Christmas break?

We were supposed to be going to my sons house for Christmas Day as they have just finished having a huge extension with lovely new kitchen fitted and in normal times we would have really been looking forward to going. However these aren't normal times so we will just stay at home and cook for the 2 of us.
My mum is 97 and although she is in a bubble with my sister she intends going to my son's as she feels at her age she's spent enough time being at home and wants to go there for the day, can't really say too much about that as I know she is very lonely.
I'd rather they didn't allow us to mix this year as I can see a lot of people will be put under pressure by friends and families to go out. We have been self isolating by choice since the beginning of March and apart from going to have our flu and pneumonia jabs all we have done is walk the dog around the park every day. Neither of us have any underlying health issues and we are both in our 60's but we don't want to take the risk of going to my sons and possibly picking something up. Both son and DIL work from home but GD is 13 and at school so really don't think it would be a good idea.

I am not looking forward to January. The first part of 2021 will be payback time for all of us. It seems that many will be having their usual Christmas whatever the rules are at the time and as many have said the virus will still be there.

I will be very careful as usual and only do what is safe even if it is Christmas.

Sorry ,Maw Be
Please explain.

They also walk among us....... ^hmm]

I am just assuming that we will spend Christmas Day at home.
I am quite looking forward to it.
Secretly I am hoping that DH's lovely daughter will bring us round some lunch but if not we always seem to get biscuits and chocolate for Christmas so we won't starve.
I do not plan on doing any cooking
3Nanny6 ,15:23 pm - well said.

Franbern How dare you call people who have been self-isolating and have given up a lot selfish?

If too many people hadn't thought that somehow they were special and invincible, the infection rates would have plummeted to manageable levels.

The government could do much to save unviable businesses - in fact, it has - although some people have fallen through the net. It's a fact that some people have done very well - approximately 30% of people are better off. There people who are losing most money are the corporate landlords.

A short, sharp shock (not this wishy-washy half-hearted lockdown) would have resulted in a healthier population and healthier economy.

Reading some of the comments above, I'm wondering how many of your children and their children are thinking to themselves thank goodness we have an excuse not to visit Mum and Dad/Granny and Grandpa?

I can remember when we were about 23/24 when we decided to have Christmas by ourselves in our own home and it was lovely. We didn't spend Christmas with either sets of parents for about 10 years. My in laws were quite relieved and took themselves off to a hotel which they thoroughly enjoyed. We started to spend time at Christmas with them because my Father died (aged 55) and my in laws started to get frail.

It is irresponsible of the government to send out a message that they "hope" to give a 5 day respite to the country over the Christmas period. Also all the tabloids have picked up on that and are predicting families can all get together.
I suppose that the Covid 19 is in agreement to take 5 days off also.
I am getting so p***ed off listening to folk talk on t.v and radio about the fact they will still see their families at Christmas and they don't care if it means they could catch something and die at least they will die happy. I mean what is wrong with people? it is one year that they may have to have a quieter Christmas so what is their problem.
It's about time people grew some b***s and be sensible about their health and damn stop moaning. I am getting sick of it.

Olive53

Ajswan agree with every word you said. There were no masks worn at the beginning of lockdown as we were told they won’t work. Now everyone is wearing them and guess what, The rate of infection is increasing. People are even wearing them in their cars, all alone, do they also wear them in bed!!
Get the country back to normal, the suicide rate is increasing at an alarming rate
And what about those poor people waiting and waiting for life saving surgery and treatment. Their lives obviously not important.

Their lives are important. They'll have to wait even longer if the hospital beds are taken up with Covid patients.

Olive53 (and others)
The suicide rate is not increasing.
There is no evidence to support that "fact".

lets

I agree with Froglady, Christmas comes every year but this year we're dealing with Covid and it has to be different. We all want to be with our families, of course we do but the daft idea that people can roam wherever they like in the country spreading any infection they may have from the place they live is irresponsible to say the least. Whatever our feelings about the vaccine, it's on the horizon so we need to hang on, and carry on doing what we're doing for the forseeable future.

I'm with Sparklefizz and others on this one. We've come this far and it would be ridiculous and selfish to throw it all away for a few days. I would love to see all my family as I usually do, but am resigned to not doing so. Hopefully it's just this year ...as others have pointed out, Eid and Diwali have been affected - why should Christmas be a special case - all races and cultures treasure their traditions and we all have to make sacrifices for the greater good, until vaccines and continuing developments in healthcare and treatment put us in a better, safer position. We can still Zoom and use the phone...leets do what we have to do and look forward to better times next year.

Forgot to mention that my comment was meant for Jillybird who talked so much sense!

Well said. I cannot understand how any of us who are doing everything we can to protect not just ourselves but our own beloved families can be accused of being selfish. Surely that is a description of people who put their own wishes first and are quite happy to risk infecting who knows whow many others for their own selfish reasons? A quite disgraceful comment.

I can see me and DH falling out over this. He's just said 'They are considering letting people mix a Christmas'. He looked disappointed when I said I'm not going anywhere. Yes we have a great day with the family. It's always lovely.
However I am 71, DH is 74. He has type 2 diabetes, prostate cancer (in remission), is on medication for high BP and cholesterol, he has to have vit B12 injections. (You would never guess any of this as he looks really well). It's not worth it. He likes to have a drink so that would mean taxis which I'm not keen on either. I don't drive. So NO.

It’s been enlightening to see just how stupid and dim witted some people are being. Why would any government in any country choose to kill off the people who pay rates, taxes etc that fund their own wages?

At least future employers will be able to check job applicants out on social media and find out who the sensible conscientious people are, who will make reliable intelligent workers and not rabble rousers because they have fallen in line with the conspiracy theorists.

Crazy idea hospitals will be full of family members, all for a bit of turkey

Most posters want to exercise caution over the Christmas period and I’m completely in agreement with them. However I’m not so accepting of this situation as some are. Why would you look forward to a quiet day with your husband when you can do that at any time? Why look forward to Zoom and FaceTime? If there is no relaxation in restrictions then I know I will be very miserable and will hate every minute. I tried Zoom in the last lockdown but it’s too upsetting for me. Yes I’ll do what I’m told but won’t put any kind of positive spin on it. I have 7 grandchildren whom I see much less frequently now. My relationship with them has changed and not for the better. We won’t ever get these times back so no acceptance from me.

ALANaV

Oh please......this HAS to end sometime !!!! the whole situation is getting out of hand ...scaremongering tactics without a grain of truth just to keep the population under control ! I shall NOT be isolating and as soon as any travel ban ANYWHERE is lifted I am off ....my life my choice, AND before anyone jumps on me for being 'selfish; or irresponsible, well, all I can say is if I catch it, then SOMEONE else must have been !!! fait accompli

ALANaV:

I wouldn't call you selfish or irresponsible, I'll just call you a STUPID DIMWIT.

I couldn’t give a fig what the government say or what is “allowed”.
The virus is still here, infections are growing, hospitals are starting to fill up, deaths are common. Long term effects are being experienced after even a milder dose.
Why would any sane person want to risk their own or their family’s health?
I just don’t get it. How could a day of celebration be worth someone’s long term health or even life?

I totally agree with you, ajswan. I simply cannot believe how intelligent people can be so taken in by the doom-mongering and lies that we've been fed. If you want to live your life in fear, go ahead, but don't try and force it on me. I certainly shan't be joining you. I shall be spending Christmas with my family as ever.

Be with our bubble

Although I agree entirely with the comments that say it's only this year, grow a pair and what's wrong with people, there is a group of people who want to throw caution to the wind because it may be their elderly relation's last Christmas. My DD's MiL has dementia, kidney failure and is catatonic, she may even die before this Christmas, but she certainly won't be here next Christmas. She has joy in her surroundings, enjoyed blowing out the candles on her 80th birthday, and lives in her own happy bubble.

But my DD is not so worried about her inevitable passing. Her concern is for her FiL. If they leave the two of them alone for Christmas what memories will that evoke for FiL at Christmases to come? They already have carers coming in 4 times a day, so the risk is always there (although the carers have full PPE).

I think we have to make a risk assessment for each scenario, and let others do the same.

And "hoax" ? I have had 2 family members die (both in their 40s), and two with Long Covid, pretty much unable to do anything for more than 5 minutes, before collapsing with exhaustion. They all live in different parts of the country (one abroad) so no cross infection. Never have so many been brainwashed by so few. Please engage brain and THINK about it.

We plan to have Christmas with our bubble if allowed.We have been so careful as we both fall into the vulnerable category and like others have said the virus doesn’t know it’s meant to be taking a break no matter what the government say.

My mother is giving us a really hard time.She wants Christmas with the entire extended family and is furious that we have said we will be only with out bubble.She is included in our bubble but wants to see so many other people as well,

She is phoning us at least daily trying to wear us down.Like Mama Caz’s mother, we will never be forgiven if we don’t do what she wants.We aren’t giving in so it’s all very sad and upsetting.

I accept we may catch Covid but I will do everything I can to keep us as safe as we can.

We owe it to the people like Jillybirds daughters in law to follow the rules and try to halt the spread of this virus.Young women with young families but going to work to help people who have contracted the virus.Kudos to them?