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Christmas

Christmas as usual

(66 Posts)
M0nica Tue 15-Dec-20 13:03:09

I have decided to have a normal Christmas. That doesn't mean any breaking of rules.

It means that the house will be as decorated as it always is, cooking and catering will be as normal and those present will do all the usual things. On the day, there may be only DD and me as DH is in hospital, he may be home, he may have day release, or we may be visiting him.

It was writing about my childhood as an army brat. No matter where we were. Christmas day was always the same. I suddenly realised that we were in a similar situation this year and I ddid not want ' year without Christmas' when I allow outside circumstances change our traditions, so everything is going ahead and normal.

Must just dash off and decant the blackberry gin.

Hetty58 Thu 17-Dec-20 16:13:34

Yes AmberSpyglass, so can I. I've been WAITING since February, after all, so no way am I taking risks now. That would be crazy.

I'll wait until I'm vaccinated. I've never spent Christmas alone. It won't be that bad though. I'm not sick, disabled or hungry - I'm not a child, either - it'll be just fine.

Every cloud has a silver lining. I'm looking forward to not seeing certain daft relatives!

Barmeyoldbat Thu 17-Dec-20 16:19:26

Just the to of us plus the rescue cat who is eating us out of house and home. The the and a few decs up, nearly all the food is already bought, no so much but enough. Will arrange Christmas dinner so we can then sit and watch some TV and relax in front of our fire.

Hetty58 Thu 17-Dec-20 16:24:38

Teacheranne, your 'support bubble' sister is very clever to be able to assist remotely! Just because it's 'allowed' doesn't mean that it's sensible.

The people I really meant, though, are those who are having the usual large family get together. I think that's just selfish - and a danger to the rest of us. They could block the ITU beds just when we need them!

Callistemon Thu 17-Dec-20 16:34:32

Teacheranne, your 'support bubble' sister is very clever to be able to assist remotely! Just because it's 'allowed' doesn't mean that it's sensible.
If she is doing housework then she must be visiting the home which I thought was allowed.

You can form a support bubble with another household of any size if:
you live by yourself – even if carers visit you to provide support

Jane10 Thu 17-Dec-20 17:13:39

The only Christmas I've spent on my own was when I was 8. I was ill in bed so the family left me on my own and went to the grandparents for Christmas lunch. I was sad then but pretty appalled looking back on it. I couldn't have left one of my children ill in bed and on their own at Christmas.

janeainsworth Thu 17-Dec-20 18:07:12

Hetty So - in a wildly 'abnormal' year, with grave health concerns for many and the prospect of an overwhelmed NHS - people decide to have a 'normal' Christmas. How absolutely bonkers and irresponsible!

Has anyone said they intended to break the rules? The OP specifically said she wouldn’t.

The people I really meant, though, are those who are having the usual large family get together. I think that's just selfish - and a danger to the rest of us. They could block the ITU beds just when we need them!

Well if you stick to the rules yourself, you won’t need an ICU bed, will you? That’s the whole point of the rules, to avoid ICU’s being overwhelmed.

Chewbacca Thu 17-Dec-20 20:58:56

AmberSpyglass

I can’t WAIT for the next big family get-together! We’re all so close - cousins, aunts, grandparents, grandkids - and we’ve never gone so long without seeing each other before.

Hmmmm......hmm

Deedaa Thu 17-Dec-20 21:23:00

We had decided that this year DD and her family would just come round to exchange presents and have a piece of cake. Her husband has heart problems and has been working from home since March so it seemed safer not to spend the whole day together. Now GS1 has been sent home from school because he's been in contact with someone who's tested positive, so we don't know if they will be able to come at all. I shall just cook my usual meal and if only DS and I are here so be it.

M0nica Thu 17-Dec-20 22:16:58

Exactly Deedaa, that is what I expect to do

lemongrove Thu 17-Dec-20 22:28:57

Jane10

The only Christmas I've spent on my own was when I was 8. I was ill in bed so the family left me on my own and went to the grandparents for Christmas lunch. I was sad then but pretty appalled looking back on it. I couldn't have left one of my children ill in bed and on their own at Christmas.

Neither could I Jane..
It’s a very unkind thing to do, especially at Christmas.
I think many parents did things that we would never have done though, and looking back am horrified at how young we were, left at home ( alone) as a regular thing.

lemongrove Thu 17-Dec-20 22:29:49

Chewbacca ?

Teacheranne Fri 18-Dec-20 00:19:03

Callistemon

^Teacheranne, your 'support bubble' sister is very clever to be able to assist remotely! Just because it's 'allowed' doesn't mean that it's sensible.^
If she is doing housework then she must be visiting the home which I thought was allowed.

You can form a support bubble with another household of any size if:
^you live by yourself – even if carers visit you to provide support^

Yes, she visits me about once a week to help me with things like changing the bed, heavy housework etc. I rarely go to her house and didn’t go during the last lockdown or now we are in Tier Three.

As far as I understand this is allowed.

I didn’t understand Hetty58s comment about assisting me remotely. Careers are allowed to go into houses and in reality my sister is my Carer, albeit not every day as I can potter and do light housework.

Teacheranne Fri 18-Dec-20 00:23:53

My son, who lives in Birmingham was going to drive up this weekend, approx 100 miles, just to stand on my drive and exchange presents. I’ve cancelled that as I told him what I am giving to him and his girlfriend are not worth the journey! Seriously, it’s not a necessary journey and although I’ve not seem him for ages, it’s too much of a risk.

We are hoping that by the summer we will all be able to get together for a family bbq but who knows!

Namsnanny Fri 18-Dec-20 12:21:35

Teacheranne that's very thoughtful of you, especially as I'm sure you would have loved to have seen him in the flesh!
Very considerate of others too.

Namsnanny Fri 18-Dec-20 12:28:33

Jane10

The only Christmas I've spent on my own was when I was 8. I was ill in bed so the family left me on my own and went to the grandparents for Christmas lunch. I was sad then but pretty appalled looking back on it. I couldn't have left one of my children ill in bed and on their own at Christmas.

As callistemon said times were different then and many parents did this sort of thing.
Something similar (not christmas day though) happened to me!
I feel for the little jane10 who spent christmas lunch on her own feeling ill!tchangryflowers