Apprentice Achievements
Looking Back On 2021

Looking Back On 2021

In a year when the mainstream media have consistently annoyed me & I’ve taken 125 Lateral Flow Tests so far, all of which have been negative, I’ve been looking back on our second consecutive year of disruption caused by the COVID pandemic.

I continue to test twice weekly with additional tests as required when I visit other workplaces, Oh & yes, I’m triple Covid jabbed with an additional flu jab. Go me! – on the back of all this I did try getting changed in a telephone box & consequently I have a regular appointment with a chiropractor!

During the past two years we’ve come to recognise additional phrases in our vocabulary that didn’t previously feature as prevalently.

Lockdown, jabbed, fully vaccinated, isolate, quarantined, social distancing, flattening the curve, bubble, non-essential to name a few. All familiar English words, but not words that I’ve previously used daily to inform my behaviour & lifestyle.

Decisions relating to work, school, holidays, family time, visiting shops, eating out, going to the cinema or theatre……………………………………………

Stuff we’ve always taken for granted has become a process of planning & consideration.

Accepting that COVID is now part of our lives going forward like the flu with new variants emerging across the planet, we’ve got to get to a position of managing our lives differently but freely.

My heart sinks at every announcement of new restrictive measures, even though I understand the need for them, as I’m tired of the pendulum of policy change & the impact it has on our lives & the economy.

I was happy to be jabbed & I’m in awe of the work completed by scientists across the world to develop a vaccine so quickly

I don’t mind wearing a mask in crowed spaces.

I’m happy to undertake regular testing & importantly, I’m prepared to take personal responsibility for my own actions within the government guidelines.

But what about the good stuff, because although significant I don’t want the Pandemic to be the only defining memories, I have of 2021.

What about the money we didn’t spend during the first lockdown, although that’s a double-edged sword as this affected the economy.

The thousands of volunteers that have willingly given their time to support those most vulnerable in society.

The way in which we’ve all adapted to new ways of doing things that have positively impacted on our time & lifestyles

I’ve previously driven from Yorkshire to Essex & back again in the same day for a meeting. Yes, I was a complete plonka!

Here at Springfield Training, we’ve invested in an E-Portfolio system, virtual & augmented reality training resources & we’ve worked tirelessly to ensure that the impact of the restrictions didn’t stop our delivery.

Throughout the pandemic I’ve learned a lot about myself.

I’ve learned that I don’t impatiently nag for stuff to be completed. I’m tenacious!

I do have the ability to use technology for teaching & learning & I’m only technophobe (ish)!

I’ve learned that although I can get away with wearing a tutu & a shirt for an online meeting, I’d still prefer to meet people in person, albeit not in a tutu.

Mostly I’ve come to appreciate just how resilient we are as a nation, finding a positive way through even the darkest of times & still managing to avoid taking ourselves too seriously.

I hope you have a great Christmas break & I look forward to sharing some physical, or virtual space with you in the New Year

Cheers

Noel