It is with a sense of pleasant surprise that we realise it is almost Christmas again. The year, although strange, indeed, brought lots of positives and negatives.

Anton could work from home since March, and we spent much more time together during our 30th wedding anniversary year. What a blessing. We used the time given to us in this last year to reflect on times past; we reminisced on opportunities used and holidays taken before 2020 and was blessed to enjoy a UK staycation in Cornwall and Dorset. We took the longest walks in the royal parks of London. Early in the morning Anton cycled along the Thames and in Bushy Park.

We switched off the television and listened to online live concerts of Sonja Herholdt, Laurinda Hofmeyr, Ben Schoeman, Johan and Rachel de Cock, Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, etc., etc. We were tuned in to all the Facebook live concerts of Chris Else and especially his Sunday evening gospel worship sessions; he made such a huge difference to our lives in 2020.

We supported the places which stayed open during the lockdowns. One of our favourite restaurants for fish and chips and a stroll along the promenade is South Sea Beach Cafe in Portsmouth, only an hour away by car. Our local Farmer’s Market was brilliant, and we bought a lot of South African fresh produce this year. Limpopo Biltong in Twickenham opened a drive-through window for essential boerewors, biltong, etc. A South African-owned company, Mustard Foods, provided us with frozen restaurant-style meals delivered free at home. They have our lifelong support for staying open during these tough times.

We did miss our friends and family who are far away and realised once again how precious these relationships are – something to be treasured above all else.

And now it is almost time to slow down for a well-deserved rest, a time for planning out the next year when things might be normal again. We hope travel will soon be possible again for everyone. Even though times are still tough, many streets in the UK are decked out in decorations and lights, and everyone is trying to make the most of the available outdoor spaces for Christmas markets, shopping and eating. We will attend the Christmas carol service at Hampton Court Palace on 20 December and hope to mingle outdoors with friends. For Christmas, we will go to the coast as always. Solace is to be found in nature and the great outdoors.

An important lesson we learned in 2020 is to make the best of each day, within the limits of the law and the means to do so. Every conversation with friends and family is extra special until we can see and hug them again.

Whatever the circumstances, there is always the hope of a better future, and we wish all a great Christmas and an excellent new year. Love already won. Go in peace, till we speak again.

Anton and Ronel van Zyl
London, UK
https://ronelvanzyl.blogspot.com