As our last feature before Christmas, we asked people how different their celebrations are going to be during this year of Covid-19.

Is it going to be business as usual on the island, or they’re missing relatives from the UK?

Johnny Kheir, 36, Douglas, said: ’It’s definitely different, because my family’s still across [in the UK].

’Usually I’d be over with them - this year it’s more just with my immediate family, my wife and kids - so very low-key.

He says his children are still looking forward to it, explaining: ’They’re kids, they’re really young - so they’ll miss their grandparents but they’re still excited, looking forward to their presents. For them it’s no different.’

He said they will likely keep in contact with his parents and siblings on Christmas day via video chat, adding ’it’s hard to get the kids to use it though, they either run away or just hog the phone.’

Eden Rothwell, 19, Ramsey told us: ’For me, I have family that live across anyway. But other than that, it’s not really any different.’

Emils Dambitis, 20, Governor’s Hill, who also has family that live in the UK, added: ’It doesn’t affect us too much.’

Eden said it was her first Christmas on the island in four years, having been living abroad, and that she has an appreciation of being able have a normal Christmas on the island, explaining ’Because my family are still in a country where it’s kind of still in quarantine [Dubai] - wearing masks et etc.’

Asked if his Christmas will be different his year, Russ Thornhill, 54, Glen Vine, said: ’No, I’m lucky because I’ve got my parents in the island.

’So no, it will just be a small one - myself, my son and my parents. It’s just really bizarre, it’s all madness all over the world but you wouldn’t know it here, would you?’

’My daughter’s in England, in a Tier 3 place [level of lockdown], and here we are just carrying on as normal.

He said she would typically come over to the island, but instead she will have a ’quiet’ Christmas, and added: ’That’s going to be tough, but it’s Christmas, isn’t it - and there’s loads of families that really, really need to see relatives, and I get that. But for others, it’s a roast dinner isn’t it? We can do it another time.’

Juan Hunter, 24, Glen Vine, said ’I’m still going around my nan’s house, in Crosby - so it’s no different for me.’

Ellen Barlow, 23, Ramsey, agreed, saying she also has all her family here on the island.

Juan added: ’Yeah my friends are pretty screwed, they normally have about 16 people over - but they’re only having about four this year, because they can’t get across.

’Also some of my friends in London, they can’t get over too see their family so they’ve got a tiny gathering this year - which they’re not very happy about.’

Ellen said she was ’definitely’ more appreciative of being able to celebrate normally on the island, saying ’I think we’re in such a lucky position over here’.