As 2020 comes to an end, we asked Strand Street shoppers doing their last-minute Christmas shopping what they were hoping for in the New Year.

Richard Kissack, 52, and Christian Clague, 46, both from Douglas, said they were hoping for positivity, health and world peace.

Christian said he, as well as probably many others around the globe, was looking forward to seeing the back of 2020: ’I think a lot of people are, I feel sorry for people in the UK. It’s been a tough year.’

Richard added: ’I’m hoping the absurd lockdown goes away and the economy can get going again.’

When asked about resolutions, Christian replied: ’Just keeping my resolve, it’s an uncertain time here, we don’t see what’s happening across and we have to try and keep it real and look after one another.’

Joan Sloan, 57 and Kathy Parkinson, 46, both from Peel, said they work at a care home and that this year was difficult for them and residents.

They are hoping next year will mean they can see their family. Joan said: ’I hope I can see my daughters in Greater Manchester.’

When asked whether the government are handling border restrictions well, Kathy replied: ’As long as they keep the borders shut. If they open them, I think we will be in big trouble here. We’re very lucky in the Isle of Man. I’ve got family in Wales who are in lockdown - it’s quite bad.’

Working at the care home, they said, was very hard for both residents and the employees.

Kathy said: ’All we did was go to work and go home and luckily enough we didn’t have the virus in there. That’s what our aim is for next year to keep it out of there.’

Kathy said she hopes for a holiday: ’We had two holidays which were cancelled.’

Joan said they’ve already booked a holiday in Lindos, Greece, for next year: ’You’ve got to have something to look forward to.’

Quinn Shipton, 28 from Onchan, said 2020 impacted her son’s early development as he was born in late 2019: ’I hope the New Year will bring more opportunities where he can socialise.’

’We were supposed to take him to see my family in Ireland in March which didn’t happen, so it would be really nice to introduce him to my mum’s side of the family.’

When asked whether she’s optimistic for later in 2021 about seeing relatives abroad, she said: ’I think maybe 2021 is a bit too optimistic, I’m trying to be realistic and say maybe 2022, as I’m asthmatic I’m extra careful. I just don’t want to put anyone at risk, as we’ve got quite a lot of elderly relatives. I want to wait until everyone’s vaccinated and absolutely everyone is safe.’

Luke Robinson, 15, from Port Erin, said that he’s 16 in January and hopes to start his apprenticeship and work towards a full-time job: ’I had a talk today about it and I just want to have a nice income when I’m older.’

He said his studies at Castle Rushen High School were affected by Covid-19: ’We were meant to have two mocks and we’ve only had one. I’m not too happy with my results. GCSEs next year - I won’t be able to sit my maths or product design as they’re the Welsh board.’

’It might affect my grade overall, but it shouldn’t affect my apprenticeship. I can’t wait to finish school and live my own life,’ said Luke.