2020 has been a year like no other-we all know that only too well. I have been reflecting on so many Covid related events;
- Limited Hospital visiting so staff members have done their best to act in their place
- Zooming and FaceTiming to bring folk together across miles
- Students struggling in isolation
- New Mums with no chance to meet each other
- Learning delayed for those in craft trades such as surgeons
- Volunteers using the time they did not plan to have to help others in extraordinary ways
- Various religious groups working together in shared humanity to give help to those in need , especially edible help
- Pets having the company of their working from home owners leading to concern about separation anxiety when they return to the office
- Netflix bonanzas for many
- Easier parking at least in hospitals
- Recently bereaved from Covid and other illnesses without the usual consolation of hugs from family and friends
- Queues-lovely in the sun, freezing in winter
- Home schooling -what an amazing undertaking all round
- Masks -passing people we didn’t recognise behind a mask
- New appreciation of the outside world
- A visit to the doctor becomes a day out
- Fear of going out
- Frustration at staying in
- Redundancy and undermined security
- New starts-finding a more interesting job
- Vaccination-folk crying for joy after receiving first dose, amazing volunteers , great professionalism
- Dreaming of holidays, restaurants , theatre, concerts, art galleries, sports events
I thank God for medical advances which help save the very sick, the amazing vaccine scientists , all those pulling together for the common good. I also thank God for those in the front line as scientific advisers and politicians. They have done their best even if sometimes making decisions which proved to be wrong. I certainly would not wish to be in their shoes trying to balance infection risks, the economy, people’s livelihoods and ultimately lives. They need our support and our prayers.
Jill Pipe