Another year

It has been another rollercoaster of a year for us. We had high hopes after the end of last year but honestly, we’re not feeling the same vibe as 2021 comes to an end. Although we’ve lowered our expectations, we’re still hopeful for a better new year. We also had many moments in the past year for which we are grateful.

The year started off strong. We were back to some normality as we travelled interstate to see family and friends, attended milestone celebrations and local festivals and were Covid-free in Canberra until sometime into the second half of the year. 

The children surprised us and tried a new activity at the start of the school year. They attended an acting class together which they enjoyed. Catherine continued for the second school term after that. She also initiated and ran a school lunch time loom band club for a term. She continued with drawing/art lessons for most of the year and learned to play some songs on the ukulele as well. For Nicholas, his highlights included finally getting his braces off, meeting Lego Masters at the local Lego Builders’ Group and surpassing his mum in height. Photography continues to be his creative outlet. 

Our Melbourne and Sunshine Coast holidays were our big highlights for the year. It was special to spend time with family in Melbourne and to go to Phillip Island together. With the growing concern at the time with the Delta variant, we were so relieved to be able to get away safely to the Sunshine Coast and spend a much-needed break from the cold Canberra winter. It wasn’t so bad being in a 3-day lockdown with the beach in our backyard. 

In August I returned to the office for 2 weeks before lockdown 2.0 in Canberra happened. We had to switch gears once again and adapt. For various reasons, it felt harder to cope the second time around. We spent 8 weeks at home. Comet was happy to be in the company of his humans, especially during the time he was recovering from surgery due to a nail injury. 

By the time November arrived the kids were back at school. Nicholas was fully vaccinated (as were Phil and me). Catherine was not and was unfortunately a close contact at school after 2 weeks of returning to campus. She had to quarantine for 2 weeks. Luckily her quarantine ended just in time for us to celebrate Thanksgiving with family. Despite the stressful period for the rest of us, Catherine was her happy-go-lucky self which was amazing to see. Nicholas and Catherine finished off a disrupted year 9 and year 5 well, respectively. Nicholas was able to go out with a group of friends to watch the movie, Dune and both kids had sleepovers with friends to celebrate the end of the school year. 

Phil and I remained working from home. Phil still had many online meetings to attend but was able to do some interstate work travel. The head of his centre resigned, and he became co-head last month. When both kids returned to school after lockdown, work also gave us a holiday and we went on a lovely date day to the galleries and had lunch out. Work has been the same for me. To mix things up, my team have met up every fortnight and tried new places to eat. Since the second lockdown we’ve had our groceries delivered and I’ve rediscovered the outdoor Southside Farmers Market which I’ve been enjoying going to. Also, just recently we had our first visitor since the pandemic started and it was nice to take our friend around Canberra and enjoy each other’s company. 

Finally, Christmas has come and gone. We were grateful to be able to spend time with family on the day. Many people in Canberra were not as fortunate as Covid cases are on the rise again and many are in quarantine. Phil and I had our booster shots with no issues, and we’ve booked Catherine for her vaccination in January. It will be a huge relief once we are all fully vaccinated. Bring on 2022!

2021 Stats

8 jigsaw puzzles

9 Covid tests

10 jabs

2 lockdowns

2 quarantines

7 trips (including work)

91+ movies/shows

11+ books

1 visitor

Best of 2021

Watch 

Movies 

The Mitchells vs The Machines, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things, Palm Springs, Nomadland, Cruella, Boss Level, Black Widow, Shang-Chi, Dune, Rams

Shows 

Only Murders in the Building, Taskmaster, LEGO Masters, Starstruck, Wanda Vision, Modern Love, James May: Our Man in Japan, Squid Game, Gravity Falls, Jack Whitehall: Travels with my Father, Sword Art Online, Attack On Titan, Loki, Hawkeye, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Magic for Human, A.P. Bio, The Chair

Listen 

erase me: Lizzy McAlpine ft. Jacob Collier; Missing Piece: Vance Joy; Aloo Gobi and All My Favorite Songs: Weezer; LEAVE ME: Peach Tree Rascals; Stromae: Santé; 💓: Coldplay; To the Island, Show Me The Way and Real Life Woman: Crowded House; Save Your Tears: The Weeknd; NDA: Billie Eilish; Six Words: Elbow

Read 

A Promised Land: Barack Obama, All Our Shimmering Skies: Trent Dalton, Broken: Jenny Lawson, The Place on Dalhousie: Melina Marchetta, Anxious People: Fredrik Backman

Eat 

Verity Lane Market, Ginseng @ Hellenic, White Chaco, Agostinis, Sushi Musa, Sushi Go, Salu-Salo, Papa J's Resto Bar

Play

Exploding Kittens, Qwirkle, Don't Get Got!

Buy

Snorlax hoodie, rowing machine

Go 

Featherstone Gardens, Cowra Japanese Garden, The Nobbies (Phillip Island), Peregian Beach, Thredbo, Pine Island Reserve

Make

Marmalade cake, cherry marscapone ice cream