So long 2020, it was hard knowing you…
This wasn’t the year any of us expected. It’s been full of disappointment, dashed expectations and uncertainty. To live in a time of global pandemic is history in the making. The bubonic plague took out 200 million people in just four years. Thanks to better public health, the internet, and co-ordinated government approaches (in most places) we’ve been able to keep our first year of deaths down to just over one and a half million. This year has shaken us up. Made us think about how we live, who we live with and what we want. It has, to use the title of one of my favourite books by Geraldine Brooks (set in a village in lockdown in 1666), been a ‘Year of Wonders’. So what have we learnt that we can take forward?
- Life is uncertain. Everything can change in an instant. Life is impermanent. While it feels a bit shit when your trip to Bali is cancelled, or your business is closing, there is a strangely positive tilt to that, if you can find it; that nothing really matters. All that stuff we do that we think is important, is actually quite meaningless. It means things won’t always stay the same, and sometimes not being the same is a good thing.
- We can change how we behave globally. Quickly. For those encouraging us to pursue the changes we need to address the climate crisis, this gave some hope. The only problem is, climate change might need to change its branding to Environmental Pandemic. Governments and corporations seemed to have taken notice of that faster. But clearly we are capable of a reset.
- Some people are fuckwits. They can’t help it. They were born that way. Like the dude on my plane who wouldn’t wear a mask when asked to. Everyone else wore a mask except him. He was clearly special. Hopefully the masks protected us from breathing in his toxic mindset.
- Staying still isn’t as bad as we thought. We live in the world of busy. Then busy stopped. It was like 1981. It’s okay not to be busy. Busy people got to meet their families and discover they actually liked their children.
- Zoom sucks. Yeah it was great for a while, in a world where we lived with the fear of being replaced by robots, until we realised how much we love other humans.
- You can work from home. Not everyone has to go to the office. Many businesses discovered an increase in productivity when their staff could pop a load of washing on at smoko. Nigel at the tax department was so much easier to deal with when chatting to me from his bedroom with his dog on his lap.
- The government can pay a Universal Wage. They should do it all the time. People were happy. They were shopping. The money went out, and then came back in.
- People will believe what they want to believe. It has nothing to do with fact or science. And while saying this, may I qualify it with the fact that when a scientist releases scientific information they do not preface it with ‘this is science’. Because it is science. Only stuff that isn’t science, tells you that it is.
- America is broken. It’s finished. The glory days of that empire are over. I’ll be watching Chinese films now.
- It’s not about what you do, or what you earn. It’s about whom you love. How you love. How you make your tiny life grand. It’s about connection. That’s the only certainty there is.
Glad we made it through 2020 – well almost – Co co co! Happy Xmas.
Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19
Keep free parking at LBH – HSU and Saffin
The Health Services Union has called on Lismore City Council to reconsider a decision to cancel free all-day street parking at Lismore Base Hospital.
Access to capital critical for small business
Many businesses and in particular small business, have been really struggling under the weight of COVID-19 and with the rollback of Jobkeeper, things have just gotten tougher.
Meaningful lockdown more satisfying than busyness
New research shows people who pursue meaningful activities – things they enjoy doing – during lockdown feel more satisfied than those who simply keep themselves busy
UK variant of COVID-19 linked to hotel cleaner
Queensland Health says that the partner of the quarantine hotel cleaner who tested positive to the UK variant of COVID-19 on 7 January 2021, has also tested positive to COVID-19.
Former MLC critical of councillors in NYE aftermath
Former Greens MLC Ian Cohen has lashed out at councillors for their lack of preparation for NYE.
Tweed mayor supports Brisbane lockdown
The Mayor of Tweed Chris Cherry says she supports the swift action of the Queensland Government in introducing a 3-day lockdown of the Greater Brisbane area in response to a COVID-19 case.
The Greater Brisbane lockdown restrictions
Queensland Health has clarified transit restrictions in place from 6pm last night (Friday, 9 January), limiting incoming and outgoing movements from the Greater Brisbane Area.
Three day lockdown for Greater Brisbane announced
The Queensland Government has announced that Greater Brisbane will go into lockdown for three days, while contact tracers work to ensure the UK strain of COVID-19 is not circulating in the community.
PM Morrison on vaccine rollout plan
The Australian Government has again brought forward the proposed rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Queensland Health confirms latest COVID case has UK variant strain
Genome sequencing has confirmed the latest Queensland case of COVID-19 (a cleaner at a Queensland quarantine hotel), has the UK variant.
THE TREPIDATION ACT 21st CENTURY [Stefanie Bennett]
Renegade neutrons
fall apart
laughing
on the front lawn
yet – you, with
your cold
aerial of souls’
clip-board
hand them
a clean
bill of health…
Seems strange how
a ‘for real’
shooting star’s
never around
when
you want one.
The new year 2021 may not be the year any of us expect.
Enjoyed this one Mandy – thanks!
Thanks for the controversy you’ve generated throughout this year, Mandy. Someone has to do it! And all the best for 2021.
Hope that old white man (the one with the red hat) visits you tonight with gifts a-pleanty.
SJ