Sutton comedy star warns you can't just blame coronavirus for forgetting your other half's birthday

It’s no time to relax but we can take some credit that we are saving lives.

It also means that we, the people, might be showing better judgement than some of the folks enforcing these rules.

There were claims that some shoppers were told off for buying birthday cards during the lockdown because they are aren’t essential.

We haven’t had clear guidance on what is and is not essential.

If you look at the Waitrose definition for its 'essentials range' you’d have to include things like vermicelli nests and artichoke hearts, both of which I have made it to this age without.

Anyone who thinks a birthday card isn’t essential has clearly never forgotten to give one to their other half before.

You’d never hear the end of it and it’s not like you can leave the house to get away from the mood it would cause.

For the rest of the world 2020 will be remembered as the year of the coronavirus.

For you it be called, 'the year you forgot all about me.'

If you’re leaving the house to buy just a card you should plan better but if you’re shopping you should be allowed to by anything that shop sells.

If we are going to judge the essentiality of individual items the middle aisle in Aldi might as well be cordoned off.

In the past I have seen those middle aisles sell things like noise cancelling headphones, a scuba gear and power tools.

Although they could be considered essential if you haven’t bought your partner a birthday and which to block out the response.

I think birthday cards should be allowed as long as you don’t lick the envelope. In general, don’t lick any of the items you’ve been shopping for before you give them to people.

That’s such basic advice they didn’t even list it on the Government sites.

Birthday gifts, on the other hand, aren’t essential. It’s understandable that you couldn’t get to normal shops to get a gift.

I imagine big shops will be empty of wrapping paper - it’s the next aisle I’d go to if they were out of toilet roll.

And don’t put money in the card as a gift either, it just looks like you put no thought into it and many shops are only taking contactless payments now anyway.

Put a few squares of loo roll in the card instead.

You’ll be giving them something they could really use.

Steve N Allen is a comedian and broadcaster who was raised in Sutton-in-Ashfield.