Local lockdowns have failed the north

The announcement of the ‘Rule of Six’ policy last month was met with much furore – in the south of England. Those of us in the north will have thought: lucky old them. To have a dinner for six is a liberty that has been denied to us for months now. We had a meal booked with friends in April which had to be rearranged for August because of the lockdown. The rearranged meal had to be cancelled in the end because it was for six of us: we could not (and still cannot) meet anyone from different houses. I wonder how well this is appreciated in the south.

I live outside Oldham where we been subject to the strict lockdown measures since 30 July. Since then, amongst other restrictions, we have not been able to enter anyone’s house or garden (anywhere in the country, not just in the area). Further, we cannot meet anyone else outside our house for a meal or a drink.