With characteristic British compromise the lock-down here in north-west London is often dilatory and not always enforced. Is not breaking the lockdown and social distancing a piece of advice, a by-law, a rule or a possible criminal offence? For lots of people it’s not at all clear. For example is it still OK to sit down on a park bench or feed the ducks?

Meanwhile corner shops are enjoying a boom spell; time spent in queues outside supermarkets can be considerably reduced and there’s a feeling, too, that in supporting local businesses one is doing a good turn.

However, rules in convenience stores are not always adhered to. Yesterday at my local shop there was no indication of when I should enter and certainly there was no pavement marking the distance between queuing customers. There was, however, a shopkeeper’s notice in the store’s window pleadingly requesting that no more than two people must enter to do their shopping at any one time.

I entered, did my shopping and then waited near the till for two customers before me to pay and move on. However, they seemed to be engaged in a social chat with the shopkeeper. He had to ask them to move back so that I could pay up and also keep the safe two meter distance required. The customers started laughing: they clearly thought the whole procedure was funny and didn’t budge. The shopkeeper then looked at me and commented ‘they must be crazy’. I was eventually able to get out of the shop. This, unfortunately, is the attitude of several people around here.

However, there are increasing instances where flaunting the rules can lead to significant consequences – a Walsall dad was recently fined £480 when his son was caught breaking lockdown rules for the fourth time (fines double every time one is found out). The police also commented that the son had been abusive to them. As the sergeant rightly said “some people seem to think that they will not catch the virus but they can unwittingly pass it on to others as well as catching it themselves.”

I just wonder how long many people will be able to put up with these restrictions on their daily lives. Certainly it must be hellish to be cooped up in a small council flat, like many people, with kids impatient to get out and join up with their mates on bikes and skateboards.

Only time will tell. One thing is sure, however. Unless attitudes change for a lot of people the UK is going to be in lock-down for months to come.