4th January 2021. 299 days after lockdown/isolation.

Happy New Year dear reader. A lot has happened in recent days and I have been waiting for mum to get her letter to be called up for a vaccination. No letter or phone call has been received as yet, despite her being 94 years of age. Boris is on at 8pm and is likely to announce a full lockdown.

We have four main groups of Brits in the UK. Brexiteers, Anti vaxxers, Remainers and those who welcome the vaccine programme. Of those groups, I have found it rare that Brexiteers admit to their voting history. The rest are quite happy to stand their ground. Maybe the Brexiteers are waiting for it to be successful before they “come out of the cupboard”. Well, at the moment they will be keeping quiet as each day brings more bad news for the whole of the UK or individual groups of Brits. One emerging story is the Spanish authorities treatment of ex pats who have property there and those who might want to move out there. Pensioners have to have proof of income (minimum €26000) and restrictions on those already living there with challenges if they leave the country for a holiday. As an example (and I don’t have any details) I would site the purchasers of our Spanish house in Murcia in December 2018. After less than two years they have put it up for sale.

New years Eve was different this year. Most of our neighbours came out on the stroke of 1200 and we wished each other a Happy New Year. There was no singing or clapping but it was lovely and friendly and may become a tradition. Many years ago when we were in our 20s, we would go to the Barham pub until midnight and walk to our friend Liz’s house but on the way we would be invited to have a wee dram in a lot of houses where people were stood on their doorsteps listening to the boats hooters going off in Hull Docks, and watching fireworks. That’s a tradition that is long gone but would be lovely to revive. If only in part.

Lockdown Tier 5, has been announced. It applies from tomorrow unofficially but will be made law from Wednesday. The biggest thing is that schools will close down until at least February half term. Exams will probably not take place this year. More information will come out tomorrow.