b'Other than getting my school tasks done, Ive had a fair amount to keep me busy during lockdown. Muslims will have observed the annual fasts of Ramadan this past month, and lockdown has surprisingly made it easier to deal with the strange hours and lack of energy than if we still had to head out to work and school. It will be an interesting socially isolated Eid this year, but it should give much-needed cause to celebrate after some dark times for many around the world these past few months. Other than that, Ive found myself with an abundance of time to devote to personal work and hobbies; for me thats included drawing, playing my ukulele, writing, and of course getting my daily exercise. Boredom is very much one of the luckiest problems one could have during this pandemic, so Im glad that it has been my biggest issue during these times.Athar HussainALISON HARVEYAlisons lockdown self from May 2020 tries to start a conversation with her. December Alison is rather distractedHey, Alison, can we talk? Theres going to be a situation No, really. Thats not the kind of situation Im talking about. Your nail technician running out of OPI Holly Red No, no, I dont mean that. No, your Sainsburys orderthe weekend before Christmas is not even a pothole in is fine. Its coming at 2pm as planned. Yes, yes, ofthe road youre about to travel. Alison, pay attention and course they have the organic pomegranate. Yes, reallyput your phone down. Theres going to be a pandemic. A pan-demic. What? Its got nothing to do with pandas. expensive, but totally worth it. Cheaper than Ocado? YouStop talking for a moment and pay attention.surprise me. Anyway What? No, no, your pavlova isdespite our interT not under threat. I know, its unthinkable, New Years EveIts going to be a tragedy. An actual tragedy which, without pavlova! Yes, and fizz. A crate? For how much?national pharmaceutical industry, our Wow, good old Majestic! Yes, far better than the Sundayrhetoric and our hyperbole, we are not going to be able imes wine club. Now listen, this situation to stop. A tragedy that will touch us all and leave its mark No, Alison, I know youre busy. But please just stop ain different ways with the most vulnerable paying the minute. This really cant really wait until youve listenedheaviest price. Every country around the world is going to Womans Hour. Diane Abbott? Reading her Brexitto be affected somehow and so many of the things that Totes. we take for granted now will be impossible in May. Yes, diaries? Edited by Shami Chakrabarti? Yeah, unmissable.impossible. But youre not even going to miss them at all. Not one single jot, not really. No, not even dinner at the Stop queuing for the double-shot decaf macchiato forIvy. Well, OK. Maybe just a bitjust one second and listen to what I have to say. ThisWhat youre going to miss is seeing the people you love situation is serious and its going to change lots of thingsand knowing they are safe; being able to offer someone in your life Yes, serious. Even more serious than thatcomfort with the touch of a hand; going to bed at the time the dog had the infected paw and the vets in Mereend of a working day and not worrying about what Green was shut and you had to go to Wylde Green. tomorrow will bring; expecting at least some good news Yes, yes, missing the start of Giless wedding was a totalevery day and being able to make plans that you will nightmare but everyone understands the M4 can be akeep. Everything else is just a sideshow. Flimflam and shocker at the weekend. No, no, it really wasnt yourand redundant.fault. Everyone cries at weddings. nonsense. Delicious, delightful, yet ultimately superficial No, this is going to be serious. Unimaginably worse. Yes!So, there it is, Alison: the situation. Im sorry to ruin the Even than the time Daniel dropped his iPhone over themood, but it had to be done. Step back a while on this side of the boat in Greece and the insurance companyNew Years Eve and take a moment to consider the took ages to pay up. Yes, I know its super inconvenientpeople and things you truly value. Hold them close.taking pictures with an iPad; everyone agrees airportGood luck!security can be such a pain sometimes, making youher AirPods out:switch it on. So ridiculous. Easy to forget your portable charger weve all done it! December Alison looks up from her magazine and takes Sorry, can you say that again?8'