A regular health and lifestyle column from Corinne Yeadon, of the Being Better private therapy practice based in Newmarket Street, Skipton

THE recent restrictions placed on some northern towns and cities has unleashed a spectrum of opinion and triggered high emotions.

I live in Bradford Metropolitan District but provide private therapy in Skipton; the plans to reinstate face to face talking therapy have been put on the back burner in the interests of safeguarding clients.

Some people only feel comfortable face to face, phone and video sessions do not cut it, so this was a bitter pill for us to swallow in making this decision. People are already struggling more so than usual because of lockdown.

Many people had made plans for Friday in the knowledge that the sun would be cracking the flags. For the first time in four months grandchildren were to be collected for a day in the garden, picnic lunch and barbecue tea.

Aside from the upset created by the last minute cancellation there had been money spent on garden activities and food including hyperactive inducing unicorn ice cream.

Friday coincided with Eid; I was attempting to placate my disappointed granddaughter via FaceTime, I drew the comparison of 9pm Christmas Eve, presents wrapped, veggies and turkey prepped, arrangements for Christmas dinner guests to be collected the following day, only to be told that it couldn’t happen and how upsetting that would be.

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt over the past few months it’s that presents, cake and party food are nice but the presence of loved family and friends is the crucial ingredient to any occasion or celebration.

Whether feeling anger or disappointment, it is challenging to reconcile the restrictions, due to contradictions but ultimately decision making is out of our control. People will do what they will do irrespective of the threat of fines.

We can only make decisions about ourselves and hopefully good choices will mean the ease of restrictions sooner rather than later.