| Neil McIntosh Editor, The Scotsman Dear subscribers, Hello from everyone at The Scotsman, where we have - once more - retreated from the office, returning to our spare rooms, studies and kitchen tables across the country to produce our website and newspaper. We never fully made it back before the latest Coronavirus concerns, to be honest. We also know how fortunate we are to be able to continue to work from home. The Omicron surge Many others cannot: the NHS, of course, but also in retail, logistics and so many other areas vital to modern life. Thoughts have turned, in particular, to those in the hospitality sector this week: they were hoping for a bumper Christmas and New Year after two dreadful years. But many in the sector now appear to be staring at further financial hardship - perhaps ruin - in the face, as parties are cancelled and the public decides to start locking itself down. A further stark warning from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday - that the new variant may achieve "what we have feared all along" by overwhelming the NHS - will only accelerate the rash of party and dinner cancellations. A number of big gigs, the latest being Deacon Blue's, have also been cancelled, with singer Ricky Ross expressing disappointment that there hasn't been more official guidance on what can go ahead. For now, the Premier Sports Cup final between Celtic and Hibs at Hampden on Sunday goes ahead, but Scottish football is mulling what it should do as the virus spreads. The astonishingly rapid spread of the Omicron variant will likely dominate our lives over the coming few months; as a friend remarked yesterday, "it's quite something to watch exponential growth in action". The severity of the illness it causes will be closely watched, as that will determine the impact on our health service and - most likely - our liberty, and livelihoods, in the weeks ahead. We will keep you updated as this unwelcome story develops. How did we get here and where do the tracks lead? You won't be surprised to learn that our work on Omicron and its impact has been topping our most-read charts this week. But plenty of other areas are getting attention too: Dani Garavelli, looking at the state of Westminster politics, asked: "How did we get here?" and seemed to strike a nerve. Alastair Dalton's lament about the fading prospect of high-speed trains between Scotland and London also struck a nerve with many. And plenty of you enjoyed reading Martin Dempster hand out his personal golfing awards for 2021. And, finally, there are clearly many readers looking for some light relief - indeed, who isn't? - turning to Graham Falk's useful guide to the best new releases on Netflix. If we're all going to be stuck indoors again this festive season, the least we can do is ensure some decent entertainment, after all. Counting down the days Speaking of which... there's plenty of Christmas cheer to look forward to tomorrow, in the Saturday Scotsman: we have a sneak peek at the contenders for Scotland's Christmas Home of the Year and - if that Netflix guide isn't enough - a full 14-day broadcast TV guide, to get you through the festive period and to the end of the year. Whatever your plans over the coming week, we hope you can enjoy some of the festive spirit while also staying safe. Thank you, as ever, for your support. Best wishes, Neil McIntosh Editor, The Scotsman | 