No more than 6 people indoors or out

Gwyneth if the 'birthday party' dig was aimed at me then you're aiming your darts in the wrong direction. I didn't moan at all on that post. I was adding to the discussion in a non aggressive way.

* postername * but without the spaces Gwyneth

Fair point NotSpaghetti I concede that not everyone is complaining and many people have accepted that we need to adhere to the rules for the sake of society as a whole.
Incidentally as I am technically useless how do I make the name of the poster I am responding to in bold using my I pad?

Gwyneth, some are complaining, certainly, but some of us are just stating facts. I, for example, only mentioned Christmas because it had become an area of comment.

I'm grateful that I'm not in Syria, that I have a garden, that I have a family who love me. The thread is "anyone else fed up with this" - it will attract moans.

We are all fed up with it in one way or another but we can be grateful too.

This morning’s Today programme was simply a Nick Robinson solo since he interrupted speakers and left the listeners none the wiser. And I do agree about all the moaners - while we are trying to manage the pandemic Christmas is really not important, and birthdays and other celebrations can all wait till life is more normal, though not this year I suspect.

Thank you JenniferEccles I must admit to feeling better now I have got it out of my system!!!

Rant away Gwyneth !

You are absolutely right.

Lovely as it is to have everyone together I don't think I want to take the risk of infecting my whole family at one go!

Probably not a good idea to have them in daily "shifts" either.

Infect one, infect all.

I might get together with the family that have had it.

I am really fed up with all the moaning and whinging. Whatever, the government do is wrong. I agree that they haven’t always got it right but would any other political party have done any better? We shall never know. It’s very easy to criticise from the sidelines. So a birthday party or whatever has to be cancelled or postponed it’s not really the end of the world is it? There are people in third world countries who are really suffering. We have become a country of moaners who whinge about everything. Sorry rant over!!!

I think (and pray) things will change for Christmas time itself. I fully agree with the restrictions stopping office Christmas parties and festive gatherings, as this is the busiest time for mingling, especially indoors.
We don't know that will include Christmas Day and Boxing Day though, and I prefer to plough ahead with our arrangements in the hope that these will be the exception for families.

It's the only two households rule which will snooker our chances of getting together with family. Our family weekend away is now cancelled and my birthday with my children is also cancelled as there are four households. It's unfortunate but rules are rules.

The numbers of infected people is rising. The government is trying to slow the rise without damaging the slow economic recovery.

Restricting numbers who can meet is a relatively mild inconvenience for the majority of us.

Whatever they do would be wrong for some.

We will be lucky re Christmas we are exactly 6. DD1, SIL, 2 DGD, DD2 and me.

It will affect my friend who was hoping to spend Christmas with her son DIL and baby grandson but it means her Dils parents and sister can’t come as well as planned so I guess they’ll have to do presents etc over two days.

It’s a lot harder for families who live away from each other we live super close. I do think we need to try and make the infection rate over winter as small as possible though

As for the Christmas period, ours will be very different. Would normally be 15 or so of us on Christmas Eve so think that's not going to happen!

Those families of six or more - presumably they can't see anyone at all?
?

If we could all just exercise a bit of common sense and restraint now then we might be able to get together for Christmas.

I know it's not going to happen. Everyone seems to think they should be the exception. And nobody thinks the spread is because of what they did.

I remember the Royale family sent the child away for Christmas.
I think the line- “Christmas isn’t for kids” was spoken by a man in the bath trying to defrost the turkey?.
I don’t normally watch the programme so I don’t know his name.

They'll probably change their minds again on Monday!

Not for us it won’t. DD1 plus DGS and SIL.
Dd2,
DD3 plus DGS and SIL
Mother in law
Us
Makes 10.
We spend a lot of time together normally. Always all together for parts of Christmas.
We will have to work out a rota.

LullyDully

If we excluded children then Christmas may work.

I am sure you do not mean it that way, but can you imagine the tabloid headlines?
Gransnet Grans exclude children from Christmas!

If we excluded children then Christmas may work.

For this winter surely staying away from grandchildren is a sacrifice that needs to be made. The children will be mixing at school and even if they have no symptoms they could spread the virus.
Covid 19 aside there are going to be the usual cold and flu infections distinguishing between each is going to be a nightmare.

grannysyb

Yes, I'm fed up about it. DD lives quite near me and her three children 18, 17 and 13 all apparently count as adults. DH and I now can't see them.

Do you think teenagers, especially an 18 and 17 year old should not?
They can drive, get married, smoke , one can drink legally and also vote - how can they be seen as “children” ?

And why can’t you see them? Three of them plus you and DH = 5

(Sorry - Radio Four's negativity gets to me sometimes. Especially the Today programme. I should get off my backside and put some music on!)

I do rather feel sorry for the Government. All the complaints about it all being too complicated as they bent over backwards trying to make different rules for different situations and different people. Trying to encourage people to use their common sense and be considerate to others. It worked in the main (at least around here it has) but the media and naysayers have shouted so loudly that the decision has been made for one simple rule. No more than a gathering of six people to mix socially. And off we go again. I'm sitting here listening to the Today Programme interviewing one person after another complaining and picking holes. Can't they just, for once, give it a go? We have to get the economy going again, and kids have to get back to school. We can't stay in shut down and furlough forever so a different system is needed. Local shutdowns work for isolated outbreaks, but now infections are increasing everywhere, so a different system is needed. Let's give this a go and work with it and get the rate back down. Yes, I think there are flaws. There always will be. But I'm going with it the same as I did for Lock Down and Shielding and I really wish the media would be more supportive and encouraging.