| Good morning, Welcome to Thursday. Support Scottish journalism today and try out a subscription here. There are no obligations and you will gain unlimited access to thousands of Scottish stories a month. Household gatherings over Christmas Different households will effectively be allowed to get together for Christmas family gatherings in Scotland this year, MSPs have been told. Official guidance that has been published by the Scottish Government reveals that existing "extended households" will count as one under the special arrangements for the festive season. Find out what this means for your family and how many households can meet, here. Is Nicola Sturgeon happy with the Christmas Covid-19 restrictions? Nicola Sturgeon has known for months now – and has warned the public as such – that the Christmas period in 2020 would be anything but normal. Given the political suicide it would be to effectively ‘ban Christmas’, it also comes as no surprise there is a move to relax restrictions, even if just for a handful of days, writes Conor Matchett. In an analysis piece, Conor asks is the First Minister really happy with the Christmas Covid-19 restrictions? 'It's just heartbreaking' A delivery man spotted a heartbreaking hand-written message posted in a window from a pensioner who recently lost his dog to cancer. David Macleod has been delivering supermarket goods to the elderly man in question, who lives in West Kilbride, for the last six years. David has since found a ‘notice’ in windows and on a bus shelter in the town believed to be written by the grief-stricken pensioner saying: “Small dog for company. Lost my dog to cancer, do not feel well without him. Jack Russell Cairn.” Read the full, and heartbreaking, story here. Thanks for reading, Sam Shedden, [email protected] | 
