There is an internet site (https://www.thetoptens.com/worst-things-happened-2020/) that lists the ten worst things that happened in 2020. Predictably, the Coronavirus outbreak is listed as number one, and the Australian bushfires as number two, with another 8 covering a range of events. This essay examines things at micro level, and lists a more localised "10 worst things in 2020".
1. Anal fistula: Whilst "annus horribilis" is applicable to the year in general, "anus horribilis" is more relevant here. After 11 surgical interventions over 2 and a half years, colorectal surgeons at the Austin Hospital finally (July 2nd) attempted what could have been a curative procedure (known as a LIFT - ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract). Given that the success rate after LIFT ranges from 40 to 95 %, with a recurrence rate of 6-28 %, optimism ensued. High hopes were dashed when a recurrence resulted in admission to the Warrnambool Hospital on July 26th. To make matters worse, it coincided with a scheduled Collingwood-Eagles “home and away” game. The broadcast of the match was interrupted at half time by a nurse saying it was time to be wheeled to the operating theatre. As Collingwood's performance had been less than promising, the idea of being anaesthetized for the remainder of the game somehow seemed attractive. The pre-op prepping was interrupted by a flurry of activity signalled an incoming “trauma” - meaning the procedure would be delayed. A return to the ward meant a confrontation with a 10 goal deficit.
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3. Painting job: To re-house the 30 years worth of acquisitions that had been stored in the cottage, a shipping container was purchased. To make it more aesthetically pleasing a search for a painter was initiated. After a couple of quotes a young man, who assured us he could start the following Monday, emerged as the preferred candidate. When he failed to appear as agreed, a message was sent to see if there was a problem. Eventually he replied saying he’d just got out of hospital after breaking his collarbone on his mountain bike and would be "out of action" for 2 months.
4. Car: Using a car to transport goods from the cottage and garage to the container may have saved backs, but not wallets. Incident one involved wife backing into a pole and denting the passenger side rear panel. Fortunately there were not too many derogatory comments from husband. Incident 2, a few hours later, involved husband backing into a parked trailer and denting the driver's side rear panel. Off to the panel beaters.
5. Internet access: The New Year was ushered in with an NBN upgrade that somehow went wrong and removed all access. Initial assurances that a technician would attend by January 4th, were tempered by a follow up message postponing his arrival because “everyone is on holidays”. Still, a small irritation compared to what was to follow.
6.Credit card: Credit card fraud reared its head in October when my bank transactions revealed a $300 Uber Eats purchase. Not even having an Uber eats account, and not being able to eat $300 worth of food, it seemed suspicious. The bank was good enough to take this on board and refund the money.
7.Tape copying: After a long history of outdoor machinery misadventures, an indoor activity seemed a safer option. A project to transfer some old VHS tapes to DVD turned sour after 4 screwed up tapes and 10 non readable discs.
8. Football: The ABC News headline says it all
9. Music career: Six decades of involvement in music stalled on St. Patrick’s day (March 17th 2020) when Coronavirus restrictions closed entertainment venues down.
10. Computer
“bargain”: It seemed too good to be true, but a Macbook pro retina 15 computer was advertised online for $52, and couldn't be resisted. A
disappointment factor of 10 followed the
delivery of a “hard shell case for a Macbook Pro Retina 15”.
Expectation
Actual
