Yeah, ten more days have passed in this weird situation. We've seen two of the worst weeks I can remember for the leadership of the European Commission, with the botch over Article 16 of 29 January followed by the President of the Commission alternating between taking full responsibility herself and blaming her colleagues – notably the health commissioner, who the German media are briefing heavily against right now.

Meanwhile the numbers are edging back to the point where I'm going to risk going into Brussels occasionally for walks in the park with my contacts – very Cold War. (Actually the weather is very cold, this week.)

Before Christmas I bought a game to play with Anne and F. Last weekend we finally opened it – Pandemic Legacy, which as most of you know is a game where everyone wins or everyone loses, the situation evolves every month and the rules gradually change each time you play.

We lost, and will have to play January again.

But next week, I can get a haircut.