I usually write a year in review post at the end of every year. This year that happens to be the subject for Throwback Thursday so I am combining the two. Here is what Maggie has written:

Here we are closing in on 2022, hopefully looking forward to what the new year will bring. Preparing for a new year often entails looking back over the past year.

So, today, we are throwing back only one year.

• Tell me what you loved about 2022.
• Do you have regrets?
• What did you lose?
• What did you gain?
• What was your greatest accomplishment?
• How was your balance between happiness and sadness?
• And lastly, what are you happy to leave behind and what do you look forward to?
• Anything more you want to add?

Maggie

The thing that I loved most about 2022 was enjoying the wildlife that visits our garden. I do get cross with the potoroos and pademelons who seem determined to eat any plant we try to grow but the possums who frequent the big gum tree in our garden are fun to watch at night especially the babies.

We also had some nice outings, mostly in the early part of the year. We went to a couple of car shows which was a lot of fun. We went to Zeehan on the West Coast. We went to Deloraine and Waratah. We rode on the Wee Georgie Wood Railway at Tullah and the Don River Railway at Devonport.

My biggest regret this year was not being able to attend the Hobart Doll Show. I was all set to go but my cat, Polly, became ill the week I was meant to go so the trip was canceled. I have not been anywhere overnight this year and I regret that. Polly is better but still has some health issues that will need to be taken care of in the New Year.

I lost Cindy, my dog in April. She had not long turned sixteen.

I can’t really say that I made any major gains or accomplished much this year except in this blog. Checking my viewing stats for the year this is the best year I’ve ever had on this blog. I think just managing to keep writing it when I rarely go anywhere new is a major accomplishment for me.

Naturally I felt very sad when I lost Cindy and when Polly was sick. Sometimes I feel sad about the state of the world or when I miss the things I used to do and the people who are no longer with us. Most of the time though I’m content. I like where I live, I like my volunteer job and Naomi and I have good laughs together.

On the whole 2022 was not a great year for me but it wasn’t terrible. I finally got Covid. We both did. Naomi went on a cruise in October and she tested positive for Covid about two days after she got home. We think she caught it in Sydney, not on the ship. Either way she gave it to me. Luckily as we were both vaccinated and boosted it was no worse than a bad cold and we’ve had no after effects like some people have.

I’d like to say I’ll be glad to see the back of the shortages and rising prices that have been a feature of 2022 but I don’t think they are going away. This year we’ve seen bad flooding in many parts of Australia but I’m afraid that next year will bring more natural disasters. If it’s not flood it’s fire or drought or storms. I don’t think any of the bad things of 2022 are going away after tomorrow.

What am I looking forward to? More travel. I have two trips planned for next year so far. In February I’m going to Hobart to visit the Wooden Boat Show. I am looking forward to spending a lot of time taking photos. Later, in November I’m going on a ten day cruise to New Zealand’s South Island. This will be my first solo cruise. Naomi is also planning a trip overseas next year but we’ve decided to travel at different times so there is always someone home to mind the animals.