Rest and recuperate

By Jove (now there’s a phrase we don’t hear enough of) we needed some good news. I was reticent about wishing the Millers good luck last week – as my thoughts a couple of weeks before seemed to jinx Middlesbrough, England cricket – both the men’s and women’s teams. But luckily, I didn’t get to jinx the mighty Millers and didn’t they give us all some good news and uplifting vibes in abundance this last weekend. Paul Warne’s red and white army won the Papa John’s trophy at Wembley. What a great performance (eventually). Well done to the team and it’s a great bit of news for this town and this community.

And that should be the tone that we take going into this Easter break. We’ve all earned the time that we will get; however significant, or otherwise, that time might be. We’ll all do well to avoid a touch with COVID. Friends, family and colleagues may have been hit over the past month as rates have risen. We seem to be over the hump of this particular wave – fingers crossed.

The next couple of weeks look fine. The weather is set reasonably fair and this should mean that, whatever we are doing, we should feel the warming sun on our bones. This will bring a warmth to the heart and soul. It will lift the spirits. It will rejuvenate those weary bodies. It is important that we all find some time, however short, to get some ‘me time’. Take time to identify what it is that de-stresses you, brings you down, takes your mind off the daily expectations. We all need that. Whomever we are, whatever our roles, responsibilities, pressures in school, college, work, family or at home. Do it for yourself and encourage those around you to take some time too.

‘When the sun is shining I can do anything; no mountain is too high, no trouble too difficult to overcome.’ Wilma Rudolph
‘I spend a fair chunk of time in Los Angeles, and after about ten days of warmth and unbroken clear skies, you start to yearn for a bit of good old British gloom and rain!’ Sean Bean
‘Build a man a fire, and he’ll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he’ll be warm for the rest of his life.’ Terry Pratchett