Blogging in dark times

I always spend some time between Christmas and New Year thinking over the past year, and then ahead to the year that's coming.

This year I had to read through the blog from last January to remind myself what happened. There weren't many amusing posts, and I'm sorry about that. This is the only one that springs to mind. There were too many posts where I lamented the state of the world, and I won't bother you with links to those: I'm sure you have your own lamentations. 

There was quite a lot about Lux and Cece, but then I spent twice as much time in Colorado this last year than I do under normal circs.

I did have some great times in the UK too, like the drenching wet walk I went with my sister in March.

There was probably too much on the blog about writing: I have been working on a new novel, and it's taken up a lot of space in my brain. 

I told you about writing letters to politicians. This is not surprising, as there hasn't been a year in my life when I have written so many letters or signed so many petitions. And although I recently tweeted about having petition-signers' burnout I will carry on. In our Quaker Advices and Queries it says "Remember your responsibilities as a citizen for the conduct of local, national, and international affairs. Do not shrink from the time and effort your involvement may demand." It's a tough call to action.

I didn't tell you about the two peace vigils we had in Bakewell this year, though I did post about our BRIDGES NOT WALLS event in January on the day of Trump's inauguration.

And I mentioned the refugee hospitality days we held in Bakewell, and will be continuing with in 2018.

By the way, did you know that the charity Help Refugees now has a shop in London where you can go and buy items that refugees need, and they will provide them to the refugees where they are. You can access this shop online too. Here.

I used to try to keep the blog non-political, but as the years have gone by since this government decided that austerity was the way to go, and poverty and  homelessness have surged in the UK as a result, I can't keep silent. I just saw this tweet from an ITV journalist about their recent reports on local deprivation.

We live in dark times, and I blogged in November about how I stay sane when the world appears to be falling apart.

Here is the thought I'd like to leave with you for 2018:

It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.