Today is the second day of life in Tier 4. It is also December 21st which, this year, is the date of the winter solstice and from now on the days begin to become longer – a cheering thought!

As I recounted in yesterday’s post, we did not perform our usual shopping run this Sunday. This was for two reasons. Firstly, we had in any case planned to put off this week’s shopping until nearer Christmas to make sure than any fresh food items would last over the Christmas closures. Secondly, we guessed that the shops would be crowded with anxious shoppers. So we left the trolley quietly parked beside the fridge and went out for the walk that I described.

This morning, Tigger decided to make an early run for the shops. Sainsbury’s has asked that we shop singly, not in pairs or family groups, so as to keep numbers in the store to a minimum. Until now we had ignored this advice but today, Tigger took the decision to go alone. Did I feel happy to give the shopping chore a miss? No, actually. In fact, I felt rather depressed by it and waited anxiously for Tigger’s return.

When Tigger came home, it turned out that she had done a good job, buying enough goodies to see us over the Christmas break, and had even picked up coffee from Mercer’s in Chapel Market on the way home – something that is usually my job!

So I think we are now ready for Christmas and can relax, except that Tigger was due to go in to work on Wednesday and Thursday and we are awaiting confirmation that this is still the case as seems likely.

The situation has been rendered still more complicated by France closing its borders to traffic from the UK owing to fears that Britons entering France would bring with them the new strain of Covid 19 which is more infectious than the old one. The shops have warned that this closure could affect our food supply and lead to shortages. During the day we have already been hearing reports of queues at food stores snd customers squabbling over items in short supply.

After Tigger’s foray to the shop this morning (when, perhaps because it was still early, there had been no queues or squabbles), we stayed at home. The weather was wet and miserable and not conducive to leisurely ramblers of the sort we enjoy.

Tomorrow is another day. Let’s hope the weather is more pleasant. If it is, we shall go for a walk and pick up our ritual coffees from Myddelton’s deli.

And – who knows? – we might even photograph a few more wreaths! 🙂