IT HAS been a hard two and a half years for all of us, with the necessary restrictions in place to keep us all safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.

We have all missed time spent with family and friends, and some well-loved and regular events have felt like a distant memory.

I know I have missed all of our local festivals, and it is wonderful that so many of them have been able to return this year.

I have enjoyed spending time in the Honest Toun this week for the Musselburgh Festival 2022 – from the Kirkin’, which took place last Sunday morning, culminating on Festival Saturday, where I enjoyed watching the horses and riders taking part in the Festival Day Rideout.

Thank you to all the organisers, and all who participated in and supported what was a hugely successful week.

Without your efforts, our festivals could not happen.

I would also like to congratulate our Honest Lad and Honest Lass, Jack McFarlane and Amy Rooke, for their representations and hard work this week.

There are many other opportunities for us all to meet and gather now that life is returning to some kind of normality.

During the school holidays, we are able to visit local places of interest with family and friends, and support local businesses who have faced such difficulties during the pandemic.

We are lucky that in East Lothian, there are so many beautiful places to spend time and enjoy the summer sunshine.

There are only a few weeks of the holidays left and I hope you are all managing to make the most of it.

If you are venturing to the water, be it the beach, rivers or somewhere else, please take care and stay safe. Exercise caution at all times and follow the Water Safety Awareness guidelines at gov.scot/news/water-safety-awareness