Bill Bailey gives us something to celebrate at last - Karen Koren

Hooray! Bill Bailey won Strictly Come Dancing - it’s the best thing to happen this year.

We all needed a pick me up and Bill certainly delivered. 13 million people watched Bill and Oti Mabuse take the famous glitter ball, voted for by the public. It goes to show that though there were younger and better dancers, the viewers preferred Bill’s rise from nondancer to light footed showman. It is so very well deserved.

It was pure escapism; we have all had such an awful time over this past year. We are suffering from CoVid fatigue and we want it over with now. Who would have known that 10 months later we would still be going through restrictions. The government seem to be very worried about this new variant of the virus. Our borders are closed and no one can travel in or out of Scotland.

At the same time there are thousands of lorries waiting to cross to France and others trying to get back. It’s crazy, is it because of Covid or is it Brexit, it’s hard to know.

We are living in the strangest of times. I have forgotten what it’s like to go into a pub for a drink or have a lovely meal in a restaurant with friends. We need a break, we were so looking forward to Christmas, where we could be with family and relax. Now we are only allowed to see them on Christmas Day. It’s no wonder people are frustrated and fed up with it all. Yet we do listen to guidelines and abide by them hoping that this will soon be over.

From my point of view I just want my business back. We will be unable to survive if we don’t have a near to normal Fringe in August. We have to believe that the vaccine will be our saviour and that we will have the best Festival ever. We will get through this everyone and we will be a little older and wiser when it’s over. Have a peaceful Christmas everyone and a prosperous New Year!