21st December 2020

UK deaths: 215. Current Market Harborough infections: 183, DOWN from last week’s 111 (for once, a downward trend we actually like).

Meanwhile, France has thrown up the barriers, banning lorries carrying freight from the UK, and countries worldwide have slammed their doors shut faster than you can say “mutant strain.” Eurotunnel has halted Europe-bound services from its UK terminal, and Dover’s ferry port has closed to traffic. In short, if you were planning a festive getaway, you might want to rethink and embrace the joys of a staycation, perhaps in your own living room.

Just when we thought things couldn’t get any worse, along comes Mr COVID (Mk 2) to prove us spectacularly wrong! Christmas is ruined for most, the UK has been turned into a global pariah, and even the much-hyped “Christmas Star” (the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction) has been rudely obscured by thick cloud. To top it off, the TV is an endless loop of ancient reruns. At this rate, the only sensible course of action is to dig out old holiday videos, smile, and remember brighter times.

22nd December 2020: UK deaths: 689. Market Harborough infections: 189, DOWN from last week’s 92 (let’s cling to small victories).

On a brighter note, my recent Covid test result came back, delivered via text, email, and the NHS App, just to make absolutely sure I didn’t miss it. As expected, it was negative.

This morning, I had an appointment with the podiatrist at Leicester General’s Sports Injury Clinic for a fitting for some shoe inserts. They should be ready in about a month, which, at this rate, means I’ll have lovely, comfy feet just in time for another lockdown. The hospital was an absolute hive of activity, mainly due to the vaccine rollout. I passed a long but orderly queue of people waiting patiently, all keeping their distance like well-trained citizens. Interestingly, the staff were kitted out in even more PPE than on my last visit; either they’ve upped their game, or they know something we don’t.

Later in the afternoon, Charlotte and Harry popped by briefly. Ever the bargain-hunter, Charlotte had snagged half a dozen chickens for £1 each and promptly requisitioned our freezer for storage. Who needs gold when you’ve got poultry?

In a moment of sheer optimism, Jamie and Ruth have booked a February getaway in Blairgowrie and have even invited Sue and me to join them. However, with Scotland announcing a full lockdown in the New Year, this is looking about as likely as a warm, sunny British bank holiday.

23rd December 2020: UK deaths: 744. Market Harborough infections: 178, DOWN from last week’s 48.

From Boxing Day, Tier 4 restrictions will engulf Sussex, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and parts of Essex, plus Waverley in Surrey and most of Hampshire (excluding the lucky few in the New Forest). And, just in case we weren’t quite miserable enough, a new, even more transmissible COVID variant, this time originating from South Africa, has arrived on our shores, proving that 2020 still has a few unpleasant surprises up its sleeve.

Despite our infection rates falling, Harborough remains stuck in Tier 3, so near, yet so far.

This morning, with fog lights barely making a dent in the dense gloom, Sue and I made the pilgrimage to Newbold Verdon with a car packed full of Christmas presents. The rest of the family will be gathering at Sarah and Lee’s for their one-night-only permitted Christmas get-together. Though we won’t be joining them for the usual festivities, we’re hoping the gifts we left behind will inject a little normality into what is shaping up to be a very abnormal Christmas.

We spent an hour with Sarah, playing with Alice, before taking Mia for a short walk to a very wet and muddy Bagworth Heath Woods. Luckily, the rain held off while we were out, though it made up for lost time as soon as we were finished.

By the time we returned, Mia was cold, drenched, and impressively mud-splattered, much to Lee’s delight. He promptly whisked her off for a bath, no doubt wondering how he ended up with pet-cleaning duty while Sarah took Alice to the hairdressers. At least it gave him a break from endless Zoom meetings, though possibly not the kind of break he had in mind!

Our journey home wasn’t without incident. Most of the fog had lifted, but as we neared Harborough, we encountered groups of soggy yet impeccably dressed Hunt members atop their powerful steeds, making their way to various assembly points in preparation for their (hopefully unsuccessful) pursuit of the fox.

Shortly afterwards, with the rain lashing down, we powered through two sections of road that, only hours earlier, had been foggy but dry. By the time we arrived home, the River Welland was just starting to spill over its lower bank next to the house, a somewhat ominous welcome. The downpour continued relentlessly, and by nightfall, the water was rushing just below the upper bank by the drive, with the forecast promising even more heavy rain overnight.

With the water creeping worryingly close to the driveway, we decided to stay awake and keep a close eye on the river, just in case our lounge became part of it. So, snug and dry, we settled in with Netflix, checking the water level hourly. By 3 am, it was clear we weren’t about to float away, and sleep finally took over.

Not everyone was so lucky. According to local Facebook reports, several properties downstream weren’t spared from the flooding. By breakfast time, however, the river had dropped a full metre and was receding fast, proof that, sometimes, things really do look better in the morning.

24th December 2020 (Christmas Eve): UK deaths: 574 Current Market Harborough infections: 248 (UP 36 from last week)

Rather ironically, China has decided to suspend flights to and from the UK, joining the ever-growing list of countries slamming their doors shut in response to our latest and least festive export: the new COVID-19 variant.

Thankfully, daylight revealed that the Welland had decided to behave itself, retreating within its usual watercourse. With that crisis averted, I set out on a last-minute Christmas card dash around Harborough and Kibworth.

The real excitement came on my return journey when I encountered yet another flood under the Langton railway bridge, a notorious spot for aquatic misadventures. Sure enough, one unfortunate motorist had already fallen victim, stranded beside his car with a look of deep regret. As I cautiously navigated the waterlogged road, my bow wave gently lapped above his knees. Judging by his expression, I don’t think he found it nearly as amusing as I did.

The rest of the morning was spent replacing a rogue fence panel that had made a bid for freedom during the storm two days ago. A more sedate, if slightly less dramatic, task.

In the afternoon, Sue mooched around the shops in town, hunting for last-minute bargains. She returned empty-handed, or so she claims. I suspect she may have just hidden her spoils well.

Bridget and Jim arrived with a car cover for their vehicle parked on our driveway. As I helped wrestle it into place, a few delicate flakes of snow fluttered down, more of a festive gesture than a full commitment to a white Christmas.

Not long after, Jamie and Ruth arrived with Maddie, who we’ll be babysitting (or rather, bunny-sitting) over the holidays. True to form, Maddie turned up with her own Christmas stocking, stuffed full of presents, a level of festive indulgence I now aspire to.

We officially kicked off the celebrations in the evening by opening a bottle of this year’s homemade wine. Admittedly, we may be a little biased, but we both agreed it was refreshing, fruity, and deceptively strong, a perfect combination for easing into the festivities.

Meanwhile, the rest of the family successfully gathered in Newbold Verdon, where they settled in for a night of silly games and quizzes, all liberally washed down with seasonal beverages. No doubt, the competitive spirit was in full swing as the evening progressed.

Outside, Santa and Rudolph were busy parcelling their way towards the UK, hopefully equipped with a good satnav and a tolerance for Tier 3 restrictions.

25th December 2020 (Christmas Day): UK deaths: 570 Current Market Harborough infections: 297 (UP 63 from last week)

A hard frost had settled overnight, but sadly, there was no Disney-esque blanket of snow, no gently falling flakes, and certainly no distant jingle bells ringing through the crisp morning air. This is COVID Christmas, and things are different.

However, the UK did wake up to an unexpected Christmas present, not wrapped in festive paper but in dense political jargon. Against all odds, the UK and Europe had settled their differences and finally struck a Brexit trade deal. Whether it was a gift worth unwrapping remains to be seen, but at least it arrived on time.

After a light breakfast, Sue and I got down to the serious business of opening presents. This year, there were no grandchildren dressed as elves to distribute the goodies, and, despite our best efforts, a rabbit proved to be a very poor substitute, lacking both enthusiasm and a grasp of the job description.

We are fortunate to have generous children, relatives, and friends, and while the pile of surprises beneath our modest tree wasn’t quite the mountainous spectacle it usually is when the whole family gathers, it still took a good two hours of unwrapping, perusing, and discussing.

Today isn’t a day to dwell on the hardships so many have endured over the past ten months, but it feels right to acknowledge that, above all gifts, the greatest blessing is that the Palmer family has remained untouched by this terrible virus. And for that, we are truly grateful.

While the younger generation of the family sat down for their festive meal in Newbold Verdon, we took a drive to The Swan in Braybrooke, in Sue’s shiny, four-wheeled Christmas gift, for our own socially distanced, COVID-regulated celebration. And what a fine, substantial meal it was! No washing up, no crumbs to clear, a rare Christmas luxury.

Yet, despite the excellent food, we couldn’t help but miss the family banter, the good-natured teasing around the dining table, and the inevitable spilt glass of wine that always sparks frantic yet amusing reactions. But this is COVID Christmas, and things are different.

Back home, we made a video call to Newbold Verdon on their new Google Home Display. It was wonderful to see them all and chat, though Jamie, Ruth, and Joey had already left to continue their festivities in Bottesford with Ruth’s brother. Meanwhile, Lee’s parents had arrived for an overnight stay, ready to join Sarah, Lee, and Alice on a Boxing Day trip to Twycross Zoo.

Later in the afternoon, the Rothwells headed home, ensuring that, like everything else this year, COVID-19 rules were strictly followed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That evening, Sue and I spent a relaxed night watching a film, accompanied by a couple of tipples and an unseasonably early bedtime, a bit of an anomaly for Christmas, but we made it work.

It was Christmas Day, and yes, things had been different.

26th December 2020 (Boxing Day): 
UK deaths: 210. Current Market Harborough infections: 334. UP from last week: 149.

In more positive news, a new antibody treatment, which could potentially provide people with instant immunity after being exposed to COVID-19 and prevent illness, is now being trialled by scientists in the UK.

Today is Lee’s birthday, and with Storm Bella predicted to hit the UK, Sue and I decided to get ahead of the weather. We drove to East Carlton Country Park to meet up with the Rothwells for a Boxing Day walk.

Last year, we enjoyed Duck Racing as a family, and in previous years, we’ve gone to Greyhound Racing, but with much of the country in Tiers 3 & 4, the options were a bit limited. Optimistically, we did have Harry the greyhound with us, but unsurprisingly, none of the other dogs at the park were up for a race with him!

Meanwhile, Lee, Sarah, Alice, and Lee’s parents visited Twycross Zoo. Remarkably, despite being in Tier 3, the zoo was open. I guess they were desperate for visitors, likely to help cover the cost of feeding the animals!

27th December 2020:

UK deaths: 316. Current Market Harborough infections: 466. Up from last week: 302.

The numbers are climbing faster than a cat up a curtain, and it looks like Harborough, along with the rest of the country, might be heading back into full lockdown. Sadly, 18 care home residents in Belgium have died after contracting the virus following a visit from a man dressed as Santa Claus. Who knew Father Christmas could be so… dangerous?

It was a sunny but painfully cold day. Apart from a quick trip to Doreen’s to deliver a jar of my world-renowned pickled onions (courtesy of Sue, who knows I can’t be trusted with anything that involves vinegar), we both stayed wrapped up and toasty at home.

Gwenda rang from Canada, sounding cheerful despite the chill. It’s unusually cold in Ontario, too, no snow yet, but plenty of freezing rain, which, let’s face it, is just nature’s way of saying, “No, you really don’t want to go outside.”

Jamie and Ruth popped by in the late afternoon to collect Maddie and borrow an electric heater as their central heating controller had decided to take a holiday. With next week promising to be even colder and with snow on the cards, here’s hoping their heating gets fixed before the house turns into an ice rink!