We Are Not in Arizona Anymore

 We traveled about 100 miles today to deliver Christmas packages to the elders in Reading and Newbury.  They are cute young men and so dear.  When we got to their apartments, we parked as close as we could and then called them.  Both times the missionaries excitedly hurried out to pick up their gifts.  I am sure they received some nice things from family and/or the mission.  Each got 2 packages.  I find myself hoping that they have a very nice Christmas, and wishing I could do more.

We were a little concerned about traveling into both areas which are in Tier 4 - which is essentially lockdown.  Even non-essential businesses are closed up tight now, just less than a week before Christmas.  I can't imagine what is happening to the economy in the UK.

Here is the latest on travel for large parts of England (Tier 4):

Unless there is an essential reason for you to travel – for work, education, medical treatment, caring responsibilities and urgent compassionate reasons such as to visit someone who is terminally ill – you will be expected to stay at home.

Travel for leisure is not permitted within your tier, elsewhere in the UK or abroad.

We are still in Tier 2, which means businesses are open - mostly.  Life appears to be going on and if you go out and about, it looks normal.  The difference is that there is no socializing, and there won't be any for a long time, except for Christmas.  You can be with one other household for a brief time on Christmas Day.  That even sounds like it may be fraught with danger, since the virus isn't going to take the day off.
Technically, we shouldn't have been in a Tier 4 area today, but those young people needed to have their Christmas delivered!  We made the trip just fine with no problems.
We did see some interesting signs.  On the motorway, we often see signs saying "Stay Home" or similar expressions.  Today we saw one that said, "Roads to France closed.  Stay home."
And it is always interesting as we travel south and west to see signs leading the way to Wales.  We are definitely not in Arizona anymore!
We had a Zoom Family Home Evening with only 2 young friends.  So many have gone to their family homes, and others are in the throes of finals and finishing up essays.  
And finally, we had a Zoom Zone meeting with our young missionaries.  They were excited to vote on the Christmas  movie we will watch as a mission.  They gave it some serious talk, and we will see what the final vote shows, but our zone voted for "The Nativity."  Along the way, we discussed "Home Alone," "Star Wars," and "Napolean Dynamite."  The last got thoroughly panned by the British missionaries - the majority.  
One of them said, "What do the Americans like about that movie?  It's 90 minutes of yawning."  I know what she means.  You have to be in a really dumb mood and be with people who enjoy it, and I am pretty sure it helps if you are an American from the Mountain West, or otherwise, it is just a weird little movie.
I'll let you know what is decided!

Comments

melissa said…
The nativity?! I’m curious to see what wins!
December 23, 2020 at 10:15 PM
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