We risk becoming a nation of grunters | Blaise Tapp

We have all had to make significant changes to our way of life whether we like it or not and some of us are faring much better during this unspecified period of alternative reality than others.

But how much longer can even the cheeriest among us maintain our sunny outlook?

Sure, there are some genuine advantages to be had for most of us right now – not having to endure a tedious commute, being able to swerve previously mandatory tedious social commitments.

Of course, there are flip sides to the above – like attempting to work from home while your offspring scream over the remote control.

Then there is the constant eating, and I can’t blame it all on the kids . I am three-quarters of the way to resembling Giant Haystacks, and I don’t just mean his unkempt beard.

And while Covid-19 may have prompted us to put a line through our engagements calendar until the autumn at the earliest, we are in danger of emerging from this as a nation of socially limited grunters.

While public support for the government’s approach is generally high, vast numbers of us are genuinely worried about what the future holds, both financially and in terms of our wellbeing.

There is much to look forward to, although there is no way of knowing if and when we will be able to fight our way to the bar again or hug a complete stranger at the match, following a dramatic late winner.

There is a genuine sense of togetherness and it is vital we don’t turn our back on it.

But it doesn’t apply to everybody.

There can’t be any of us who haven’t had to fold ourselves into a hedge during our daily walk while a dead-eyed jogger or a pig-ignorant family plough along the middle of the pavement.

And you can forget holding your breath for a thank you.

One thing is for certain – the old normal is some way off returning.