Prosecco in the loft while looking out the window to watch garden displays. I saw several fireworks from a distance but nothing remarkable. (Of course, Diwali happened a week later, so there were some fireworks for that too.) I love this time of the year with Halloween and fireworks. I know some people do not like it.

Lockdown fireworks for Guy Fawkes and Diwali

On that first weekend of the lockdown, I went to a local park known as Northala Fields. It is located in West London in Northolt, and on a clear day, visitors can see all the way to Canary Wharf. It was still a bit foggy when I visited, but the fog was clearing into a clear day. It's actually a really nice place with four constructed mounds that can be climbed, fishing ponds, a cafe, and a playground.

Northala Fields

Due to the lockdown, I did not get to celebrate Thanksgiving Day and weekend as I had planned, so I had a lockdown Thanksgiving. I had to cancel or reschedule my plans for those few days. I did find a hotel that prepare Thanksgiving Day meals that you could take home to cook from home. Unfortunately, that ended up being an extremely stressful experience and my main oven not working. (It's a long story, but I've been waiting for the electrician to fix my oven since the beginning of the first lockdown.) A few people on the street suggested a socially-distanced chat and drink on the street in front of the houses in honour of the lockdown Thanksgiving, and some mean person reported it as a rave. It was literally about eight of us socially-distanced into two groups in conversation for about an hour until the police came in a large van expecting a rave, but they left again because we were not doing anything wrong.

Lockdown Thanksgiving

December: On the 4th of December, the second lockdown ended. I took a trip into London on the Friday of that week to see the Christmas lights and decorations (Where to see London's Christmas Lights and Decorations in 2020). I enjoy seeing London's decorations every year. It was obviously a low-key affair this year. Some had not decorated at all, and others were late to decorate. In addition to London's decorations, I also spent some time walking around my local area to see the Christmas lights and map out trails. Unfortunately, due to the November lockdown, the first visit to London was particularly busy, which was a result of the November lockdown.

Christmas lights in London

Due to my booking for the Stourhead light trail being cancelled in November, I had to rebook it for the middle of December; I did not have many options of availability for the re-booking. Stourhead's light trail was definitely the highlight of December for me.

Stourhead light trail

Unfortunately, later in the same week that I went to Stourhead, new restrictions were placed on the area that I live in and then tightened a couple of days after that, so all other plans were cancelled. I did not have Christmas plans involving other people, but I did have other plans involving countryside walks and another light trail that were cancelled. The short-notice cancellation and changes for areas meant that those affected were placed in danger with mass exodus and supermarket chaos. If I have gotten the virus, it will be due to that lack of government response. I felt safer on the tube and in restaurants than I have on that visit to the supermarket.

My Christmas was a quiet one. Now, the virus is spreading again, so there are more restrictions. The government has been slow to react and has failed in the timely measures. The vaccines have been approved and started with the elderly and NHS staff, so these are being rolled out. I just hope that the government does not mess them up. After previous issues with the "track and trace", testing, and other communications, I do not have much faith in the government. However, I am trying to remain positive and hope that they do succeed this time.

Regent Street Thanks

I think that most people will be looking forward to this year ending with better hopes for 2021. I do not see changes happening right away, though, and I am thinking that the best case scenario to "normality" being by the end of next summer.

In short conslusion, I had put things in place for 2020 to be an amazing year to finally get the stability and travel and take better care of myself. Unfortunately, none of those could be achieved this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. I've been beating myself up a bit about the past few years, although there is nothing I can do about that now except to try to be patient and wait for the "normality" and threat to go away.

Due to 2020 being an all-around poop year, I will just have to wait for change in 2021. My new goals are to take better care of myself and not work myself to death, plan days to look forward to, and travel (once it is safe to do so). I will probably not travel abroad next year, even if it is safe. I do not have any hopes for immediate change, so I will just have to see what happens. Until then, I have to do what I have done the past few years and live one day at a time. I would love to get to the place again where I could plan things to look forward to, but it's not safe yet until the vaccine programme is rolled out further...and then we still do not know if we will need a vaccine each season (if our body's immunity wears off of the virus changes considerably). Anyway, all I can do is live one day at a time and think about what I want to do when it is safe again. Once these things are in place, I can defer my goals of travel and stability. Happy New Year! Here's to a much better one for us all!