Will you go to family at Christmas?

My family usually come to us, but this year, although upset about it, my daughter has sensibly decided not to come. She, her husband and son all work with other people and consider the risk too great. And I completely understand. Imagine going to visit elderly relatives and finding out after that you'd given them Covid. You'd never forgive yourself, would you?
But that doesn't mean I won't see anybody, I will probably see a couple of friends that have been as careful as we have through the year and who carry minimum risk of infection.

My thoughts exactly LauraNorder. Saying we can mix at Christmas makes it very difficult to decide what to do when, since March, we have been shielding, albeit voluntarliy. Very much like the Govt saying there is no return to shielding in this second wave but, in the small print, there is recommendation not to go to shops or pharmacies and to stay in. So, shielding then?

My husband is dead set on visiting our daughter’s family about 3 hours drive, and stay for 3 nights. They have one child at school and another at nursery. I have COPD and asthma so quite vulnerable although haven’t been advised to shield. I would much rather not risk it, but he poo poos me and says I’m a killjoy. He has never really acknowledged I have a problem. If he goes on his own and becomes infected I’d get it anyway. I know my daughter would understand if we didn’t go, but he is determined. What on earth do I do?

Our son and his wife will come to us for a couple of hours for lunch and present opening. That’s all. The Christmas Eve Family lunch has been cancelled as my husband’s brother is extremely vulnerable.
I’d rather not take risks. It’s just one Christmas.

We'll be going to our house in Cornwall and staying there for a couple of weeks. We will see our daughters (who both live in the area with their families) but as we have all been very careful and not been near anyone for ages, I think it'll be fine. It won't be party time or anything, and OH and I will have Christmas dinner at our house on our own, which is fine, after visiting them all to drop off presents. I think that unless you've been commuting or been out and about seeing others, or working among many people there really isn't a risk. South Cornwall has very few cases.

As I understand it that would break the rules; its not three households at any one time, it's 3 households in total.
I, personally, will not be mixing. This is a recipe for disaster

I will not be meeting over Christmas and am very cross by these new arrangements.We live in Devon and our son in Hertfordshire and my sister near Manchester.
Travelling to different parts of the country is asking for accidents to happen on the winter roads as much of public transport (Kings Cross hub in London for one) will not be running or on lower numbers and scant schedule.
We have not seen our son or grandson since last December because of various cancelled visits due to Covid. We had planned a visit for his sixth birthday last weekend but changed our Premier Inn booking when this new lockdown was announced and had to send presents and watch them being opened by video.
We had hoped to go up when England's lockdown stopped next week as we realised over Christmas would be chaotic but it looks like that will not happen either as it is rumoured we will go into Tier 2 so would not be able to see them anyway.
Horribly frustrating for young ones who grow up so fast and do not understand what is going on.
So looks like tears over Zoom for Christmas!!!! and not just for us.
Roll on vaccination.

It all sounds like confusing rules anyway- all those 'bubbles' etc. How to keep track? I think Boris is allowing it all to please he and his m.p colleagues & the Royals tbh, so that they can get together but we don't have a repeat of the 'Cummings' performance! The whole idea will end in a huge mess come january!??

We've been providing child care all the time and seen DD and family regularly since the first lockdown lifted. Hoping to see my 96 year old Mum for Christmas Day, she has come down to us every year since we returned from living abroad so hoping brother #2 will bring her.

Even before the decision from the government we had decided to have Christmas on our own. I would love to be with my DD or DS and families, but my grandchildren are either at school or University and mixing, so I am not willing to take the risk. I’d rather be sure to celebrate next Christmas than get Covid this Christmas. I’ve kept safe by not mixing very much and not at all indoors so with the hopes of a vaccine so close I’ll make the sacrifice this year. Facetime will give me the chance to ‘see’ them.

No we won't be going to anyone this Christmas we've made the decision next year we have a special moment happening and I want to be here. We will take pressies over Christmas morning drop them over the gate have a quick chat blow kisses and on to the next one. Could someone please tell me why it has to be 5 days 2 would be enough the damage has already been done by then!!

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

No way! I have six adored grandchildren but would rather be alone this Christmas than six feet under next Christmas!

My heart goes out to everyone who has decided not to mix.

I think that is the right decision.

There is a very strong possibility that it could be the last Christmas for two of very close family members. Both of who I am carer for and one who will celebrate a big birthday early January. Therefore it has been decided that our daughter and two grandchildren will come for Christmas dinner and we plan to have a small birthday celebration. Luckily we will be able keep two metres apart with care.

It’s bonkers! Like someone jumping from a lifeboat into shark infested waters when they can see the rescue ship already chugging towards them!

All I’ve seen since the easing of first lockdown is husbands DS, wife and their DD who we’ve looked after a couple of hours once a week after school, but not had her since this second lockdown. Step DinL has asked us there for Christmas lunch, but they live in same village as us so will probably still go and leave mid afternoon. I have been my own sons childcare bubble for my 2 DGDs while both parents have been at work and they will probably come over sometime over the 5 day period, but no arrangements made yet. They live within our local authority about 15 minutes from us. But I certainly won’t be driving some 200 miles to visit my sister who I haven’t seen since beginning of March and really missing her, but we’ll make up hopefully come Easter fingers crossed ? for the time we have missed with her during this summer when we do get together.

No!

We won't mix with family this year though to miss our granddaughter at Christmas is so sad. Anyone medical I know think it's a bad idea, especially as hubby is 80 and I'm 75 now.
Hard decision for everyone!

Ive not come this far to still be alive,so,no i`m still distancing
and will do for the forseeble future.

I care so I will stay home and have Christmas on my own. If you care you will stay home and encourage your families to do the same. Surely it is better to do this and stay safe. If you don't you might find that someone is sadly missing from your family come Spring

We will be spending Christmas alone will have to meet up with a/c outside to hand over presents for gc. I would have preferred to stay in tiers ,I can see rules causing problems e.g. do you bubble with which family yours or other halves ?

Tanith I think there’s a confusion here. The rules say we can choose two other families to create a larger bubble, and be with those families for five days. They don’t say ‘only three families at a time’ as you seem to think. Your presence, whether consecutive or simultaneous, will make a fourth family. At least that’s what I understand. Please someone correct me if I’m wrong .

I’ve decided it’s too risky as I’m classed as extremely vulnerable. But I had a brainwave!
I will drive half way and my daughter will drive halfway so we will meet in the middle for a walk on the beach and a picnic lunch. We can exchange presents and I can see the grandchildren outside.
It seems stupid to me for families to risk their health when they could all meet up for a walk.
I will be very glad to see them ??

I will be with my daughter and family either at theirs or here. We are eachother's bubble. Apart from seeing them I haven't gone out . When we could I only went out to hospital or doctors. And only got shopping if I needed to. Everything else has been delivered . I am classed as vulnerable so haven't taken any unnecessary risks. Once a vaccine is available and I am offered it I will take it. But still be careful. Wearing a mask and gloves.

Unfortunately their are still stupid people out there who don't believe there is Covid and have only made matters worse with their behaviour. They will see this as a chance to do exactly what they want. Or in other words carry on as usual.