I think we have all found this last lockdown really hard and there is no doubt at all that our mental health has suffered, during this last twelve months most of you will know that BGSG have had fortnightly zoom meetings, which I hope has helped everyone through such a difficult time for all of us.
I am very grateful to all of you who have supported the zoom meetings, and it is always lovely to see so many smiling faces looking at me, I never thought for one moment that so many of you would attend, we have shared our stories and our emotions, and we have been joined by some amazing guests who have all given us things to think about.
As we move into Spring and Summer and the gradual easing of lockdown, hopefully, it seemed appropriate to think about meetings.
Many people have asked when face to face meetings will start up again, but for me it is still far too early to say, as soon as it is safe for us all we will of course welcome people back.
In the meantime, we will carry on with our zoom meetings but instead of every two weeks they will be once a month, at our last meeting I asked those attending their views and overwhelmingly people said once a month, so that is what we will do. I am hoping that with the longer, brighter days that people will be out and about a lot more and maybe might even be going on holiday!
What I have learnt from holding meetings this way is that anyone from across the world can join us, and so I do intend to keep doing meetings via zoom even when we can hold face to face get togethers.
Also if anyone would like to have a one to one meeting with me, via, zoom, google meetup or Skype please do get in touch.
As I write this it is the Tuesday after Easter and I know how hard any ‘special’ time such as Easter can be.
Easter for me is always a time for reflection, it was Easter in 2007 when all contact stopped with our granddaughter and I will never forget those lost 11 years. The emptiness is devastating and nothing will fill that void.
A time to also reflect and be grateful for all of those I love around me, and the many friends I have made over the last 14 years, it hasn’t always been an easy ride but always an education.
The darkness of unjustified estrangement is like nothing else I have ever experienced, but out of that darkness there is always light, we just need to be ready for it and to embrace it.
