It is with disbelief that I read that 2026 is the National Year of Reading, at a time when local libraries are under threat of closure. The world has gone mad. School libraries have long been an issue with hours cut, staff expected to run the library ‘in their spare time’ or with volunteers. With all the news focussed on the cost of living, it is surprising that more people do not use libraries. However, there is much in the news about screen time, as well as the pressure for ‘results’, and there is much more back-to-back organised activities for children than there ever has been. With both parents expected to have a career, there is less time for leisure with one’s children it seems.
Counter to this gloomy news, is the heartening meeting with a parent of a former young observer who was ‘over the moon’ to have bumped into me. I was told that the young person is set for an internship at CERN and is indebted to me and a colleague for our efforts with a group of young people at the Norman Lockyer Observatory. I loved leading the younger part of the group and was sad to have to stand down when my father was suffering from dementia, at the same time as my mother-in-law was also hospitalised. It was a busy and fraught time. Then came the Pandemic.
Valentine’s Day comes and goes in our house with a nod to the occasion by way of a heart-shaped cake, which this year was upside down pear cake for a change. With it occurring on a Saturday this year, there was plenty of scope for increased commercialisation and bucket loads of flowers in the foyer of our local supermarket.
A Sunday drive to take Mum to a garden centre became a rather ambitious adventure along busy lanes due to road closures from flood damage, dodging potholes and puddles, while enjoying the sight of drifts of snowdrops and daffodils on the verges.
As I sadly did not get to visit Milan for the Winter Olympics, I have been watching curling, skeleton, skiing, and skating live or via iPlayer. I also caught up with the European Ice Dance Championships, before seeing the latest competitions. So many hours of delight. The skill and beauty of the performances defied belief on occasion, with the skaters seemingly to possess rubber legs.
And so another week begins of rain and cold, yet Thursday looks to contain a ray of hope for a glimpse of those elusive stars. At least our star has shown itself now and again.
Karen Hedges 