LUKE MARSDEN: Tiers before Christmas

I haven’t talked about tiers this much since I was best man at my mate’s wedding last year and announced the buffet was open.

I’ve spent the last few days trying to explain to my family members what this new tier system actually means and how it affects us Wiganers. I’d like to think I keep my finger on the political pulse, but even I’m confused by the system and the recent tug of North vs South war hasn’t helped anyone.

I have taken some joy in reading my Facebook timelines. All of the people who said Wigan was in Lancashire rather than Greater Manchester quickly changed their tunes when Greater Manchester wasn’t put into a tier 3 restriction straight away. I suppose it’s now easier to list which areas of the country aren’t under high or very high restrictions.

I had a discussion with my friend about Christmas trees this week (she wants a real one) you may be thinking it is odd to have this chat in mid-October but as the supermarkets are ramming festive Twiglets down our throats and a cinema chain is showing Home Alone tomorrow, the rulebook is out of the window.

It is safe to safe Christmas 2020 will be very different from any other year. We may not even be legally allowed to see our loved ones which is a scary thought.

Perhaps we don’t need to start stocking up on Christmas crackers and turkeys already? Even Charles Dickens couldn’t have penned a Christmas novel that has the main characters not being allowed to gather for a feast on December 25. Let’s keep washing our hands and hoping that we won’t have to pull our own crackers whilst listening to Mariah Carey!