Now I don’t know about you, but I feel this has been a challenging year for Exmouth.

In fact, I’d go so far as to say that it’s crossed my mind more than once that we’re living in some kind of weird alternative reality, and talking to other people, I think there’s a lot of frustration here at the moment.

It started with potholes last winter—good grief, there were some openings up that you’d lose a small child in!

During daylight hours, we stood a chance of missing them, but at night it was like a blind man’s buff, desperately hoping you wouldn’t hit one.

At the same time, we had the start of the sewage nightmare with the tanker movements through town from Phear Park day and night.

Roll on summer, and we had to deal with floaters in the water.

Don’t swim with your mouth open… in fact, don’t swim.

And then finally, the tourists have gone home, it’s just us locals, and now we have so many sets of roadworks all at the same time on pretty much every major route around Exmouth, that it’s hard not to start taking it personally.

Is someone taking the Mickey?

Is this collective punishment for being voted one of the South West’s best places to live by The Times?

Or is it the angry spirit of the rusty pole, seeking vengeance?

I digress, because despite the annoyance, the disruption, and the sewage, we do still have a town to be proud of, and that’s because of the people.

We have a town that others are desperate to move to, that people choose as the destination of their one week off every year.

This time of year, I’m reminded of just how great our community is because there are opportunities to come together and celebrate Exmouth.

Fireworks at the Rugby Club raising thousands for the RNLI.

Remembrance Sunday—always poignant in a town with such long-standing military connections.

The start of Christmas markets and events, celebrating local makers, local artists, and local musicians—of which there are lots.

Amazing community-led support initiatives—Friends in Need, Open Door Centre, Men’s Shed, Community Larders, and so much more.

So next time I’m sitting in the traffic waiting for the lights to change, I’m going to take a deep breath and remember what we have to be grateful for here and try to remember that the roadworks won’t be there forever.