I have, along with my committees been able to guide my choirs through to this point. All concerts performed and all precautions followed. We have very few positive cases within our membership and we have been careful and trusted each other to do the right thing. Our Christmas concerts, in particular have been enjoyed by our very supportive audiences. I am so sorry that some choirs are now having to cancel. But in the face of uncertainty it is inevitable.

I have been determined to bring live music to our audiences and to allow my choirs to sing, not only for the joy of singing, but for good mental health and well-being. I have received so many messages of thanks from those who have found ‘choir’ a source of strength.

I can not possibly imagine how someone in Government balances the many strands of managing and leading a Country and indeed there must have been struggles. But, when those who lead are trusted, then forgiveness for mistakes can be given.

But in the light of so many revelations about supposed broken rules, it is not difficult to understand why we all feel uncertain about the future. Having listened to many reports and read so much about our current situation, either the evidence is not compelling or it is being ignored. I also realise that it is not that simple, but faced with so much uncertainty about what might happen, it is hardly surprising that many just want a clear and focused decision, rather than maybes!

Of course the Government reserves the right to change things as a result of the worst case scenario, but there is a palpable sense of being lost and without a clear steer at the moment.

I believe that most are not confused about what to do and are in fact being careful, but when livelihoods are at stake the path is still unclear. There is no doubt that the vaccination programme has been successful, yet we are experiencing very high levels of positive cases! But what I don’t understand is why wait, if the situation is as bleak as we are led to believe, act now, why wait just for the sake of it and then impose restrictions on 27th – how much damage will have been done between now and then?

My choirs are now on a natural circuit break and we want to be back singing in January. Soloists, orchestras, music and venues are all booked and we don’t want to be returning to zoom rehearsals again!

It always feel strange that when I hear so much supposed common sense from politicians on all sides, that we don’t have a cross party COVID taskforce – or is that too simple? Let alone a taskforce across all the devolved nations to allow a better and supported methodology! But, I know that would be impossible….too many egos!

However, I could ramble on at length about so much, at times my brain hurts and I can’t sleep because of everything that is going around in my head. Heaven knows how those in Government must cope?

My thoughts go out to all of those in the performing and creative arts who maybe losing money or worried about what the future holds. For many of us we can’t even begin to quantify the loss of work we haven’t been offered! None of us thought we would be in this position still and as we enter a New Year, we will drag all the positivity we can from within ourselves and believe that in 2022 we can eventually begin to put this behind us!