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So 2021 is on its way out and can we say we are sorry about that ? Not sure we can really, as it has been a rum old year what with Covid and all the mess that has caused. Can we hope for a better year in 2022 ? Not sure it could be worse, frankly. But all the same, it is a yearly exercise of mine to look back over the past year and forward to the next, trying to find the positives along the way. So here we go :

In 2021 I took the time out from life that I needed to focus on my health. When it comes, you don’t always have a choice and you just have to go with it, which I did, but I am glad I did as the time out was a gift. And when something is taken away from you, as my job was during this period, you come to really appreciate it when you are finally able to get back to it. So in 2021 I rediscovered the absolute joy that is this dream job of mine. Lucky lucky me.

In 2021 I took the time to learn to cook more. And I discovered that I am not half a bad cook when I give myself the time to do it properly. Learning to make a decent nut roast has been a joy and something I had wanted to do for years.

With being ill and fragile, as cancer tends to make you, I really came to appreciate the warmth of my family all around me. This was made even clearer by the impossibility of being able to go back to England due to Covid restrictions. So my French family picked me up in a huge warm snuggly blanket of love and protection. For this I will be eternally grateful.

And talking of French family, I finally became French myself after all this time !! Félicitations à moi !! I didn’t like the look of the post-Brexit world for a Brit like me in France and so did the deed. I was more chuffed than I ever would have imagined when it all finally came through.

In August I went for a swim at our local pool and (re)discovered the absolute joy of swimming. I now swim regularly two or three times a week and it keeps my aches and pains at bay. I can’t say I am a great swimmer but I truly enjoy it and can’t wait for the pool to re-open after Xmas to get back in the water.

Now for plans for 2022

First and foremost, keep swimming !!

Continue enjoying my fabulous job and working with some amazing people. My student-trainees, my team of tutors, my colleagues – there are so many people that are involved in the process of training a teacher and I feel very lucky to be a bit of a central person, bringing all the pieces of the puzzle together.

A new project on the boil where I have been asked to edit a language teaching book for French learners of English. Very proud moment. Lots of work ahead, I think, but looking forward to the challenge.

Hoping to get back to the UK before too long. I had to abandon Christmas plans. Maybe February ?

And above all, keep well and try to continue to dodge Omicron or Delta or whatever new variants are coming our way.

Stay safe everyone and hope to see you in the New Year.