Clare declares war on Essex

Meeting Arwen

We met baby Arwen on Sunday at a mutual location in the ancient Barn Restaurant at Wisbech, where we could swap Christmas presents and share a late Sunday lunch. She has grown well, and is now up to the mean birth weight of 7lb. Coming home in a pure deep blue twilight, we could spot the so called "Star of Bethlehem", namely the grand conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, low in the western sky just after sunset. Ann managed to get a picture, and we were still able to just distinguish it as two planets. 

The new strain of Covid has frightened the government who foolishly announced to the world that "it was out of control". The French, rejoicing in being able to attach Les Rosbifs in any way they can, have imposed an arbitrary blockade without warning on all traffic from UK to France. Hundreds of poor lorry drivers are now stuck on the M20 in a huge tailback, anticipating having to spend Christmas locked in their cabs. However, many of them are of course foreign making their way home for Christmas: French, German, Dutch, Polish or Hungarian truckers are venting their anger at Macron, so it is possible he may reverse the blockade soon, no doubt presenting the climb down as a "humanitarian act of kindness". 

One unfortunate family consequence has been that Lucy's ex, Marco, was driving home to Spain with his new partner for Christmas. Like everyone else trying to get abroad, he got stuck at Dover, and has now had to return to Middlesbrough, not knowing when he will be able to travel again. 

The Star of Bethlehem

In Suffolk, we are still in Tier 2, but the other side of the River Stour is Essex, and our friends Robin and Yvonne live in a tiny village just over the border, so they have been placed into Tier 4. Some shops in Clare, that always prides itself on its position in the world's geography stakes, have already posted up notices in their windows: "no one from Essex will be served!" Not sure if they will demand to see passports, but there must be a lot of ill feeling from neighbours and family who cannot meet up over this supposedly festive time, even though they live in tiny neighbouring villages.