‘ I N MIDLIFE AND SINGLE, HOW I ’ M PLANNING TO GET THROUGH THE DAY ALONE’

I already know how Christmas morning will play out for me.

I’ll Facetime my two sisters and their families, and wish them a Happy Christmas.

When they ask me how I am, I’ll reply “Absolutely hunky dory” with a cheery smile to hide the crushing shame I feel about being single in midlife, suddenly stuck in Tier 4 and unable to join my extended family for the most important day of togetherness.

As a childless, unmarried woman of 56, people like me already find this time of year painful. Our state of societal failure is highlighted in every schmaltzy advert featuring either happy families in party hats or loved-up couples. What has become clear is that, as the nation battens down for a small, cosy Christmas, those of us on the margins of society find ourselves staring once again into the abyss. For though some people plunged into Tier 4 may be relieved not to have to tidy their house for the in-laws, for single people like me, this has sentenced us to spend Christmas looking at our own four walls.

Once again, it is policy designed with only a nuclear family in mind, leaving the rest of us to slog it out alone, perhaps until March. We all want love. We all want to matter. When it’s the season to be jolly and the only company you have is the cat, you feel like drowning your sorrows in a barrel of eggnog.

So once the family calls are over, I will switch off my phone then turn the day on its head. I will revel in the joy of it being effort free: No biting my lip to avoid another sibling squabble. I don’t have to dress up in a sparkly party frock, or concoct an exit plan as everyone is getting drunk. I am accountable to no one.

I will cook my favourite meal of steak and chips. Then survive the afternoon slump by going for a long walk, relishing the freedom of doing as I please.

I will end the day slouched on the sofa eating slabs of dark chocolate and watching my favourite films.

It’s only 24 hours of my life, and there will so many more Christmases to look forward to.