Christmas easing of restrictions

Grannybags

I'm in two minds about this.

Although I'd love to spend time with family I was sort of hoping that the rules would still be strict over Christmas so I wouldn't have to make any decisions about if or who I should mix with.

Yes, I know what you mean. I had more or less decided we would be on our own, but after talk of an ease up of restrictions, DH said “Well, we can have DS, DIL and two GC, to us, we’ll eat at separate tables in the (large) conservatory, they can go home after lunch”.

Hmm, yes, but can imagine after a glass or two of wine, they will want to stay on a while, and TBH, for once, I am quite reconciled to a quiet Christmas on our own.

If the government categorically said, no mixing, and we are in a high area this time, that would settle it, but can imagine I will be viewed as a killjoy.

Its probably not going to make much difference to how we spend Christmas day - its usually just dh, ds (who lives with us) and I anyway.
Tbh my worry is that the inlaws wont be going to their other son's (staying in a hotel) as usual and we are pressured to fill the gap. Its not that I have problems with them but they have not been good at following the rules - fil is still meeting with his ex military cronies (you'd think theybwould be good at following orders!!) and our ds is in the extremely vulnerable category.

Crazy idea, let's see how many families end up in hospital

In future years, will we be comfortable with remembering them every Christmas and knowing that we denied them that last contact despite their pleas?

On the other hand, how would we ever forgive ourselves if we were asymptomatic and infected them?

It simply is not worth the risk to go ahead with Christmas. A spokesperson for SAGE indicated that for every day of relaxation, 5 days of tighter restrictions would potentially be needed, i.e. another lockdown in January? Is it worth it for the sake of a Christmas dinner? I want to spend time with my family but we have already made the decision not to meet at Xmas.

We all have different circs. I'm very glad that the rules will permit those living alone to travel to stay with families without being made to feel selfish or guilty. They'll still have a good 2 months of gloom to get through.

Easing the restrictions just because some people will flout them anyway is a ridiculous argument. Using that reasoning we might as well allow burglary/murder etc. on that grounds that even if it's illegal some people will do it anyway.

What's the point of all the effort we've put in over the last few months if we're going to allow Christmas to become the super spreader season? It undermines all our efforts.

Eid and Diwali were restricted. Why is Christmas any different?

We would all love to see our families and give a great big cwtch to our DC and DGC at Christmas. We managed at Easter why not now.
Supposed 5 days of easing restrictions then a month of lockdown how many businesses and people will lose their jobs because some people are selfish why can't they understand the virus isn't going to go away for 5 days it's going to turn in to a covid germ fest. God help the NHS after christmas.

I’m glad you’re all of the same opinion as me - sadly it’s people with no common sense or concern for others who have and will continue to flout the rules. I’m sad not to be planning my normal “big old fashioned family Christmas” this year, but in order to have the same amount of chairs round the table next year it’s worth the sacrifice of us all staying in our own homes. I can just hear some families saying that nothing will stop them getting together. Very short sighted and they’ll only realise their poor choice if they’re caught in another wave/peak in the new year...

B9exhange you mentioned daily testing for people instead of isolating after contact, it would be great if these were freely available and cheap, then families could test too. I assume these are the quick tests.

Yesterday we had a family Zoom about what will we do on Christmas Day. I usually spend Boxing Day on my own anyway so that my son and daughter can do their own thing, but they are both teachers, plus granddaughter is at one school and grandson at another, so lots of opportunity for infection. I am juggling several illnesses including M.E. which is very similar to Long Covid, and also asthma, so can't afford to take any risks.

We will probably meet up in my garden to exchange presents and hopefully go for a walk, depending on the weather, then go back to our own houses to eat. No family Christmas Lunch but better to be safe than sorry.

I was feeling very low and tearful yesterday at this prospect, but these are strange times.

Its one Christmas out of a lifetime. Decide what is right for you and your family and act accordingly.

It's utterly ridiculous.
Restrictions should only be lifted for those who live on their own.
Are the government thinking of doing this to save the economy? It must be the reason.
What ever happened to 'Save the NHS'?
This will have it on its knees.

The prevailing thought is that 2-3 families can mix at Christmas. Will there be a limit on the size of families, can you see different families on different days, can you travel anywhere to see families? Will some very old people have had vaccine? So many questions still to be answered. I think my partner and I will stay on our own as all my grandchildren are mixing at school or university and it’s too much of a risk to rush into socialising much as I am desperate to see them

Very concerned. I would love to see my children and grandchildren but I don't want them burying me in January as
a scientist mentioned the other day.
If we could all be patient enough to stick with the rules and get this thing cleared by Easter we would all be much better off. Changing the rules almost daily makes them have less authority and people start to ignore them.

However much we would like to see our sons and their families, all the children are at school, parents go to work, to the shops, etc. We will be staying at home with our single, bubbled friend. Its just not worth the risk when a vaccine is just round the corner.

It's ok for the government to say restrictions will be lifted for a few days over Christmas but it won't end there. What about New Year's eve??
Some people will want both so that will make things worse. Why not just leave things for one year.

The poster above is right that the rules need to be simple and explained in words of few syllables. If we are allowed 3 families together over Christmas that won't be flouting any rules for me. It isn't selfish on my part despite there being school children involved. We all do our own risk assessment.

LauraNorder

It’s not just those who need to be careful, it’s everyone who should be careful for the sake of those who have to be careful.

I totally agree with this. Always do to others as you wish them to do for you.

I will see my DS & Family over Christmas not because we are selfish but we are in a Support Bubble due to my disability so will not be any different to now. They are very responsible following precautions at their work & their childrens schools are very good. So hopefully we will be ok. Maybe I may have had the vaccine by then but I am not holding my breath for that as there are others more in need than me! Lets just hope for us all to have a good but safe Christmas & an end to Covid next year!

I just hope people don't feel pressured into Xmas gatherings if they don't want to. What's worse is if family make them feel guilty!

If you don't feel like it be strong! Come here for support!

And if you are one who wants the gathering don't pressurise anyone into attending. Nor make them feel guilty for making a personal decision.

My immediate family is split over 4 households. All 4 kids are now over 55 & parents are 89 & 92. We shall do WhatsApp & phone calls. Time enough to get together next year.

I`m not going into any shops other than for food.
This is going to be a disaster and there is going to be alot more covid deaths.
A damn stupid idea.

I had wonderful family Xmas last year when we rented a huge house between us all and spent Xmas week together. Loved every minute and those memories will carry me through the season. It’s as if I don’t really need a big family do this year after such a great event last year. We have all sorts of excellent electronic communications and are planning our family lunch on Portal! I am content.

It’s a tricky time isn’t it. We haven’t really decided. I’m desperate to travel 80 miles to see my daughter and her family and deliver presents as they’ve been having a difficult time with health issues - not COVID related. My other daughter lives 400 miles away with her sons so that’s def a no! Parcel packed and ready to post! My stepchildren live locally so seeing them is much more an option practically, but the risk are the same - parents working and children at school. We haven’t discussed it yet.

We all knew there would be a temporary lessening of the restrictions for a few days over Christmas but I am alarmed at the talk that the payback might be another lockdown in January.

There were rumours about a lockdown of five days for every one day of freedom, which after today’s news would mean a twenty five day lockdown in January.

That would be disastrous for so many businesses so I do hope that it doesn’t happen.

Meanwhile families are free to decide for themselves what to do and who to see over Christmas.

Every single Christian country will be facing the same dilemma.