U turn central

 U Turn Central

Whatever next turns out to be yet another U turn by the master of U turns, Boris Johnson, who dashed our Christmas plans only days after saying to cancel Christmas would be 'inhuman'.

Household mixing indoors is allowed for one day only, Christmas Day, no over night stays. Unless...in London and much of the South and East, when much of tier 3 becomes tier 4, stringent lockdown as per November and with Christmas effectively cancelled. Limited to your own household only. 

This sudden dramatic cull of Christmas relaxations is officially due to the fast spread of a mutant Covid variant. Immediate cynicism following this announcement on Sat Dec 19th was that this variant was a red herring. "Finish your Christmas shopping, fill up the economy coffers , then shut yourselves away please as we've left too much leeway giving you 5 days off over Xmas" was the media (and my) view on this particular U turn. 

However, since the introduction of these updated rules on Sunday Dec 20th it is become obvious that infection rates are soaring across the country. Even the most cynical , such as me, can see there is a problem. On the plus side, this mutation may spread more quickly but it is not,  apparently, responsible  for more serious illness per se. Just for increasing the sick amongst the population as a whole. Great 😟 Just what we need. 

No sooner had a stunned nation taken in these latest rules/latest grim news and those of us as yet not in tier 3 or tier 4 breathed a sigh of (temporary) relief when more grim news broke. Nations across the world led by the EU have drawn up the drawbridge and isolated the United Kingdom.

With rail and ferry links to Europe stopped for all but non contact freight shortages are biting immediately. 

Hard not to believe this is partly the EU sticking a proverbial finger  up to the UK for its brinkmanship over Brexit. Too late now for a deal, Boris? Shame. Here's a warning shot on what a no deal Brexit is going to look like!

Thousands of lorries are now stalled in Kent. Without food, water and washing/toilet facilities. Scottish seafood is going out of date stuck on containers going nowhere.

And naturally panic buying has begun.  Salad and fruit is the first to go every morning, but people are buying anything and everything again. Supermarkets are re introducing limits. I will have to get used to no fresh salad even sooner than I thought.

Happy Christmas one and all . Bah humbug. 

I am more fortunate than many. I have my husband and my wonderful daughter in my bubble. But it is tearing me apart that I shall miss seeing my youngest son and his partner in London and my second son, his wife and two lovely girls in Norfolk over the festive season. 

I am literally holding my breath that nothing goes wrong between now and Friday so that Paul, Annie and I may spend Xmas Day with my eldest son and family, my two beloved granddaughters. Our one precious indoor day. 

It is a measure of how much life has changed that today, Tuesday, I dare not get excited about Friday.