Once again in my yearly ritual I’m looking at the most viewed posts here last year. I’m sharing two lists again, the first of which shows the top ten posts created in 2020, the second list is the top ten posts created at any time, mainly just to continue what I’ve started and to satisfy my own inner data nerd.
So onto the top 10 posts created in 2020.
1 Lockdown Learnings #1
Well, how 2020 - in some ways I’m proud that this one is this year’s most viewed post. Though of course in plenty of ways I’d rather I’d never been able to write it at all. The irony isn’t lost on me either, as we’re back in national lockdown, and a lockdown in winter is nowhere like a lockdown in spring. The lunches are quite different too.
2 A growing pile of colourful crochet
Not long after the first lockdown finished I signed up for a six month subscription box of gorgeous yarn, and quickly grew a pile of colourful squares. I’ve received all the boxes now - and they were all fab - and I have the last delivery to make use of. Once I have I’ll be sharing how I got on on here too.
3 My new room crush
Back at the start of the year it seemed like we were out every weekend visiting gardens and houses. This room in Nymans became a new favourite, and it’s easy to see why isn’t it?
4 Azulejos, hand painted tiles
This post is a throwback to our holiday in Portugal the previous year, and a visit to a local tile factory that was just over the road from where we were staying. And oh, so many designs in their shop - and such great craftsmanship in all of the hand painted designs.
5 My garden in March
This is the only visit to my garden that made it onto the top 10 list this year, and it’s a great time of year for our garden. With lockdown we spent more time either in it or close by than usual this year, like many other people too.
6 The loo we couldn’t find at first
This was the loo in our hotel room on our only trip abroad in 2020. And to be honest we were lucky to get that, though a few days in Lyon in February might not be everyone’s choice, it was a great break. It was also the one where we cut it fine and almost missed the plane home, but thankfully we didn’t. Our most stressful airport experience ever, but also one of the quirkiest hotel room loos.
7 Lockdown learnings #2
The second lockdown learnings post, I’d planned a whole series but they never quite happened. Maybe I’ll restart them to complement this lockdown, who knows?
8 Starting another crochet project
The thread was part of the random bundle that I bought in Norfolk along with the tiny crochet hooks. I wanted something to take away with us for our cottage stay near Holt in October, which was also well timed taking place just before half-term and the additional restrictions. I also found a pouch, made by mum, which was pretty much made to measure to keep it all in.
9 A secluded spot
Another successful National Trust visit, this time to Standen on the August Bank Holiday. Quite a novelty as the house was actually open, with everyone required to wear face masks, quite a different experience, but one that everyone was happy to follow. This spot overlooks the terrace and would be the perfect spot to while away some time, and to people spot mostly unnoticed.
10 What a difference a month makes
This was from our trip to Barbados at the end of 2019, and shows off my new beach towel. It’s a great towel, and Barbados is a great place. It was a much needed holiday, and given everything that followed well timed. What we’d give to be able to do this now though.
So another year, and another interesting list. All I ever ask of my blog is that it reflects my life, and with the 2020 posts that have been viewed the most it certainly does that.
Now onto the second list
This list is posts created at any time but viewed in 2020, the year in brackets is the year it was originally posted. This year none from 2020 made the list, and that’s ok. There’s also been some movement which is fascinating, or fascinates me anyway!
Filling our gabion baskets (2017) (-)
Softening our gabion seating area with planting (2017) (+3)
Let’s talk Edwardian house decoration (2017) (+1)
My IKEA hack: HOL storage table to laundry basket (2015) (-2)
Sean Murray’s Great Chelsea Garden Challenge (2017) (-2)
52 Cookbooks #36: Beef in easy tomato sauce (2014) (new)
Love this 47: Poppy brooch (2014) (new)
Fabulous outdoor planters (and more) from Cox & Cox (2016) (new)
Blinds and shutters with Thomas Sanderson (2018) (-3)
Storing logs in our gabion baskets (2017) (new)
It’s good to see the gabion baskets posts retain top spot and increase popularity. But to be honest though it’s interesting, it’s hardly a scientific study is it. Who knows what the year ahead will bring - we’ll have to wait and see.
I also plan to share my favourite posts from the year - I need to work out if I’ll take the same approach as i previous years or do something different, as I’m pretty sure there’s been less posts on my blog overall.
