2020

I have been filling this in for so many years now and I do wonder if it’s time is nearing an end, after all, it is the only post on fifikins.com this year. It has been a challenging year for many, including me, but I have endured and 2021 is literally just around the corner. Oh well, here goes nothing…

1. What did you do in 2020 that you’d never done before?

Woke up in ICU intubated- basically a tube was shoved down my throat that was breathing for me. This was after almost 14 hours of spinal surgery.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I honestly cn’t remember. Not making any.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Colleagues and friends.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My lovely father-in-law, Tony, adorable colleague, Alison and several people who succumbed to complications arising from SARS-CoV2.

5. What countries/states did you visit?

None! Not even before lockdowns and too scared to travel interstate now. I will not be able to sit for 2 weeks in hotel isolation because of my back.

I did spend a week on the Sunshine Coast with my mother in February and it was lovely to catch up with Tess.

6. What would you like to have in 2021 that you lacked in 2020

Mobility, but with 13 fused vertebrae, this will probably be challenging. I am mobile in the sense I can walk (short distances still at present) but things like getting out of bed is really hard.

7. What dates from 2020 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Specific things happened on different days- return to work, deaths and further surgery.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Returning to work was huge, even though it was only for 3 days, 3 ours per day. I also completed my Grad Cert in Infection Prevention.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I still don’t think I believe in failures.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

You could say that!

11. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

The way MIML™ has cared for me post accident has been beautiful and has really shown us both how much we mean to each other and what an amazing team we are. (Same goes for this year!)

22. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

The usual suspects…

13. Where did most of your money go?

Bills

14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Being able to walk the length of The Esplanade without stopping. It seems a long way off again now.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:?

a) happier or sadder?
Happiness is a state of mind I’ve chosen for sometime now.

b)thinner or fatter?
I think I found some Coved kilos, but I am back to healthier eating patterns and hydrotherapy and physiotherapy as tolerated.

c) richer or poorer?
Compared to many I’ve been fortunate to have a guaranteed income through Workcover.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Cooking- it’s still hard, but I’m finding workarounds- preparing veggies early afternoon before a rest and the like.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Of all things- sleeping. Although I know my body needs it, I am still sleeping 10-12 hours/night.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

Just Crawford and I grazing on oysters and prawns. It was lovely!

19. What was your favourite TV program?

Just finished Bridgerton which I loved!

20. Did you make a friend with anyone that you didn’t know this time last year?

Probably

21. What was the best book you read?

I got multifocal and reading glasses this year so have been able to read more. The best book I read by far was Fourteen: My year of darkness and the light that followed, by the amazing Shannon Molloy.

22. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Hildegard von Blingin’ on YouTube!

23. What did you want and get?

A Grad Cert

24. What did you want and not get?

Not sure of this.

25. What was your favourite film of this year?

I saw Emma during my week on the Sunshine Coast and it’s still one of my favourite Austen’s!

26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 48. Ate cake and dined at C’est Bon!

27. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Covid Vaccine!

28. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2020?

PJs and pants free days on the recliner

29. What kept you sane?

MIML™ and mindfulness..

30. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I think the country fell for Victoria’s CHOttie!

31. What political issue stirred you the most?

Pandemic management

32. Who did you miss?

The kids- only saw Immy yesterday for the first time this year.

33. Who was the best new person you met?

A new psychologist has been helpful. I also did some psychometric testing which surprised me.

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2020.

It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen, probably…

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Monty Python

Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse
When you’re chewing on life’s gristle
Don’t grumble, give a whistle
And this’ll help things turn out for the best
And

Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the light side of life

If life seems jolly rotten
There’s something you’ve forgotten
And that’s to laugh and smile and dance and sing
When you’re feeling in the dumps
Don’t be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle, that’s the thing
And

Always look on the bright side of life
(Come on)
Always look on the right side of life

For life is quite absurd
And death’s the final word
You must always face the curtain with a bow
Forget about your sin
Give the audience a grin
Enjoy it, it’s your last chance anyhow

So always look on the bright side of death
A just before you draw your terminal breath

Life’s a piece of shit
When you look at it
Life’s a laugh and death’s a joke, it’s true
You’ll see it’s all a show
Keep ’em laughin’ as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you
And

Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the right side of life
(C’mon Brian, cheer up)
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the bright side of life

Always look on the bright side of life

I mean, what have you got to lose?
You know, you come from nothing
You’re going back to nothing
What have you lost? NothingAlways look on the right side of life

Nothing will come from nothing, ya know what they say
Cheer up ya old bugga c’mon give us a grin
(Always look on the right side of life)
There ya are, see
It’s the end of the film
Incidentally this record’s available in the foyer
(Always look on the right side of life)

Some of us got to live as well, you know
(Always look on the right side of life)
Who do you think pays for all this rubbish
(Always look on the right side of life)
They’re not gonna make their money back, you know
I told them, I said to him, Bernie, I said they’ll never make their money back
(Always look on the right side of life)