Christmas is Saved!

It's not that far off Advent so thoughts had been very much around just what would Christmas in this topsy turvey year going to be like.

One thing it can include to the delight of boys and girls everywhere is a virtual Grotto where you can meet Mr. Claus safely on his sleigh, wave and talk to him about what you'd like for Christmas. 

Amazingly the leaders of all Four Nations within the UK didn't just get together for virtual mince pies but agreed a common set of agreed exemptions from each countries rules for five days starting December 23rd to enable people if they wish to meet up over Christmas.

Because you are being allowed to do this doesn't mean you should go overboard and have everyone over during that period - you should try to keep that contact as brief as is necessary and avoid having people sharing things you may dip into such as festive candy and savoury snacks - but does mean people can see children and people who aren't at the highest risk of catching anything who might of had little face to face contact with family can be reunited.

No, it's not everyday you get festive decorations from the Government  but this Bubble was nearly universally welcomed for allowing Christmas of sorts to happen and setting some rules as people would only of met up anyhow in less safe ways.

Christmas was saved but what about the Turkey?

Next Wednesday in England, we're out of our National Lockdown V 2.0 so amongst other things no matter what Tier we end up in where we live we can have our hair cut.

When this was written the decision of what areas went into which tiers had not been announced - I suspect it was made with Council leaders knowing - but under an embargo unto the Minister makes his announcement on Thursday.

This is a summary of what applies to each Tier from December 2nd.

To me it looks a bit more balanced with a good number of less risky things that people can do including non essential shops reopening and grassroots sports resuming but with stricter rules that are more targeted at things that pose the greatest risk increasing for areas with the highest levels of infection, stretched NHS capacity and so on.