The End Of Another Year

Yes, what a year this has been and very soon we will thankfully say so long to 2020 and hello 2021.

Every year is a challenge and this year has been challenging to say the least as we as a nation have collectively suffered heartbreak, pain and tragedy.

We have all been given a choice in these pandemic times we can accept how things are and carry on regardless and trust our politicians and ‘experts’ whoever they may be. 

Or, remain positive, optimistic and do everything possible to keep and stay safe. Here’s to tomorrow and a healthy and resilient 2021.

Is Today The Day To Develop And Grow

This seems as good a day as any to talk about our feelings and where do we go from here. As the wise man once said, ‘When you’re feeling like shit there’s only one place to go and that’s up.’

2020 which is now drawing to a close has been such a horrible experience for far too many people. We’ve suffered trauma, isolation in all of its guises, severe and debilitating illness. In the space of a few months, so many people in so many countries have suffered unfairly with in some cases disastrous consequences.

This is a time we will never or can never forget and all of our shared experiences will be told and retold to future generations. However, from travesties, good things can develop such as the birth of a newborn child or the realisation of a project, idea or simply new doors being opened.

Yes, its been a year most of want to erase from our memories but maybe now is the right time to grow, develop and prosper in new and exciting ways and please have a wonderful 2021.

Paul,

Just Waiting For the Vaccine

As a writer my ‘normal’ working or writing day has always consisted of working at home for the majority of the day. As it’s essential to exercise when sitting or standing for long periods throughout the day I’ve always walked to the nearby park Freedom Fields Park in Plymouth for some fresh air and to stretch the non-writing muscles.

It’s also interesting to hear snippets of different conversations as I walk past other walkers or people just taking their dog for a walk. However, since Covid-19 surfaced way back in March although my working day has not changed a great deal in that time the topic of conversation has.

From students to pensioners the words today revolve around the pandemic, how long will it last for, will we ever get back to normality but listening today there was only one topic when will we get the vaccine. I’m sure in parks far and wide around the globe the same conversation would be happening in many different languages and why did we let this happen?

But as any day in my writing life I needed to return to the confines of my writing room and write.

Remember, This Is Not Another Moon Race

I vividly remember the days of the space and later the moon race between America and the then Soviet Union on the first country to get to the moon. As it happened it was the US when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first to land on the moon in 1969 although the Soviet Union did launch the first artificial satellite Sputnik 1 in 1957.

However, there seems to be an equally competitive spirit as to which country will be the first to deliver a Covid-19 vaccine that of course is where the competitive spirit should end. We are now talking about people’s lives not whether an individual will walk on the moon and no one was hurt in that particular mission whereas we all know the damage that this disease has already done to countless innocent people worldwide.

It’s not the case now of who is the first country to deliver the vaccine but who can safely deliver and we all should be working together to ensure citizens everywhere from the UK and the US to Russia, China, Africa and the Middle East etc are all protected and hopefully this disease like past diseases such as polio are a thing and remain a thing of the past.

I’m well aware that all governments are looking to show the world they are the best but there’s a time for competition and a time to safeguard not only our lives but the lives of future generations.

So yes, hopefully we will have a vaccine soon but does it matter who is the first. No as this is not a race.

#Covid-19 #Vaccine #Pandemic

Just Looking Ahead

Looking ahead which is what we’re all doing in these equally troubling and challenging times waiting for this pandemic to end whether this is from a vaccine or from other means. What lies on the far horizon?

In times of adversity we need to be one step ahead in this dance of  life we find ourselves in. It may be that in the very near and possibly bleak future we need to reassess how we live, eat and work. Are the arts especially theatre going to be as vibrant as we’ve known it or will drama spaces be completely different?

Will our diets change and careers such as teaching or more home working is the go-to in the coming months.

As the wise man once said, ‘Only time will tell,’ or watch this space.

 

Is This Our New Normal?

In some ways it seems a lifetime ago when the news media was reporting of a possible virus invading our shores and all government sources were dismissing it as if we were all immune. But in the grand scheme of pandemic things, no one is immune.

At the beginning of the year everything was as it should be as we all progressed with our day to day lives oblivious to any real outside influences apart from the odd election which wouldn’t affect us anyway would it?

But now our new normal consists of social distancing, being masked up and wondering if going to the pub, cinema or the theatre will ever be the same again. Will it ever be the same you know the way it used to be or is this really the new normal.

Well for now, yes, it is then one day we’ll have another normal and these days will be another thing of the past. But one thing is certain this normal we’re all living at the moment isn’t normal or maybe it is.

Until we can move on lets all support and look out for each other. Isn’t that what normal people do in the times of crisis and never stop looking out for our friends and neighbours and the stranger in the street.

Help For The Homeless Is Needed

As we experience the second lockdown this year it would be fair to say no. we are not all in the same pandemic boat the same as we are not born equal or live in a classless society.

Yes, only a handful of stores are allowed to open and schools, colleges and universities must remain open possibly adding to the potential spread of the virus but why then are homeless people not being better protected.

When the first lockdown was announced in March, many homeless people were accommodated in hotels and hostels not only saving countless lives but also preventing a spread of the virus into the local and wider communities As the cold winter weather begins to affect the most vulnerable people in our society shouldn’t we still be caring now about the homeless or was that strictly a one-off episode.

We constantly hear that this pandemic will force us to change and be more caring towards each other or is that just another sound bite of these times. Let’s make a change and begin on the streets, help the homeless charities more and make sleeping rough a thing of the past.

Yes, we cared about the homeless people in March and we should care as much today as well as tomorrow.