Are we ever likely to forget the time when the purchasing power of a toilet roll exceeded a five dollar bill or a kiss and hug outside one's bubble was a punishable offence? The world became Alice's, Through her Looking Glass, everything in reverse; people were praised for not using public transport and for all of a week, oil companies literally had to pay others to take their oil. We also came to the conclusion the vast majority of films in commercial video libraries can be graded A to Z on the speed at which they send you to sleep or drive you to throw a shoe at the TV screen.

But there were distinct advantages; diving into books we had never quite got round to, a perfect opportunity to work our way through a selection of liqueurs that had been littering our drinks cabinet for years. An essential once the gin had run out. If you got past the withering gaze of more sedentary neighbours, there was even more opportunity than usual for sensible exercise.

The real loss was simply the difficulty of keeping up with one's friends. Zooming put their electronic faces on a screen but interaction is just as much about watching movement, seeing group reaction, just being physically close to people. 

The Breakout, Bursting the Bubble Party, was a great idea to get back to what we value in Rutherford Probus and what we have missed; sharing, friendship and doing things together. Ann, Mary and Diane did the most remarkable job of celebration. Memories of it will stay with us long after any feeling of frustration and boredom of the Lockdown have faded. Thank you ladies, a brilliant success.