Saying farewell to a difficult year
As this year started, it was already reported that a deadly virus outbreak had occurred in Wuhan, China. However due to the lack of forthright action by the Chinese communist party a mass killer was let loose around the world and millions of our family members and friends became infected with a virus which nobody knew how to control and therefore resulted in an untimely death for many and for those who survived, a long road to recovery was paved.
It wasn’t until March that the UK government decided to take the unprecedented step to enforcing a nationwide lockdown and ceasing the calendar of live sport, music events, theatre etc., an action that would place a large burden not just on the economy but on the livelihoods of thousands who were furloughed or lost their jobs altogether as a result of failing companies. However for many who lived an already isolated existence, their isolation became a strain on their mental health, and if it wasn’t for some of the extraordinary people that live in some of our communities, they were able to get medical and food supplies and I thank everyone one of you for your amazing kindness.
Despite specific guidelines set out by government, there were several people who were still determined to be defiant and put people at risk of the virus with their carelessness and to those people you get no thanks from me, just my anger at your selfishness.
As the warm summer sunshine lit up the country from its dark slumber, it was a time for the government to ease lockdown rules and allow a certain amount of people to meet outside, however once again those selfish people amongst us dared to defy and our beaches were filled with hundreds of people discarding several tonnes of rubbish and defaced our beaches and beautiful countryside by urinating and defecating on them, and it was up to the sterling work of volunteers to clear up after you and avoid an environmental disaster as well a medical one.
For students like myself it has a been a very difficult year with many failing to achieve the grades that would enable them to continue their education in University, all that hard work for nothing, I really fell for them. For those who did make it to university and those who returned after lockdown, getting use to a completely new campus regime must have been extremely difficult and stressful and I salute your perseverance. I know personally difficult how studying has been during lockdown, in September I started my Level 3 Counselling skills diploma course, however it was soon deemed that classes would be carried out via Google Classrooms and although meeting my fellow students in a virtual online setting was pleasurable it is not the same as in the flesh. Hopefully in the new year we will return to the proper class setting and I look forward to meeting my classmates and maintaining the friendships we have already forged.
Thankfully as this year fades and a new one dawns there is optimism as a vaccine is now being administered and gradually all of us will be entitled to it, but in the meantime we must be patient and adhere to government guidelines by social distancing and wearing facemasks and not holding parties, and there is no exemption for anybody whatever your social standing or celebrity status.
As we approach a Christmas somewhat subdued by the current government guidelines, I first of all want to wish all of the key workers who have gone beyond the call of duty this year and put themselves right in the firing line of this pandemic, you have surpassed yourselves and are deserving of our upmost gratitude and I thank you all. Sadly not everybody was lucky enough to survive this cruel virus and many of us still mourn loved ones who we have lost, so to you I send my deepest sympathies and condolences.
I hope 2021 brings a sense of normality back to the world’s populous and I wish everybody a safe and healthy Christmas and New Year.
