News in Felixstowe

Did you know?

Smith added the "crackle" element when he heard the crackle of a log he had just put on a fire. The size of the paper wrapper had to be increased to incorporate the banger mechanism, and the sweet itself was eventually dropped, to be replaced by a trinket: fans, jewellery and other substantial items. The new product was initially marketed as the Cosaque (French for Cossack), but the onomatopoeic "cracker" soon became the commonly used name, as rival varieties came on the market. The other elements of the modern cracker—the gifts, paper hats and varied designs—were all introduced by Tom Smith's son, Walter Smith, to differentiate his product from the rival cracker manufacturers which had suddenly sprung up.

More Felixstowe residents on low incomes or benefits can now get financial help if they are told to self-isolate due to COVID-19 as Suffolk councils extend support payments to help more people.

Previously Test and Trace Support payments could only be given to people meeting certain criteria, including on benefits. Now Councils across Suffolk have extended this, using their discretion, to help those on low incomes but not on benefits.

Did you know?

So think on when you next want to kiss under the mistletoe.

Felixstowe, and the rest of Suffolk and neighbouring Essex, is to move into Tier Four, the Government's highest level of Covid-19 restrictions, on Boxing Day.

The new rules mean that you must not leave or be outside of your home or garden except where you have a 'reasonable excuse'. A reasonable excuse includes:

Did you know?

Every year since 1947, the people of Oslo, Norway have given a Christmas tree to the city of Westminster, England. The gift is an expression of good will and gratitude for Britain's help to Norway during World War II.

Understandably, many people in Felixstowe and beyond have been wondering when they will get the Covid vaccination, so you will be pleased to learn an online calculator has been launched to tell people when they are likely to receive the Pfizer/BioNTechcoronavirus vaccine.

Felixstowe and the rest of Suffolk remained in tier two under in the latest updates, with the vaccination programs starting in the county last week.

Felixstowe's MP Therese Coffey has warned Suffolk could move into Tier Four if people are not sensible over the festive period.

Works and Pension cabinet minister and Suffolk Coastal MP Dr Coffey backed the government's tough stance over Christmas, and even though the county has remained in Tier Two, she warned there was a genuine risk of moving to a higher tier.

Did you know?

Today's Felixstowe sunrise: 08:00

2020 has been a memorable year for all the wrong reasons, but it looks like the cosmos will ensure that it ends with an astronomical highlight on December 21.

This is, of course, the usual date of the winter solstice when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted furthest from the sun and we have the shortest day. From this point, the days get longer as we head optimistically into 2021 and 2020 starts to fade into a surreal memory.

DID YOU KNOW?:

Today's Felixstowe sunrise: 08:00