PETERBOROUGH – It’s Dec. 30 here, two days before New Year’s Eve. Back in April 2020, in the middle of the first lockdown in the United Kingdom, whilst I did take the current pandemic seriously, I was also hopeful. I was hopeful that summer will be different. I was hopeful that I could go on an overseas holiday again. I was hopeful that by Christmas, we could once again be able to get together and hug our nearest and dearest, knowing how especially special this season is despite all the things that divide us.
Eight months, three lockdowns, and four tiers later, we are in the face of yet another ‘wave’. It makes one question what the next series of months will look like: if we’re actually in the midst of a breakthrough, or just finding ways to make it through.
Before the new variant of the coronavirus made its waves throughout the UK, the initial plan was to give a hall pass during the festive period and allow Christmas bubbles to take place – allowing two households to mix indoors while practicing safety guidelines. While a small piece of freedom, people all around the UK had been making plans in order to make this work – all with the hope of being able to share one roof with the ones dear to us.
All plans, however, had to be scrapped four days before Christmas eve. The government had to take more drastic measures to curb yet a rapidly growing number of infections, hospitalisations, and deaths due to COVID.
Living in an area where the UK’s current highest tier is in place, the official guidance is to ‘Stay at Home’. This means that you cannot leave the place you’re living in unless you have a reasonable excuse. One cannot meet other people indoors, including over the Christmas and New Year period, unless you live with them, or they are part of your support bubble.
Although we had to be logical about the pandemic, we were also hopeful. I understand I can only speak from my own experiences, but I am certain others share my sentiments. Leading up to the festive period, the air of celebration is unmistakeable: Christmas fairs in villages; Christmas carollers; Christmas parties and unofficial gatherings; Christmas rush; last-minute shopping. However, none of this sort happened this year. Everything happened online.
Christmas carollers and donation drives created Just Giving pages; shopping became click and collect; and gatherings became Zoom meetings. But to be completely fair, while it isn’t ideal, we accept that it is what we need to do to help. We’re pragmatic. And that’s really all we can be until this is all over – or easier for all of us.
Until it is over, we’re staying at home, getting our daily dose of outdoor exercise, and wishing we don’t have to spend another Christmas this way. Here’s to hoping we’d all get to be together again, soon. – NWI
