Finding the light even at the darkest times of this difficult year
The Postie Notes column by Pete Malone
Early starts and late finishes mean my working day is usually bracketed by darkness at this time of year, says Bettyhill postman Pete Malone.
It is almost a metaphor for the year – dark on either side, gloomy in the middle and only a little light at the end of the tunnel. This year the dark nights seem to have started even earlier than usual and spring seems a long way away.
Even occasions which invoke a nationwide sense of importance had to be scaled back. The Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Bettyhill was attended by three wreath layers and a photographer and took place on a Saturday afternoon. I went along on the Sunday at 11am because I wanted to make sure there was some mark of respect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. There were six people near the memorial, all socially distanced, and I could see some local residents paying their respects on their doorsteps. What touched me most was a small group of five stones painted with poppies and marked for remembrance. The creator signed each rock as “Olivia” and I thank her very much for her small but touching gesture.
As I write this the Sikh and Hindu communities celebrate Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, and it is a much more muted occasion in 2020. Diwali is a mix of religious rituals and lighting lamps. Of shopping, fireworks, decorations, worship, feasting and fasting, gifts and sweets. It celebrates the return of God who has defeated demon enemies and you can see some of the parallels with the Christian Christmas which is superimposed on the much older festival of Yuletide which celebrates the winter solstice. Both mark a turning of the darkest part of winter and herald the return of spring and the promise of rebirth both natural and spiritual. It is a little light in the dark of winter.
With 2020 being such a strange year many people are looking to shine a light and bring a little happiness to the world by putting up their Christmas decorations much earlier than usual. I am normally more “hum bug” than “Ho Ho Ho!” until much closer to Christmas, but I must admit a smile was brought to my face when I saw the display of lights on a house in Bettyhill. It is obvious a lot of work and effort has gone in to this display. A few years ago, living and working in Suffolk, there was a house which put up a spectacular display of lights, Santa’s, illuminated Rudolphs and all sorts. This display attracted visitors from all over to see the lightshow. Each year it got bigger and bigger and the owner left a box outside to allow sightseers to make a donation which went to a local charity. One year the display was badly vandalised and the owner was only able to rebuild a much smaller display. That year he collected more money for charity than ever. A great example of Christmas spirit overcoming the Grinches among us.
We don’t yet know what sort of festive season we’ll have this year. What we can do is make sure that the feeling of goodwill to all and peace on earth that marks this time of year is something we offer to our friends and family, neighbours and strangers alike. So, I apologise if tit seems awfully early to be wishing you all the best for the season. The part of me that is Scrooge-like says “Bah – Humbug” but the rest of me feels just a little bit better so here goes – “Merry Christmas”.
Pete Malone is a shopkeeper and postman in Bettyhill.