But we also have to remember, when in lockdown, studying was carried out at home and many students found it hard to cope for many reasons.
To those who did not succeed, it is not a fail.
I, like many others, believe the exams should not have gone ahead for many reasons such as parents being out of work.
To cope would have been difficult. I would like to think parents would comfort those who did not succeed.
- Graham Palmer, Seymour
Noise is too much
It is only the first week of January 2021 and the incessant industrial wind turbine noise has woken me up again in the middle of the night.
While I am writing this, the constant thump, thump, whirring sound is pounding in my eardrums.
It is 2 am and I will not be able to sleep as the pounding in my eardrums is more emphasised when my head is on the pillow and the thump, thump sound seems to be vibrating through my pillow from the floor.
On December 31, the vibrating and thumping sound kept me awake and distraught for most of the night.
It is hard to put into words the sound that happened that night. There was a vibrating, tinny, rattling, clang sound at the end of each thump, thump.
In a distraught state, I could think of no-one to ring in the middle of the night but the EPA.
I was surprised and relieved when a real person answered my call in the middle of the night. She was understanding and most helpful and contacted me back by email the same morning.
This incessant, vibrating, thumping sound has happened numerous times since the turbines first started operating last year.
This used to be a serene and peaceful lifestyle living here in the Trawool Valley.
Why aren’t these industrial noise-polluting turbines at Cherry Tree Range shut down at night?
- Lola Puddy, Whiteheads Creek
Time to get back on track
Watching the unsettling and dangerous behaviour of the mob in Washington, D.C last week made us think back to 2016.
Then, we saw the US voting system at its ridiculous worst, when the candidate who won most of the populace votes by a large margin did not win the election.
Instead the presidency was awarded (by law) to a person who has consequently fulfilled the worst or most embarrassing predictions of those all around the world who were either opposed to him, or could not care less.
He has seemingly taken the US to the brink of civil war (we must remember 70 million people voted for him) and into the realm of the ridiculous in the eyes of many.
Let us just hope he goes without another word, and that divided country can get back to the business that matters.
- R.D. and L.E. Stephenson, Kerrisdale
11°C