We are now in the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it looks like we may finally be heading towards the end of this dreadful period in history. The virus is now endemic in the UK, as it is in most other parts of the World, and it appears we will now just have to live alongside it. A colleague asked me a couple of days ago, if I thought we would ever see a lockdown again; after thinking about it for a brief moment, I said 'no!' From the noise made in Government and the general public's reluctance, it is clear no one wants to see another economic shutdown again, and who can blame them.

My views on the Government's handling of this pandemic are widely known. From day one, our bumbling Prime minister, Boris Johnson, has left the most vulnerable in society to the mercy of COVID. He has avoided making decisions that would have ultimately saved lives, and he has allowed this virus to spread uncontrollably, failing to understand the need for restrictions in order to protect the wider population. However, we are where we are. Coronavirus isn't going anywhere soon, and we all have to weigh up our own risks, when dealing with it; we have to use our own common sense and do what is right for us.

As you would expect, I have read much about pandemics over the last few years, and it does feel that COVID-19 is following a rather traditional path. In general, Pandemics tend to last four to five years, and more importantly, they normally get milder, just as the last flu pandemic did, a little over a hundred years ago. Omicron looks to be a moderate version of Coronavirus, causing nominal flu like symptoms in most people, and doesn't appear to be the killer virus its predecessor was. Could this really be the downward spiral in the pandemic? Can we really start to live life once again?

Many of my closest friends, colleagues, and acquaintances are contracting the virus on a daily basis; far more than during the first few waves. For this reason, I am constantly looking over my shoulder, worrying, when will it be my time. Thankfully, despite being pinging by the NHS COVID app numerous times, taking a lateral flow test every other day and a PCR test when needed, I haven't tested positive yet. The last time I believe I had Coronavirus was at the beginning of the pandemic, in March 2019. Since then, I have taken every precaution to avoid it – wearing masks, constantly sanitizing and social distancing when I can, has become a fact of life. I am proud I have managed to avoid it up to now, even when others have tested positive twice or more.

According to statistics, Omicron is seventy percent more transmissible and with 200,000 a day contracting it, it is almost inevitable I will get it at some stage. Boris Johnson and his cronies have made it blatantly clear they will not have another lockdown and despite my misgivings about this Government at the start, I have to finally say, I agree with them. Britain's fragile economy, especially after Brexit, could not cope with another economic disaster. As a nation we can not afford to pay furlough money to inactive people again, and we do need to get on with our lives, in as normal a way as possible. This is, nevertheless, where I part ways with the Government, and unlike them, believe in stronger preventative measures, especially during the long winter months.

I have got used to wearing a mask in a working, social and crowded environment and to be honest, it doesn't bother me at all. Psychologically, I feel better wearing one, and I have had very few seasonal colds. I hope mask wearing is made compulsory in shops and indoor crowded locations permanently, as well as on public transport. Going forward, I intend to wear face coverings whenever I feel it is appropriate, as I believe we all should. I fail to understand, just why people dislike wearing them so much, especially when they protect others.

Vaccine passports are another way of ensuring the safety of others; if you haven't had a vaccine, because of some ridiculous anti-vax agenda, then you shouldn't be allowed in venues such as pubs, clubs, restaurants, and theatres. People need to live up to their commitments and start acting  conscientiously, thinking of the wider population, rather than themselves. If you don't get vaccinated, don't expect to enjoy the benefits the rest of us have. There is no conspiracy, there is just a desire to return to normal and not to remain stuck in this perpetual cycle of lockdowns and restrictions.

All of us have to do what is right for our communities – the old, frail and vulnerable, healthcare, retail, transport, and hospitality workers who are confronted with COVID every day. Each of us has a social responsibility to protect those who need it most, that is the mark of humanity, that is the right thing to do! If all of us had done what was expected from day one, we wouldn't be in the position we are today. We can't change the past, but we can influence the future!

Today, I am nursing a slight hangover, after saying goodbye to 2021 and welcoming in the new year. I am not in the habit of celebrating New Year's Eve these days, especially at the moment, with the new Omicron variant on the rise, but I did nevertheless have a few drinks with family after work.

Like most people, I will be glad to see the back of this horrible year and, rather like 2020, confine it to the bin of history. Of course, despite the challenges, I have personally faced this year, I am also aware of just how important 2021 was to Darrell and me, as we were reunited once again.

Both of us had been planning for Darrell's return for a good number of months, before he arrived in the UK. Darrell had to be sure that Mum was fit and able to be left, and her cancer was under control and manageable while he is in Britain. Once he was confident in her ability to look after herself, he had to get the correct paperwork in place, from the Australian government, that would allow him to leave the country. With Britain operating on an almost normal level, I can't emphasise enough just how Draconian the restrictions down under were and still are. Darrell had to sign a document, agreeing to not return to Australia for at least three months. This was a difficult undertaking for him, considering his Mother's health. However, he had no option but to return before his visa allowing him to live and work in the UK expired. With plans in place, Darrell returned home in September.

2021 was another year dominated by the ongoing pandemic. Anyone who thought the virus would have been eradicated by now, would be sorely disappointed. Today, as I write this entry, record numbers of people are falling ill with COVID, yesterday nearly 190,000 alone. It seems that most only have mild symptoms from the Omicron variant, but this is an awful lot of people self-isolating, and it can't be sustained forever.

I am lucky enough to have had both my vaccinations, and the booster in late November. I have also had my flu jab and a Pneumonia vaccination, so I am as protected as I can be. Working in a busy supermarket, I am well aware of the importance of wearing masks, sanitizing my hands and protecting myself; despite this, colleagues, friends, and family continue to fall ill every day; thankfully, thus far, I have been fine – not even a cold!

There have been so many sad stories this year, from friends who have lost loved ones to the virus and others who continue to battle its effects. In some respects, I have become numb to the suffering around me and just carried on working as best I can. It isn't that I don't care, it's just a mechanism I have adopted, to allow me to cope with the terrible circumstances we are all living through. If I constantly dwelled on the hardship, I would never leave the house; life has to go on!

My priority has been for myself, Darrell and my family. When Darrell arrived in the UK, he was luckily double vaccinated, having been one of the first group of people to receive their vaccines, when Australia had barely vaccinated a few hundred thousand people. Despite this, he has had difficulties with paperwork and documents, including his status on his British health records. With the Government pushing the boosters ever harder, pleading with people to get their third jab as soon as possible, we both decided he should start the vaccination process all over again here in the UK. In December, he had another injection and will have to have yet another one in a few months time. This was the quickest and best course of action we could take, to ensure he remained safe as Omicron ravages the country.

2021 has also been a year dominated by my health. With a growing list of symptoms and ailments and my anxiety levels high, I have pushed further and harder for answers. Yes, I do suffer with health anxiety, but the pain I experience is real. It may well also be functional in nature, at least in part, but the effects it has on my wellbeing is immeasurable. For these reasons, I need to understand just what processes are at work.

Luckily, despite the pandemic, I did manage to have various procedures completed, that I have been waiting for, for a long time. During the summer, I had my gallbladder removed, which had been causing a huge amount of discomfort. Since its removal, I have never felt better, and I am just thankful I badgered and harassed the clinicians and Doctors to get this operation done.

I also had a gastroscopy, which also answered a few more questions about my gastrointestinal health, and I could once again start to live a normal life with the right treatment. There are many other niggles and annoyances I want dealt with; with the pandemic a major concern and restrictions commonplace, it seems inevitable that I will have to wait a little longer for these to be carried out. I hope I can finally see the back of them in 2022; only time will tell if that's the case!

With both Darrell and I working, we are beginning to make plans for the future. 2021 has been about dreams and aspirations; living through a pandemic has made us reassess our future plans. As a couple there is still a lot of travelling we would like to do, but our priorities have changed somewhat and acquiring a permanent home, here in the UK, seems to be our biggest challenge.

Living with my Aunt has allowed me to save consistently; during COVID, I have saved even harder, and that has actually meant all the difference in deciding our future. With a healthy bank balance, both of us would like to invest in a new home soon, maybe as soon as 2022. We are quite comfortable living with my Aunt, so luckily there is no rush to purchase anything yet. The circumstances of 2021 has allowed us to build up capital at a time when others are sadly struggling. The Coronavirus era has been a lucrative time for us; I don't want to sound uncaring about others who have suffered, but we have been left in a fortunate position, that will hopefully help us secure our future. Neither of us have made any firm plans about where we would like to be based in Britain, but having money has given us options, that we wouldn't otherwise have had.

This year I reached the grand old age of 50, not a milestone I was looking forward to with any sense of glee. However, my Aunt organised a party that I will always remember. This was yet another event Darrell wasn't able to attend, second to our 25th anniversary in 2020. It is sad that we have had to live separate lives for so long, due to a situation beyond our control, but it has taught us the importance of resilience during testing times. Together, we remain as strong as ever and can be proud of everything we have achieved.

2021 has been a difficult twelve months, but it has been a year of hard work and progress. I don't have the social life I once had; I no longer travel the World, as I would like; but I am continuing to build the foundations both of us need for success in the future. No one can predict what will happen in 2022, but my guess is, more of the same, and I will be writing something very similar this time next year. On average, pandemics have a lifespan of four to five years, so I believe these tumultuous times have more to give. As long as we use these austere months for personal enrichment and advancement, I feel sure we will reach our goals and begin to live life again in the best way we can.  I look forward to the day when society returns to normal, masks are cast aside and social distancing is a thing of the past, until then we wait, wonder and ponder what comes next; nothing lasts forever, everything happens for a reason, even a pandemic!

This year, Darrell and I finally spent Christmas together, after four years apart. Surrounded by family, we were able to celebrate the day in a way we haven't before. Our past Christmases were not family affairs; we spent the day with friends and others who had nowhere to go, waifs and strays if you will, always opening our home to others like us. Spending time with our nearest and dearest made our Christmas Day even more special this year; my Aunt pulled out all the stops to give every one of us a memorable time.

It was a sign of the times that all of us had to undertake a COVID test, before we met on Christmas Day, but everyone was in agreement, that it was the best thing to do. Even after two years, Coronavirus continues to play its part in all our lives. Unlike last Christmas, we were determined to spend the day together. With Omicron on the rise, I was initially nervous about being around so many people, but it does seem this new variant is less potent than the others, so I believe it was a risk worth taking. All of us, including Darrell, have had a third vaccination, so we have been afforded the best protection we can.

Both of us look forward to a positive New Year, fulfilling dreams missed over the last two years. I hope 2022 will finally signal the end of this enduring pandemic and the resumption of normal service. I am counting the days until I can once again set foot on a plane and continue the journey Darrell and I forged together over a quarter of a century ago. If anything, this festive season has highlighted the importance of social interaction and spending time with loved ones. Human beings need each other, especially through chaotic times. A simple Christmas meal was the tonic I required, to live life once again!

I haven't had too many memorable Christmases over the  years, certainly since leaving home, so I have to look further back to my early childhood, for that perfect Christmas Day.

The bright glow from the artificial, tinsel covered tree, directed me towards the lounge. It was four O'clock in the morning, when I gingerly walked down the stairs, being careful not to wake a soul.  I poked my head around the door, the darkened room was illuminated with multicoloured streaks of light, rotating back and forth in the darkness. There was a distinct winter chill in the air; I could see the steam rising from my mouth as I gasped at the mountains of presents, filling the corner of the room. The 1970s patterned Axminster carpet was barely visible under the wrapped gifts; the magic of Christmas, laid bare; a moment of silence, before the festivities began.

Carefully, I closed the door, and began to walk up the stairs, back to my bedroom. With the creak of the final stair, I was greeted by a bleary-eyed Mum and Dad, stood in the doorway to their bedroom, smiling ever so slightly, despite the unearthly hour ..... This was the start of the most memorable day of the year!

A short video below of my recollections of Christmas Day!

There doesn't seem to be a lot of Christmas cheer around at the moment, and it's easy to see why. The new Omicron variant of coronavirus is now running rampant across the country, and all of us are being encouraged to get our COVID boosters done as soon as possible. No one knows exactly how bad Omicron will be; it seems highly transmissible, but interestingly milder, and could be a major stumbling block in the Worlds fight against this disease; getting a third jab seems the obvious next step.  Of course, after the Government broke its own rules last year and hosted Christmas parties against the COVID regulations, people seem less willing to listen to reason. Like most of us, I won't be changing my plans for Christmas, because this God awful Government says so. More slogans, confused messages and even more bluster… Here we go again!

Unlike last year, pubs are still open and people are starting to celebrate the festive season. Last weekend we had the 'Football Supporters Christmas Disco' at the Newcome Arms Public House, where I work twice a week; it was packed to the rafters. Under normal circumstances, I would have been nervous about such large crowds of people, but I am fortunate to have had my booster and like most, I am sick and tired of the mixed messages from Government. Today, I am following my own rules and pretty much ignoring official advice, except where booster vaccines are concerned. It is important we get this third jab, to help protect us through the winter season and the rise of Omicron.

The party at The Newcome was fantastic, and I had a wonderful time, the best I've had since the beginning of the pandemic. I was thankful to be working on the other side of the bar and not part of the drunken throng. I have always felt safe at the pub and can always socially distance as much as I like. As a person who no longer really drinks, I am aware of just how far we lower our inhibitions in an inebriated state; keeping my wits about me during this pandemic is important, especially now.

Last week, I was 'pinged' by the track and trace app, which informed me I had been in close contact with someone who has COVID. To this day I have no idea who it was, but I was told I didn't need to self-isolate, as I would have had to in the past. However, I was informed I would have to take a PCR test, which came back negative, and I have been taking a lateral flow test daily.

It does seem odd that I didn't have to isolate this time; I could have had Coronavirus and been spreading it around, while I waited for the result. I have been in close contact with others with COVID in the past, but once again not contracted the virus. I can only assume the vaccines are protecting me from COVID and that makes me a willing participant in the vaccine programme, as we all should be.

At the moment, I am trying to get Darrell's booster jab sorted, but because he was vaccinated in Australia, this is proving a tricky operation. He doesn't seem to be able to use the online system, because only his GP has his vaccine records from Western Australia. They will be the only ones who can contact him direct, to arrange an appointment. Considering they are already asking over eighteen-year-olds to come forward, and he is forty-nine, I am naturally concerned he hasn't been called yet.

Darrell seems less concerned than I, but, he hasn't lived through the worst of the pandemic yet, being sheltered from it, living down under. It is important he gets vaccinated soon, especially with him working in the same environment as me, and I will continue to do what I can to make it happen. It is likely it will be at some point in January now; the booking system is under severe pressure and constantly crashing, making it impossible to get through. Even when you speak to the COVID help line operators on the telephone, they also seem unsure of Darrell's status and what to do next. Frustration and annoyance is all I can describe how I feel; I just hope, not for too much longer.

This week I did manage to see my Father, along with Darrell and my Aunt. All of us wanted to see him before the new Omicron variant takes hold; I have a feeling it won't be too long before we are all locked down once again and visiting anyone will become impossible. None of us wanted a repeat of last year, when I was unable to see Dad at all, except for a very brief visit to drop off Christmas presents. Dad seemed happy to see us, and I am thankful we could spend some quality time together before the big day.

Dad took us all out for lunch at his local pub and restaurant, the 'Oast and Squire,' which was lovely. The food tasted great, and it was fantastic to sit and chat, without a care in the World. Occasions like this are rare and even rarer during this pandemic. I have no idea when I will see Dad again; Like most people, I am having to rethink various aspects of my Christmas. I have already cancelled several events with friends, not wanting to put others at risk. From a work Christmas party to a live music gig at the Rifle Club, all of us have had to make choices, about what is best for us and our families. I want to spend Christmas Day with my loved ones and not have to content with a potential COVID infection, others of course may feel differently.

It is difficult to get into the Christmas spirit at the moment, but we are doing our best to try to enjoy this year's events. We have to decide what is the safest option for us as individuals. Of course, Darrell is home with me now, and I also have to think about his well-being equally. Without his booster, I am mindful of his vulnerabilities. He has had two lung collapses in the past, and I have to protect him, as well as me, from the worst of this virus. I hope we will ride this new storm, like we have all the others, but until we know the facts about Omicron and the rising cases of infection (over 78,000 yesterday,) we have to think the worst. All of us hope this will be the final year of restrictions, but nothing is for certain. The average length of a pandemic is four to five years, I read recently, so we could have a long way to go yet! Stay safe y'all!