So much for early release from this laglustre life

THE prisoner crosses off the days to his release in his cell and at first I did the same. A chart on my office wall marked the 12-week lockdown imposed by Boris Johnson in mid-march.

I religiously drew a line through the number every morning, until July 4 – when restrictions were lifted and it was straight down to the Old White Bear. Hallelujah! Freedom!

It didn’t last. And anyway, it wasn’t back to normality. It was tables-only and a one-way system and no standing at the bar, and, and…

But you could live with it, for the greater good and your own safety.

That didn’t last either. We’re back under the cosh. Airedale in Craven district is still in Tier 1, for the time being, but how long can that last? We’re surrounded on one side by Bradford and Leeds, both of which narrowly missed going into Tier 3 last Friday, and Lancashire on the other, already there.

So the numbers chart is back up on the wall – this time with 162 days to mark off until the end of March. Almost six months inside, with no remission (but probably not enough good behaviour, either).

This is a worst-case scenario chart. I hope the sentence will be reduced on appeal and I can tear up the table long before Easter.

In phase one, I made my own chart on a piece of white card. This time, come the New Year, it will be more, er, scientific. I bought a £1 calendar from Boyes in Skipton to strike off the days.

It’s daft, I know, but there is a minute sense of progress when I do that.

There’s no release date but this old lag is getting used to doing time.