Dear Reader,

THE mood has changed. Even yesterday’s announcement that anyone entering the UK from next week will have to produce a negative coronavirus test has fallen flat and begs the question: why wasn’t testing in place months ago?

‘We’re doing this now because there are these variants that we’re very keen to keep out of the country,’ Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News. But surely the whole country was keen to keep out variants of any kind as far back as last April and May when our borders were wide open, even for people coming in from China.

And it has fallen flat because, of course, none of us is meant to travel anywhere at the moment. Even when we can, the price of a PCR ‘gold standard’ test will be prohibitive, with some tests costing as much as £150. That means a family of four with two children over the age of 11 will have to factor in an extra £600 each way — or a total of £1,200.

What we can do this month and in February and, most likely, much of March, is plan. I had hoped to slope off to the Alps for a weekend of skiing in the Three Valleys (pictured) next weekend. No chance, obviously, but I’ve enjoyed looking at the live webcam from Adelboden in Switzerland.

Yesterday, under crisp blue skies, skiers of all standards were sashaying down a mountain before spilling out along a wooded path. It looked a fantasy because it is a fantasy.

So just let our webcam cover story and our cooking feature on page 64 transport you momentarily to a different place — then start pencilling in trips for later in the year.

A colleague and her fiance have gone as far as organising themed evenings at home. Tonight they are going all Italian, with food, drink and an attempt to speak the lingo. Not everyone will take it that far. As for me, I’m just grateful that lockdown numero three has provided a perfect guilt- free excuse to opt out of Dry January. I’m raising my glass to future travels.