Do it yourself

One of the positive things to have come from this period of lockdown has been the time to catch up on some of the tasks that normally sit comfortably at the bottom of the to-do list. For me that means DIY.

I enjoy practical activity and I'm not scared of trying most things, having grown up in a family of builders, but time has always been at a premium. However, over the last three weekends I have had the opportunity to replace fence posts, paint the back door and tidy the loft. And I have a list that keeps growing!

Although our attention is inevitably drawn to the darker and sadder stories, there are positives to be found from lockdown. Hopefully, you have seen the story of Capt.Tom Moore, aged 99, who walked 100 laps of his garden and raised more than 18 million pounds for the NHS! His story unlocked amazing generosity in people. There are also local stories like the staff of an Indian restaurant in Downham Market, who are donating weekly meals to key workers at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.*

On a personal level, one of the best things has been the opportunity to reflect, to consider my goals and values and to make resolutions about how I would like to do things differently in the future.

My greatest hope is that we become a more caring society that puts others' needs first (or at the very least alongside our own) and that we become a people who no longer Do It Yourself but rather Do It Together.

Keep safe,

Andrew.

*https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/downham-tandoori-donates-meals-to-qeh-in-king-s-lynn-1-6596095