Wednesday

 I found these questions (and her answers) on Eileen's blog and asked if I could use them.

1.  Despite the weirdness of this past year, was it still a good year for you anyway or not? 
Yes and no.  I live alone anyway and have done for decades so I'm totally accustomed to it and, as a result, haven't had to cope with  the stresses of over much levels of contact with the same people because of Lockdown.
I wasn't able to take two of the three holidays I had planned.  One was deferred although the way things are going, I am starting to wonder about May 2021 now.  The other one resulted in a complete refund so no complaints.
The one I did manage was a week in a Warner's hotel.  It was nice to get away but wearing masks inside the hotel was, frankly, weird and quite a lot of the activities were curtailed.  Still - I got a holiday and that's more than many so I was lucky there.
I spent most of the year with dental issues which wasn't so nice but, as it wasn't painful very much, I bided my time and the year has finished with all but one of the issues resolved which feels very good indeed.
I think the worst thing has been the curtailment of contact with family and good friends.  I miss the hugs.  However, the knowledge that, as far as I know, everyone is virus free and being very, very careful is cheering and thank goodness for Zoom and others that enable face to face chats.  I've stayed in touch with friends, family and groups and that's been a treasure.
As I'm retired, there have been no work pressures, no worries about salary, no stresses about having to travel to work and expose myself to possible infection.
I've had time to knit, sew, generally create, read, exercise, watch TV, get much of the house reorganised, get to my weight target, and plenty of other stuff.
I've been very lucky and, yes, it has been a good year.  Different, and with plenty of stress and worry, but good, all the same.

2. How will you spend New Years Eve?
Beth and Alex are coming round early afternoon to play games (Scrabble, Yahtzee . . .) and we will have a buffet at around four.  It won't turn into a party of any sort, they will be off and I will be in bed pretty early.   No seeing the New Year in here.  Fireworks?  Well, there may be but I won't hear them!

3. What do you do on New Year's Day? Is football part of the agenda? 
Not a chance!  To be honest, New Year's Day is a day like any other.  It's a Bank Holiday but, as I had always taught, school was closed anyway.
This year, I will tidy up the kitchen which is bound to have been left in a mess and then I need to get down to some serious planning.

4. It's a Scottish tradition to kiss at midnight.  Do you keep that tradition? Does everyone get a kiss if you do? 
Not this year!  Beth and Alex, being my support bubble buddies, will probably get a hug when they leave.
As I'm well into the land of Nod by the time midnight strikes, it's never been a tradition.
My ex/late was Scottish by birth and we sometimes went to his parents' for New Year.  Now that was totally different and, to be honest, it wasn't my thing and really put me off.  Just too noisy, boozy and extrovert and I just wanted to snuggle up in bed and go to sleep.

Thanks, Eileen, for letting me use these questions.