Wednesday 30 December 2020

Something positive

After this awful year of a rampaging virus, all manner of personal restrictions, thousands of people losing their jobs or getting into debt, rising alarm about climate breakdown and anxiety about the possible consequences of Brexit (for us Brits, at any rate), I thought it might cheer us all up to recall some of the good things that happened during the year.

  • Marcus Rashford, the footballer, secured more free meals for school children and launched a book club to encourage children to read
  • Captain Tom Moore raised almost £40m for NHS Charities after walking laps around his garden ahead of his 100th birthday
  • Frontline health workers saved thousands of people from dying, and risked their own health to do so
  • Kamala Harris became the first female, first black, first South Asian US Vice President Elect
  • Due to movement restrictions and a slowdown of social and economic activities, air quality improved in many cities
  • There was a huge wave of support for Black Lives Matter, and increasing anger over police violence towards black people
  • Birthdays became less about presents and more about creative ways to connect with loved ones
  • Lashana Lynch became the first black female 007
  • Scotland became the first country in the world to provide free and universal access to period products
  • Comfy clothes reigned supreme as more people worked from home and didn't need to dress up for work
  • Musicians used social media to give us personal concerts from home
  • Harvey Weinstein and other prominent public figures were brought to court for sex crimes
  • We had more time to bake/read/cook/exercise/play Scrabble, and to make new plans for our lives
So all we can do now is hope for a much better 2021 and a return to a more normal way of life. And lots more videos of obstreperous cats.

Pic: Kamala Harris

Thanks to Glamour UK

28 comments:

  1. Just watching the House of Commons neutering itself....so I needed your cheer up post!
    Happy New Year to you.

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    1. Fly: The debate on the EU trade deal was yet another rubber-stamping exercise. Full and detailed consideration was impossible.

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  2. That's an excellent list Nick.

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    1. Polly: Thank you. Mostly plagiarised from online sources!

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  3. I’m a pessimist and never expect the future will be brighter. So I figure enjoy, make the best use of, what we have while we still have it. In spite of some dental problems for me and health problems for Andy, 2020 was a good year for us.

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    1. Jean: For those of us who no longer have to work or earn an income, 2020 was actually not too bad. Oldies doing well yet again....

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  4. yes! lots to be thankful for even in this covid year.
    happy New Year Nick. thanks for your great thought provoking posts all through the year! xo

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    1. Tammy: Yes, it's not all doom and gloom, thankfully. Happy New Year to you too!

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  5. Can we add all of the selfless work that was done by front line health care workers? Despite what lots of folks have said, it was NOT the job they signed up for, esp without PPE.

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    1. Bijoux: I was thinking of including them. I will now do so. They've been dealing with the most horrendous situation month after month, and although some of them talked of quitting, very few have.

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  6. There is no going back. There is a new normal out there waiting for us. Hopefully, it includes many of the good things we learned this year.

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    1. Linda: Certainly a lot of things will be different. Like all the empty offices because so many people are now working from home. And the huge increase in online ordering.

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  7. All good and positive things! Happy New Year, Nick!

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    1. Jennifer: And a Happy New Year to you too!

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    1. Joanne: And I hope you have an excellent new year too.

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  9. May 2021 be much better to all of us. Happy New Year.

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    1. Mary: Yes, here's hoping 2021 is a big improvement on 2020.

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  10. You have made some very good points in this post, despite a horrid year for many and in many ways, there are still people and things to celebrate. Best wishes to you for a happier new year.

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    1. Beatrice: Thank you. Indeed, there's plenty to celebrate despite all the horrors of 2020.

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  11. I'm glad to see a positive post. I've found 2020 pretty good and I'm starting to almost feel bad about not being miserable.
    Happy new year, Nick

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    1. Kylie: Jenny and I have also enjoyed 2020, despite all the restrictions. But we're well aware that the year has been a total nightmare for a lot of other people.

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  12. I would not like to see another year like 2020. I too hope that 2021 will be far better. My best wishes to you that it is.

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    1. Ramana: At our age, we're unlikely to see such a horrendous year ever again. But who knows what the future holds?

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  13. Glad we had some positive outcomes in 2020 about which it's good to be reminded.

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    1. Joared: 2020 certainly won't be seen as the "good old days", that's for sure.

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