My dearest FFT-ers,

it's Christmas Eve, 2020 is finally reaching its end, and I know it's been a difficult year for many of us in many ways.

I consider myself extremely lucky for not having impacted by the pandemic in any major way, but I've still been struggling a lot with the isolation and loneliness these past months. And this is why the friendliness and support of our community has been doubly precious for me this year!

So all I want to say to all of you is a huge, heartfelt

You've really kept me sane and made me feel loved and appreciated and I can't express my gratitude for this enough!

And if you allow me, I'd like to send some special thanks/messages/thoughts to a few specific people... hopefully I won't forget anyone...

To @victoria_anne: I don't even know where to start with you, little B! I guess I need to start by saying that I'm so, so grateful that we finally managed to meet in person last January! It's really been one of the brightest moments of 2020! Talking to you through the year, sharing with you my small writing progresses and receiving your encouragement in return really meant a lot! You are the best, love thee!

To the rest of the Liverpool fellowship (@sugar plum quill @nott theodore @Aphoride @something wicked like I said above, our Liverpool weekend has been the highlight of this bleak year! I love and appreciate each of you so much, you are all such wonderful friends and so caring and generous! I'm so grateful for our group PM on Twitter because it's really helped me feeling less alone! Thank you for being there and being you!

To @MuggleMaybe: same as above... you are such a supportive friend, and knowing that I could always knock at your virtual door and chat has really helped me through the year! Maybe Covid robbed us of our summer meetup, but you've still been there for me and I thank you so much for that! And I'm looking forward to the chance of meeting you again! I've told you over and over again, but it's always worth repeating... you are wonderful and just the best of friends and I'm so glad to know you!

To @blueirony: Jaz, I can't even begin to say how much your support was appreciated throughout the year! You've been such a positive force, constantly checking on everyone and trying to brighten the mood in every way you could and I admire you so much for it! Stay the caring, funny, awesome person you are, my dear!

To @CambAngst: our swaps have filled me with happiness! You are an incredible writer and an even more incredible reviewer! And your tweets are so much fun, too! You've made me laugh a lot and you've helped me getting my mind off things and it was so very needed this year! Many thanks, my friend!

To @merlins beard: My lovely Anja... I miss you in person (a lot!), but I'm grateful for the times when we've managed to talk for a bit through twitter and whatsapp this year! You are one of the people I'm closest to around here and I love you so much! Even if I know there have been a lot of lows this year, I've been especially grateful to see you happy with Ryan and your new job and everything else! Seeing you happy makes me happy! I can't wait to see you again, my love!

To @sapphicsunrise and @sihaya: you two are adorable! I'm sure you were already aware of the fact, but I thought I'd tell you once again anyway! I've smiled a lot at your tweets and pictures this year, so thank you for brightening my days a little!

To @facingthenorthwind and @kuusi palaa: my awesome betas!!!  Thank you so, so, so much for all your support, as always! You two are wonderful and I always love chatting with you, be it about writing or about life in general! Thank you for your availability and friendship and for being around for me and for being your wonderful selves!

To @la_topolina, @RonsFairyGodmother, @shadowysnowyfairy, @prideofsnowfairies, @juls, @val, @dreamofsnowflakes, @ShazaLupin, @MegGonagall, @Jo Raskoph, @just.a.willow.tree, @VaguelyCreativeName, @Stella Blue, @singmetothesun, @starliticesculptures, @Jazzeh Turnip: I hope you don't mind if I put you all into one big bubble... thank you for your love! Thank you for the reviews, the swaps and the snowball hugs! Thank you for rushing to lift me up when I was feeling down!  

To @sinnersandsapphics: same as above + thank you for the Hufflepuff movie dates and the occasional chats! Oh, and of course, all hail the queen always!

To @toomanycurls and @crowsb4bros and all of the staff: thank you for spreading so much love and for keeping my home away from home going!

To @dottie-wan-kenobi, @Everyshipunfreezable and @melonknee: you are new-ish around here/I haven't had time to properly get to know you yet, but you've all been so lovely and friendly so far! You've been a real joy to see around here this December and I can't wait to get to know you better!

To @TreacleTart: I had to spare a special thought for you, Kaitlin, my dear friend! I know you've been through so much this year and I just wanted to send you all the love and hugs and tell you once again how much I love and admire you!

If you are not on this list, either because I forgot or because I don't know you quite as well/haven't interacted with you a lot, know that I still appreciate you a lot! Every single person in this community is wonderful and deserving of all the love in the world!

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate and just a serene and warm end of year to those who don't! I really hope 2021 will bring you all joy and good news! In any case, I'm looking forward to a new year in your company!   

Hugest   ever,

Chiara