Are you re-thinking Christmas?

We will be eating a picnic lunch in the garden with my DD, SIL and DGD. Well wrapped up and I expect they'll not stay long! Hopefully that's a healthy compromise. Viruses don't recognise Christmas as far as I know.

Can’t find if this has been mentioned anywhere but I’m disgusted that the government has threatened legal action against schools that close early. This just proves how little respect the teaching profession is given, that they are not deemed able to make a sensible decision.

EllanVannin

Ideally, BJ should have said ages ago that there'll be no visiting this Christmas, but what do you think everyone would have said or done if he'd said that ? Up in arms, I'd have thought. Will he now get the blame if/when anyone dies ?

A hug from everyone or Covid ? The choice is yours.

Maybe he needs to start being a leader and not going with the flow.

He should try being a real manager, who often have to make unpopular decisions.

Ideally, BJ should have said ages ago that there'll be no visiting this Christmas, but what do you think everyone would have said or done if he'd said that ? Up in arms, I'd have thought. Will he now get the blame if/when anyone dies ?

A hug from everyone or Covid ? The choice is yours.

Indeed growstuff - and people will pay with their lives .

Luckygirl

*When the govt. said it was OK for 3 families to get together over Christmas*

Honestly I do not think that anyone thinks it is "OK" - and the government knows for sure that it is not. They are just trying to: (1) Curry favour with the electorate and (2) Avoid making a rule that they cannot police and have no control over.

Neither of the above reasons means that it is OK, as the medics are struggling to tell us.

I agree. Johnson doesn't want to make another U turn after the promise of Christmas goodies.

I think the added advice not to mix with anyone outside the 3 chosen households from this Friday onwards is sensible.

When the govt. said it was OK for 3 families to get together over Christmas

Honestly I do not think that anyone thinks it is "OK" - and the government knows for sure that it is not. They are just trying to: (1) Curry favour with the electorate and (2) Avoid making a rule that they cannot police and have no control over.

Neither of the above reasons means that it is OK, as the medics are struggling to tell us.

No planning changes here. Despite kindly meant invitations from AC we are staying put on our own. It's not long until we get a vaccine so why rock the boat?

We usually go to my sister's. There are six of us including my two nephews. The nephews have now moved out but are going back for Christmas, so we would be three households. We've decided not to go.

Our daughter then asked us to hers. Just her and son-in-law who have both had the virus. However, our granddaughter will be there who has been seeing her boyfriend and his family. After much deliberation, we are staying here by ourselves. It's not ideal but hopefully it's only one year. We haven't been in anyone else's house since March. It's not nice but it had to be done.

I suspect the whole of the UK will be back in total lockdown in January, particularly with the infection rates rising again. I wonder what the NHS and front line workers think about Christmas being allowed to go ahead. I assume the population was given the green light for Xmas as the powers that be knew that any unwelcome directives would have been ignored. I am sure people could have managed without a 'traditional' Christmas for one year.

Last year I was with twelve people. This year five.

Nothing to do with covid, simply the way things have worked out.

Seems most of Europe’s leaders have relaxed their rules for Christmas too. It’s not just Boris!

No not likely to change plans unless anybody is ill
Have been looking after my grandaughter since the summer And my son is in our bubble so him and his children will visit

I'm surprised that people made plans for Christmas so far in advance in anticipation that this would all be over. It's far from over. We shall see our son and his wife who are in our bubble and that's it.
That said people make their own decisions and have to live (or die) by them.
Is it really that important to hug a granny for Christmas? My BIL hasn't been able to see his grandchildren other than through a window or on facetime since March. Not once have I heard him complain. He's extremely vulnerable and everyone respects that.

A doctor on TV said this morning that the relaxation of the Covid rules for 5 days at Christmas would be disastrous in the spread of the virus. Just because the government has said you can, doesn't mean you should. It is not a normal Christmas and I think it is foolish, even dangerous, to try and make it such. However, the genie is now out of the bottle now and even if the government changes their mind, people are going to do what they want irrespective. Be prepared for total lockdown in January 2021. So sad.

Well!!

I think, just reading the news, there may wee be a government u turn.

Yes, I shall now be on my own! Much safer to all of us.

The 25 th December is like any other day for the virus. I have told my three daughters that I have decided to stay alone even though the government has given me permission to be with one family. I want to see my DGCs grow so it is not worth the risk, to be there this year. Mentally I am no different from anyone else, I want to be touched, cuddled and kissed which I haven’t done since last March. I hope the virus will be controlled in the next few months, which is not that long considering the last war was five years. Do what you feel is right for you.

No. We’re not rethinking Christmas.

My daughter will be coming up on the 27th as much for my grandson' s mentally swell being as ours. He nearly lost his dad last year and being shut in a tiny flat was too much for him.

I think everyone needs to evaluate their own risk and act accordingly.

I have not changed my plans which is to spend part of the day at my sisters house, she is my support bubble as I live alone, and my daughter is joining us. There will be six of us in total and think I have assessed the risks adequately. I am 64 with no underlying health problems other than being over weight. My local area is lower than the national average for infections ( and has not increased for a long time) even though we are in Tier Three due to being in Greater Manchester.

All adults work currently from home and rarely go out.
Children will have finished school a week before and both of them had Covid early on in the pandemic.
My sister plans not to go shopping in the last week, any fresh food will be added to my click and collect order.
I will be sitting in a chair at least 6 ft away from the others, including at the dining table.
Window open front and back of the large lounge.
Hand sanitiser by my side and I’ll be washing my hands a lot.
I’m providing paper towels so I don’t need to share towels in the bathroom.
I will have my own serving spoon.
When we play games, I won’t be touching any playing pieces, I’m too lazy and let my nephew do it!
I’m driving myself so that I don’t need a taxi home - no alcohol which will be very odd!

My family think I am going overboard but I’ve thought it through and I don’t think my mental health will cope with being on my own. I’m struggling more with loneliness now as it’s winter and many of my “social” Zoom activities are ceasing for the holidays so I have only three more sessions planned until the 2nd January - I’m dreading it.

We’re having Xmas on our own now. Too risky in my opinion to mix. I’m hearing Covid is rife in lots of schools at the moment, so don’t want the risk of GC bringing it into the house.