Don't really know what to say.

Yeah, I could talk about Covid, because let's face, it has, and still does kind of dominate our lives.

It's caused major problems on every level, but on top of that we've had to deal with way, way, way too much crap. The word 'problems' doesn't even scratch the surface. We are simply fried.

So there you go, life and Covid analysis over.

Good stuff instead. Customers for the most part have been extraordinary in their understanding and compassion this year. There have been incredible moments of uplift, joy and laughter. 

Our 'camper van' has provided a source of escapism. Loads of spontaneous nights spent with other 'escapees' in the car park at Creech view car park. Reading, finding each other again, bacon and egg, sweet tea, just staring at the view in silence for hours. In the early morning heading to the beach for a skinny dip, roaring with laughter as the cold waves found their mark. Hah...yeah....that was fun. We even returned to a naturist camp site near Torquay in the summer. Enjoyed hair washing in the open air, kettle of hot water and a washing up bowl. Special, and personal, close, and funny.

We managed to get a couple of days away earlier to stay in a place with a big bath. We enjoyed room service for absolutely everything, Felt like rock stars. I read another chapter of Winnie The Pooh to Amanda. We went to Westonbirt Arboretum (where these photos were taken). We talked about serious stuff, we also laughed, held hands, kissed, walked in silence sometimes, lost in our own thoughts.....all good.

Met a man who owned a Lapis Lazuli mine in Afghanistan. Bought a beautiful heart from him. Turned out he also owns a guest house in Jodhpur, and we have an Indian holiday fund ready. Weird how life takes you in directions that you don't see coming, but seems like a kind of destiny eh?

On the way home drove madly through the narrow countryside lanes to see the Severn Bore. It was mad and hilarious. Ended up just blocking the road with our van, not caring, leaving it and running down the road hand in hand laughing to join the throng already there. We saw it. Another  first.

My beautiful motorbike has just sat outside all year. Getting wet, mouldy, and unable to start. Enough was enough. I need speed and my wild horse back. She's been in the motorbike shop for five weeks. So many things replaced that she's almost a new bike. I was nervous, and actually trembling when I got back on her. She started beautifully, rode like a dream. She recognised me, and gave me the ride of my life. We have a cork board at home, with a map of Europe and the entire Asian continent. We have a red line marked on it from Calais, through Europe, Russia, Mongolia. Have done for a few years. Going to make that happen.

We plan to spend two days and a night on Sennen Beach between Christmas and the New Year. Of course the van will be our home. But hot food cooked on the beach. Wetsuits, waves, hot sweet tea, and too many cakes (if that's possible?)

Yeah.....sod off crap Covid year. Next year might offer the same, or quite likely worse, but we have plans regardless. We WILL escape in whatever way we can. Big plans may have to wait, but they WON'T go away. I'm tired of spending a year working with one daughter that I can't hug, of having the same with my other daughter whenever we meet. I have friends that I can talk too, but can't hug. They can still hear and see me though. I AM STILL ALIVE!

I've come to my blog many, many times. Planning to write something. But there's just been too, too much been 'going on'. I end up reading some of the posts I follow. See if anyone still bothers to look at my blog. At this exact moment David Gray 'White Ladder' is playing. It always reminds me of Whitesands Bay in Pembrokeshire. Saw him there once. Listen to the album if you are able. Whitesands is our 'special place'. 

We now have three weeks off. We plan to sleep, walk, talk, laugh, eat, look, read, drink hot sweet tea. Get sea wind in our hair, walk in the forest, drive for miles with loud and crazy music playing.

All of you who see this.

Have a blessed and peaceful Christmas.

Look to the good stuff.

Be thankful for what you have.