Three years ago, around this time of year, our nation was a much quieter place.

The need to restrict the spread of the Covid virus meant that as far as possible, we had to stay at home.

I remember feeling a mixture of different feelings, such as being relieved that I didn’t have to go out to committee meetings of various kinds but at the same time frustrated that I couldn’t go to various activities which were an enjoyable part of my life.

Lots of people rejoiced in not having to go to work, especially if they had to commute, while a great many people missed the company of their workmates and friends.

On my daily walks (properly socially distanced) I noticed that people in our Tattie Toun were even more neighbourly than before the pandemic, and I enjoyed their cheery greetings.

I think many of us became more aware of what loneliness and isolation meant, so paid more attention to housebound folks in their neighbourhood.

Reflecting on the Covid pandemic, I wonder what we will do with the lessons to be learnt from what was a solemn time of fear for every citizen, and a time of tragic loss for some of us.

As we stood on our doorsteps on Thursday evenings applauding all those workers who served in the caring professions, were we inspired to be less selfish and more concerned for other people?

And will we continue to be so? It is surprisingly easy to let ourselves slip back into the old “normal”, the way we were before the pandemic.

The world seems a bit chaotic at the moment, with politics in turmoil and wars in eastern Europe and eastern Africa.

Those are things that we as individuals can’t do much about. But we can love our neighbours as we love ourselves: you in your small corner, and I in mine.