Thank you

Every morning, around 7 o’clock, I have a cup of tea looking out of my apartment window. I often see lorry drivers delivering to the supermarket opposite, andworkers there preparing for an 8a.m opening. The dustmen come at 5am twice a a week, and there are a small army of gardeners and litter-bin empties who are usually just finishing as I get up. There are park keepers working in the park too. Without them the area I live in would not be as safe and attractive as it is. As well as those in the caring professions there are many who work antisocial hours, often involving very early starts, like bus and train drivers, school and office caretakers and cleaners, all of whom make our lives easier. A big thank you to them.

Funny, I had to go into London really early last Saturday and got off the bus at St Paul's. It was quiet and peaceful apart from cleaners and workmen who were going about their business. I spared a thought for them, at their jobs so early on a Saturday morning, no tourists about.

There is a care home near where I live, and the nurses and carers take a short cut through our Estate. Early in the mornings, the night shift staff will cross paths with the morning arrivees, and there are often loud, happy, conversational exchanges. I love hearing them. It's a happy place (I've been in there to visit), mainly staffed by West Indian and African nurses and carers.

I think the emergency services, especially, deserve a great deal of appreciation. They work long hours, deal with all kinds of situations (often violent ones), and without them all, we'd all be in trouble.

I worked as a home care assistant, for 22 years, and worked every Christmas and New Year's Day, until last year.

Both my DIL and youngest GD work at different branches of the same supermarket and will both be working different shifts over Christmas - one on Christmas Eve and the other on NYE too. We've been fortunate all our working lives never having to work apart from one year when I had a short term job and had to go in on Boxing Day. Those working in hospitals and all the caring professions, fire brigade and police deserve recognition for the sterling work they do.

Thank you, Lynne