The post-Christmas bombshell was that one of our Christmas Bubble tested positive for COVID and has been quite unwell. She seems to be on the mend now, but we had to self-isolate until today. It didn’t mean too much of a change frankly, as we weren’t going out or doing anything much and Catering’s business (he does have a form of gainful employment) was closed for a fortnight any way.

I have handed soup over the wall to her and the neighbours in our little Mill End enclave rallied round with shopping trips and dog walking duties. Neighbours, Judy & Blackett, were similarly stricken and being of more advanced years are sadly taking longer to bounce back. It is very worrying and although we appear to have escaped unscathed this time, the dreaded virus creeps closer.

The lockdown seems worryingly open-ended this time, so here we sit until such time as the R rate comes down or we are all vaccinated. The odds of Milly’s coat still fitting her by Easter are not looking good and anyway who needs a winter coat at in Spring.