I don’t think there will be too many people sad to see the back of 2020. What a year.
Who would have believed this time last year that we would be in the midst of an almost year long global pandemic, the world would be in disarray and we would still be without a Brexit deal (at time of writing). We just have to hope and pray that 2021 will offer brighter days.
It’s an almost impossible situation to call for our local politicians; people sometimes forget they are only human too. What I just cannot fathom however is the inconsistency between the Department of Education and the rest of the advice.
I would be truly traumatised at the thought of going back to home schooling while trying to work even though my children are only young. There however, seems little point in me not going to a socially distanced, masked up meeting with clients to protect myself, my family and others; when my children are literally on top of up to 30 children and a couple of adults in a confined space for six hours a day. The schools are doing an amazing job, but they can’t control children’s natural social behaviours.
In my opinion, without the schools and colleges adhering to the six week lockdown along with business and civic society we are not trying to find a solution; merely adding a sticking plaster and crossing our fingers.
I won’t even start on Brexit, I am so disheartened. I read an article recently in The Guardian talking about Boris Johnson’s ‘leadership style’ and it really resonated. It said he works towards getting to such a crisis point due to dithering, lack of decision making or indecisiveness that he can present only one solution. This he declares is the only way- he fails to mention that it is the only way because he failed to act on previous more palatable solutions that were no longer available at that stage.
This is my view as to how Brexit will end up. He would be very foolish, in the week that he has just had to impose a ‘no deal Brexit’ scenario. I believe at the final, final deadline, he will proclaim a breakthrough. It will be a weak, paper thin commitment that will leave the UK in a poor situation but allow him and his Government to proclaim a victory. What that means for business in Northern Ireland is already starting to play out.
The word that we had been talking about from the very start of this fiasco- delays. Delays that cost our already stretched businesses, time and money that they can’t afford to waste.
Anyway, apparently it’s Christmas and we should be merry and bright and all that -so again I am going to switch back to celebrating our local businesses and what we have to offer on our doorstep. This week as I tried to finish off my little bit of shopping I had some fantastic experiences in our city. It’s clear to see that places are quieter, the shopping centres late in the evening were a pleasure. for anyone like me who is trying to do their very best to minimise contacts, it suits just perfectly.
The excitement of it all- this week I was out for lunch. I haven’t been out for lunch in such a long time. We went to the Canal Court and it was excellent. The team were straight down for track and trace details and to explain how things worked. The food was fabulous as usual, the team were great ;and the sheer joy of getting your food handed to you. I hope this is one of the things we will no longer take for granted when we get back to some sort of normality.
I called into Graeme in Finegan & Son and in my coffee ignorance, asked him to pick some presents for me. As a strictly tea drinker, he could see me glazing over when he started talking about the products; but for anyone who loves coffee the team at Finegan & Son are bringing a whole new vibe to Newry and it is fabulous.
I made a conscious effort around our town centre calling into Jack Murphy Jewellers to congratulate the team who have just picked up another amazing award; picking up bits and pieces in Supervalu; Around a Pound, Bella’s Boutique and this year I bought my gift sets in McKeevers Chemist as well as Bolster Community. It feels good to know that rather than lining Jeff Bezos pockets my little local efforts may help towards keeping a local business ticking over until we see better times.
This is my last weekly column for the foreseeable future. Next year I plan to do them less frequently. I had thought by this stage we would be out and about with news from events and activities and lots to write about. I don’t know when that will be the case but we can only hope it won’t be too long. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for reading my columns, the thank the Reporter for publishing them and I would like to wish you and your families a very safe, healthy and happy Christmas.
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