As of Friday many bars and restaurants across the north will open their doors again.
A few days later and the barbers, hair salons and beauty parlours will also be permitted to open.
Some might say that's the wrong order of things, given the home hairdo horrors that will heading out for a Friday night on the town, having yet to see a pair of professional scissors.
Nevertheless, this relaxing of restrictions is a sign that we are starting to return to life as it was and as normal as it will be.
The 'new normal' means the socialising experience may take a bit of getting used to.
No queuing at the bar and only table service appeals to me, a woman with a large collection of very beautiful but terribly uncomfortable shoes.
I remain concerned that local businesses will struggle to survive under social distancing regulations and go under, taking with them the employment of many of those in the hospitality industry.
Furlough is masking mass unemployment but not for much longer, when the scheme stops the true financial cost of lockdown will need assessed along with a plan for recovery.
The positives are that the world slowed together and will rebuild together, this isn't an economic crash caused by greedy bankers and property speculators inflating prices.
Controlling the virus by changing how we shop and socialise costs money, that hits profits and in turn costs jobs.
There is also an opportunity to rebuild better, because for many people their lives before lockdown were tough and returning to that is a far from attractive prospect.
But even this phased and restricted opening terrifies some.
Understandably so, the dire predictions at the start of the crisis put fear into even the most resilient of people.
There were bleak family conversations about death, hastily made wills, funeral wishes made known to loved ones, 'just in case I die ...' the very real fear not all would make it.
And we remember those who didn't, mainly elderly, over half in care homes and know that they were precious to those who loved them and questions need asked as to why they weren't better protected, despite having the luxury of forewarning.
Watching the awful scenes in Lombardy and Madrid as doctors struggled to cope, thinking that was to be our fate next.
It was known that those with underlying health conditions and the elderly were most at risk, there will be questions asked in the coming months as to why that demographic was so badly let down.
And then there are the mainly poorly paid staff who provide elderly care, will they be better valued, now that their true worth is known?
We started this year talking about a mental health crisis, is it any wonder that such a massive change to our lives has impacted those who already struggled with mental health?
You can understand why those suffering from anxiety might cling to lockdown like a security blanket, and they must be allowed to regain their confidence at their own pace, with gentle encouragement and reassurance.
While there remains a possibility of the virus returning in localised outbreaks we've fared exceptionally well as an island.
We live mainly rurally, our cities are small, we are over reliant on cars rather than public transport. These things helped contain the virus, along with an early lockdown and sense of community spirit among people who genuinely wanted to help each other get through this.
And so while some, like myself, feel content with the pace of change and intend to support local business when and where I can, I know others who are still worried, which is fine. However, judging those who want to go out and about again is not.
Remember a comfortable lockdown was a privilege, one not enjoyed by all.
