And so this is Christmas

Welcome, celebratory reader, as we reflect on 2021's festive season.

And so it came to pass that we were called to the circle of hell known as San Francisco International Airport. This is not normally a circle of hell, but due to COVID restrictions, everything took longer than it otherwise would have done. At check-in, we of course had to show evidence of vaccination, negative covid tests, and our completed Passenger Locator Form. As well as knowing my name, rank, serial number, and inside leg measurement, the British government also wanted the booking reference of the COVID test we would take once we arrived in Blighty.

Once checked in the delights of security were relatively simple, if somewhat more thorough than usual. It was then off to the BA lounge which has been remodeled to meet COVID restrictions. Before long, we were boarding our plane, and looking forward to a night in business class, with the traditional accessory of a screaming baby. Only a British Airways Full English could possibly be worse.

Once safely arrived in the UK, we were required to successfully navigate a PCR test before being allowed to mix with the masses. Fortunately, over here a cottage industry of COVID testing has sprung up during the pandemic. PCR tests were available in a local High Street in a pop-up shop, and it was there that we experienced that good old fashioned British customer service for the first time. Over in the US we've got used to that slightly over-familiar American way of dealing with customers: when entering a shop in Palo Alto you can expect to be greeted with a cheery "Welcome in!" or similar statement. On entering the PCR testing shop here, instead I was greeted with a grumpy face and the words, "Have you got the app on your phone? Have you got your passport?". We were quickly tested and left the premises, but we felt that classic disdain that is sometimes the reserve of medical receptionists.

Anyway, we tested negative, and as a result we were able to go about our normal lives. Our first port of call was a course a supermarket. There, our eyes almost popped out as we feasted them on all those British goodies that to be honest I didn't even know we'd been missing for the last two years. Reader, how can you do Christmas without these:

The UK has a markedly different attitude to the pandemic compared to the US: on particular, everyone here is testing all the time. Of course, we've compared notes on testing and vaccinations with everyone, and while the Omicron variant rages, we have somehow managed to continue to test negative. If we carry on at this rate, they might even let us back into the US!