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An end to covid-19 and the hope that the new year might bring us a return to normality – the chance to enjoy all those things we once just took for granted.

The Prime Minister’s announcement on Friday about the tightening of lockdown rules over Christmas may have been as palatable as the endless rounds of turkey curry that it will probably now lead to.

I know several people who have ordered birds the size of brachiosaurs in order to feed a host of people over an extended festive season and are now staring squarely down the barrel a single-menu option every mealtime until early next year.

Derbyshire's first patients are getting the Covid vaccine at Stubley Medical Centre Dronfield Woodhouse. Robert Stopford-Taylor getting the vaccine from Sue Hewitt paractice nurse.

Though if it means a speedier end to this twilight world we’re living it, it might just be worth it.

I’ve said before that letting people burst their bubbles for a few days at the end of December seemed a strange price to pay if it put us all back under lockdown afterwards and ends up costing even more people their jobs – or their lives.

But if Friday saw the PM pour cold water on everyone’s flambéed Christmas puddings, it also brought much happier news.

Because on Friday morning, Stubley Medical Centre in Dronfield became the first GP surgery in the county to begin vaccinating patients against Covid-19.

First up for the jab was 101-year-old army veteran Robert Stopford-Taylor, of Dronfield.

After getting the vaccine, the great-great grandfather said: “This is a wonderful early Christmas present – I’m so very grateful to the NHS.

“It was painless and I didn’t feel a thing.

“I’ll be able to go out jogging soon!,” he laughed.

It’s fitting that a man who served his country fighting with the army in the Middle East during the Second World War should be among the first to get the vaccination.

And in so doing, he also gave something back to us. A glimpse of the future in which we are once again free to meet friends and family whenever we like, to go to the pub or out for a meal. To get our lives back.

Mr Stopford-Taylor has given us the most magical Christmas present we could ever wish for: hope.

All I want for Christmas is my covid jab