FAMILY LIFE MUST GO ON

AS WE seem to be heading towards total lockdown, you might think that birthdays, parties and other celebrations are cancelled for the foreseeable future.

But my son Jude’s 13th birthday celebrations last week were proof that you CAN still have a good old celebration. It was a much-needed reminder that we are still the same family, with the same traditions, and it made us feel normal again – for a short while, at least.

And I’d urge you all to do the same.

Intimate celebrations, with just your household, can be just what you need in a time of crisis to remind you what is important. All it takes is a bit of forward planning – buying presents, balloons and wrapping paper online and getting a friend to deliver a cake.

And instead of blowing out candles, Jude, left, wafted them out using a card – to reduce the chances of spreading the virus!