Thursday 31 December 2020

We are the World Blogfest # 44 Happy New Year 2021 …


All the very best everyone … there’s so much to be grateful for … many of us are blessed – equally I know, too many have suffered and continue to do so …


 

Happy New Year 2021
It has been an extraordinary year … and one which we will remember in many different ways … I’m overloaded with Brexit and Covid …

 



see link below
For now I can only think of how Altruistic much of humanity is being … while we all look forward to a better tomorrow …

 




 

Healthy selection of fresh foods
Here’s to an easier 2021 … eat local, eat well, stay healthy, stay strong, help others and keep your spirits up – there is much to be positive about … little steps towards that better tomorrow …


 



A song for 2021 … with words to take into your hearts:

 



Welcome 2021 … ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ …

Morecombe & Wise’s song c/o YouTube …see lyrics …

 

 

Scilly Isles narcissi



We are the World Blogfest

In Darkness, Be Light

 

 Altruism Health Benefits - Mental Health Foundation

 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

28 comments:

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
all the very best to you, Hilary - things will drag on, that much is clear, but finding the bright spots to revel in must be one of our aims for 2021!!! Have a good one. YAM xx

Elephant's Child said...

This is a lovely, hopeful, happiness filled post. Thank you.
And here's to a Happy, Hopeful, Healthy New Year - for you and for the world.

Botanist said...

Best wishes, Hilary. And I am old enough to remember the Morecombe & Wise shows, especially the Christmas specials!

Mike Goad said...

Best wishes to you, Hilary, and to everyone else who comments here.

My wife and I are both inclined to be introverts which has helped us weather the storm better than some who are inclined to be social butterflies. Yet, even we are looking forward to a future where we can have more in-person social interaction.

We've had exactly 4 meals from outside the home since March -- picked up burgers and fries from the drive-through at McDonald's after each of my cataract surgeries and picked up pizza twice. Restaurants are open here at reduced capacity, but we don't feel comfortable going in -- again, looking forward to a time where we can go without any COVID concerns.

Stay safe, stay healthy. (Mike)

Maria said...

Ah Hilary, we are in the strangest of times but we must keep leaning forward.
Take good care and a Happy New Year to you and yours.

Jz said...

"An easier 2021" is the perfect way to phrase it!
Stay well - I hope you eked the holiday cookies out to last through New Year's. (I worry about these things, Hilary!)
Until next year. :-D
J.

Liz A. said...

Happy New Year.

Joanne said...

Your very positive and enlightening posts have been a bright light in this rather dark year. I agree - Ray and I have been most fortunate, but so many are not. All the best to you - stay healthy, safe, and continue to write these joyous and interesting posts. Thanks, my friend and cheers!

retirementreflections said...

Hi, Hilary - This positive post contains many gems.
Wishing you a happy, healthy and peaceful new year!

Anabel Marsh said...

Wise thoughts, as ever. I hope 2021 is good to you, Hilary.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Good morning Hilary: Thanks for an upbeat post. The past year has had so many implications for all of us, but the consequences of COVID have varied greatly in their intensity. For Miriam and me, and you too I suspect, it has been quite tolerable, and at times, dare I say, downright enjoyable. I do miss seeing friends, of course, and it bugs me that I cannot travel, but life in general has not been in any sense excruciating. I am looking forward to the vaccine being available, but I hope we are not all putting too much faith in instant deliverance from the pandemic. I suspect that it will be the end of 2021 before anything close to normalcy is restored. In the meantime stay well, stay safe, walk often, keep blogging, drink coffee, sip wine, eat well! All the very best for 2021!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Yam – thank you so much … yes not much change for a while … but looks like things will get easier, especially once the later lighter days return …

@ EC – thanks … yes I can’t do doom and gloom … so exactly here’s to a healthy and happy 2021 for us all …

@ Ian – glad you enjoyed the link to Morecombe and Wise – the words are just right for the post … the tune can be a bit gloying at times … and we enjoyed their Christmas specials too …

@ Mike – I reckon I’m both … so I’ve been happy cocooned in my own little world. Hardly eating out either … which will be nice to be able to do more often as the year progresses with friends, … and being able to visit museums, galleries, films etc …

@ Maria – thanks for your visit … it is certainly the strangest of times, but we have no choice as each day ticks past …

@ Jz – yup – so many want a life that’s easier and free … and I’m fine cookie wise they’ll take me into the New Year – then I’m going to try and withdraw myself from them!

@ Liz –thank you …

@ Joanne – thank you … I do dislike negativity and realise they definitely don’t help me with blogging – I’d get sucked down into the morass. Those of us that have been fortunate, like you, are counting our blessings – and if not we should be! My brain hasn’t changed – it’s tying all the little grey cells together into some semblance of ‘interestingness’ to post …

@ Donna – thank you … I have to be positive … and I’m glad I encourage others …

@ Anabel – thank you it’s easier to be this way …

@ David – I struggle being downbeat, which is a bonus for me personally. Yes – I’m lucky that I seem to be able to cope quite easily and, like you, have quite enjoyed the peace and quiet – though crave meeting up with friends at times.

It’ll be interesting to see how the year turns out – our health services are very overstretched at the moment – I feel for all those people. We’ve another 2 months of really difficult times … it won’t transpose immediately, but it will be easing (I hope), and with the lighter days it’ll help.

So as you suggest I shall stay well, safe, walk often, keep on blogging, drink coffee, sip some vino and eat healthily – I can manage those suggestions …

Thanks everyone for being here and commenting – it’s always great to see you … wishing everyone the very best for 2021 – take care - Hilary

Keith's Ramblings said...

I refuse to be downbeat and always look for something to smile about whatever is thrust upon me. I decided I would never make any reference to the B-word or the C-word on my blog as I see it as an oasis where everyone is welcome
should they need an escape.

As for Bring me Sunshine, I think the words are brilliant and really fitting right now. However, I have this musical 'thing' whereby anything even slightly out of tune makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and my goodness, Messrs Morecombe and Wise sing extremely out of tune!

Have a Healthy and Happy 2021 Hilary!

Inger said...

Brexit and Covid and then there is the human spirit. It runs strong here in your post. We are the world and we will make it through to a brighter day, a sunshiny day. I'm so glad you are my friend and I will end this by wishing you a very Happy New Year.

Computer Tutor said...

Well said, Hilary. I can't add anything!

Annalisa Crawford said...

Positive thinking takes effort at the moment, but it's possible. I've tried to be mindful right through this horrible year, and it's helped a lot. Just noticing a butterfly or flower can raise spirits - as, as you mentioned, can helping others. And there are so many lovely people around.

Susan Scott said...

Happy New Year Hilary! Little steps add up, let’s really hope that the journey is all worth it in the end. All best wishes to you for a fulfilling, healthy and creative 2021. Susan

H. R. Sinclair said...

Happy, Happy, Healthy New Year, Hilary! Come on sunshine!

bazza said...

Happy New Year to you Hilary and thank's for all of the great posts from you during 2020!
CLICK HERE for Bazza’s inordinately impudent Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

All the best for 2021 I hope tou have a good yeah and a happy onee

D.G. Kaye said...

Wishing all the best to you in health, joy and happiness for this new year forward, Hilary. Hugs xxx

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Keith – completely agree with you, but hopefully my mentions only note my wandering mind on occasions and not a comment on what was going on. Altruism came to be my most abiding thought for most of last year …

Thank you re the ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ lyrics being so appropriate at the moment … when I read them – that’s what I thought. Yes – musically not the best – but who of us are – me, absolutely – I ‘m hopeless. Good to see you though …

@ Inger – thank you … the human spirit is the most important aspect of life at the moment. As you so rightly say we are the world and we can and will make brighter days with sunshine, I hope. People make life for us … and we preferably need to have caring, positive ones around us … and those who smile and laugh.

@ Jacqui – thank you … we need to have a happier and gentler 2021 …

@ Annalisa – well done, positive thoughts are not always easy to find – but I do always remember there are so many who are much worse off … and so many prepared to help our world and its inhabitants …

@ Susan – great to see you … we often forget the little steps – I know I do … and there are plenty of little steps I would like to embrace this year …

@ Holly – great to see you … and yes – here’s to sunshine with few worries in 2021 …

@ Bazza – many thanks – appreciate ‘the nod’ to my postings … eclectic though they may be …

@ Jo-Anne – thank you …

@ Debby – you too … we need our own health, and our attitude to life … will help others in these challenging times …

Thanks so much to you all – really good to see you welcome in the New Year of 2021 with me … with happy thoughts - Hilary

Deborah Weber said...

A perfect roundup of goodness Hilary. Wishing you a 2021 filled with sunshine!

Vagabonde said...

Sunshine is healing for sure. Our planet and its people need healing, hopefully 2021 will bring it. Warmest wishes to you for a great 2021 with fun, happiness, good health and contentment.

Hels said...

Nod, lots of people are saying they are overloaded with Brexit and Covid :( I too hope for a world that will soon be free of Covid, although it probably won't happen for months yet.

But Brexit is a tragedy. Only with strong international organisations can we decrease destruction and increase cooperation.

Sandra Cox said...

A very uplifting post, Hil. Which we all need right now.
I'm grateful for you.

Rhodesia said...

We can only hope that 2021 will be an improvement on 2020, but so far it has not been a good beginning. Numbers are becoming names, especially with South African friends, and we had to say goodbye to a very dear friend yesterday who sadly caught COVID with a forced couple of days in the hospital!! Very depressing.
I hope and wish for a bit of fun and laughter back in our lives.
Happy New Year and keep safe, cheers Diane

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Deborah – thank so much … yes, let’s all have full sunshine …

@ Vagabonde – good to see you … we most definitely do need healing … while looking at caring for our planet as well …

@ Hels – there’s so much politics going on ... and like you I hope we’ll have an easier time sometime later this year …

@ Sandra – thanks … I really don’t like negativity … we need to stay positive …

@ Diane – thanks for commenting … I know connectivity is challenging in France. I agree we don’t seem to be starting off too well. I haven’t heard of family or close friends who’ve had the virus, or desperately died … and as you say – very depressing …

Thanks everyone for being here – always enjoy reading your comments … and all the very best - Hilary