Coronavirus diary, Saturday 20 June

Welcome news from the First Minister

'The end of the lockdown is in sight'. 

Welcome words from Mark Drakeford, the First Minister, giving the most positive news so far. 

With infection levels across Britain falling and the alert level reduced from four to three, a return to something approaching normal life is imminent.

Mr Drakeford indicated, with his usual touch of caution, 'if it is safe to do so', that in two weeks time we will be able to go as far as we like, when like, to do what we like. Freedom! 

Except, of course, the elderly the vulnerable and, like me, care home residents. We have to be more patient. 

All children in Wales will go back to school on 29 June. We can go into churches for private prayer.

Shops in Wales reopen next Monday and people can enjoy outdoor sport including tennis. 

Professional football is back, with Cardiff City, still with a chance of promotion to the Premier League, playing their first game for months on Sunday, against front runners Leeds United.

It will be  strange, no crowd, no atmosphere. No Clarks pies! 
Not like the happy times when Robert and I watched from the directors' box and  enjoyed a half time drink in their restaurant.

A first hesitant move to salvage the summer tourism season is the opening of bookings from 18 July for outdoor attractions and self contained holiday accommodation but no date yet for reopening pubs, restaurants and  hotels.

Hairdressers, too, are still waiting for permission to open up.
In England, laws are planned to allow pubs to sell take-away drinks and to serve outside on pavements. As expected, there have been  immediate objections.

Looking out of my window into Cyncoed Road I see a livelier scene than for months; more cars, cyclists and pedestrians. 
It all looks more purposeful, energetic, as though we are all waking up from some nightmare.