I’m an early bird rather than a night owl so I didn’t stay up to see the new year in but as I raised my glass to 2021 with my family over our lentils and sausages*, I felt a surge of optimism for the new year.

Unfortunately we aren’t out of the woods yet by any means as Covid is still running rampant, particularly with the new strain in London BUT things are definitely looking up now that we have effective vaccines that are being administered at lightening speed.

In this Guardian article, it goes as far as to suggest that 2021 could be 'the best year for a generation'. By late spring, we might be basking in the joys of attending sporting events, music festivals and theatres, not to mention spur-of-the-moment gatherings with others. I have to say that the idea of having an off-the-cuff pint in a sunny beer garden or a spontaneous dinner with friends and family does sound absolutely ‘sublime’. The world changed during the pandemic. It’s been a watershed in our lives that we won’t forget but there have been some benefits. Many people have got to know their neighbours and started appreciating simple things like public parks more. I personally feel that I’m more content at home and that although it’s nice to travel, I see it as more of a luxury now than a necessity. Work-life balance has massively improved for millions and much less time will be wasted on commuting as people work from home. The move to remote meetings, such as school parents' evenings and medical appointments, also makes life easier and will no doubt continue. We are also likely to see huge strides being made in terms of the environment. Organisations, companies and countries are signing up to a zero carbon plan in a big way and the US will also rejoin the Paris agreement. Electric car sales are ‘soaring' and the cost of solar energy is ‘plummeting’. There’s more hope about tackling the climate emergency through the confidence that has been gained from beating the virus.

We can’t predict the future but it's a fresh start. We’ll be turning over a new leaf and hopefully heading into a better place…. maybe even be another roaring 20s!

• Lentils are a popular dish in Northern Italy on New Year’s Eve as they are believed to bring good luck. (My partner is Italian)