What would you do?

I'm glad to read that you have reached the decision you have, Luckygirl and followed your instinct. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future, once a vaccine is up, running and delivered for us to meet safely and without worry.
I know that I personally would not be able to enjoy myself and relax if I met with family on Christmas Day this year, simply because I'd be wondering which one of us could be carrying the disease and pass it on, especially as some of us have health issues of one sort or another, and some of the family are still out and about for work and school. My DH and I have decided that we won't be going anywhere but home this year.

Curlygirl that is the problem for many people - the social pressure "why won't you come and stay? the government said it's ok, you're making a fuss about nothing" I think they should have stuck to the tier system and just secretly told the police to turn a blind eye to rulebreakers in private homes over xmas. Because it's really only the existing rulebreakers who are likely to be happy to risk their health by having xmas full-house.

It's reassuring for me to see so many posters saying they feel relieved to say no to invitations because the numbers of people seem to large.
I do wish the government had stayed with the tier advice. The same people who are ignoring the rules now would continue to do so. the majority would have settled for a quiet Christmas in order to continue attempts to lower the R. It seems inevitable that the R will rise in January

Also think the government has not taken into account the level of stupidity in the country. I was reading a comment on another site where the girls mother was planning a get together when hospitality reopens. Her attitude was that it must be safe if the government allow us to do that.

I feel a bit relieved tonight. Had been worried about going to son's on Boxing Day ,just family but 3 households. He told his dad that in laws will be coming too and that they have not been taking things seriously so I definitely won't go now.

This has been a totally irresponsible act by a Goverment who when Covid cases and deaths rise in the New Year will not hesitate to blame the very actions that they instigated.

And the likely fact that people didn't stick to the rules, after the UK government creating huge confusion as shown in this thread.

Curlygirl - that makes sense. I had assumed that Christmas would be under tier rules, and I would not have been faced with this dilemma if the 3 households thing had not come in - that is why DD and family are coming down from the north, having previously assumed that they would not be able to.

There will undoubtedly be a new wave of infections in January.

I’ve been reading everyone’s comments over the last few days and have come to the conclusion that the Government have caused a lot of heartache for so many people. Left to our own devices it seems that most of us would have taken the sensible option and decided that with the vaccine so near we’ll keep Christmas low key and save family celebrations till it’s safer. Then the Government dangled this carrot of a “5 day Christmas break” which is totally irresponsible but made a lot of people feel that is what they should do and caused a lot of people the stress of wondering what they should do and a lot of families to fall out. This has been a totally irresponsible act by a Goverment who when Covid cases and deaths rise in the New Year will not hesitate to blame the very actions that they instigated. Let’s use our own common sense and keep safe.

13ReadyMeals
I think (though not 100% sure) that existing bubble are replaced by the xmas bubble. Otherwise you could end up with 6 households all meeting up if they all took their existing support bubble with them! Also it wouldn't be a very popular rule clause because that would mean the person you'd bubbled with year round - for example two single mothers and their kids, would have to choose one single mother's family to stay with over xmas even and stay there together with some family they'd probably never met before and not see their own mother and nan! No I think the existing bubbles are set aside over the 5 xmas days

This is what the Gov.UK site says, and I interpret it to mean that the existing support bubble remains in place, counting as one household, and can join with two other households.

1.1 If you’re in a support bubble
Existing support bubbles count as one household towards the three household limit. This means that if you are in a support bubble, you can collectively form a Christmas bubble with two other households.

I'm not saying that it is necessarily a good idea for everyone do this, and agree with your comments on how it could mean six households could get together, which sounds crazy, but it is what is 'allowed', though the powers that be have added the following words of caution:

This applies only to support bubbles as set out in law. You should, however, consider the risks of doing so and keep your Christmas bubble as small as possible.

Childcare bubbles are a different matter altogether, as they only permit childcare, not socializing, so play no part in the Christmas bubble arrangements. (I know you didn't mention those, ReadyMeals - I'm only mentioning it because I've seen them referred to in a few other posts)

Calendargirl, I agree with your conclusion that its 'very silly to pretend to feel ill on Christmas Eve, then 'remove' by Boxing Day'.
I find it hard to understand why telling a lie is seen by some as a more attractive solution to a difficulty, then being honest. I find that kind of thing passive aggressive and destined to cause upset if found out, which it probably would be. This isn't a situation where a so called 'white lie' is at all appropriate.

It’s obvious reading all these comments how few people read the previous ones, as we keep getting incorrect information about bubbles and households.

Personally I think it’s very silly to pretend to feel ill on Christmas Eve, then ‘recover’ by Boxing Day, to me that would make the family worried and concerned. A cowardly get out.

I realise Luckygirl has made her (sensible) decision.

Good for her.

I would not go, it would be so risky for you.

I’m not going to my son’s or any one else for Christmas l have been isolating myself for almost three months. I have had some very nice invites but I don’t want to risk getting Covid so my friends and family understand. There’s going to be a lot of casualties after Christmas and I don’t want to be one of them. You know the risk it’s not worth it.
I will look forward to having the vaccine and living the best life next year seeing everyone l love.
I know it’s hard to resist going for Christmas but at least you know that you will be able to get on with your move and be alive to enjoy your family hopefully by Easter. X

Lots of opinions on here so I may as well add mine.
We are staying at home.
Just meeting up with one family household means mixing with a teacher, a student, a hairdresser/beautician and two others who are also fortunately still working but therefore out daily, mixing with others. We’d also have to stay in an hotel in order to visit. It will be a Zoom meet up for us.
Hope you stay safe whatever you have decided.

123kitty

I wish the C'virus could have a separate G'net section, as the bad grammar pedants does.

Yes, it does have a separate forum.

I suppose this is one which crosses the divide between COVID and Christmas.

An apt word - divide

Will do!

stay home and keep safe!

14 people? Don't even think about it.

There was a study published in El Pais into the virus being aerosolised. This showed that 31% of cases in Spain were due to family gatherings. They also illustrated how the virus builds up in the air and infects people. If 6 people are in a room, talking loudly, for 4 or 5 hours and 1 is infected, then even with social distancing 5 will be infected.

It goes down to 4 if everyone wears a mask. If everyone is masked, the room is ventilated and the time spent there is halved, the number drops below 1 but isn't eliminated. Is anyone going to eat Christmas dinner in a mask, with the windows wide open in December?

The study can be found at English.elpais.com.

I wish the C'virus could have a separate G'net section, as the bad grammar pedants does.

Totally agree. A day of fun on Christmas Day could have dire consequences beyond. Can’t see why there are people who don’t see this.

Merlotgran, it sounds as if your Boxing Day plans could be risky. I would be so worried with a husband doubly vulnerable to have any family near even with patio heaters and windows open. Is it really worth the risk ? Just because it is Christmas doesn’t lean you need to take risks.

What a difficult decision. I don’t think I would go as there are so many people going to be there and each one of them could transfer the virus. Think I’d go with better to be safe than sorry. We’ve decided not to see folks inside at all this year, but to meet up for a short walk and exchange gifts for the children.

Do not go,have a visit on Zoom,this virus is not just being ill it’s being dead————there will be a lot of people not seeing family because they are no longer with us,so sorry but be careful, treat yourself to something nice.

@Ginster you are surely breaking the rules by mixing 4 households over two days?

I would not go. The rules have been put in place for a reason. Make your excuses and plan a get together in your new home when it’s safer and permitted x