As the calendar year draws to a close I realise that I am excited to start a new one despite it being kind of meaningless. Things won’t change overnight but the idea of something new is always inspiring. Will this be the year that our lives cease to be dominated by Covid 19?  I have no idea, but like everyone, I hope so. As an exercise in “the glass half full” spirit I have decided to look back on the year and focus on the things that I was able to achieve in spite of the pandemic.

Starting way back in January, I managed to escape to the Pyrenees and revel in the isolation, and the majestic beauty of the mountains. On snowshoes instead of skis but hey, I wasn’t complaining (not too much anyway).

Isolation in the midst of nature in all her splendour is a blessing, compared with isolation in a city like we all experienced the year before, which was hideous.  Although, if I really want to look on the bright side of life, all the lockdowns made it possible to take unique photos of Toulouse with empty streets.

We finally made it to the lavender fields in Provence.

We made it to a few concerts, notably Zucchero at Carcassonne, and even a few indoor Jazz gigs in Toulouse.

We had a fantastic visit with my husband’s sister on the Côte d’Azur and saw one of his nephews get married near Toulouse. Love in the time of covid!

The highlight of the year for me was finally making it home to Vancouver to spend sometime with my family, after nearly two years. The simple pleasure of playing scrabble with the family and mum’s cooking are some of the things many of us have missed since the onset of the virus, and the consequent shutting down of the world. So boring for travellers and much worse for people who live and work abroad, simply disastrous for those of us who fall into both those categories. It has been hard on everyone I know. Children’s education has been horribly interrupted, people have lost their jobs and worst of all people have lost their lives. We don’t all agree on everything, to say the least, but there is more that unites us than divides us. I can’t help but hope that this is the beginning of the end of the virus which has infected our world. 

So anyway back to my glass half full …. during the middle of December I completed the second of two certificates in oenology.  I hope to do the third one next year and I am definitely going to take part in a vendange (wine harvest) somewhere next fall. Off to break my back with enthusiasm! I will be taking you on a journey around the vineyards of beautiful Occitanie. Cheers! 🍷

Before I sign off, here is a thought. Die with memories, not dreams.  Focus on what you can do and not what you can’t do. 

I wish you all health and happiness for 2022!

May your celebrations be plentiful and the repercussions minimal! Perhaps the best is yet to come. Hope springs eternal.

All the best until next year…………………..à bientôt Christina