20 highlights from 2020 (plus my goals for the new year)

It’s been a year like no other and a Christmas tinged with sadness and personal struggle for many. Before we say good riddance farewell to 2020, I wanted to cherry pick the highlights and positive moments from a difficult year, before looking forward to 2021. So, in no particular order, here are my 20 highlights from 2020…

1. Creating this blog

One of my top highlights from 2020 has to be starting Scoop of Cornwall. What else was I going to do with three months off?! I’ve loved sharing my adventures around Cornwall and further afield and having a little hobby and ongoing project has definitely kept me sane this year.

2. The summer weather was insane

The sunshine we had this year over spring and summer was a welcome distraction from the madness going on in the world. I was literally in a bikini every single day and had the best tan. Who needs to go abroad when you’ve got beaches as beautiful as this?

3. Turning 25 with friends and family

I’m very grateful that I got to spend my birthday with friends and family, as I know so many people had lockdown celebrations. Something so simple as sitting with my family and eating cake I absolutely treasured this year.

4. Getting fit and actually enjoying exercise

This year I’ve pushed myself outside of my comfort zone and actually joined a gym, tried new classes and surprised myself by enjoying working out. I even hopped on a bicycle for the first time in years and rode 22 miles along the Bissoe Trail.

5. Discovering 5am starts and watching the sunrise

When the first lockdown came to an end and I was called back to work after three months on furlough, I found the 9-5 routine quite hard to get used to again. To try and make more time for myself, I started getting up at 5am instead of 7am. Turns out you can get a lot done in a morning!

6. Finally visiting IKEA for the first time

… and safe to say, it was everything I dreamed of and more. Still haven’t tried the meatballs though.

7. Starting a new job

A fairly recent and big change in my life happened at the end of November when I left my job as a marketing assistant to work for St Austell Brewery as their Digital Content Specialist. I feel so grateful to have found an amazing new job in such an uncertain year and can’t wait to get stuck into the role properly in the new year.

8. Stumbling across secret beaches

2020 has been the year for strapping on my walking boots or sandals and heading out to the coastal paths of Cornwall. Some of my top moments of the year involved me accidentally strolling upon a secluded portion of the coastline.

9. Being spoilt rotten by Taylor Swift

Two Taylor Swift albums in one year. One released on my birthday, one released on hers. Take from that what you will.

10. Falling in love with photography again

Dusting off those skills learnt in A level photography. I’ve really loved being out and about taking photos of beautiful Cornwall and sharing on my Instagram page.

11. Braving sea swims (I hate the cold)

The fact I’ve gone for proper, full body submerged sea swims this year is quite a big deal. I am not the strongest swimmer and hate being cold. But there is something seriously refreshing and invigorating about the salt water and natural surroundings. I draw the line at getting in anytime after October or before April though… so I’m still not a fully fledged sea swimmer.

12. Dying my hair blonde

Started the year a brunette, ended it a blonde. Anything goes in 2020 💁🏼‍♀️

13. Pressing pause and detoxing from society

When the world seemed to stop in its tracks, there was no work to go to, social calendars were cleared and all that loomed were long, empty months with nowhere to be, I think we were all wondering “what do we do now?”. Pressing pause was a shock to the system, but it did me a world of good to jump off the busy merry-go-round and take some time out.

14. Dining al fresco

During the spring and early summer when I was furloughed, everyday would go as follows: wake up – pack a picnic – drive somewhere pretty – walk – eat lunch on a cliff edge or in front of a breath-taking ocean view. I loved this little routine.

15. Learning new culinary skills

With lots more spare time on my hands, I tried a lot more home cooking, ticking a Cornish pasty and a roast dinner off my ‘to try’ list.

16. Sunset barbecues

Being on the beach watching the sunset with friends, ciders and questionably cooked burgers is definitely my happy place. And this summer there were plenty of these evenings.

17. Seeing Sigma at the Watering Hole

Tbh I’m just happy to say I managed to squeeze in a gig of some sort into 2020 before everything went pear-shaped.

18. Stealing a slice of Cornwall all to myself

Despite the first national lockdown being an extremely scary and stressful time, a silver lining was the crowd-free beaches around Cornwall. I felt so lucky to be able to visit coastal spots that are normally thriving with people and not see a single soul. A slightly selfish highlight, but I know I’ll probably never experience Cornwall so quiet again in my lifetime.

19. Making new friends

Although 2020 wasn’t one for socialising much, I still managed to meet new people along the way and made some lovely friendships.

20. Ending the year with a new sense of resilience and appreciation

It probably shouldn’t take a pandemic to make us realise what is valuable and important in life, but for many of us I think 2020 has been a wake up call. I’ll be entering the new year a hell of a lot stronger and grateful for my loved ones.

New Year Resolutions

Every year I always make a conscious effort to think of new year resolutions, but I also ALWAYS forget to write them down and therefore fail to keep them. So I’m just gonna leave these ones here and you all have my permission to hold me accountable if I haven’t kept them up throughout 2021 😂

• Save, save, save – pretty sure this was my resolution for 2020 but then a pandemic hit, so it was more like survive, survive, survive. But it’s okay, we go again.
• Continue my fitness journey.
• Read more books and spend less time scrolling on Instagram.
• Continue writing blog posts.
• Explore more of Cornwall – top of my list includes Tintagel, Bodmin Moor, Golitha Falls, Port Isaac and the Isles of Scilly (does this count as Cornwall?)
• Try and see a new country (or a staycation in the UK if this isn’t possible).

Happy New Year and a massive thank you to everyone who has read my blog and supported me in 2020.

Here’s to a much happier year ahead. If you have any resolutions for the new year, comment below – I’d love to hear them!