THE past 12 months have been a strange time for many people across Fermanagh, as we've all faced waves of being under lockdown, anxiously waiting for updates on the latest Coronavirus case numbers, or waiting for Northern Ireland Executive announcements.

But despite the anxiety, there have also been some brighter moments for Impartial Reporter readers, who got in touch to talk about the past year after this paper invited your comments.

Alongside the many lows, there were also highs for people, with the year from March, 2020 having some good times and memories, too, despite all the sad and bad times.

One such reader who got in touch was Roisin Farmer, from Enniskillen, who got engaged on July 7, 2020.

She said: "I said 'yes' during the Covid-19 pandemic to my soulmate, Aidan on July 7, 2020!

"It has been fun, planning a wedding during a pandemic! But we can't wait to get our family and friends together for a party – a light at the end of a dark tunnel."

Despite life being locked down for many, all the natural parts of it continued including the birth of children.

Enniskillen resident Millissa Smith said: "My beautiful baby daughter, Ella Elliott, was born on the very first day of lockdown – March 24, 2020.

"Looking back, I never imagined she would be celebrating her first birthday still in lockdown!

"Ella and her big brother, Olly, have been a fantastic distraction from the fear and worry going on in the world around us, and it was great they had each other during the long days being stuck at home.

"They are looking forward to finally getting to spend quality time with all their amazing family and friends.

"2020 was a difficult year for everyone, but for us it will always be special, as it was the year Ella was born."

Some of our readers did have encounters with the coronavirus, such as Bridie McCaffrey who battled Covid-19 last March, spending 14 days in the South West Acute Hospital.

Speaking following her discharge from hospital last year, Bridie said: "The one ray of sunshine while I was in isolation on the morning of April 3 was a FaceTime [video call, coming] from Australia, to be introduced to my adorable wee grandson, who had been born just hours before.

"That was another good reason why I needed to fight this nasty virus,” she said.

Life didn't have to have any notable ups or downs for our readers, with many welcoming just a stable relative normality in life, with stability in an uncertain world welcomed by many.

Bellanaleck woman Sarah Convey said: "Maybe not a significant event, but we stayed home, enjoyed the slower pace of life, and looked forward to days spent playing with friends and extended family."

Lisbellaw woman Rachel McBrien used the pandemic to work on her Instagram Blog, 'Primiavie'.

She said: "I built up my fashion Instagram page encouraging women to get dressed up throughout the pandemic and encouraging couples to have [at home] 'date nights' on Saturday nights."

Rachel remarked on the positivity of a feel-good message for people spending a lot more time at home to focus on.

Finally, one Fermanagh resident’s (name and address with Editor) lengthy response provided a glimpse of life beyond the county and how it affected them.

They also finished on a note of hope and optimism for the future – something that is likely to strike a chord with many readers also looking ahead to better times.

They wrote: “This time last year, I was living away from home, and there was an air of almost panic at the time where I was (down in Dublin).

“I’ll never forget all the weeks of panic-buying in shops – I remember one morning I walked around to seven different supermarkets, including big chains, and not a single one had any cleaning products left!

“I even had a suitcase full of food at home – tins and boxes of non-perishable food; emergency rations that I’d gradually stored away, just in case!

“Eventually, things settled down, and we all got used – kind of – to ‘the new normal’ we were living in.

“I won’t talk about all the terrible deaths and economic misery – God knows, they were all awful, and life is still difficult for many people, and I was also furloughed and stressed for many months.

“Most importantly, I still haven’t seen my parents or family for more than six months now, which is quite hard for me.

“But, one year on from the start of the pandemic here, I’m looking forward.

“I’m delighted to see vaccinations rolling out, statistics getting better all the time, and I’m once again feeling hopeful for the future – for all our futures.”