I’m always a bit flat with new year. And this year is probably worse. But having said all that, happy new year badgers.

Happy new year I'm off to bed

Happy new year to all xxx

So that was 2020 then. The year everything changed, and really not much of it for the better.

Going into the year, we had the expected launch of next-gen consoles from both Sony and Microsoft to look forward to. An event in itself that any betting man would put his money on as meaning bad times for the patrons of The Bear & Badger.
Surely this would mean a year of ill-tempered arguing and flounces galore?
And yet…somehow it didn’t. Any arguments were by and large humorous, good-natured affairs, and I’m struggling to remember anyone having a hissy-fit and flouncing out the room.
Inevitably, some members did slip quietly into the night, hopefully to re-appear someday in the future, but this year also saw many old faces make a return to these boards, and that was both a lovely and very welcome thing.
I’m not sure if when people leave here they fully realise how much they are missed, so it’s always great to see old friends pulling up a stool at the virtual bar of The B&B again.

Let’s make no bones about it though, 2020 was a terrible year for everyone. We lost so much to the pandemic. Jobs, friends, loved ones, the list is endless. So many important things we tend to take for granted, but the positive side effect of all this, was that it perhaps made us kinder, more humble people. Throughout the year I watched the love and support for each other grow in perhaps the most unexpected places.
This year more than ever, The Bear & Badger became a virtual lifeline in the darkest of times for many, myself included, and having the support of all you wonderful people, really has, I think, helped us all get through this dreadful year.

This was also a year when quite a few members, who in any other year would just be getting on with their (albeit difficult) everyday jobs, stepped up to the plate and became genuine heroes.
We’re not going to bang pots and pans for you, and you won’t be getting a knighthood in the post, but in your hearts you know who you are, that your friends here hold you in the highest possible regard, and that you should be very proud of all you have achieved.

Sadly we also lost several beloved forum pets this year, who I’m sure are greatly missed by all, but on a much more positive note, we also saw the births of quite a few new Badgers, which is always an absolutely beautiful thing to see, and which brings much needed joy to us all, not least of all the very proud parents.

So where does that leave us on the eve of 2021 then?
It’s going to be another hard year. No question. But perhaps there’s a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, with the development and roll out of vaccine’s now being a very real thing. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and travel hopefully anyway.
So whatever 2021 holds, let’s once again face it together, safe in the knowledge we’ll be stronger in the face of coming adversity, because together we’ve come through all that 2020 could throw at us, and while we might have taken a beating that could shame Rocky Balboa, you just know that like Rocky, we’re going to get back on our feet in the last round and punch Covid-19 squarely in the fuck!

It’s been, if my memory serves me, 365 days since I was last in a pub, or indeed had a drink of any sort. Prefer to keep my wits about me when times are hard, but tonight I’m opening the bottle, and I raise a glass to you all.

My dear friends. Here’s to better times!

g.man

Well said, G. Let's fuck it all off. May we be drinking to hope, new beginnings, and meaningful change this time next year.

g.man wrote:

… and punch Covid-19 squarely in the fuck!

Signature material, right there.

Happy Hogmanay you beautiful badgers.

Cheers G, cheers all.

Fuck you sonic.

Happy new year to one and all.
G, that was a perfect post. Thank you for finding the words that some of us can't. You are all awesome and I'm genuinely so thankful for each and every one of you.

ABBA

Happy new year errybody. But like, extra British now I guess, imagine Captain Mainwaring saying it or something, or that I fall through the bar as I'm saying it, or that I said it while doing massive systemic damage to the country and at the same time sowing division to make sure the plebs don't unite and take me down.

My world is shattered

I'd go for Fry's General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Meltchett of Blackadder goes Forth.

Happy new year everyone.

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