SIX

By Andy

Muffled silent.

Swaddled, weary and sore.

A Zombie apocalypse of a year.

We wait to see where

Justice will roll, and

how time will heal.

And what the removal of bandages,

Will bring.

FIVE

By Anne

 

One of the things I’ve been thinking a lot about in the early days of December is how strangely time has passed this year.  Days, weeks and months have seemed to stretch infinitely long, and yet the year seems to have passed in the blink of an eye.  Things that I read, watched or thought in January and February seem to be from years in the past and yet I cannot believe that it is nearly Christmas.  It is a measure of how much our world has changed in the past year – as though so much and so little has happened simultaneously. 

 

With this in mind, I chose to decorate my star with leaves – green on one side and autumnal on the other – to signify the passing of the year.  On each leaf I wrote something.

 

 

On the green side are all the local businesses that have been more important than ever this year. To name a very few: Dorée for bread and coffee to take on a socially distanced walk, the greengrocer for fresh fruit and veg, Wild & Wooly for yarn and emergency knitting needles, Pages of Hackney for books to distract me, the Castle Cinema for the hope that someday going to the cinema will seem normal again, Chatsworth Supermarket for just about anything.  I’ve always loved my proximity to Chatsworth Road and the fact that we can get so much of what we need locally, but this year I feel like all these businesses have kept us fed during lockdown and kept me calm when all the supermarket shelves emptied, and we felt so isolated at home.  I wish I could thank the people working in them for their hard work and good nature during some very stressful times.  I’ve also included Homerton Hospital as the embodiment of all that the NHS has done for us this year – I don’t have words to express how much I value that.

 

 

On the yellow/orange side I wrote all the things that have helped me though the year, amongst others: birdsong on early morning walks in the Marshes, music – familiar and new, knitting, my family – especially time with my children who seem to have turned into adults while I wasn’t looking, my friends, walks in the Olympic park, the written/video conversations with colleagues that have taken the place of a chat in the office, cycling through empty central London, my book group moving to Zoom and unexpectedly growing in consequence, about a million cups of tea, and a fair amount of gin!  There is so much that I miss and so much that I am anxious about, but also an enormous amount to be thankful for.

 

In putting together the star, these words are mostly hidden, but the act of thinking about all these things proved to be a meditation, a moment of calm at a busy time.  It’s hard to slow down at this time of year (even this year!) and I’m grateful to be pushed to take that time.  As the year turns, I’m hoping that 2021 treats us more kindly, but I don’t want us to forget some of the lessons we’ve learned this year.

 

When I went to hang up my star, there was a tree on Chatsworth Road that still had one orange leaf hanging bravely on, like its own star, so mine went to join it.  

 

 

FOUR

By Rachel

My star reminds me of 3 things that have kept me going during 2020.

The gold star is for my work in education. The beginning of the first lockdown coincided with a change in direction which has been both a privilege and an adventure. The regular rhythm of travel throughout the year gave an appreciated pattern and routine,  and the wonderful colleagues and inspiring children are a treat to work with.

The gold reminds me of our 13 year old retriever Honey who accompanied us in Lockdown 1.. then left us in August. Even after her hair has been hoovered up she still leaves a hole and we still mourn her loss.

Finally, the familiar 3 blue letters are a blatant reminder of my heroes this year. So many of our family and friends have been served by health teams across the UK - not just for COVID issues. I'm amazed at how much we have leaned on them and evermore grateful to those who literally risk their lives to care for others.

Thank you NHS.

THREE

By Jasmine

This star is inspired by the Dickens' 'Tale of Two Cities'. At the start of the pandemic there was a lot of talk of it being 'the great leveller', we were all vulnerable, rich or poor, all of us were at risk. I remember Emily Maitlis on Newsnight debunking this myth with clinical precision - 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-emily-maitlis-newsnight-bbc-inequality-boris-johnson-a9456696.html

She set out the truth, while the virus had no favourites, society did. Those who could work from home, live in spacious housing and had their own transport were far less likely to fall seriously ill with the virus.

Much like the aristocrats in France and Britain in the 1700s many of our politicians were criminally unaware of the differences Maitlis outlined. It seemed that 'a tale of two cities' was a novel our MP's had skim read at best.

Running through Dickens' novel is his belief in the possibility of resurrection and transformation, both on a personal and societal level. A hope that violence, both physical and structural, will give way to a new and better world. The pandemic's recurring images of people organising to support neighbour and stranger in streets up and down these isles is emblematic of this hope today. A hope that we the people will rise and rebuild, and renew our commitment to love one another.

As we emerge into 2021, my hope is for us to keep the fires of justice that have been kindled alive. That we will remember those who would give their lives to keep a life we love beside us, and refuse to go back to business as usual.

TWO

By Lisa

‘During this strange year, I got a new job and have the stress of it at times overwhelming.I have turned to nature and the fire and music and candles to cope. Coffee has become even more important like a morning ritual. San Miguel has played a part but I thought the metal would not stick! My bike has been good to me and essential for work travel. Baking and hugging my husband and children feels like a treat when I know others are alone. Radio and comedy have helped me unwind. Especially my brothers cartoons in the metro.

This star is not amazing but it’s okay and is a pretty good representation of 2020 for me!’

ONE

By Lynda

2020. What a year? And what pain and sadness you are still wreaking? 

So I found it rather cathartic to think of all the things, people, places and habits which have go me through the corona coaster. And decided my star would try to capture it all collage style... small stones, sea shells (Welsh holiday) and all. 

Needless to say lockdown has comprised of quite a lot of alcohol and gardening. I’ve been lucky, I know, to have a patch of albeit untidy and muddy garden this year. And I’ve spent more time on it than ever before. It still is a bit scrubby and muddy but it had a lot of flowers too. And I managed to grow marigolds and Californian poppies for the first time. 

I rediscovered our wonderful Marshes, along with most of Hackney of course, and was truly grateful for the wide open skies, near limitless space and the various friends who we walked, picnicked, cycled and foraged with (restrictions allowing). 

And I was super grateful for my family, for extra times to hang out with teenagers who may not have usually chosen that socialising option and for a solid relationship which can bear the pressures of lockdown.  And grateful for a job which has (so far) been secure at an organisation which has cared well for its employees though its income has been severally affected. 

Light and hope is what we think of at Advent. And I want my star to help us remember those shafts of light and hope: the wonderful NHS in all its myriad departments, the delivery drivers, shop assistants, shelf stackers and care workers. Many of whom are under paid and under valued and who paid a heavy price - sometimes with their long term health; sometimes with their lives. 2020 you've taken many things, but you've given something too - a commitment to a world where things might look different, where neighbours look out for each other and black lives really do matter.

24th Dec

Then suddenly it was Christmas. The days whizz by in Advent and none more so that in 2019. There have been laughs and jokes and serious sentiments placed on the tree. And we’ve tried not to squash the new plants underneath. We’ve given up our hopes and dreams to swing in the breeze and we’ve wished for health hope and happiness. Here’s to a joyful Christmas and a peaceful 2020.