Corona news: seven centres to open in the North East and Yorkshire to help those suffering from Long Covid. Tiered restrictions in England may need to be strengthened as virus numbers rise. However, in my world, life is continuing as normal-ish with some added early Christmas magic.

It’s back. It’s finally arrived. The ring I’ve been looking for, waiting for and now have as a symbol of our engagement back on 29 February. Giggly, smiley, excited. I feel like Christmas has come early for me this year. I can’t stop singing: ‘All I want for Christmas is you’. Christmas feels like it is filling the air and my festive spirit is running high.

I have been waking early recently but lounging in bed for ages. So, this week when I wake early, determined to break the habit, I get up and – bake cookies mmm. Delicious warm cookies, even the smell wafting through the house evokes imagery of Christmas.

Yet, I am not alone. Out in my community, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, early in November. In any normal year, around this time Christmas enters the shops, the Christmas lights get switched on and many moan ‘it’s not Christmas until December’. However, this year people aren’t waiting, but welcoming Christmas earlier with Christmas lights, trees and many other decorations appearing in windows. One entertaining decoration is a Santa on top of a bay window wearing a mask. Mask wearing has become part of the ‘new normal’, that I only noticed the mask after several passes by their window on my daily walks.

I might even be wearing my partner down, who is adamant that Christmas decorations start 1st December and not before. But following a phone call from my future brother-in-law, he has agreed once we are tidied in the house Christmas can begin. So, my only real concern now is what does tidy look like?

I guess this year there really hasn’t been much to look forward to. Christmas normally fills people’s social calendars. Yet this year it’s all been about the virtual. I am certain this Christmas is not going to be busy with bustling parties of friends and family. However, I am hopeful we can and will have time this Christmas with loved ones.

So why can’t we get out the Christmas cheer? And why can’t Christmas come early this year? Like that famous Dickens line by Scrooge in ‘A Christmas Carol’: “I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.” The true meaning of Christmas is shown in kindness after all.