Dear Readers,

Over the years we have experienced many hardships although for the most part they have been harder for some than others.   People of my age will remember the financial pandemic which paved the way for the three-day week in the mid-1970s when, while the government, companies and their employees all enjoyed the resulting days off, so many headaches were caused as everyone needed to work out how to live on the reduced incomes that resulted.  

Now, for what is beginning to seem like forever, we have the worldwide pandemic which we are still coping with.  Tens of thousands have lost their lives and it is inevitable that even more will die.  Statistics show that, as a country, we have lost the equivalent of more than 10% of the people lost in the second world war. 

History will determine which countries were more prepared for the unique situation that this virus has caused the world. 

There are really two battles going on.  The government, companies great and small and so many enterprises and organisations are suffering while this second lock-down results in more financial implications for so many people and, for the health of the people who make up our nations’ populace, our beloved homes have turned into our prisons, while living alone for so long has had a devastating effect on many in so many different ways. At a time in England when so many of us are used to beginning our preparations for Christmas, the biggest holiday of the English calendar, everyone is feeling the stress of not knowing what lies ahead for the world.

But one thing is for sure, I have no doubt that predicaments such as Covid-19, the two world wars and the three-day week, will continue to come, take hold and finally become a part of our history though how this chapter will pan out is yet to be determined; only time will tell.

Rudy Morgan.