Dear Reader,

LET’S face it, everything is unrelentingly awful. There’s a grumble here, outright anger there, and widespread concern about how on earth we’re going to make ends meet, both as a nation and as individuals — unless, of course, you invented Zoom or have just invested in a company that produces hand sanitiser.

Normally when things get this grim, the natural response is to shout: ‘I need a holiday.’

But even that particular escape route is narrowing.

There are now only nine countries left where British people can visit without having to test negative for Covid-19 on arrival, or quarantine once they are there or upon return to the UK.

Sweden looks likely to be the next country bound for the Government’s dreaded red list, with Greece and Italy not far behind.

So, what happened to all that chat from Transport Secretary Grant Shapps a few weeks ago about stepping up efforts to create a testing regime at airports in the hope, at the very least, of reducing the quarantine period from 14 to seven days? Perhaps it was just chat. But there’s no way travel can be rescued without the Government being proactive.

At the moment, the unspoken policy seems to be to wait and see — and hope for a vaccine.

Meanwhile, bookings for halfterm are looking strong in the UK, which is good news, especially when you factor in the 15 per cent VAT cut for pubs, restaurants and other hospitality firms.

It’s also the case that the weather is turning in Britain. This means many of us will soon start pining for winter sun — and that’s where our cover story comes in. There are plenty of Caribbean islands not just open for business but keener than ever to welcome us.

Barbados (pictured) is even offering year-long visas for anyone moving there with the intention of working remotely.

You’ll have to self-isolate for the first seven days, but I think most of us could handle that. ‘Relax as hard as you like,’ as islanders say.