Seeds

I've never grown anything from seed before, so fingers crossed! This morning the builders returned to re-do the bit of re-pointing they did on the garden wall as it had failed in the freezing weather. I did a bit more in the garden today. I was broadly ok with the roadmap outlined by the PM. Living in a rural area I have always felt aggrieved by the 'stay at home' order definition of staying 'local' being 'your village, town or part of the city where you live' and was hoping for it to be tweaked. It means I can't meet my friend H for a walk as she lives 6 miles away in another tiny town, but my friends in Milton Keynes can meet as 2 for a walk, even though the population of MK is over twice that of the population of the whole of North Norfolk. We are required legally to 'stay at home' until 29th Mar at the earliest (later than I expected), but leisure centres may open from 12th Apr and up to 10,000 fans could be in stadiums from as early as 17th May (both earlier gaps than I expected).

Day 343 / Day 48 of Lockdown 3 (for my record only)
UK deaths up 178 to 120,757 (revised basis), with 10,641 new cases, 18,462 patients in hospital, 2,469 on ventilation and 1,304 new admissions. c17.7m have now received their first dose of the vaccine (only a small increase today). Lots of positive news about one vaccine jab reducing the risk of being admitted to hospital by at least 75% for over 80s. A booster shot will definitely be administered in Autumn / Winter

The PM announced his roadmap to easing lockdown, all of the dates are provisional and dependent on the data. 4 constraints will apply:
i - the vaccine programme goes to plan;
ii - hospital treatment and deaths are being sufficiently reduced;
iii - infection rates do not risk a surge in hospital treatments;
iv - the risk of lifting restrictions is not fundamentally changed by virus mutations.
Roadmap in brief (please read full details)
Stage 1
8th Mar - all schools and colleges to open, with face coverings recommended in class. Uni students to return for practical courses. 2 people can meet outside (not just for exercise). 1 person can visit a person in a care home with controls. Weddings with up to 6 people.
29th Mar - Can meet with 1 other household outside within the 'rule of six' incl in private gardens. Stay at home order to end, but encouraged to stay local as much as possible. Outdoor sport to restart. Parents and children groups up to 15.
Stage 2
12th Apr - All shops re-open. Restaurants and pub gardens open for outdoor service. Gyms and spas re-open. Close contact services can re-open incl hairdressers (yay!). UK staycations allowed in self-contained accommodation for members of same household only. Children's play activities indoors. Zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas open. Libraries and community centres re-open. Weddings up to 15 attending.
Stage 3
17th May - Groups can meet up to 30 outdoors. 6 people or 2 households can meet indoors. Up to 30 at weddings and christenings. Outdoor theatres and cinemas open. Museums, cinemas, kids play areas open. Hotels, hostels, B&Bs open to household groups. Performance and large events to resume within limits. International travel may re-start. Indoor group sports and exercise classes to start. 
Stage 4
21st June - All legal limits on social contact will be removed. No limits on no's attending weddings, funerals and other life events. Nightclubs and theatres re-open. 
Reviews
4 reviews will inform final decisions:
1 - How long will we need to continue with social distancing, face masks and working from home;
2 - A global travel task force will look at international travel;
3 - Covid status certification will be examined, although concerns exist over exclusion, discrimination and privacy;
4 - The starting of major events.