In the wake of the COVID-19 health crisis, businesses faced unprecedented challenges and disruptions. The pandemic changed the way we work for good… Oops, wrong place.
What a year it has been. A year of rediscovering my neighbourhood during my walks, baking sourdough and banana bread and little moments of gratitude. But I also had my lows… Sorry, wrong post again.
The counter stopped at 51 posts. It’s not that much but it’s something already. I took the time to quickly re-read all the posts I wrote in 2020. Many times I giggled with the way I put things in words and with the references I made. References that were top of mind by then, inspired by the conversations and experiences I had. I can’t always recollect what it was all about but it’s a pleasure to read it all back.
I wrote 22 posts in 2020 which is considerably less compared to 2019 (29). 13 of those are dates (same number as 2019). My general feeling is that the posts became heavier in length and content. The comedy aspect is luckily still there but even during writing I noticed that some posts got serious. Sometimes a bit too serious to my liking. I can’t really say I have been writing consistently. Life happened. Then I moved to Dubai where I deliberately starting putting more effort in dating again. The pace was frantic. I went on 10 dates in a span of two months, with some follow-up dates in-between.
Those two months prove my point that dating is a number’s game. I got ghosted several times. While I’m curious to know why, I’m okay with not having that closure. I could see myself making friends with some of my dates and with some other girls I’m good with not meeting up again. It’s also reassuring that in a “difficult” dating market like Dubai, it’s possible to find decent company. The heavy filtering is sometimes quite tiring though. I’m talking about online dating as most of my dates I met online. I didn’t really experience the dating scene at night as bars and clubs are open but you need to stay in your own bubble. Or as the big, black security guy said, “No dancing. Sit the fuck down”.
A year in review wouldn’t be one without a list:
- Best post: On Taking Public Transport (This is what 69 Dates is about. Real life experience cum entertainment cum wisdom)
- Weakest post: On Staying Home (This post was written after/during a crazy period of travelling through five continents, weekly commutes abroad for work, preparing my move to Dubai while keeping a busy agenda during weekends. While it probably had therapeutic value for me and the inspiration was raw, it’s not really relevant to dating and relationships)
- Most entertaining post: On Spring Mornings (Arguably the best limerick ever written. Being in lockdown and unemployed is such a blessing)
- Most profound post: On Commitment (As I started dating someone exclusively, I wonder why there’s such a relentless fixation on all-encompassing commitment while healthy relationships are also built upon other foundations)
- Most read post: #15 Ice Cream Date | On Setting Expectations (But the top 5 most read are pretty close to each other)
- Most memorable date: #16 Beer Brewery Date | On Taste (Great beer and of course, amazing company. A virtual tasting is a if not the perfect stay-at-home date. The tasting is going on but you also have the liberty to focus on each other)
Since the beginning up till today, people ask me what I’ll do with the blog if I meet someone. Well, I guess we’ll find out in the coming months (or not, it’s complicated #logistics). My view is that the writing shouldn’t stop unless I’m paralysed and can’t type anymore but even then, look at Stephen Hawking…
Chapter 2020, closed.
If you haven’t made new year’s resolutions yet, here’s one: share 69 Dates with strangers and not-so-strange people.
Fill in your email address at the bottom of the page to receive new posts straight in your inbox.
If you like my writings, share it with your friends, enemies and lovers. Spread the word!
