The whiff of excitement is in the air as we draw closer to Christmas, and so it should. Reflecting on the last 12 months, it has been one of the toughest ever for our local residents. We have endured drought, bushfire, dust storms, and of course topped off by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Christmas has looked to come early, with restrictions continuing to ease across the country.

However, this is a good opportunity for everyone to be extra mindful as we approach the festive season. Many have been hit particularly hard, whether it be financially due to lost jobs, increased stress due to social isolation, or perhaps illness to themselves or a family member. For some, this holiday season may mean extra stress, or may be the first one spent away from a loved one. I do hope that we are mindful of the situations of friends, family and colleagues, and understand that it may not reflect our own emotions.

On a positive note, this is an absolutely wonderful time to relax and wind down. With the majority of borders opening up, we can now enjoy Christmas dinner with our extended family, shopping sales, or even going out to our favourite restaurants to eat. Our swimming pools and shopping centres are open to cool down as we ease into the Tamworth summer. It is also a great time to support our local businesses, who may have closed for extended months due to restrictions this year.

From myself, and the Barton Lane Practice team, I hope we can all find some much needed positivity at the end of a difficult 2020, and most importantly, keep safe, happy and healthy through the festive season.

Merry Christmas.