I realised today that I have had this blog for over ten years.
When I started it, I just wanted to get a place to put down my thoughts and ideas. It was the time when social media was at it’s very beginning. I used to use different platforms but over the past decade have become a huge fan of good old-fashioned WordPress.
Right now, it’s become the central hub for my poetry but with Podcasts being added and more social media it is now more of a central place for my thoughts. One thing I am definitely aiming to do is write more posts that are not just focused on poetry (there are links in the menu for that)
Today I wanted to not do a podcast but write more about the situation we are in in November 2020 with Covid-19. There is no way none of us could have predicted the year would have turned out like this.
Living in Sweden the situation here has been as normal as it could be. Of course, we have seen some changes in the way we live. We’re not in the office as much as we used to be, public transport has been somewhat empty and certainly, like most, we have had huge travel restrictions in place. Many more countries have certainly had tougher times and measures in place. But it’s the travel for me that I think has been the hardest thing of all.
In the ten years that I have lived in Sweden I think there was only one year where I didn’t go back to the UK, 2011. That year I really did not mind nor miss the UK as I was at the beginning of a rather wonderful adventure in a new land. That year brought new experiences, a new land, a new life.
I will the first to admit that as the years have progressed the trips back home have become more and more worth looking forwards. Friends and family are not getting any older. There are more funeral than weddings these days and no Hugh Grant in site.
My wife and I normally plan an annual trip in Summer for two weeks to both Spain and the UK so we can take advantage of the weather and to of course see the family who are no longer getting younger.
This year we have already had our travel plans massively affected. Did not get to see a close friend in Italy this year and our usual internal trips in Sweden for football cancelled by there being no crowd allowed at games. As I type Spain are looking at a lockdown. The UK seems to be in a yo-yo state of decision making and that is something you cannot plan for.
I have no qualms nor issues about spending Christmas in Sweden. It’s a lovely country to have Christmas in with very unique traditions and experiences. But the thought of not seeing family and friends for maybe another year is a hard one to swallow. Regardless of what we do and where we go family and friends will always be in our minds and thoughts this year.
It’ been just the strangest year ever.
