Adam, not Tommy!

Last night we had a very good meal for Gavin's birthday celebration. We went to a restaurant that had a tasting menu, as we so enjoyed that experience when we celebrated mine and Adam's birthdays. Although the food was very good, it was very rushed. What we enjoy about a tasting menu is that the evening is drawn out with each course being explained so it is a special experience. Last night we were told to arrive at 6.30pm (very early for us) and while we were aware of the 10pm curfew the staff must have got a memo saying speed things up, as we were finished by 8pm! We were originally told we would finish at 9.30pm which is what we were expecting. Anyway, it was an enjoyable evening and we were fortunate to have our own table in their wine room so we had no other diners near us at all.

Adam stayed the night but has just left now to return to Cambridge, so I took this photo of him before he left. Not sure when we will see him again. 

Today we were meant to be driving to Switzerland as we had planned to go with Tommy and Inca after she finished her exams for a short break before the university term starts. It would have been fun to be there in the thick snow that they are currently experiencing. We are not going because it is one of the countries on the list requiring us to quarantine for 2 weeks when we return to the UK, but today I heard that British visitors to Switzerland also have to quarantine for 10 days on arrival in Switzerland, so that does not work for us. It is very likely that we won't be able to go there for New Year as we have done every year for the past 15 years. And all the rumours about university students not being allowed to return to their families for Christmas means it could be a very bleak and miserable Christmas season.

Leading scientists in the UK (not those working for the government) have said that too much emphasis is being placed on rising Coronavirus case numbers when really you should be considering the hospitalisation rate and death rate, which is not rising significantly at all. You need rising cases to get herd immunity (that dreaded term the government now shy away from in case it costs them the vote - well they are in for a surprise...) These scientist also said that when we were all panicking that the virus would spread like wildfire when hordes of people descended on the beaches in the summer, there actually was no increase in case numbers at all, so being outdoors seems to be fine. A pity we are now going in to winter when  outdoor activities will be curtailed.