As I think back to last December, my biggest concern was whether the protests that had rocked Hong Kong would scupper Rugby Sevens in the spring. The Sevens tournament did end up getting cancelled for the first time in my Hong Kong history, but for such a different reason.
This year would perhaps be best forgotten by all of us for the disruption it brought. No longer can we catch up over evening drinks with friends at our local pub. Most of us haven't set foot on an airplane in nearly a year. I never thought I'd be waxing lyrical about the plastic wrapped bread rolls I had become so used to eating during my regular flights around the region. But here we are.
If anything, 2020 has proved our resilience. We can work from home without missing a beat. Donning masks when going out has become second nature. We have become proficient at making our own meals at home, often while juggling both work and childcare.
We've also supported our local restaurants with takeaway orders and kept pubs afloat by sipping beers on street corners, six feet away from our friends and colleagues. And we've learned how to tolerate family members who have been locked in our tiny flats with us at all hours of the day.
Sadly, January 1, 2021 won't bring us respite from this new normal, but I'm trying to head into the holidays with a bit of optimism.
Markets are bouncing back, and it almost feels like Christmas came early for my portfolio — something I didn't know would be possible back in March. Donald Trump is on his way out, and Joe Biden seems ready to bring the world a bit of stability. Maybe, just maybe, Brexit issues will be resolved as well, but that is perhaps asking for too much.
With that, I will wish you all a Merry Christmas. May Santa bring you the new vaccine!