Merry Christmas

I send you seasons greetings and warmest wishes from the south coast of England, where we have been enjoying the benefits of living in a Tier 2 region. Most of the rest of the country is in either Tiers 3 or 4, or headed there tomorrow. Tier 2 means life goes on pretty much as normal. The main restrictions – of households not mixing indoors – are easy to obey. We don’t mix an awful lot anyway. Our restaurants remain open. My gym is open. Even the cinema is open, showing classics such as Elf and Die Hard with half price tickets. Yes, I did go to see Die Hard a couple of weeks ago.

This is not a post intended to brag about our good fortune in living in such a lightly restricted area. Quite the opposite. I am simply enjoying the life we have while we have it. The virus is spreading and we will surely find ourselves in Tier 3 or 4 within a few weeks. We need drive only nine minutes up the road to traverse the border between tiers 2 and 4. It is close. Getting closer. I have mixed feelings about the restrictions. I recognise that there was no real alternative in spring. But now, in winter, they are simply the consequence of political and social failure. We are all to blame. Both those who are supposed to lead and those who are supposed to follow. And also those of us who can usually be trusted to behave without supervision. There is always a Monty Python sketch that aptly demonstrates the current state of affairs.

But I am confident that next year will be better, if not as confident as I once was that we would be done with this by Easter. I do hope to skate once again at Somerset House next Christmas. I do believe that we will shop in Fortnum’s without a mask across ones face. I am looking forward to sitting by the Thames with a glass of mulled wine and some roasted chestnuts, and striking up conversation with a stranger. ‘Gosh, doesn’t last Christmas seem like such a long time ago? Are we sure we didn’t dream it…?’

Life is still not so bad for most of us. Stay safe, keep ones chin up, seek silver linings, let go of deadweight, look forward to the future. Once again, Merry Christmas to you all. See you next year – same place, same time, different world. Salud.