Twenty Things That Sparked Joy In 2020

I don't have to tell you that it's been a funny old year, and not in the ha-ha sense. But there have been some rubies in the rubble, some pay amongst the dirt, some silver linings behind shitty grey clouds. Twenty times I was happy this year:



1. Pre-Covid trip to Majorca.
2. The first few weeks of working from home: I really enjoyed the lack of people, the lack of phones ringing, the being able to work in my dressing gown, the lunch breaks with Netflix. I've tired of it a bit now, but at first, the novelty was great.
3. Westfield during lockdown 1. The first time we went to Waitrose after only using the local Co-op, I was dazzled by all the food buying opportunities. When I was beckoned into Superdrug and there was nobody inside and I just walked the aisles, marvelling at the shampoos. When we went up to the top floor of the shopping centre and no-one was around.
4. When the first lockdown Ocado order arrived and a nine pack of loo roll was included. I hugged it, I was so happy.
5. The first time we went to the Olympic park in lockdown 1 and it was quiet, just a few people walking. One of the cafes was open so we could enjoy iced coffees on the first hot day of the year. This was at the time that you weren't even supposed to sit down and men in high viz jackets followed people around telling them to get up, so we had to walk and sip.



6. When we finally left London in early July and went to Hove and saw the sea. That was probably the most joyful moment of the year.



7. All of our exploring of the 'hood and further afield, particularly the Royal Docks (my new safe space), the Bow back waters, Wanstead flats, and the River Roding.
8. Visiting usually crowded places that were empty: Covent Garden without the market, Greenwich in the rain, St Paul's without the tourists, even Trafalgar Square was quiet.
9. My birthday, when we cycled to the Woodford bit of Epping forest to look at the Gypsy Stone, had a picnic, then back at home, Eurovision and takeaway from a restaurant, proving that you can have fun in reduced circumstances.
10. The first eat out to help out meal in August. We went to a chain place, The Real Greek, and sat outside. It felt like being on holiday. I can't pretend to have learned any great truths from lockdown but I have realised that rather than having a lot of things, it's better not to have something and then to have it. Deprivation, then the absence of that is better than abundance.
11. Meeting picnicking pals on Hackney Downs, or outside pubs before they opened again, with meetings anticipated by me, rather than stressing because I'm double booked, or too tired to go out.
12. The first post-walk drink outside of the Holly Tree - it was great just to be able to go for a stroll and end it a pub.



13. Short holiday in Ramsgate in September. Everything just felt...normal.



14. Our cat becoming our cat, officially. Her microchip says "Dave and Rachel".
15. Tao Gaeoghan Hart winning the Giro D'Italia.



16. Lunch out at the Gherkin and afternoon tea at the Ned.
17. Biden being elected. There was cheering outside, so I went online and the victory had been announced. The dread of the last few weeks lifted, the knowing for once that the bad guy had been defeated, that the sales of justice sometimes do tip our way. That people can do the sensible thing.
18. Putting the winter duvet on. I don't mean to get all twee and The Joy Of Small Things and hygge and all that stuff, but it felt so warm and cosy-wozy and secure under that heavy hot duvet. Never mind returning to the womb, I'd rather go back to bed.
19. Seeing Jeremy Corbyn in Finsbury Park and him giving me a little wave. I blushed like a Victorian maiden.
20. The vaccine. Obviously.