My “Best” of 2020…

My last post of 2020!

Never in all my life (all 59 years of it) have I had to live through a worldwide pandemic that we are experiencing right now. Definitely the “virus” will shape our future, how we live and what things are important to us.

This post is not about Covid 19, I want to have a positive post to end this year. With that in mind, share and celebrate with me all things good about 2020.

My Best Book of 2020

I am an avid reader and love to read different styles of books. I am a member of Goodreads where I can review books and keep a permanent record of my reading progress.

Best Book Choice: Tara Westover – EDUCATED

Below in the link is my 5 star review I left for this amazing author. There are details of where to buy this book too.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35133922-educated

I was staggered that I had read 35 books during 2020! Plenty of time to read 😃 The link below shows what I have read and the accompanying reviews. Please take a look.

https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2020/77130737

My Best Movie of 2020

Fortunately we subscribe to Netflix and have had great pleasure watching movies throughout the year. There were many contenders for this title but in the end I choose the one that had a lasting impression, good acting and a riveting storyline.

Best Movie Choice 2020: The Queens Gambit

See the trailer below of this fascinating period drama with the beautiful Anya Taylor-Joy in the starring role.

Photo Credit: Phil Bray/Netflix

httops://youtu.be/CDrieqwSdgI

My Challenges of 2020

Starting my own blog

I am so proud that I started my own blog in 2020. I had many challenges initially but now feel comfortable and capable that my 2021 blog will be even better than before. I have always loved writing and own tons of notebooks and journals filled with past memories and events. The way forward is online so through the first lockdown in March my blog was born. It is a record of living in Hungary as expats and things that excite me about this marvelous country and our new way of life. Please take a look through the link below at what we get up to in our daily lives.

https://makinghungaryhome.wordpress.com/

Learning Hungarian

My second challenge this year has undoubtedly been trying to learn the Hungarian language. Eric, my husband has picked up the language easily and I am guilty of relying on him way too much for translations. Hungarian is one of the hardest languages to learn but I have been determined to learn and at last I can see some progress. I choose www.Duolingo.com and would recommend any language learners to use this excellent learning tool. The best thing of all is it is free. 😃

Best New Experience of 2020

As restrictions were gently relaxed over the summer months Eric and I visited our very first wine festival in Hungary. Hot sunshine, good music, friendly people and an abundance of red wine. For a small village they put on an excellent festival. We shall certainly be visiting again. More pictures in the link below.

https://makinghungaryhome.wordpress.com/2020/11/13/lajoskomaromi-pincefesztival/

My Best Achievement of 2020

Throughout 2020 I slogged hard at our garden. It is a little large for one person to manage. Eric is unable to do any sort of gardening as he has a bad back. It was down to me to dig, weed, sow, water and keep the garden in some kind of order. We had an abundant veggie patch and flower beds full of flowers. We invested in a lawn mower and strimmer that my son Raphael actually enjoyed using so that helped me a lot. Next year I shall be creating raised vegetable beds so Eric, my husband is able to take a hand in the gardening.

My Best Day of 2020

Looking back over the year my best day was my birthday at the end of July. We all decided a birthday lunch was in order so travelled to a (new to us) fish restaurant in idyllic surroundings and enjoyed a wonderful meal.

My Best Photography 2020

Finally, my best of 2020 would not be complete without a few “best of” photographs. Photography is my hobby and have been snapping for many years. I enter competitions and love to get a little creative with my shots.

Best Landscape 2020

Kisszékely Lake in Autumn, Hungary 2020

Best People Shot 2020

A traditional village wedding Kisszékely, Hungary.

For more wonderful photographs of this pretty village wedding see the link below.

https://makinghungaryhome.wordpress.com/2020/08/28/a-hungarian-village-wedding/

Best Animal Shot 2020

Our gorgeous Haley Husky

I have taken may shots of animals over the year but I felt this one was the best. Of course, I am slightly biased but looking at my stats on WordPress my post about Siberian Husky owners was the most popular and I am thrilled.💕 Thank you if you have looked and liked, much appreciated. If you haven’t, and would like too, then here is the link:

https://makinghungaryhome.wordpress.com/2020/04/25/you-know-you-are-a-true-siberian-husky-owner-when/

So there you have it, 7 of my “best” things about 2020. We are hoping for more excursions and adventures in 2021. My bucket list says I should be hot air ballooning over Lake Balaton on my 60th birthday…lets see. Always the optimist, I live in hope.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for reading and commenting on my blog over the past year and hope to show you a little more of what Hungary has to offer.

Happy New Year or in Hungarian – Boldog új évet