Is it here we go again? Will there be more false promises that Christmas won’t be cancelled? And should the question be: did our PM know about the illegal parties in downing street?  Rather than: did illegal parties in downing street take place?

I have resisted for some time focusing on numbers, variants or anything Covid focused. It has remained in the background to my blog, from the angle of living through a pandemic, focusing on how our lives and how they are impacted, rather than pandemic people haunted daily my worrying news from around the world of new variants, high case numbers, high transmition rates, hospitalisations and deaths. But as December rolls on and we approach Christmas 2021, last Christmas is haunting us…

This time last year, December 2020 brought a tightening up of restrictions with the introduction of tier three  bringing: working from home, closing of hospitality except for take- out, no social meetings indoors except with people you live with or are in a support bubble with, stay local and reduce the number of journeys you make wherever possible. But Christmas was not cancelled, Santa still came with coal gifts galore, our tables were still laden, and for many, our bellies fit to burst. There was just a few less settings at the table, a few less visits, a few less in person get togethers indoors.

Yet, with the recent departure of one of the PM’s advisors after her regretful resignation following a leaked video from number 10 of government colleagues stood at the lectern mocking covid restrictions and talking of an alleged party. It seems unsurprising that people are upset and groups like the bereaved families for justice are speaking out for change. It seems last Christmas is haunting us in more than just the memories of what happened.

One year on and a new covid variant, Omicron has led to the need for regulations to work from home, mandatory face masks in indoor settings, covid-passes for some venues and encouragement that we go for our third vaccination, from only a minimum of 3 months since there last vaccination. The similarities to last Christmas cannot be ignored and yet as the government implement plan B the Christmas spirit is still in the air.

Christmas celebrations are still taking place, many of which were adapted to online from last Christmas remain. I myself enjoy a work festive quiz involving a scavenger hunt in the house that have me reminiscent of online scouting that took place through much of the pandemic only ceasing in the summer.