Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021

Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021 !!

Oh what a year 2020 was.  It started off like any normal year.  

We were in Ipoh this round. Impromptu trip where we were supposed to spend 2 nights (hubby woke up in the morning and said, "lets go Ipoh!") and then decided to extend another night (impromptu part 2!).  I was only to start my new job on Jan 6th, he was on leave, girls haven't started school yet.... so why not. 

Ushered in the new year by watching fireworks display @ Lost World of Tambun, Ipoh

First family photo of 2020 

Went on with the hustle and bustle of life.  Changed Erin's school in February, as it became clear that she was pretty lost in her old school. 

We were aware of the virus situation in China around CNY time, followed the progress through the weeks but I guess it only really hit hard when "lockdown" was first announced in mid March. Oh the mayhem that ensued...!  Both at home and at work.  It felt so strange to wear a mask. Felt strange to queue up for groceries, wear plastic gloves and then snap grocery items up without even thinking twice. All the uncertainties at work.  Dealing with everychanging and unclear SOPs. Trying to answer questions, stay afloat and formulate strategies in an unfamiliar landscape. 

Things somewhat stabilised around mid-year. There were still challenges and bumps, but hey we survived!  

Immensely grateful and blessed that despite it being a pandemic year, I can still consider 2020 a good year for us.  Work wise, it's wayyyyy better than the previous year. Weight wise, well let's not go there ;-)   And I can't believe Elyssa is no longer a primary school kid!  I'm definitely a proud (banana) mama that she did so well in her 6 years in a chinese school 

Let's see, managed to go to quite a few local holidays this year- 

Pangkor Laut Resort in July 2020

Omg - love, love, love this place! I guess we've never gone there before cos of the "for that price, I might as well go overseas" thinking. lol. 
Will definitely want to go there again one day. 

Sungai Lembing in August 2020 

Completely different from our Pangkor Holiday!  But a trip we enjoyed very much too. 

Genting in August 2020 

Celebrated Papa's birthday up in Genting this year :-) 

WEIL Hotel in Ipoh, December 2020 

Elyssa didn't want to miss her gymnastics classes.  So it was just Hubs, Erin and I. 

Mangala Resort and Spa in Gambang, Kuantan, December 2020

Wanted to be away from crowds so splurged a little on a villa with private pool.  It was also a celebration of our 15th wedding anniversary  :-) 

Some staycations too -

Majestic Hotel in KL 

Stripes Hotel in KL 

Not too bad for a pandemic year! (Note : Covid SOPs were followed at all times!  Holidays were during the more relaxed MCO phases). 

I guess Covid pretty much dictated our lives in Year 2020.  By end of the year, everyone was like let's get it over and done with.  Well, it's coming to end of January 2021........ and Covid is still very much around and probably will stick around for a while. 

Ah well, whatever it is, life goes on and we march steadily on.  

And as I say every single year - Bring it on 2021 !