In a packed beer garden last week, I was surrounded by five hen parties. For once I was happy to have my sedate drink disrupted by roars of raucous laughter. After postponed disappointments of impending nuptials, these young women were making up for lost time. Similarly, my street is filling up with students and rather than moan about their loud parties, I relish them. Now that the lethal threat of COVID-19 is fading and with the vast majority of adult citizens vaccinated, at last - after a hesitant start - society is beginning to open up. Everything from family gatherings to local choirs are meeting for the first time after many months and are full of joyous hugs and catching-up chatter.
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