WELL, everyone, there’s only one thing to say really this week. And that’s farewell.

I’d love to be sharing with you my opinion of the Dominic Cummings omnishambles, but after eight years this column has come to an end.

It’s not my choice. I have loved every minute of it.

It’s been very much a two-way thing. I know from your emails that you’ve appreciated the chance to let off steam, to seek my help in publicising things that matter to you, or often just to say you agree with me, which is always nice!

During that time we’ve looked on together in horror as the wider world crashed in upon our little city, with the Novichok outrage and of course with the current crisis, which has wrought havoc on so many businesses, not least newspapers.

Mainly, though, I’ve focused on a steady stream of less dramatic but vitally important issues affecting our everyday lives - the future of the Maltings; parking charges; the desirability or otherwise of big greenfield estates; the University Technical College debacle.

There are continuing battles: to preserve our historic airfield; to sort out Southampton Road. Who can recall that daft plan for a Sainsbury’s on stilts? And the doomed campaign against a drive-thru McDonald’s and hotel on one of our busiest roundabouts?

Our perennial traffic problems; the underused park and ride; the ongoing blight that is Churchfields.

There were rows over parish boundaries; over the callous treatment of disabled people by the charity Scope.

Other disappearances: the youth hostel; the police custody unit. Our relocating library. Very nearly, our tourist information centre. For a long time, our CCTV. Our youth service. Those railway bridge pigeons!

Just recently, and very sadly, Debenhams.

Lighter moments, too. Great performances at our Playhouse. The adventures of Poppy the dog. What to do with a glut of courgettes!

What else? The calibre of individuals leading our local authorities. The fire service merger with Dorset. The cruel pointlessness of badger culling.

The inadequacy of our tip, and successive councils’ failure to sort it out. Changes to our doctors’ surgeries and proposals for expansion at our hospital. The row over marriage for gay priests. Remember that?

Always, questions about our diminishing local democracy. I feel sure that Wiltshire Council bosses will be sorry to see me go!

And the perennial difficulty in getting local people actively involved in local affairs. I still don’t know how we do that. Overall, a lot of losses. Too few gains.

But I’d like to think there’s been a lot to smile about along the way. If you can’t laugh at life, what’s the point?

There are many correspondents I’ve never met face to face, yet I feel I know you. And I will miss you.

For anyone who’s not heartily sick of me already, I’m resurrecting my blog, Inspired by Salisbury, which you can find by typing Blogger Annie Riddle into the Google search box.

anneriddle36@gmail.com