However, I have never been more proud of my home state for the way they have prolonged what is an inevitable outbreak of COVID within the community.

Our whole guest list is, and will be double vaccinated at the time of the wedding and everyone would happily have tests/rapid antigen tests if required when there.

While I've missed my family and friends so much in the two years Victoria has been locked down, I'm so glad that all the people I haven't seen have not been subjected to the experience others have throughout 2020 and 2021.

I cannot wait to show our beautiful state and hope that with the right measures, we will be able to enjoy the amazing place that Tasmania truly is, especially in summer.

LIKE most people it was habit - laziness maybe - and price point that drove my shopping practice.

The empty chain-store shelves and panic buying that occurred at the beginning of our COVID journey brought into focus the issue of supply lines and the value of local suppliers.

Hearing that the local butcher had spurned one of those out-of-area grabbers that we saw spreading into regional areas from clearing his shop of a line of chicken prompted me to make the change.

The shopper, indignant that he was only allowed to buy a reasonable amount so that a supply could be maintained for local customers, demanded to see the manager.

That's another good thing about local suppliers: he was already talking to the guy in charge.

OK, it was initially a principled move - if the butcher was supporting his community, I should be doing the same for him, but the real value is the product.

It's really good, and not moisture-enhanced. Doesn't that mean water added?

So arguably the price point is not really a thing, the taste is fantastic and there's a good line on home goods.

And the manager is still a great straight talker and well worth the craic.

THE touring English/Ashes team for cricket season 2021/2022 must not be given any special COVID-19 privileges above and beyond that of the Australian population, otherwise it may be deemed a sporting form of pandemic colonialism?

WITH reference to the article "low risk" (The Examiner, October 4).

I heard on ABC News that contacts have been shopping at IGA Newnham, and I read the teenager is in Hobart medi-hotel.

I am concerned Tasmania will end up in a similar position to NSW and Victoria if people are not taking the outbreak seriously.

I believe the Premier Peter Gutwein, Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff and Director of Public Health Mark Veitch should make it mandatory to wear masks in public.

I am 69 and at risk due to underlying health conditions. I am double AstraZeneca vaccinated and urge those who can to get vaccinated, as our hospital system will find it difficult to cope with a large outbreak.