My 2021 in review

 January 2021

Most people started 2021 very hopefull and were happy to leave 2020 behind, the year that the world had been thrown into a pandemic. I was rather sceptical to all that hope, because even though the vaccinations had just started, it would still take months. 

For the first time in years we celebrated New Year with the 4 of us in the Ardennes since we were not allowed to celebrate in group.  It was a cosy evening at home but a little boring and we crashed right after midnight.

Starting the year in the east of Belgium however gave us more snow fun.  Multiple weekends in January were white and we enjoyed our presence to the fullest, moreover because the rest of Belgium wasn't welcome at the tourist sites to avoid crowds.  (they came in great amount nevertheless, but we know the local quiet trails).

We tried to find some moments to read new year's letters to the grandparents in the safest way but some letters were read digitally in the family. And I threw me further into all lockdown fun activities such as puzzling, reading and trying to cut my own hair. 

February 2021

We spent most of our weekends walking, either in Leuven with friends or in the east of Belgium. We discovered new trails, beaver traces around the Park Abbey, new walks near Robertville Lake etc...

March 2021

We have a 5-year old at home! And thanks to milder weather, he could have a birthday party with his classfriends in the playground following the latest trend. 

We had some big clean-up weekends in the Ardennes where the wood shack had been liberated of its debris that had been cumulated over the years and it got transformed to a true wood storage.  In the same burst of energy we tackled the dozens of curver boxes full of toys that had cumulated in the middle of the living room and they moved downstairs in the basement. How breath giving to have space again. 

The big event in March was the arrival of Rodin, our little Maine Coon kitten.  Our newest family member quickly conquered our home and hearts. 

April 2021

A new month and a "Easter break" as new word to avoid the word lockdown. Schools closed for Easter a week early.  

We became new members of the local library. 

I took a leave of absence for Corona a couple of days.  I had to safeguard my low energy levels and high stress levels, so I avoided teleworking while entertaining the children for 3 weeks.  We had already planned a couple of days off as well, so we could spend a longer period in the east of Belgium again.  

We enjoyed Easter chocolate and new walks in mild weather. 

Until the day after Easter when they announced snow. And they were not kidding.  It really started snowing in April.   And the day after even more snow. And on the Wednesday we had a true Snowmaggadon that freaked me out because I was supposed to drive home, but the roads were not drivable.  In the end we could leave with some delay when the snow storm stopped, and we had dug ourselves out again.  Wow, what an unusual Easter vacation. 

For the rest of the time we had to try out all our indoor activities again until school started again. 

May 2021

Early May both grand parents were vaccinated and we enjoyed better weather to reconnect with them and spend time in the garden together. The long planned reunion with my sister on Mother's Day was on a rainy cold day however, so we had to improvise and spend time in the open garage. 

It was also the month when I realized I survived work on paracetamol and coffee because I spent too much time at night stressing about professional worries.  I realized I had too many red flags up and alerted my manager and HR that I needed to push the break pedal immediately. Fortunately, my request was received with a lot of empathy and support. 
The long weekends were needed to catch up sleep, nap, rest and go walking.  We bought ourselves a picnick backpack in order to take longer walks with the children who increased their happy walking distance significantly that spring. 

June 2021

After months of memorizing the vaccination statistics on a daily basis, it was my turn to get vaccinated.  

We visited the renovated Park Abbey and the great exposition with my mother and then Beertje joined her for a little vacation in his last weeks without compulsary attendance at school. 

By the end of the month we replaced our old worn out sofa's with a great new piece and the children discovered the European Championships and our Red Devils.

July 2021

The month started hopefull and we have planted many tomatoes in the garden...all in vain in the end because they were drowned and attacked by mold by the end of the wet summer but here they are still flourishing.  I also completed my 2nd vaccination. 

 

But then disaster struck. It started raining and it rained and it rained.  Belgium got treated to a water bomb that attacked us in a way we had not imagined before and made us realize how vulnerable we are to climate change.  While the children left to the playground (for indoor play) with boots, I refreshed news and news and news and felt so sick.   I feel my stomach again when thinking about it.   While the rest of the world was on fire in heat waves,  Belgians waited - with children in their arms - for hours on the roof of their house while watching houses collapsing in their street into the mad river below.  So shocking.  

Also in Leuven the abbey pond dikes broke and the Molenbeek set the quarter below us under water, but nothing as disastrous as the east of Belgium.  

We still drive above the E601 a few times a month where the former highway is still filled with all the flooding debris, and we still cross lower Eupen so often along collapsed garages, houses to be demolished and wooden boards covering the former windows with security firms guarding an abandoned ruined street.  What a disaster! 

In the middle of rain and disaster Kabouter's playground was sent home in quarantine after a covid contamination, so he had to spend part of his summer inside with us while we were working at home.  We took a few days off and isolated ourselves in the east of Belgium just before he could leave on his scouting camp where he'd sleep in tents for the first time. 

Just when he left, it started pouring again and a lot of camps had to be evacuated for floodings but fortunately his camp site was on a slope and got approved to stay after an inspection by the local fire brigade.  And he returned with tired eyes and a big smile. The tent camp had been well approved by him (a bit to my surprise).

August 2021

The whimsical summer continued. We got into the world championship atmosphere by testing the UCI roadshow in Leuven.  We also met up with some friends again...in the rain under the cover in their garden because our delicious Paella dinner also got rained out. 

But then it was finally due time to leave on vacation. We spent some awesome weeks near the Normandy beach with our own pool.  We didn't see the sun too often but had some sunny days after all.  We enjoyed D-day history, William the conquerer, good food and hundreds of sand castles. 

September 2021

In September life seemed to want to pick up to all what had been postponed or cancelled since the pandemic.  

We started school again (grade 3 and kindergarden 3) , we celebrated family birthdays, there was a communion in the family and the Men of the Year could pick up their parade and traditions again.  All weekends were packed and we didn't end up in the east of Belgium at all. 

By the end of September our neighbourhood had transformed into an UCI World Championship cycling madness.  We had Texan cycling friends coming over to stay with us and experience it all together.  
During 4 days we observed cycling races from the best spot ever in town and we sucked up all atmosphere. We lived in a festival and we loved it.  

October 2021

Finally it was Kabouter's turn to celebrate his first communion.  We had taken our pictures on a lovely sunny September day but celebrated on a pouring rainy day. It was a great day with a fun family gathering again. 

At the Abbey we enjoyed the light festival for the opening of the KNAL festival. 

After all the social activities in previous weeks, we returned to the east of Belgium for some autumn walks in nature. 

November 2021

In the autumn vacation we returned to our favourite spot to suck up some sun before winter. After having to skip one year, we were really happy to be back at our favourite pool and beach in Gran Canaria for a week. 

Autumn was in full swing when back and despite rising corona numbers again we had a large family gathering to celebrate my aunt's 100th birthday. 

Much to our surprise, we were treated to the first snow at the end of November already...right to get into the Advent mood and set the Christmas tree. 

December 2021

December started with Kabouter's class getting closed down and sent home in quarantine after several positive covid cases. One after the other classmate turned positive as well as many of their relatives.  We isolated us as much as possible and Kabouter got homeschooling again.   
Despite us suffering colds, we kept testing negative and Kabouter could return home for 1,5 week before the schools shut down again for an extended Christmas break. 

Jan and I spent most of our free time in several weekends cleaning up or archives in the basement to clear out all closets there, sort everything and pack up boxes to free up the space for future new closets to arrive in 2022. 

The world got ready for a new cautious holiday season.  We weren't limited privately to see family and friends, yet the new Omicrant variant forces everyone to be carefull. Fortunately we got our booster vaccination just in time and have a good stock of self-tests at home in the mean time to test ourselves each time we see friends & family.  And so we could celebrate with family again in 2021. 

And traditionally we went to rest and digest all that holiday food in the east of Belgium.