Social distancing in Christmas bubbles

My DH and I will spend Christmas alone and only meet our GS who is 4months with his Dad and mum in the garden on Boxing Day just to exchange gifts
Won't see my mum,dad or sis and her family until the 12th of never !!!!
I wish everyone a safe ad happy Christmas

My town ?

My son and his Girlfriend live with me. I have a daughter in St Albans so unfortunately will not be travelling to see her. I have another son in the same town with his family, and on Christmas Eve we will be going to exchange presents, windows will be open and I don’t expect we’ll stay any longer than an hour and I do think it’s absolutely ridiculous what the government has said can happen, free reign for the virus.....

Coffeebix well said.

If the Government hadn’t allowed this, some people would have done it anyway without this official ‘consent’. There may then have been the temptation to break the rules again because they did it over Christmas. We can’t be allowed to think we ‘got away with something’, even though the whole situation is asking for trouble!

I have posted about school infections. As most people want to see their GC at Christmas the consequences are just so obvious. It's just been posted that we as a country will pay the price in January.

The reality is if you in the same room for a number of hours with a number if people all talking, even with air flow and strict social distancing if one person carrying covid you will all get it thats for sure. You cannot know who these others have been jn contact with. I think the government and we the public are completely mad. We arein the middle of a pandemic with the vaccine available yo all next year and everyone wants to risk lives and overwhelming the NHS. For God's sake Christmas is not worth risking lives. Yes it has been a bad year for everyone and we have all sacrificed but don't undo all that sacrifice for Christmas, it is just mad. We all miss our families but you won't see much if them in the future if you or some of them are dead. Some people may disagree that is their stance and this is mine. The case rise and jncreased deaths after Christmas will show how absolutely stupid the government and public have behaved.

So many of us will be spending Xmas with just one family member or alone and yet we shall ALL be paying for the consequences of the people who don't take care or be sensible. It is because so many have stayed at home and not mixed that it leaves others free to mingle, and they will take advantage as they did when the pubs and restaurants opened. In the end we all have to pay

Laughterlines! With a name like that I realise you must be joking with your comment of : why not postpone christmas lunch till summer!! lol!

I feel very conflicted. I bubble with one DD and family for childcare but I minimise my time with them as much as possible. I don’t go in their house. I drive with the car windows open and bring GC back to my home where I have the windows open and keep my distance. My DD and her partner both have roles where they are contact with the public everyday. My DD has always had the strictest hygiene standards due to this even before the pandemic - hand gel, own pens and not shaking hands - her partner on the other hand seems oblivious to the situation. They want me to join them for Christmas and I would dearly love to but I’ve said I’m not sure. My GC and DD will be very sad if I don’t and that’s what’s worrying me. I may go to theirs for a short time but not eat there. I will feel very desolate on my own but many people have that every day so I need to count my blessings. I’m hoping it will be a nice day weather wise and then we can all go for a walk.

why not postpone Christmas lunch till the summer

I think it’s all crazy. It’s all for what? A roast meal? I’m clinically vulnerable with asthma and angina and have been shielding. My daughter and I are going to meet up next week half way between our homes . A two hour drive for both of us. And I’m taking sausage rolls , chic chip fairy cakes etc. Well have a lovely walk hopefully and I’ll see the grandchildren. We can exchange presents and at least I’ll see them all! First time since June . My doctor thought this was an excellent idea

I really cannot see that having a window open is going to protect you if you are in a room with someone who is infectious.

DH and I have both been shielding and yet we still caught it (definitely him, probably me).

There is still such a lot that isn't known about the virus. Every HCP I have spoken to says that it is a very strange virus.

Symptoms are constantly changing - currently a very bad headache is extremely common.

Please, please be very cautious.

The idea that 3 households can mix safely is preposterous and I am angry about this. I think the government wants to be popular and this is just a gamble. Perhaps they hope that most of us will be sensible. The average British house is notoriously small and cramped, pack in 3 households, add alcohol and music and you have a perfect recipe for another lockdown in January. I know nobody has to mix 3 households but the fact that this is allowed means you cannot then blame people for following the rule.

I bubble with my DS, DDiL, DGS & DGD so we intend to have Christmas dinner & early evening then when the children go to bed I will go home. I do see them every couple of weeks when I have a problem but we are careful. Last night they were told that my DGD at 5 years old has to isolate as a child in her school class has tested positive for Covid. My DS is taking me to a drive through test centre for a Pre-op test then dropping me at home. He will pick me up after the Op & take me home as I have no way to get anywhere by myself. Due to times the Hospital bus will be unavailable early evening. Just praying the virus misses my little lovely. I know I will be taking a chance relying on DS but we will wear masks & both of us use a lot of hand sanitiser. So taking a risk for Christmas when, if the family are Covid free after DGD isolating till 23rd, will be being careful as usual. Obviously if the whole family do get the rotten virus there will be no Xmas. When they are well we will ‘celebrate’ then.

Rather like Brexit this pandemic seems to have divided people into the fearful and the fearless. WE had a family funeral this week and half of the 20 people present kissed and hugged and the other half didn't. One GD and her husband won't go anywhere or see anyone while her sister is the opposite - there doesn't seem to be any rhyme nor reason for it. Looking at the crowds in shopping centres - many without masks - it seems inevitable that we will have another spike after Christmas but is another lockdown the answer. People seemed to find it harder the second time around so a third would probably be even worse.

Us too. Not worth wasting all our efforts for the year so far. Vaccine just round the corner. We have 7 GC and haven’t seen them either but waiting is still worth it. I also have the sadness of missing them but want to get it right. The thought of more work for nurses & Doctors etc and more deaths is too upsetting

I’m in a bubble with one daughter but this year her partner has his children for Christmas, 4 children all in different schools so her house is a no no for me. My other daughter is having all of her own children and GC visit at various times so I’ve made the decision not to see any of them I think it’s the only sensible decision although the family don’t like the fact I’ll be on my own. But really I’ll miss the hullabaloo that usually is Christmas Day but I’m fine with my own company.

I think the Government suggested this “Christmas Bubble” because they knew people would mix anyway.
I’m genuinely despairing of how a large percentage have behaved.
We made the decision, before the announcement, not to travel from Liverpool to North Berwick, Scotland, for Christmas. Our DD SIL and GC (6&3) haven’t seen us since they came here in February for DH birthday.
SIL is a Consultant Anaesthetist, and although tested weekly, is a potential vector. The GCs attend school and nursery, so again, potential vectors.
We decided that as it’s only one Christmas and we will all be protected by the vaccine soon, the sacrifice is worth it. SIL was vaccinated yesterday!
It’s been harrowing not seeing them. A year, especially to the youngest who was only 3 in September is a huge chunk of her life and we miss them terribly, particularly as DH had major surgery in August, which I had to manage alone.
But look, the vaccine is here, if we all just keep away until protected, the suffering and deaths will be much fewer.
We’re willing to do it. That’s what we based our decision on.

We are staying on our own. A while ago, DH wondered if DS, DIL and 2 GC who haven’t been in our home since February could come just before lunch, have the meal in our (large) conservatory, separate tables, windows open though it’s like a fridge this time of year, then go home after the meal.

So when would we chat while cooking the meal I said? What would be the point?

So idea quickly abandoned.

To me, if we do this meeting up, inside, well we may as well have been meeting up back in the summer, when cases in our area were much, much lower.

Much as we love our children and grandchildren, we are each spending Christmas in our own homes. It is just not worth the risk.

The vaccine is on the way - it seems to me far the best thing to plan for seeing each other in 2021 whenever it is safe. We, with regret, will not see any family over Christmas - but we can look forward to better things next year. I have the fear, as so many do, that for some families a Christmas together will be paid for by illness or even death of someone in the older generation. Lets wait!

Totally unrealistic. How many houses have rooms big enough for all to keep 2 mts apart? Think the Gov. forgot to include we should be sitting with all the windows open too.

Just because the government says something is permitted doesn’t mean one should do it - especially when it’s this extremely thick and incompetent government!
Two metres is the length of a super king size bed. Unless one lives in a palace, how many people can fit more than two to four king size beds in their kitchen/dining room or living rooms?
It’s bonkers and a recipe for total disaster. I have 6 grandchildren I adore but I’ve said I’d rather be alone this Christmas than six feet under next!
Rollout the vaccine!

Three separate ladies I know, all normally very sensible, have been planning social events recently and had to be reminded of the restrictions! It's all very confusing.