Keep hope alive

Prices and costs continue to spiral up and our zombie government continues to sleepwalk towards the cliff edge, with Boris probably more interested in steaming off that wallpaper from his flat before he’s pushed out the door.

At this rate, regardless of the quality of the candidates, we’ll just be screaming for one of the two options to just get voted in and who cares which!

Meanwhile, consumers are facing hefty bills landing on their doormats, as the energy firms start to ramp up the costs as we head towards the autumn, all the time posting record profits and returns.

Russia continues to up the ante in the Ukraine as we get set to face another, probably long, grinding conflict with no end in sight, leaving the commodities market reeling into the future.

Meanwhile, the Bank of England mutters about increasing interest rates to curb spiralling inflation, completely missing the point that the inflation is being caused by spikes in supply, not demand. Any increase in interest rates is just going to hit the consumer pocket even further, without tackling the underlying problem.

But, on the bright side, the Lionesses won the Euros last night, and what a glorious result that was, revealing that even when things can be at their darkest, there’s hope. 

And more importantly, where were people celebrating that win? In the pub of course.

We need to remind ourselves that whatever the situation out there, the pub remains a beacon for people, to celebrate, commiserate and socialise. It’s an affordable treat (although affordable is becoming challenging) and one that we must strive to continue to ensure that it remains in people’s minds and hearts.

The world might be a tough place right now, but there’s always the opportunity to escape to the pub.

And let's just hope the men's team can be inspired by the female success in the winter!