Happy Christmas and farewell 2020

Popped on here thinking there was bound to be a Christmas thread.
But no. Not even the traditional dusting of snow on the FCC graphic.

So, whilst it is a few days late, I hope your Yule was cool, despite the 2 metre rule.
And I trust 2021 will give you reasons for

If you are feeling sociable, feel free to share:

1) Highlights of 2020?

2) Lowlights of 2020?

3) Anything you are particularly looking forward to in the New Year?

A few quick thoughts from me:

1) Being invited to speak at a hill tribe church in Vietnam and being able to join them singing "How great thou art" (in our own languages)
2) Illness and death of new-born Goddaughter, but still blessed by her short life;
3) More proper time spent time with others (and not on video calls). Enjoying a postponed celebration from 2020 - and the rather special plonk put to one side for it. It will also be good to wrap up a couple of legal cases - one personal and one long-running one for a charity (but I am not sure it will happen that soon)

1. Highlights were probably winning all of my Classic Alfa series of races and doing the Grand Slam at each. That said, I missed doing the (Fishy Dave) CSCC races for a variety of reasons (but see point 3). Family being well is always the most important thing and something I certainly don’t take for granted - Charlie is now 10 years post-diagnosis and Eve almost exactly 4 years - we know how lucky we are.
2. I could mention a bunch of COVID/work related things but probably shouldn’t. My father’s cancer is slowly getting the better of him and not being able to spend time with my parents has been hard.
3. Doing more stuff for me, frankly. The last three years have been a slog on the house and I’ve nearly broken the back of it. CSCC have a fab series of races lined up including Knockhill, Anglesey, Silverstone GP, Oulton, Cadwell. The rained-off Alfa race at Castle Combe is rescheduled too and I’d quite like to go back to the fab Lydden Hill.

Happy New Year to all of the FCCUKers

Good to hear positives from two valued contributors - and naturally sad to hear of the heartbreak that inevitably accompanies the good news along the way.

Our first act of 2020 was to make all our staff redundant as we couldn't afford to pay them, despite selling most of our possessions with any value.
Over the 12 months, we struggled to keep our business going, then watched it thrive, then saw the Covid writing on the wall and closed it, both MrsC and I returning to the world of employment with a mixture of relief and some regret.

Not being able to see family (either vulnerable and sheltering or living abroad) has been tough, but so much tougher for many others.

But the big thing for us this year has been the imminent arrival of our first grandchild, a (slightly nerve-wracking) beacon of shining positivity. The due date was 27th December - we're still waiting.
Kind of hoping it makes it before midnight to show that 2020 had some lasting good in it, but it isn't looking likely as I type!

Wishing all you FCCUK folk a much, much better 2021.

Bearing in mind that for some 2020 has been a string of setbacks and suffering I daren't guess at what goes through their minds.

We celebrated our 8th grandchild in June, and he thankfully is healthy like the the other six girls and a boy. It has just dawned on me in the last few days that my eldest son has been displaying all the signs of bipolar disorder for the last 20 years or so - he's now turned 40. I'm cross with myself I didn't realise sooner, but even more so with the medics who don't seem to have spotted it. I'm hoping that, as a great reader-up of such matters, he will find that his mood swings are much more "normal" than he has probably thought, and that such acceptance might just be the beginning of new and positive coping strategies - good for him and his family.

Our gang of 4 that bought a project coupé in Sept 2017 have finally seen it pass the MoT a couple of days before Christmas, and it is back from the garage where it's been undergoing trickle-work since August, sitting on its new owner's hard-standing under a cover. This chap is one of the four, but we sadly lost another due to long-Covid complications back in August, having spent 8 weeks in hopsital earlier in the year.

I've missed the BumbleBee all year while it's undergoing major restoration but the long-suffering Joe is doing his best to get on to the final stretch when he gets back from other commitments. It will be stunning when finished, with headlights that gleam like diamonds to go with its new coat of paint and restored body panels.

There are 2 or three long months ahead but we gotta hang in there - I'm looking forward to meeting up with a goodly gang of y'all at the Fat Lamb during the summer

Awra' best when it comes!

Aye, we all have a story and some seem sadder than others, but we all handle things, situations in our own way. My family bubble is very fragile due to my son. Believe it or not my wife saw this covid coming, obviously not the name,mainly because of her contacts with her job and looking out for our son, he has to be shielded at all costs. We have been in lock down since January. It it what it is. Due to my strict upbringing, I’ve learnt to switch off and go to a better place. This is a thing I’ve taken from my childhood.

I had to give up my job a year ago, my wife works from home, I’m a kept man You just have to do what you have to do. We’ve had other bad news about another close family member. Like others I could have some greeting into their cornflakes. I still get the feeling that forum members get on with things, as I said in their own way and I applaud that.

Let’s hope 2021 will bring some hope and better times. Stay safe and Lang May Yer Lum Reek.

Something to do with chimneys smoking?

An absolutely terrible year on my family front. I've lost my eldest sister and now my eldest brother is ill. Covid has gripped our family and severe illness also. Next year,so far looks no better.
Brexit has just about Fecked my investments,plans and future chance of travel etc.

2020 has certainly been a year to consign to history, and very sorry to hear how particularly tough it has been for those in the posts above. At least 2021 looks more hopeful. Looks like we've got a little while to wait, but the days are getting longer and the jab is something positive.

My year started with a slow return to work after illness, then a family bereavement pre-covid. Then being in S Wales, we are in one of the covid hot spots so have been under strict conditions much of the time. So really looking forward to actually seeing more than just my local area next year.

Highlights... Getting a new job during lockdown... Interview by Skype was weird. And spending loads of time on restoring the Coupe. Still more to do, and Joe has been mega helpful answering various questions and sorting parts as has Steve at Alternative Autos.

Getting a copy of the Fiat Coupe book just in time for Xmas....

Next year.... Swapping the campervan for something more practical.... Finishing the Coupe resto... And maybe buying a 20VT....

Best wishes all.

I've moved to Germany and retired twice (!) last year. Watching the value of the money from the sale of my house in the UK fluctuate has be, um, interesting... I retired when I moved but contracted back to the company for a day a week working from Berlin; now the high pajandrums in the company can't decide whether this is still legal or not (I believe it is) so I retired from that yesterday.

Best to all!

1. Getting a permanent full time contract for the first time in 10 years against the general run of play, nice to have some stability. Becoming a student again but this time in something more enjoyable than my last couple (10 and 20 years ago!) of forays. Finding the house of our dreams (the next step anyway). Getting my NG9-5 running on all cylinders (mainly getting the Turbo reconditioned and stop it leaking oil everywhere)

2. Becoming a student again. All this Covid nonsense although we're all still fit and well, it's just the cabin fever. Contracting pneumonia in the middle of all this, that was less than pleasant. Having the house of our dreams sell before we could get ours out the way. The bills for my new to me Saab, so far more than half of what I spent keeping my 20VT over 4 years in the space of a year. It wasn't top dollar though so I don't mind that much.

3. Getting my first couple of modules as a student done (should be done sometime next week) and starting the next two knowing what to expect this time. House-hunting for a rural project. Having a car that I like looking at for first time since selling the coop (10 years ago).

Take care all, I don't post much but am still usually lurking in the background.

Highlight - Birth of our Daughter in February.
Lowlight - Wife being made redundant whilst on maternity leave in September and then finding out my mum has a brain tumour in October, being operated on in Nov and then finding out it was the worst type of tumour and now has months to live, so broke all the government rules and spent Christmas with her and the rest of the family as this will be the last time we get to do it

I was a little surprised not to see at least a snow man on the top header, shame.

2020 highs, none.........
Lows, yes too many!

Getting from Scotland to Italy in the coupe and hopefully another for 2021

2020 was a terrible year for me: 1st lockdown on the 23/3 had to shut down my salon for 3 months, 2nd my dad passed away in June had to send him back to Italy to be buried in covid times wasn’t easy. 3rd another lockdown on the 2/11 again shut down the salon. 4th Yet another lockdown just before Christmas our busiest time of year.

I’m so glad to see the back of 2020.

Just hope that 2021 will be a little better

Indeed some highs and lows from everyone. From me:

1) lost my Dad in July (non-Covid and was 98), socially distanced funeral etc etc. One silver lining was the MOD paid for the funeral as his cancer was brought on due to service in North Africa. Restores faith in HMG bureaucracy
2) had to get dog put down month later but welcomed a puppy into the household later in the year.
3) youngest started Leeds Conservatoire in October only to boomerang back home and will be with us for a good few weeks to come. She's a good laugh tho
4) Oh and almost forgot Mrs M and I fell foul to COVID in October but fortunately have had a full recovery unlike some poor souls

As a mate said, 2020 was a Stephen King novel directed by Tarantino

2021 not off to the best start either but all the best to one and all

That’s very apt.

2021 looks like the Cohen brothers are making the sequel...