2020 was a year like no other

I want to wish all Perthshire Advertiser readers a very happy New Year and I hope that the festive season was as merry as it could be during the current climate.

2020 has been a pretty dark year for us all and I am sure that we all look forward to 2021 as a year of renewed optimism and hopefully a year of much better news.

At the start of 2020, I could never have imagined the year that was to come.

Although there were rumours of a mystery illness with pneumonia-like symptoms being reported at the start of the year, I do not think that any of us would have predicted what was to come.

A year of staying indoors, away from our loved ones and a vastly different experience even when we did venture outside.

A year of face masks, social distancing and huge sections of the economy unable to operate.

It truly has been a year like no other in my living memory.

As we enter 2021, the vaccine is rolling out at pace and we have cautious reason for optimism.

It is clear that not everyone will be medically able or willing to be vaccinated, but the more of the population that take up the coronavirus vaccine will ensure a speedier return to life looking like we remember it.

For me one of the most difficult things about 2020 has been the separation from family, especially those who are further on in years.

I have spoken to lots of my constituents about the heart-breaking stories of loved ones who have passed away this year, with much smaller memorial services than would normally have been the case.

My thoughts are with everyone who has lost someone close to them this year.

We have all seen the emotional scenes of visits to elderly relatives through glass.

It is my sincerest hope for 2021 that we will be in a position to break down those physical barriers and return to being able to embrace our loved ones as we once did.

I want to thank all of my constituents for the amazing community spirt that they rallied in 2020 and I would encourage everyone to keep it up going forward.

Prior to this year, many people were of the view that community spirit was on its way out, but I think we can all look to the small and large acts of kindness that we witnessed across Scotland this year to see that is not entirely the case.

From the community groups delivering food and medicine to those shielding, to the small shopkeepers and farmers who did all they could to keep our shelves stocked, it has been a remarkable year for community cohesion.

Once again, thank you for everything you have done in 2020 to look after one another.

I look forward to representing you throughout what will hopefully be a much more positive and productive year for us all.

All the very best to you and yours for 2021.