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'Let’s all be more careful as we go about our daily tasks'

Byres Road trader John Turner offers words of comfort and calls for everyone to be more careful as they go about their daily tasks.

“Be careful out there” was the famous quote from the crusty desk sergeant at the morning briefing in the TV series Hill Street Blues (my Dad’s favourite cop show) … if you can remember back that far, writes John Turner.

Why do I mention this? Firstly because I went base-over-tip on some invisible black ice on the pavement at the bottom of my drive on Sunday morning, landing heavily on my left shoulder and ribs. 

Nothing seems to broken, thankfully, but it is very sore, and I have spent the week propped up in a chair with my arm in a sling, learning just how much you normally use your left arm, even when you are right-handed (for example, typing this with one hand is fun, especially when you need to hold the shift key down with one hand and hit another key at the same time!) 

And this made me think….

With more snow coming down as I write this, let’s all be more careful as we go about our daily tasks. 

Also, with the ongoing threat of the rise of the new variant of Covid-19, let us continue to be careful to observe the very necessary restrictions to keep ourselves, our families, and others safe, and to help stop the NHS from becoming overwhelmed. 

Byres Road is quieter than normal
Byres Road is quieter than normal

Once again, my heartfelt thanks goes out to all in the front line, not just all the NHS staff directly involved, and all those that are working to support them, but also to those working in essential shops and other businesses that are and have been operating throughout the pandemic.

It also occurred to me that there is another side to the word “careful”, and that is to be full of care for others. 

As we enter the tenth month of dealing with this pandemic, with all its restrictions and frustrations, let’s make a positive effort to care for ourselves, our families, and all those around us. 

Also, with the ongoing threat of the rise of the new variant of Covid-19, let us continue to be careful to observe the very necessary restrictions to keep ourselves, our families, and others safe, and to help stop the NHS from becoming overwhelmed

John Turner

This could be as simple as a smile and a few words exchanged with someone we encounter on our daily walk; making sure our elderly neighbour or the young mum trying to homeschool is doing alright and whether they need anything from the shops; and exchanging a kind word with the person on the till at the supermarket. 

My wife and I were overwhelmed at the kindness expressed to us by so many of our customers in the run up to Christmas, it meant so much to us after such a long and traumatic year.

So let’s continue to be careful out there, folks, and make sure that everyone is cared for, it’s something that the folk of Glasgow and Scotland excel at doing

Take care, and stay safe.

John Turner. Photo: Robert Perry
John Turner. Photo: Robert Perry
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