In light of Omicron, how are you doing Christmas this year?

We will travel in our own car, and we are all double vaccinated and the older ones flu vaccinated and boosted. But keeping number low, with only direct family involved. We are not out of the woods yet and we should all be careful still.

I'm counting myself very lucky. I gave up an extremely well paid job in order to come home from working overseas, because I missed my family. I worried a lot that I was making the wrong decision, but the new curbs on flying have made me very glad I made that choice.

I'll be spending Christmas Day with them. Making up for last year when I was overseas, alone.

I have two sons, one daughter-in-law and a three year old granddaughter all planning on staying with me over the Christmas period. They will all test before coming. On Christmas day my parents-in-law are joining us for lunch and will also test, even though they rarely mix with anyone and are triple jabbed.

I have also invited a lovely acquaintance who was recently widowed and has no family or friends. She has had cancer for several years and has declined to have chemo or any other treatment for it - she has also declined to be vaccinated against Covid, but wears a mask when out and about. I'm afraid that to protect my family I will have to ask her to take a test before she comes to join us.

Galaxy

You have to tell us now Janejudge or is it too 'outing'.
Ah it's not that I dont like them. It's that the pandemic has made me much better at turning things down. It's the effort really, 20 mile drive, no drinking in the company of drunk people, etc etc.

It is far too outing. To be honest I would have liked to have gone

My husband and I and my son that’s all and we’re sticking with that so that’s it and hope we are all well to enjoy it.

We won’t be testing any more than normal which is usually a couple of times a week It’s not as if we only meet up at Christmas my kids and grandchildren are in and out of our house all the time especially the days over Christmas

Yes, every cloud has a silver lining. I've declined some 'pre-Christmas) invites, saying I don't want to risk illness on the day (didn't fancy going anyway - so all good).

JenniferEccles, I really don't think we'll have much more information about Omicron before the 25th. A couple of replies above worried me - those 'doing the usual' as planned. I do hope everyone does a test first, so simple, as a third of those infected have no symptoms at all.

You have to tell us now Janejudge or is it too 'outing'.
Ah it's not that I dont like them. It's that the pandemic has made me much better at turning things down. It's the effort really, 20 mile drive, no drinking in the company of drunk people, etc etc.

Thank you Smileless and growstuff

Galaxy

I have declined my works do because I am a grumpy cow

Covid provides a perfect excuse to avoid people and events you don't like.

FarNorth

I'll be sitting staring at the wall, the same as I've been doing since the end of March 2020.

For the first time in years, I won't be staring at the wall on Christmas Day. I feel for you. The only thing I can suggest is turning off the TV with the manufactured jollity and do something you really like. Try covering the wall with graffiti which makes you smile!

Galaxy

I have declined my works do because I am a grumpy cow

You would laugh your head off if you knew what I'd been invited to

Oh dear, hope those testing positive are not too ill and have recovered well enough to taste their Christmas dinner.
Hope you come on gransnet to share some Christmas cheer with others Farnorth

FarNorth.

I'll be sitting staring at the wall, the same as I've been doing since the end of March 2020.

I have declined my works do because I am a grumpy cow

Oh! My??are crossed for you too SusieB50. Hope the twin is not too poorly.

I've declined my works do invitation and other social events but will have the children home at Christmas and my parents as planned. We have to test anyway

Hopefully, all seven of us and three dogs will be celebrating at DD's.

Hopefully getting together with DD1 and family,(local) though any symptoms may cancel that.
In preparation I have organised take away containers so if the virus strikes, we will be delivering their Christmas dinner cooked, boxed up and in an insulated bag.
For the rest of the family it’ll be FaceTime. We aren’t planning to do our usual long distance visits.

SusieB50

I had a lovely time with both families at the weekend , eating and laughing and nice cuddles all round .All the adults double or triple jabbed. I received a phone call at 7.30 this morning from DS who told me one of their twins (11 years so not immunised) is unwell and the PCR has come back positive! So we all went and got a PCR done this morning ??. At least we will all be clear for Christmas hopefully . I’m due for minor surgery on 20th too !!

Don't worry too much Susie50. The same happened to us when our DGD got covid. The rest of us 6 all did PCRs which were negative. Her younger brother who has a platelet disorder, and her parents didn't catch it despite all living under the same roof. It doesn't make sense. Fingers crossed for you.

We stayed with friends the other weekend and they did the same as you LauraNorderr. Isolated for a week. We all did a test before getting together. Have a wonderful Christmas with the family and I sending sacks full of good wishes for your DiL

Agree Casdon. With each new variant, it is spreading quicker and quicker and sweeping through families.

Our plans haven't changed. One possible visit from my DD between Christmas and the New Year. She comes every year to celebrate my birthday but she will have isolated for a week and tested. She's had two very close misses with Covid recently and is super careful.

I had a lovely time with both families at the weekend , eating and laughing and nice cuddles all round .All the adults double or triple jabbed. I received a phone call at 7.30 this morning from DS who told me one of their twins (11 years so not immunised) is unwell and the PCR has come back positive! So we all went and got a PCR done this morning ??. At least we will all be clear for Christmas hopefully . I’m due for minor surgery on 20th too !!

We are hoping for a normal Christmas, but with testing. I’ve bought food accordingly, but we are clearing the freezer of other stuff just in case we can’t use it all.

I’m getting less optimistic that ‘normal’ will happen though with the news about Omicron filtering through the news each day, it’s not looking great so far.

I am having surgery on the 22nd and unsure on discharge so having to play everything by how I am we are not planning anything ,hope to see grandchildren at some time if only for a couple of hours ?