Traditionally at this time I look back at my achievements and engagement (or, more usually the lack of it) over the past year.

But how the hell does one assess anything for 2020? Coronavirus has killed just about any pretence at achieving anything one was thinking of this time last year. But let’s see exactly what the damage is.

At the beginning of the year I posted My 12 Things To Do in 2020. This is what happened.

1. Reduce my HbA1c to 50 or below.
   FAIL; although it has gone up from 52 to 53, my diabetic nurse is actually pleased as lockdown etc. has made many people’s blood glucose control very much worse.
2. Get involved with PCN and CCG PPGs.
   DONE for CCG; if not as much as I would have liked due to a lack of meetings.
   FAIL for PCN; our local GP network has been conspicuously not engaging with patients this year.
3. Have a monthly day out.
   FAIL; not a chance due to Covid-19.
4. Do something not done before.
   DONE as much as possible: just before lockdown I did get a haircut from the late Lady Thatcher’s hairdresser. (And that’s about as good as this year was ever going to get!)
5. Go somewhere not been before.
   FAIL; not a chance with Covid-19.
6. Spend at least 4 hours a month taking photographs.
   DONE; averaged over the year I actually did manage this although nothing exciting as it was all around home.
7. Family history: validate my mother’s work on Cullingworth/Coker line.
   FAIL; although I’ve done a reasonable amount of family history I’ve hardly touched my mother’s side.
8. Be drawn/painted/photographed nude (by someone not family).
   FAIL; again it was never going to happen during Covid-19.
9. Visit the Vagina Museum.
   FAIL; another which wasn’t going to happen, and which I’m now not sure is worth the effort.
10. Revisit Brightwell Baldwin & Berrick Salome.
    FAIL; and one more which Covid-19 scuppered.
11. Revisit Hardingstone, Geddington, Earl’s Barton.
    FAIL; and the same again.
12. Be nude whenever possible & comfortable (home & elsewhere).
    DONE; I have at least been able to achieve this due to sitting around at home with almost no visitors nor any reason to go out.

Well that’s 3½ achieved out of 12, which given that about 50% were never going to be achievable as this year turned out is probably not bad.

Looking at the year through the usual two dozen questions is an interesting mixed bag.

1. What did you do that you’d never done before?
   Had a haircut from the late Lady Thatcher’s hairdresser just before lockdown in March.
2. What would you like to have in 2021 that you lacked in 2020?
   Elimination of Covid-19 – or failing that pervasive vaccination.
   Plus, as always, health, wealth and wisdom; peace and tranquillity.
3. What dates from 2020 will remain etched upon your memory?
   Wednesday 11 March – see 1. above.
   Monday 21 December – death of my favourite aunt.
4. Did you suffer illness or injury?
   Luckily no, beyond the usual odd cold.
5. Did you gain or lose weight this year?
   I’m maybe very slightly lighter, but only very slightly.
6. What was the best thing you bought?
   My new camera, as my birthday present to me.
7. Compared with last year, are you richer or poorer?
   Surprisingly we are a little better off as we’ve been able to save a more money this year.
8. Where did most of your money go?
   Into other people’s pockets, although we did manage to save more.
9. What did you get really, really excited about?
   Nothing. I keep telling you I don’t do excitement.
10. Are you happier or sadder than you were a year ago?
    Sadder; the depression has been made worse by Covid-19 lockdown etc.
11. What do you wish you’d done more of?
    Given that one hasn’t been able to go jollying about I’ll say the same as last year: sitting in the sun in the garden.
12. What do you wish you’d done less of?
    Staring at a computer screen while trying to make myself overcome the depression, get out of my chair, and actually do something.
13. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
    Survival – that’s a major achievement for most people this year!
14. What was your biggest failure?
    Definitely the depression, which accounts for many of the other failures.
15. What was your favourite TV program?
    Yet again I’ve watched hardly any TV all year.
16. What was the best book you read?
    Katie Mack; The End of Everything: (Astrophysically Speaking)
17. What did you want and get?
    My new camera (see above).
18. What did you want and not get?
    Freedom from the restrictions of Covid-19 and Brexit, but failing that a big lottery win would have been good.
19. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
    Any one (or preferably all of): (a) cancellation of Brexit, (b) freedom from Covid-19, (c) that big lottery win.
20. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2020?
    Non-existent.
21. What kept you sane?
    How can anyone have remained sane this year?
22. Who did you miss?
    All those people I couldn’t see due to Covid-19.
23. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2020.
    Never underestimate the power of stupid people, nor the stupidity of powerful people.
24. A quote or song lyric that sums up your year.
    I’m at that awkward stage between birth and death.
25. Your hopes for 2021.
    The demise of Covid-19 and a return to something approaching normality.

There’s no overall score this year. How could one possibly evaluate a year like 2020?

But enough of me. How good wasn’t your 2020? And what are your hopes for 2021?

We’ve unplugged 2020,
and plugged in a brand new 2021 …

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.
May your 2021 be much better than 2020!

So we’re now at day 250 of Covid isolation, and things are going downhill.

Here are a few things that have happened since my last report on day 200.

So WTF happens next? Fates permitting another update on day 300.

Well I promised I would write again at day 200 of Covid isolation, and here we are. That’s over 6 months of house arrest and confinement to barracks.

Well not quite, as I have been out beyond the front gate twice in the last month: on both occasions to go to the dentist to get a broken tooth fixed. And what a surreal experience that was, with the dentist and nurses all bedecked in space-suit style PPE. It was all approached very professionally and efficiently: obviously they’re finding it hard but they’re managing and seem able to be their usual cheerful selves (at least outwardly to patients). It’s good too that I’ve had the same excellent dentist for around … I can’t remember but it must be at least 15 years and maybe more. So we know each other well; I might have been rather more worried if I’d had to encounter someone totally new.

Back in the real world we’re now undoubtedly seeing the second wave of Covid-19 infections. I find this no surprise at all: restrictions have been lifted; the unthinking section of the population thinks it’s all over and have gone back to drinking and socialising; they also all went on holiday to Spain for more drinking and shagging, and to bring back more infections; and now the schools have gone back. Who would have guessed this was going to produce a second spike? Clearly not our apology for a government, who couldn’t find their way out of a wet paper bag – I doubt they could even lie their way out of said wet paper bag, at least not without managing to break the law or piss off everyone as well.

But enough of my ranting. Here are a few things (good and not so good) that have happened since my last report on day 150.

So what next?

Well I reckon we’ll still be in lockdown at Christmas, by which time the flu season will be in full swing and everyone will be going stir-crazy and morose at the thought of a miserable Christmas. But before that I’ll try to report again on day 250, which will be mid-November and we’ll have a much better clue as to what is actually happening.

Meanwhile, be good and stay safe!