| Good evening, Whisper it...but it finally looks like we are beginning to make our way out of the Covid nightmare.
The Prime Minister has confirmed that from next Monday, non-essential shops, including hairdressers and barbers, can reopen, and pubs can start to serve people in beer gardens.
To our former selves this would appear to be nothing to get excited about.
But life has changed so much in the past 12 months that the thought of a haircut and the chance to pop into town for a look around real shops is enough to make you quite emotional.
We may have to wait a little longer before we can start to think about holidays, but with more than half the adult population now vaccinated, it is beginning to become a more realistic proposition.
It’s hard from our current perspective to know what this pandemic will have taught us, but I’d like to think we will have learned at least a few lessons.
Like not taking our friends and family for granted - or valuing the freedom to travel in this country and further afield.
It’s the small things that really matter in the end.
Until next time, Take care, Gillian. It is thanks to our loyal readers that we can continue to provide the trusted news, analysis and insight that matters to you. For unlimited access to our unrivalled local reporting, you can take out a subscription here and help support the work of our dedicated team of reporters. | 
