Outside of our window is our tree, it is beautiful. As the sun sets its twinkling lights sparkle and dance and illuminate the garden.

This week we have created some decorations to hang on the tree, sparking silver baubles with heartfelt messages attached.

We sat down to write our messages and found it quite difficult to sum up in words all that we had to say. This year has been trying at times and wonderful at others. We have been locked down and had to quickly learn to become tech savvy to stay in touch with our loved ones and we have been liberated and enjoyed garden parties and outings.

For all of us this pandemic has been a once in a lifetime event, just trying to comprehend the changes in the lives of everyone across the world is difficult to do. To see the once busy skies devoid of planes, the road outside so quiet and the team in their masks has been thought provoking to say the least.

We have been fortunate here; we are all in this together and we have supported each other. We have laughed as we tried to navigate an iPad, we have giggled as staff attempted to hold exercise classes and yoga sessions, but we have also had moments of sadness, of missing our loved ones and our trips to the shops.

Together we have made the best of things, together we have stayed sane and raised each other’s spirits and together we wrote our messages of hope and goodwill on our baubles and sent them out into the world.

As the sun set, we could see them twinkling, spreading love to all who took the time to read them.

Have a wonderful Christmas from all of us here at Hazelend.