In many ways it's going to be tougher than before. Back in March there was a kind of perverse enjoyment about the idea of locking down. It was a novelty and walks in the country became enjoyable and the weather was mainly good. But this time the thought of another month mainly locked indoors isn't very appealing. The weather has or is turning nasty and we seem to have had rain for days and weeks on end. The nights are getting longer, the days are getting shorter and there's always the thought in the back of our minds that we may not be able to celebrate Christmas as we would like.
The messages coming out from Whitehall are as confusing as ever. For quite some time it wasn't clear whether we could play tennis and golf. Personally I gave up playing golf many years ago, but I still play tennis every week. But at least for the next four weeks I will be unable to take to the courts and this decision seems to be potty to say the least.
Surely tennis and golf are two activities that could continue. After all we can meet up with one other person from another household outside and go for a walk where we will be in fairly close proximity to them. It doesn't seem to be much point going for a walk with somebody if you have to keep your distance and can't talk to them.
But with tennis and golf it's easy to stay distanced. At tennis you will be the other side of a net and when you change ends one person can go to the right of the net and the other to the left. You can happily play without coming within ten yards of your opponent.
Similarly you can have a round of golf whilst easily distancing. I would suggest the fitness and health benefits from playing tennis and golf far far outweigh the infinitesimal chances of picking up the virus from playing.
Children are also being prevented from playing team games and organised sport and I believe that this is wrong. Young people need to let off energy and, as somebody who has been involved in sport both professionally and from a hobby point-of-view, I believe the fitness and health benefits of exercise and sport far outweigh the virus fears, particularly as youngsters will be so close to each other in the classroom anyway.
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Hethersett Village Screen has decided to shut down for the foreseeable future. That means the proposed December showing of the film "Harriet" is off. The numbers attending the November offering "1917" were small. I'm sure many were put off by having to wear masks. Hopefully it won't be too long before we are back enjoying the films in the village hall for what is not just a film show but also a nice Sunday afternoon social occasion.
I can still remember after the last lockdown the joy of being able to go out for a cup of coffee again. It felt as if we had been liberated and we could once again make our own decisions. It felt as if we had regained some part of our own lives. Now this has once again been taken away from us and nobody knows how long it will be before we can return.
I loved the following from Rob Whitmore which was posted on Facebook and refers to "closing time" for pubs tonight.
"If you’re in any pub at the final ring of the bell on Wednesday, stand up and give the staff a clap. They are probably anxious, heartbroken and could very well be having to apply for benefits in the morning. They have all worked their arses off during ‘eat out to help out’ and then got blamed for the increase in cases.
"They have followed the strict ever changing and often unclear guidelines which has led to them being verbally abused by customers for trying to keep people safe.
"They have seen their businesses take a nose dive, and had their hours cut. Many businesses will not survive this closure.
Now they are being told to stay at home with only a percentage of their wage so you can all stay safe. They still have bills to pay, Christmas is round the corner, but they are still expected to take the hit for the greater good without so much as a Thank you."
So if you are in the pub give them a clap and if you aren't just spare a thought for all the help and support they have given over the past eight months in what has been a spectacularly difficult year.