Are you intending to see your family this Christmas come what may, or if there are restrictions will you abide by them ?

MawB2

There is a reason why such a high% of the population go down with colds and flu in January.
Stop and think why that is.
Then apply the same principle to the transmission of Covid19.
QED

I have to agree Maw.

GrannyRose15 I wouldn't say the pandemic is effectively over, I think that is a long way ahead. But, overall figures have started to slow down and in some areas decreased well ahead of lockdown or any lockdown effect.

Unfortunately, good or bad, it is very hard to tell, when you find the government has consistently lied to us about the figures for so long.

The news in Northumberland tonight asked people to not go to A&E unless it was absolutely necessary. The hospitals are obviously struggling so regardless of what the statistics are saying the NHS is at breaking point and something needed to be done.

I will follow the rules as I have done since the first lockdown. That might mean me spending the Christmas period on my own which I don't want to think about.

Nothing I can add really.

*MayBee70, in some areas, the NHS is undoubtedly under strain, but in other areas they are not, because the incidence of COVID is much lower than it is in Northumberland.

In my neck of the woods the incidence of COVID is half the rate it is in Northumberland and well below the national average and there have been no deaths from the disease for months. There are many other areas in the south of the country that are similar.

But just as you cannot generalise for the country from my experience, so one cannot generalise for the country from areas where the incidence of COVID is high.

In some areas the NHS is undoubtedly under a lot of pressure, but in other areas it is not.

We will not go to see family. I will not decorate the house because it will be devoid of GS and their family. We will still cook a small Christmas meal. Reading my comment, I sound depressed, but rather feel a sense of acceptance and adaptability. Somehow, I find that empowering.

Unless things alter drastically, I think DH and I will spend it on our own. We have always had Christmas Day with son and family, it would be 6 of us, but even if it’s allowed, I really don’t want to, if I’m honest.
They are all out at work and school, mixing with many others, and rates have risen a lot in our area, they have been consistently low until recently.
We’ve seen very little of them the last 8 months, so another day won’t matter.
Haven’t seen DD and family in Australia for 3 years, and not shared Christmas with them for 18 years, so cannot see why people get so worked up about it all frankly.

We have adhered to the rules so far and Christmas won’t be any different.

We have octogenarian family members and a relative with SEN and diabetes in a care home to protect .
It will be very sad not to be able to see them but they mean more to us than a big roast dinner .

It doesn't matter if someone disagrees with the science the government is following. What matters is that we are all in this together and following the guidance should be what we all do.
What makes some people believe they're so special that they can ignore the rules? The list of politicians/spads who ignored the rules only confirms they are selfish idiots with an over inflated sense of their own importance and entitlement.
I love the Christmas holiday, enjoy cooking if its our year to entertain the extended family. I love Boxing Day, with a long walk with family/friends followed by eating yet more goodies.
I'm resigned to this year being unlike any previous year. I will cook good food, eat too much of it and enjoy walking the dog

Chewbacca - great news , enjoy yourselves

We have always had Christmas Day with son and family, it would be 6 of us, but even if it’s allowed, I really don’t want to, if I’m honest.
I have been agonising over this too Calendargirl and am slowly devising a compromise. If the schools break up on December 17th that gives a full week before Christmas itself. If the children remain at home during that week and if the parents do not work, then could we possibly be in a pretty safe situation? It will take careful planning but I am willing to give it a try.

No idea yet about Christmas. But if seeing the family will still be strictly verboten, I suppose we’ll abide by it.?

One thing I’ll be doing shortly before this lockdown is over, though, is making a trip to dd’s house, an hour and a half’s drive away, to drop off the huge Advent calendar I made last year for Gdcs, ditto a Nativity set I made the year before. Gdcs have already been asking about them - they’re in our loft, since we have rather more storage space.

Unless I really need a wee, I will literally be just dropping them off, though, and I’ll go at a time when elder Gdcs will be at school, so no need to resist hugs - also so that I won’t be driving back in the dark/rush hour.

So that’ll be Monday 30th November, leaving around 11 am - in case anyone wants to dob me in. ?

Good on you Witzend! Someone with a bit of initiative. We can be both sensible and sensitive.

JenniferEccles, I very much expect the rules to be relaxed for Christmas. The government really don't want a situation where widespread civil disobedience is very obvious.

I also expect an escalation in infections following the festivities and a spike in deaths at the end of January, unfortunately.

It will be like a licence to kill Granny and Grandpa!

I always find the fuss and palaver about Christmas intensely irritating but this year even more so.I bumped into an acquaintance the other day, someone I rather admire, I was delighted when she concluded to me that she hates Christmas !!

Confided, not concluded.

and..it's not about 'abiding by' restrictions - it's all about being sensible and staying safe.

Still, the vast majority of the (idiotic) British public will risk their lives (and those of others) for a couple of days of 'Christmas cheer' won't they?

They'll throw caution to the wind and ruin all the benefits of months of isolation!

Christmas box could have a whole new meaning this year.

In my neck of the woods the incidence of COVID is half the rate it is in Northumberland and well below the national average and there have been no deaths from the disease for months. There are many other areas in the south of the country that are similar.
But just as you cannot generalise for the country from my experience, so one cannot generalise for the country from areas where the incidence of COVID is high
You seem determined to stress the lowest possible risk M0nica , but there are others who have had personal experience of the devastating effects of Covid who might find this glossing over its severity

You say you can’t extrapolate from the highest or the lowest incidences of the virus, yet how much criticism was there of the tiered system with different regulations for different parts of the country?
The big difference with Christmas is that many people will travel a distance to another part of the country to be with their family - so if you think about it, possibly from a low risk area to a higher one or vice versa.
I am taken aback by the number of otherwise sensible people who seem to think an exception should be made in their case.
We can all do that!
My area currently has one of the lowest rates in the country and I am now on my own so I ought to be up there shouting with the loudest that this is “unfair”.
But a fragmented approach will not stop the spread of the virus .
As I said upthread about the annual increase nationally in flu and cold cases after every Christmas which is a clear example of what happens when we increase our potential exposure to a virus. Can’t say clearer than that.
However the bottom line is - why agonise now? This lockdown is projected to end on 2 December and even if it is extended by a week or two, we may be freed up in time for Christmas. Then it will be up to individuals to assess their own risk - and face the possible consequences in January.

I don't fixate about Christmas, so much of it is a horrible consumer fest and the build up just starts too early, although I understand the need for all that razzamatazz from the retailer perspective and of course right now the biggest nail ever is being hammered into their coffin.

Quite honestly, we'd like to see the family on a drip, drip basis, not all together as it has been for us on some Boxing Days which can be exhausting, usually Christmas Day for us is not as many as the day after. We also go to a Christmas mass and carols, won't be doing it this year, that I will miss! There are members of the family who we regard as "risky" in the current climate so depending on the lie of the land a month or so hence, and I can't imagine it will be very different to now, it might just be the two of of us which is perfectly fine and no doubt will be very relaxing.

I will be sticking to the restrictions; don't think it is worth it to put at risk all that everybody has gone through just for a couple of days with family.

All our family love Christmas, we shall decorate our house inside and out the weekend of 28/29 Nov, including small artificial trees.

Our main tree in the sitting room will be real as always and that will be brought in and decorated 13/14th Dec.

We shall zoom/FaceTime family and friends and concentrate on the positives.

I think the government’s ‘following the science’ claims have raised doubts simply because the scientists don’t all agree on the best course of action to deal with this virus.

For instance way back in the Spring, before his infamous dalliance with his married girlfriend, I had read how spectacularly inaccurate Ferguson’s predictions about the predicted death toll from various other epidemics had been.

Yet still he was appointed, along with the doom and gloom characters Whittey and Vallance.

Nevertheless I suppose the government is inevitably swayed by the worst case scenarios trotted out by the Sage lot, just in case this time they are right.

We will be alone at Christmas. My husband recieved and email to remind him to shield and even if the lockdown is lifted we will still be cautious as last time that is when the number of cases rose. I meet friends or family outside the home for a walk as we are allowed, and as soon as i get hme i change clothes and wash hands. To have got this far safely it would be awful to catch the virus.

We'll stick to the rules.
Anyone with an ounce of sense knows that if everyone had stuck to the 'no parties/crowds' rule earlier we wouldn't be in this pickle now.
But then, there's always been someone who has spoiled things for the rest of us.

Whatever the rules are I shall not be seeing anyone, except Mr Barmey. I feel really guilty about my decision as it will leave my daughter alone, I am sure most of you know she is disabled and has a learning disability, I just can't take the chance as I am extremely vulnerable with a lung problem. I will however get Mr Barmey to drive me over to her place with a box of food and presents. I will tay in the car. Otherwise its phone calls all round.