The previous 9 months have been unlike anything we have ever experienced.
When entering the new decade, none of us could have imagined what was waiting in store just a few months later.
The spread of Covid-19 throughout the world and to the UK has resulted in restrictions being placed on our liberty and society on a scale that we could have scarcely comprehended as 2019 crossed into 2020.
As necessary as the restrictions may have been to protect our most vulnerable and tackle the virus head on, there is no doubting the immense difficulties presented by the previous 9 months and a return to normality is something I know we all crave.
After a year of unprecedented struggle, there are now some real and tangible green shoots of recovery towards returning to our normal way of life with the UK becoming the first country in the world to approve a Covid vaccine.
The UK Government is working with the Scottish Government and the other devolved administrations over the deployment of the vaccine and to make sure it’s distribution is spread fairly across our four nations.
The vaccination programme is now underway and I know many will have felt a deep sense of relief and joy when seeing the delivery of the Pfizer/ BioNTech vaccine last Tuesday.
Nonetheless, it is important to stress that there is still a long way to go before we are through the pandemic and the forthcoming months will continue to present hugely significant challenges with tough restrictions remaining in place as the vaccine is rolled out across the country.
During this period, it is vital that we continue to show the same resolve as we have done throughout the Covid-19 national emergency but we can now do so in the knowledge that the vaccine is here and with real optimism for the future.
Last week at parliament, the SNP yet again bungled on key matters concerning education.
After leaving the decision to the last possible moment, the Scottish Government confirmed to MSPs that higher exams would not take place in 2021.
Scottish Conservatives had been demanding that the SNP make a decision on this matter for weeks and it is nowhere near good enough that parents, pupils and teachers were kept in the dark for months about such a crucially important issue.
In a debate we had called at Holyrood, the SNP also decided not to vote for our motion to make sure all primary school pupils can receive free breakfasts and lunches next year and to hire thousands of new teachers.
There have been worrying national declines in teacher numbers since the SNP took office and our plans would entirely remove the shortfall that has occurred on their watch.
Our plans could result in the hiring of 78 new teachers in East Renfrewshire and serve as a further boost to the outstanding set of schools we have locally.
It is disappointing that the SNP refused to back these key education proposals in parliament but they are matters Scottish Conservatives will be continuing to pursue.