Looking forward — An Elegant Sufficiency

I find the non-stop reviews at this time of the year incredibly dull. It’s not that I don’t enjoy looking back through my own memories and experiences but watching regurgitated TV events is definitely not my cup of tea and is guaranteed to send me looking for something else to watch. In particular this year, I’m in favour of looking forward and not back. The last thing I want to do is rekindle regret over things we didn’t get to do in 2020.

I’m looking forward to Spring flowers then and as soon as we take down the tree and all signs of Christmas, I shall fill the house with daffodils and hyacinths. Not only that, but my Hero gave me a monthly subscription of flowers and I shall look forward to those too.

I shall look forward to bunches of a different kind as well - of pale pink forced rhubarb.

Cooked with a little orange - or ginger - it’s one of our favourite fruits and that pink is spectacular.

While we wait for it to appear, there’s the alternative to be found in small boxes!

We’ve a wedding to look forward to in 2021 and I have the fun of the cake tastings to plan. The flowers are quietly pressing in the dark storeroom under my collection of Le Creuset pans and my expert friends have equipped me with all the knowledge I need to create something memorable (!) All that remains is for me to put all their advice into action. Oooer! I’ll also need to find something to wear, which will also be fun!

I’m not sure if Oliver, their new pup, is auditioning for the role of best man or usher?! I hope we’re going to have a chance to meet him before the big day though.

I’m looking forward to continuing with my early morning swims. When the pool is open, I can get a mile or thereabouts in my 45 minute slot, breaking no records but keeping a steady pace. It’s a satisfying and peaceful start to the day and I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to book my 7am slots again before too long.

Most of all, I’m looking forward to going places. To empty airports with exotic destinations on the board.

To unpacking in unfamiliar hotel rooms, fiddling about with camera batteries and chargers, finding the safe place to put my passport and getting my sketchbook up to date.