Eastlife Autumn 2020

LITTLE EAST
Mum’s the
Word;
Autumn’s
Promise
Written by Dolly Osborne
2020 was a year that came with such promise. A new decade,
perhaps the second roaring 20s, the 32nd Olympiad, the 75th
anniversary of V-E Day and, though only relevant to me and
my loved ones, my 40th birthday. Like many people up and
down the country I had planned a smorgasbord of events for
2020; comedy, theatre, music, festivals – a packed timetable
to celebrate my hitting the big 4-0. Now I don’t need to tell any
of you that didn’t happen. Instead as COVID-19 hit our shores
the country had to enter into a kind of reverse hibernation.
Households everywhere made like Moominpappa and stocked
up their fridges, larders and (apparently) toilet paper cupboards,
as we planned to bunk down for spring and summer.
Rather than seeing our children frolic amongst the bluebells
and blossom trees we saw them battling with unreliable maths
websites (if you know, you know), reams of home learning
and having to interact with their friends via Zoom or gaming
platforms. The planned street parties were replaced with
neighbourhoods cheering for NHS workers, and the weekly
shop became a military mission.
But now, finally, we are approaching autumn and hopefully a
return to the great outdoors. The season of mists and mellow
fruitfulness bringing so much more to the average British
household. We have two seasons worth of fun to catch up
on, of woodlands to explore, of family trips out and of autumn
holidays.
Whilst I’m sure life won’t be quite like it was before the
pandemic, we will find a new normal, a normal that I suspect
will involve more exploration of our green and pleasant land.
Happily, I know that our beautiful country is more than up to the
challenge. Perhaps the spring picnics that were missed can be
replaced with pumpkin picking with the family. An abandoned
beach holiday can be replaced with a trip to one of Britain’s
many forests or other areas of natural beauty. And as we venture
out into a post COVID world it will be not only with a new-found
love of the world around us, but perhaps even a whole new
perspective on what is truly important in life. Now that’s an
autumn I’m looking forward to.
www.raggydollywrites.wordpress.com
Twitter @Osborneosaurus
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