Opinion: Delivering news from our home offices continues

By the very nature of what we do in producing newspapers means that we are surrounded by paper – an abundance of the stuff.

Granted the amount that arrives through the post now is limited with emails the order of the day for press releases and other correspondence but it doesn’t seem to halt the mounds of paper that seems to loom on every desk – and under many of them too, but don’t tell health and safety.

However, for almost a year it is our offices which have been missing from our working lives. Almost overnight we pitched up in our kitchens, dining rooms and even bedrooms to continue with our task on delivering news.

Despite the obstacles throughout lockdown one and two, as well as the bits in between, our teams have brought you all the latest news round the clock, both in print and online.

It’s not been easy, but probably fair to say easier than we would have thought, mainly done to the resilience and dedication of all those involved.

But one thing I can testify that has happened is those piles of papers are now looming large in my home.

They started out on the dining table close to where I worked but as all the other ‘stuff’ that I reckoned was needed on a daily basis saw them relegated to a corner of the room.

But they are certainly not getting thrown out.

They are a testament to a remarkable year that will be talked about for generations to come. A year, which none of us foresaw or could have begun to imagine the impact that it would have on all our lives.

This week’s announcement on a roadmap out of lockdown in Scotland showed us the journey is far from over but hopefully, by continuing to follow the guidance on keeping ourselves and our families safe, along with the massive vaccination programme, we will reach a time when normal life resumes.

Until then we will continue to do what we do best: bringing you all the latest news and views from our communities.

And keeping a hold of our Falkirk Heralds recording all those moments – no matter how big the pile becomes.