The 2021 Optimism Thread

[Al Gorithum]

What with all the recent turmoils and potential risks to wealth/employment etc, what's your mood about the next 12 to 24 months?

[alfa phil]

Cant see past the next week to be honest, hopefully will last that and take it from there.

[LukeBrown66]

I think things will get a lot worse before they get better.

Govt has made a rod for its own back and will not let us "live" until we are all vaccinated, I thin it's that simple sadly.

[citizensm1th]

i am looking forward to the second hand car market to start moving again but thats about it

[Biker 1]

I reckon it'll be utterly fking crap until at least March. As soon as c30% are vaccinated, there ain't much to do in terms of planning anything, let alone summer holidays etc.
I'm hoping some of our postponed contracts come back on stream, but tricky to be optimistic right now. Let's just hope the government don't fk up the vaccine rollout, but I'm not holding my breath.....

[Sophisticated Sarah]

Not optimistic at all. We’ll probably discover the vaccine doesn’t do its job and is more of a placebo, putting us back to square one of “new normal”.

[Jamescrs]

Im not cash rich by comparison to some people on PH but im doing OK. I have a reasonable income and a small online business which is developing well.

I know I won't lose my job due to Covid so.i consider myself better positioned than many and I am grateful for that.

I have three holidays booked this year but two are into Europe and one in the U.K, the only one im fairly confident of going on is the UK one.

Im trying to remain optimistic because I have seen some people close to me really spiral downwards in the current climate and its not good to see.

[anonymous-user]

I'll find out Monday if my job is impacted by a global restructure.

So I'll either be relatively chilled, if not optimistic.

Be drowning my sorrows with the last of the wine before I can't afford it anymore.

Or I'll be worried about re-applying for my job due to a significant change and headcount reduction.

[ukwill]

This will pass. Was listening to a podcast involving some clever scientists who believe the last year has increased knowledge in respiratory illness science by over a decade. Apparently we will see some big breakthroughs in respiratory illnesses as a side product of Covid.

Two recently published papers have shown memory B cells at 8mths duration. This is great news, not just for those who have had Covid, but also for vaccines. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/1...

Equity markets will continue upwards as a consequence of the world getting back to normal over the course of the year. Most economies will continue pump priming, deciding against the previous decade of austerity. After over a year + in various forms of lockdown, pent up personal spending power will be unleashed. Expect a major rebound in gdp.

Not long left of this malaise people. But remember, book your sunbed early, or ze Germans will get them. 🇬🇧🇬🇧👍

[stuckmojo]

Much more pain to come. 2020 was the foreplay.

Wait for:

- delays in vaccinations
- nothing open at Easter
- further lockdowns
- furlough to morph into a semi permanent UBI
- hospitality and travel industry annihilated

Not sure at which point the masses will wake up to the nuke barrage our society has been put through.

So far, my cynicism hasn't even touched how st things have gone. So I'm all pessimistic.

[Jasandjules]

Sophisticated Sarah said:

Not optimistic at all. We’ll probably discover the vaccine doesn’t do its job and is more of a placebo, putting us back to square one of “new normal”.

As all it will do is reduce symptoms in those who have it, I am not sure how it affects everyone. The ill and infirm could already be shielding with the rest getting on with life.

[coppernorks]

Yep, we have worse to come, this ststorm is just warming up.

Empty your bank accounts, head for the Highlands, stock up on tinned goods, and source firearms.

[grumbledoak]

Not optimistic at all. Lockdown 3 until Easter. The next set of excuses due in March. Economic collapse later in the year. And nowhere to run to.

[ukwill]

OPs post should have been - What do you see?

[jimothyc]

ukwill said:

OPs post should have been - What do you see?

A lack of tonic water.

[RegMolehusband]

Fully optimistic. We've today booked a holiday in Europe for October and are researching a trip to Sri Lanka for July. A couple of days ago I transferred money to a UK fund and next week will take cash out of premium bonds to invest further in the UK.

[sjabrown]

coppernorks said:

Yep, we have worse to come, this ststorm is just warming up.

Empty your bank accounts, head for the Highlands, stock up on tinned goods, and source firearms.

If things become that bad I'll be leaving my home here in the Highlands to get some peace and quiet. Lockdown1 brought enough dafties in motorhomes.

[macp]

Scotland will get independence thus splitting & completely obliterating our country. The government will continue to stop us living our lives and im clearly too old and out of touch.

[markcoznottz]

citizensm1th said:

i am looking forward to the second hand car market to start moving again but thats about it

I think that ship has sailed...