50 things that lifted my spirits in 2020

Well, what a year that was. Who could have predicted what 2020 was to have in store for us. It’s been tough and unsettling but thankfully there have been things to help get us though, to help switch our minds off and bring smiles to our faces.

The art galleries and cinemas may have been closed and holidays cancelled but I have seen some of the best TV shows and read some wonderful books this year. Here are 50 things that helped get me though 2020:

TV

1. Race Across the World - Series 2 - What a show and a nail-biting final episode

2. The Great British Bake Off - Just what was needed in 2020

3. Love Life - Anna Kendrick stars in this fun comedy/drama

4. I May Destroy You - Named best TV show for 2020 by The Guardian - utterly gripping

5. Normal People - Immediately watched it twice and then read the book

6. I'm a Celebrity…Get me Out of Here! - Jordan North, what a ray of sunshine

7. Mrs Fletcher - Actress Kathryn Hahn at her best

8. The Morning Show - Excellent Apple+ original series

9. The Undoing - Edge of your seat stuff

10. I Hate Suzie - Billie Piper is exceptional in this comedy/drama

11. Tiger King - Gripping, binge-worthy series

12. This Country - Sad to say farewell to this show which I loved from the start

Films

13. Leftover Women - Fascinating documentary about women looking for marriage in China

14. Portrait of a Lady on Fire - Beautiful love story

15. Audrey - The private life and career of Audrey Hepburn

16. Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind - Personal portrait of the West Side Story star made by her daughter

For Kids

17. Make and Wonder - Art subscription box focusing on a different artist each month

18. Osmo - Interactive learning game that keeps our 4-year-old amused for hours

19. Snoopy - Apple TV+ - Who can’t resist Snoopy and Charlie Brown?

20. USB disco light - Tiny, pocket-money-priced USB disco light by Tinc

21. Telltails - clip on animal tails - the gift that keeps giving and is a dressing-up box essential

22. Draw with Rob and Let’s Draw Together with Wendy Mac - Not sure where we would be without Rob and Wendy’s incredible tutorials, a highlight of 2020 and the first lockdown

Getting creative

23. Vision Board Reimagined by Bold Tuesday - Such a clever idea and a must for 2021 (see picture above)

24. Austin Kleon's weekly email - I always look forward to the suggestions in Austin’s weekly email

25. Kuretake pens - THE pens to use for drawing

26. Collage - I started 18 months ago and haven’t looked back. Collage keeps me sane and brings me joy - simple as that

27. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert - A must-read book on creativity

Books

28. Queenie by Candice Party-Williams - One of my favourites of 2020

29. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - Yes, it is as good as they say

30. Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner - Fascinating insight into an extraordinary life

31. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid - Whizzed through this long listed Booker novel

32. Feel better in 5 by Rangan Chatterjee - An essential manual for life. Dr Chatterjee is full of wisdom and great advice

33. Demi Moore - Inside Out - Thoroughly enjoyed going behind the scenes and hearing more about Moore’s life. A great autobiography

34. Quite - Claudia Winkleman - Opens with a glorious chapter in favour of daytime naps; I’m in

35. Untamed - Glennon Doyle - A highly rated book and deserves all the praise

Audiobooks

36. My Wild and Sleepless Nights by Clover Stroud - Great motherhood memoir read by the author

37. Gotta Get Theroux This by Louis Theroux - This book and Louis’ hilarious impressions got me through the first lockdown and kept me sane!

38. Clothes… and other things that matter by Alexandra Shulman - Musings on life and clothes by the former UK Vogue editor

39. The Chiffon Trenches by Andre Leon Talley - Behind the scenes of the fashion industry by this front row expert

40. Life in pieces by Dawn O’Porter - Life during lockdown interspersed with memories growing up in Guernsey. Brilliant

Podcasts

41. Feel better, live more by Rangan Chatterjee - In-depth interviews with experts in the field of health and wellbeing. I loved hearing more from Dr Pippa Grange on tackling fear and Dr Tara Swart

42. Table Manners by Jessie Ware and mum Lennie - Relaxed, cheerful dinnertime chats, my favourites this year have been with Emily Maitlis and Cat Deeley

43. How to Fail by Elizabeth Day - My top episode for 2020 was with Daisy Edgar Jones

44. Fearne Cotton - Happy Place - Kelly Jones from the Stereophonics and Daisy May Cooper’s episodes top my list

45. Walking the dog - Journalist Emily Dean interviews celebrities as they walk their dogs, uplifting.

Miscellaneous

46. Oil diffuser with Aesop oil - A bedroom staple, walking in and smelling each evening is instantly relaxing

47. Yellow Bobbin Bicycle - Bought during lockdown, first time on a bicycle for 25 years! Bonus is the kid’s size fits a petite adult (me)

48. Headspace, Calm and Moshi apps - I am still learning the fine art of meditation. These are helping enormously

49. Furry Birkenstock slippers - The only footwear I wear these days!

50. Zoom/Facetime/Google Duo - For keeping connected to family, for pirate-themed birthday parties, live pilates classes, even a collage party live from New York. Until we hug our loved ones, this will be the next best thing.

Wishing you a very happy 2021 x

Eight great books and movies I watched/read in 2019

I said 2019 would be the year I started reading more and I stuck to that resolution.

Over the past 12 months I have read in the region of 35 books - lots more than in 2018. I put this down to a couple of things - getting an audible subscription so I often listen to a book during the day and read a different book at night.

I joined a book club with mums from school and this has definitely put the pressure on (in a good way) to read more and to a deadline. I also realised I prefer memoirs and biographies and so I’ve focused on reading more of what I enjoy and less fiction. I also ditch a book I’m not enjoying rather than plodding on for the sake of it.

So above are my eight favourites of 2019 (although some of the books themselves aren’t brand new). From this list Once in a House on Fire by Andrea Ashworth and Educated by Tara Westover are my top two. Both tell of growing up in difficult or unusual surroundings and triumphing over adversity.

I would also highly recommend listening to Michelle Obama’s book Becoming on audible. She reads the book herself and it makes for a powerful and immersive listen.

Every now and then a movie comes along that you can’t get out of your mind after you’ve watched it.

It doesn’t happen often but Marriage Story directed by Noah Baumbach and streaming on Netflix made in straight into my top 10 films ever.

It has such a beautiful script - moving and funny with such strong and memorable performances by Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson & Laura Dern.

Despite the heavy subject matter of divorce, the script is also peppered with humour and a moving rendition of Adam Driver singing ‘Being Alive’ from the musical ‘Company’, late in a bar one night.

The documentary Maiden is excellent and tells of Tracy Edwards and her all-female crew taking part in the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989. It’s real edge of your seat TV and the movie is currently on BBC iPlayer.

My third favourite is a movie from a few years back called Minding the Gap: An American Skateboarding Story. It’s a coming of age documentary about skateboarding, family and friendship. It’s one not to be missed and is currently on BBC iPlayer.

As we head into 2020 I can’t wait to read some of the exciting books on my list including The Five by Hallie Rubenhold and to watch the documentary For Sama which is next up on my watchlist and currently on Channel 4.

So those are my favourites, I’d love to hear yours. Wishing you a very Happy New Year!