Saturday 19 December:

A strange, sad, slightly unreal morning.
I went to collect the Saturday Guardian as usual, but at 9.30am received a phonecall from David Shorey to say that Sally had died earlier this morning (at around 5am). I knew from a previous email that she hadn’t been very well earlier in the year (breast cancer; then what effectively was a stroke; followed by depression and difficulties with walking), but David explained that she had subsequently collapsed 6 weeks ago, had been in hospital since, had had Covid, but that her death was due to a rare brain disease associated with PV. What made everything so much worse was the fact that David wasn’t allowed to visit her (until 2-3 days ago when doctors realised it was an ‘end of life’ situation). Terribly sad. I didn’t have a good relationship with her, but I do feel especially sorry for David… and what the future might hold for him (with no children or close relatives and a potentially lonely existence in his autumn years).
After reading the newspaper, I spent much of the morning writing up a blogpost based on my various ‘reflections’ compiled since the start of the pandemic. Interesting to look back on one’s reactions and emotions over the months.
Spoke to Alice by telephone (which was nice)… and Moira and I discussed the need to arrange suitable ‘meeting up’ plans with Ru+Stu and with Han+Fee (and zoom call with the Buckleys).
In this afternoon’s press conference, the PM announced further changes in Covid guidelines (with Tier4 for London and SE)… and also significant changes to the Christmas holidays: three households acceptable together, but for Christmas Day ONLY (not 5 days as originally announced).
Evening telly: watched a rather wonderful interview with John Le Carré (by Mark Lawson).  
Image: “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”… (thinking about all the people who’re going to have to change their plans for Christmas).