Resigned to being alone this Xmas

on in our hearts. But I think we should let them rest in peace.

I really felt for Victoria Derbyshire when she said she would break the rule of six over Christmas because it’s so important to have her family together. And I know, given all the coronavirus rules that have come and gone since March, it’s easy to say: “Sod this for a game of soldiers.” Being separated from family on such a special day is painful.

But people breaking the rules are behind this scary second wave. And staying apart now means we are separated only temporarily. While the virus is so rife, we need to protect ourselves and our families, as well as other people.

I realise I’m lucky because I can FaceTime my family and share Christmas Day with them that way but I’m resigned to spending it on my own. If we need to sacrifice a day to get the country moving again, we must.

I know a lot of people in my generation will be sad if we are not with our loved ones. But I also know a lot of us will insist we’re fine. Maybe because we are the children of a war generation, we have been taught to be resilient because we know our parents had it far harder. We have been brought up to get on with whatever life throws at us without a moan. So it might be hard to spot any older people around you who are l o n e ly, b e c a u s e many will not admit it because they don’t want to burden anyone.

So during lockdown, when everything is harder and quieter, why not pick up the phone to have a little chat with someone of my generation? When people do that to me, it really means the world.

SAD Victoria wanted to see her family