What a very different Christmas it will be!

In our latest blog, we catch up with Bangor Programme Manager Gwenllian Owen who shares her thoughts on 2020 and provides an insight into what she is looking forward to in 2021.

For me, Christmas is a time for family gatherings, resting at home, re-charging the battery and catching up with people that I may not have seen for a while. I try to make the most of the holiday period by going for long walks, getting some fresh air and of course walking off the additional pounds that may have sneaked on over the festive period!

2020 has been a very different year, not always pleasant, but it has been a year of changes and many adaptations! We have had to learn to live in a different world, being in lockdown, not being able to see our family and friends as often as we would like to and working from home! 2020 started off really well for me and I was fortunate to go on an amazing holiday to India and the Indian Ocean – a holiday that I’ll never forget and I have some fabulous memories. The return of course was very different as we immediately went into lockdown and started working from home.  

There are circumstances that have occurred this year that many will want to put behind them and reflect on the changes that have happened in their lives, people have lost loved ones and not always due to Covid. We must not forget that this Christmas will be one of reflection and sadness for many. Christmas is a time for giving, but the giving does not necessarily have to be an expensive gift; a gesture, a word, a smile will go a lot further than you can imagine. Kindness has been a keyword for 2020.

I’ve seen many inspirational quotes on social media recently and here are a few that have resonated with me. Unfortunately, I have no reference to where these quotes have come from, but they ring so true.

“As we grow older our Christmas Lists get smaller and we find out that the things we really want can’t be bought”

“The older you get the more you realise you have no desire for drama, conflict or stress. You just want a cosy home, food on the table and to be surrounded by kind people who make you happy”

What have I done differently this year? Well, I’ve managed to do some stuff at home that I’d been meaning to do for a while, I’ve converted a spare bedroom into a home office and this has made it so much easier for me as it looks as if we’ll be working from home for quite a while longer! I grew a lot of veg over the summer – too many courgettes apparently and my husband doesn’t want to see another for a long time!! Now, what can I plant in 2021?!

I’ve tried to keep my exercise levels up, mind you, I haven’t been near a gym for at least 10 months! I’ve walked and cycled many miles, sometimes with family or friends, and others on my own with my headphones! I’ve listened to Podcasts, lots of music, learnt new songs for choir practices and enjoyed my walks and cycle rides.

At the end of the summer I purchased a wetsuit, something that I had intended to do a long time ago, but somehow never got around to it. I now go swimming in the sea every weekend! It is amazing! The buzz you get from the cold water and the endorphin rush banishes stress, keeps you healthy and helps with your mental health. I’ve joined a group of friends and this is something that we all look forward to along with the after-swim catch up with hot chocolate and cake! Mulled wine and mince pies will feature heavily at the next few swims!!

Being a member of Adlais, a local choir, has also given me a few opportunities during lockdown and the last few months. As we haven’t been able to meet in a physical location, all our rehearsals have taken place on Zoom which has been quite an experience! We’ve recorded a virtual appearance of our own, been part of the “Eisteddfod Amgen” virtual choir performance “Pont y Glaw” and will take part in another virtual choir appearance just prior to Christmas – the link will be shared on Twitter and Facebook – look out for it!! The choir has been a very important part of my life for so many years (29 to be precise!) and has been a blessing over the last few months!

2021 will hopefully bring an end to this pandemic or at least a path that will allow us to return to some kind of normality (whatever that will look like!). The one thing that I am looking forward to more than anything is meeting up with all my family in one place, not outside, and to feel relaxed – I miss seeing them all and having a few drinks and laughs together! I will continue with my “Arctic Flappers Challenge” and complete my 20 swims before the end of March 2021 by which time I hope to find another challenge. I’m already signed up for the Thames Valley Path Challenge, a 30-mile walk along the Thames Valley Path in September 2021 which I am looking forward to and will have to start my training plan in the new year! 2021 will be a year of Staycationing in the motorhome and I’m looking forward to visiting new places in Wales and beyond!

Professionally, I look forward to seeing our programmes develop and grow and hopefully be back to face-to-face delivery in the springtime. It will be so good to meet all our delegates in-person! We have all learnt so much about on-line platforms over the last 8 months and I believe that elements of on-line delivery will still be included in our future programmes.

The best part of my job is working with our delegates, meeting with them before they start the programme, meeting them at the outset on their Foundation Day and Experiential Events then catching up with them during the programme. The Celebration event at the end of each cohort brings everything together and being able to celebrate our delegates’ success means everything to us all as a team!

Our Conference is our focus this week and our big annual event! The 10^th of December 2020 will see us hosting the North Wales Means Business Virtual Conference. We are looking forward to the new format for our Conference this year and it is packed to the brim with some amazing speakers. If you read this and haven’t signed up, then don’t miss out! Have a look at the website for more details and book your place!

There is so much to look forward to in 2021! With 2020 being such an iconic number we all believed that it would be unforgettable and it certainly was! One that will go down in history! We’ve learnt a lot over the last few months, and we must never forget what has happened and how it has affected us, but out of this negative situation, we must look for the positives and support our businesses and help them survive and thrive for the future. Let’s harness the Power of Positive Change for 2021 and all our futures!

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd llawer gwell yn 2021 i bawb.

A very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all in 2021.