So, who is going out in the run up to the 25th. ?

The run up to Christmas is my favourite time of year. Like most of my circle, I’m double jabbed and boosted (I’m also recovered), and take all sensible precautions. I have had several meals out and events with family and friends and am looking forward to more in the next week. Unless any are cancelled, I’ll be going, and enjoying them.

We’re acting as normal but there is a big cloud coming up behind us from overseas.

This new variant is spreading like wildfire here - we haven’t had post for a week as our local sorting office 12 out of 16 staff all have covid - the backlog is piling up, my DGS nursery has closed due to staff absence, eldest DS boss has just been diagnosed with Omicron , so he is WFH isolating, we went out to dinner last weekend only to learn one guest had tested positive - PCRs all round - the concert we had booked this Saturday has been cancelled, we had decided not to go though, now trying to keep a low profile. Just wondering if the relatives from France will decide not to come……Could be. a repeat of last year.☹️

nandad

Reading about how many people are cancelling their plans for Christmas I’m not sure why we are having the booster? Is this how we are going to be living our lives from here on in? Yes, be cautious, and yes if you are vulnerable you will need to take extra precautions but to stop seeing people and stop doing things isn’t living, it’s only existing.

For me, I think this is the new normal.

I don't feel I'm just existing. I feel I'm living a less consumerist life.

I so love the run up to the big day.

We have a lunch on Saturday to remember our dear friend on the first anniversary of his death, on Tuesday the 21st we will meet up with family and a friend at a holiday house in N.Yorkshire.

On the 22nd we have a table booked at one of our favourite restaurants to celebrate my husbands birthday.
The 23rd is the carol service at Ripon Cathedral followed by dinner in a restaurant, from there it’s mainly dining in but we may stumble into a pub or two on our walks around the Yorkshire Dales.

We were so looking forward to our rugby club Christmas dinner this weekend but it has just been cancelled. DH and I have decided we shall go to our favourite Chinese restaurant. Its a mile away we will have a beautiful banquet it's a small restaurant and tables are very well spaced out.

I’ve been out for Christmas lunch today with old school friends, we’ve all had our boosters and felt quite comfortable about it, we did notice it was very quiet in town. I’m going out for coffee with a friend tomorrow and I’m attending a funeral on Monday, I have just heard the family have cancelled the wake afterwards due to concerns about Covid.

Must admit this made me laugh in yesterday’s Telegraph.

I went to a friendship group today, had lunch there. We've all had the vaccines. Seeing one friend for lunch on Monday, another friend on Tuesday. Really, to exchange presents.

Twice this week. Tuesday morning with a friend to a well-spaced café and lunch yesterday at a local pub-restaurant. I'd reserved a table, but a wake was taking up all the restaurant tables1 We were given a table in the bar which was not in the least crowded. So that's it for this week and hopefully when I go to stay with family I'll be able to sit quietly in a corner with my knitting! And my son and his partner will keep an eye on me.

Reading about how many people are cancelling their plans for Christmas I’m not sure why we are having the booster? Is this how we are going to be living our lives from here on in? Yes, be cautious, and yes if you are vulnerable you will need to take extra precautions but to stop seeing people and stop doing things isn’t living, it’s only existing.

I can’t exactly go into hermit mode. I don’t think work would be very happy! I caught covid at work during the first lockdown whilst wearing full PPE and as I’ve been jabbed and boosted I’ll take my chances. We’re not dealing with anything like as many poorly covid patients as in the first and second waves.

We have afternoon tea booked for this Saturday. Still hoping to go unless we hear otherwise from the venue.

One Birthday Lunch on Sunday planned 8 invitees from 4 households and have been to a family pre-Christmas lunch in a pub restaurant today.
We will do a LFT tomorrow, and one after we have been out on Sunday.
Taking all usual precautions.

We were due to eat in a restaurant with 10 other people is Saturday night. We have backed out , our friends are still going . It was a difficult decision to make as we really want to go !! We just thought , better safe than sorry.

Before the Omricron variant started its rapid ascent, I did think it would be nice to take the grandchildren to our local theatre to see the Christmas pantomime, but have definitely shelved that idea. Also fancied, in view of all the good reviews, to see the new West Side Story at the cinema, again won't contemplate it now.

We are supposed to be meeting friends for a pre Christmas Italian meal, not sure about that either now.

I’m not sure yet. The twins aged 7 are doing their dancing show at the local Hilton on Sunday early evening and we have tickets. I’m consulting with daughter on Saturday and see what she thinks. We don’t want to mess up Christmas with her and the twins as she’ll have no adult company and is rather stressed at the moment and feeling lonely.

We still go out and about as we have been for the last six months or so. Stay away from crowded spaces as much as possible. Meet friends and family outside when possible. Wear our masks. Had our boosters. Test before meeting people to ensure we aren't passing anything around. Go shopping when things are quiet (midweek in school hours). Won't be going to cinema or theatre before Christmas and no more restaurant meals booked in the evenings. Won't be travelling any great distances but definitely not hermit mode.

I heard a woman in the changing room at my health club yesterday say she was taking her grandchildren, presumably very young, for a sleepover with Father Christmas at Alton Towers. Quite a long way Sussex to Staffs! Sounds absolutely horrible at the best of times, quite aside from extreme grandparent indulgence aspect what a trek in the time of Covid

I've been going out as planned but with discretion in choosing the venues. The emptiness of some places is very sad indeed. However, the hotel I lunched in today had a decidedly congenial atmosphere. Very p!easant and such a relief for the owners.

With 88,000 new cases yesterday it will not be long before hospitality is having to close because of staff shortages. It seems that Covid is going to do the locking down for us.

We are going out to M&S to collect our Turkey and ham, early on the 22nd. Then that’s it

I went to my work Christmas meal and had a lovely time. I have had the 2 jabs and the booster.
I feel sorry for the hospitality industry with so many people cancelling.
My daughter and Grandson are coming boxing day, and unless they have covid or are Ill I will not be cancelling.

Going out tonight with DD to a garden light show where we will be outside and discuss Christmas together but that is it.

As I've been living almost like a hermit for the last year or so another few months won't make much difference. I'd rather be safe than sorry.