Now that my children have finally broken up for Christmas, we are all daring to hope that we’ll be permitted to spend some quality time with our extended family – lateral flow tests notwithstanding, of course. At least, that is, until Boris calls a somewhat premature halt to any seasonal revelry.
As 2021 gradually draws to a close, it is astonishing to think that so much uncertainty still pervades everyday life and the distinct possibility of having to surrender many of our basic liberties once again (almost as soon as the last mince pie has been devoured) is more than a little demoralising! However, now is not the time for negative thoughts (after all, that’s what January is for!) instead, why not follow the advice of Stephen Covey? Namely that we should ‘Live, love, laugh (and) leave a legacy’, because these are the memories that will ultimately sustain our loved ones when we can no longer be together.
‘Last Call for Christmas’ by Gaynor Hall
’Twas the night before lockdown when all through the nation,
The people were cursing in abject frustration –
They’d barely discarded their party hats,
Nor managed the very last riddle to crack.
Gifts lay unopened at the foot of the tree,
Intended for Gran who’d been sleeping since 3!
And now the PM (centre stage on the telly)
Was ‘calling time’ on their festive Beef Wellie!
With no time to work off the Christmas excess,
Life would be cancelled again – more or less,
With guidelines as ‘rich’ as the festive fruit pud,
He began to outline all the ‘coulds’ and the ‘shoulds’.
Despite having chosen his rules to ignore –
Indulging in gatherings behind (public) closed doors –
It was clear that ‘Joe Bloggs’ was expected to comply
With another round of restrictions – no chance to defy.
But instead of being angry, with those cloaked in power,
(Lecturing, once more, from their ivory towers)
Those precious few hours of unrivalled pleasure,
Filled with such magical moments to treasure,
Are a fitting reminder of the laughter and love,
Witnessed, I’m sure, by our loved ones above.
Plan. Evaluate. Scrap. Repeat. 