Hope for future, but stay safe

HAVE you got the Christmas decorations up yet?

I’m resisting, but have agreed to wear a Christmas jumper to an “end of lockdown” Zoom meet-up with friends next weekend. In November, it’s not my normal style.

By the time you read this hopefully we will know more about what is happening after Lockdown Two ends and what we can do for the festive season.

I know lots of people are already torn between taking the opportunity, if it’s allowed, to meet up with family and friends at Christmas, or to continue not to mix, so stop the spread of the virus.

It’s been such a tough year who can blame people for wanting desperately to spend a bit of “normal” time with their loved ones? But I think we all know deep down that it will be a risk. I haven’t ordered the turkey yet.

One of the lovely things about being a councillor is that you get to attend lots of community events throughout the year. Normally I’d be looking forward to going to Christmas Lights switch-on events and Christmas fairs in the different communities I represent. It’s always great to meet up with people, chat over a mince pie, wear a silly hat and pull raffle tickets out of the bucket, but of course this year it’s not happening the same way; the lights will still go on, but without any razzamatazz.

We normally spend some of our local budget helping things go with a swing, but this year, instead, we are providing books for local schoolchildren and giving grants to some of our community groups. The benefits will hopefully last beyond Christmas.

All this can change. The talk of a vaccination on its way gives hope for the future. Plans are being made to roll it out to the most vulnerable people first and gradually work its way through the population.

You can’t have the Covid vaccination within one month of the flu jab so if you haven’t got round to getting that done yet, get on with it. Just think of a time when we could hug our friends, shake hands with our neighbours and invite anyone we like home. All these recipes I’ve been trying out on my husband, I could feed to my friends.

Oh, to sit down round a table with more than one person, in a house or a restaurant and chew the fat for hours – that would be bliss!

In the meantime, while we wait for the scientists to do their thing, don’t let our guard drop. I lost a friend to Covid last week, it was a shock – it can happen to anyone. Stay safe!

■ Councillor Sally Longford is deputy leader of Nottingham City Council