5 day break...

farview it is what it is, and I agree cases will definitely rise in January. But let's try and look on the brighter side. A lot of those mixing 3 households over the five day period will be exceptionally careful. We all know how to take precautions. I also think we need to trust those other households we are seeing.

The current situation is utterly terrifying.
I've heard many HCPs on the radio (4,5, LBC) and they are very scared.
It seems far worse than April.
And how the virus is acting in the South is odd too.
Nothing seems to make sense anymore.

I agree, and wish they would now just ban it outright, instead of giving us a 'choice'.

That is the only way that we could tell my elderly mother that she can't come to us for Christmas without her holding it againt us for ever more.
She would still be extremely upset at being alone at this time of year (after my dad died three years ago, she made it quite clear that she never ever wanted to be alone at Christmas), but would accept that it was out of our hands.

The tension in our house is unbearable at the moment because of this.

Christmas will be the superspreader.

I have received a shielding text from the Scottish Govt, basically advising against it. There is your answer!

Ellianne I'm not convinced that 'taking precautions' and being 'exceptionally cautious' actually work that well.

Prior to the 5 days of allowed socialising many folk will have been popping into shops, picking up prescriptions, visiting the hairdresser’s, dentist, etc. and the virus can be picked up anywhere.
The spreading will then be possible while people sit indoors for several hours with different family members on different days.
It’s everything we’ve been trying to avoid for months - and now we’re allowed to do it. It’s utterly barking mad!

By the way DH and I are staying home alone for the 5 days.
We’ll happily do so if it gives us all more freedom next year.

The problem is that, although we are being very good and careful, so many don't understand the different bubbles. One example was a man telling my daughter he is meeting two other households on Christmas Day then 1 other on Boxing Day and then another the next day. He could not see he had got it wrong. After all, he wasn't meeting them all at once!

I think Christmas should be cancelled. Impose lockdown before Christmas and everyone knows exactly what to do. Some people will never do the right thing.

Think I'm with Fanny on this. Past 'precautions' don't seem to have worked particularly well.

Why does it have to be legalised by the government? Can we not just use our own individual common sense? We have limited Xmas to two days with our mum who would have been alone otherwise. At 85 she may not have many more Xmas’s and would much prefer to take a smaller risk than be left on her own. Our son and two children will come late Boxing Day and leave early the next day. I know that we are extremely lucky to be able to have separate bathrooms and space but we will take every single precaution we can to keep her safe.

Let us all just mix compassion with common sense this year!

Puzzler61...you're right ..one of my d.i.l is a nurse practitioner..she will be seeing patients right up until Christmas, my two sons in this country are both out and about re their construction business...so much as it breaks my heart ,like you,it will be just the two of us here,Christmas presents are all bagged up ready for doorstep drop offs...kisses will be blown...from a distance..

We are self isolating from now until Xmas day as a sensible precaution; ordering online so no shops and no other contacts, as we have been advised if we want a safe family Xmas. We can only control our own situation, that’s all we can do.

Christmas will be here again next year many of our love ones will not how will people feel if they have family round only to find a few days later they and the family have the virus and one of them dies from it. yes many elderly relations may not see next Christmas due to age or health but i know i would be heartbroken to know i had the virus and passed it round. my Christmas will just be partner and me i have COPD so have been avoiding people where possible for months. I'd rather carry on like this for a bit longer than have a bigger pandemic next year.

Well said Cambia. Everyone has their own views about what we should and should not be doing. God forbid it if we don't obey the rules. We've locked down, worn masks, not mixed and the virus is still spreading. Each to their own I think but just be sensible

Has anyonè wondered how people managed during the war!!?? They didn't have an option of having husbands, brothers, fathers and sons with them. For goodness sake put safety and health first and have get togethers when it is safe to do so.

There are sometimes other factors to consider. If it was just down to me I would just quietly spend Christmas with my husband and no-one else. However my Stepson and his ten year old daughter have had the most awful year with two recent bereavements and so we are celebrating Christmas with them and my two other stepsons. Not what I would want at all, but we have to put the ten year old first.

Puzzler61, spot on, it's a perfect storm situation.

www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=xjG_VB-la7o

People are unable to accept responsibility for themselves and if the Government dont ‘ban ‘Christmas, then Boris will get the blame.

Nobody will blame themselves for being stupid.

Reminds me of a story a couple of Months ago, where a chap persuaded his father to go out to the local pub to watch a football match on his 80th birthday, his reasoning was that his Dad had been in lockdown since March and deserved some fun- result was his Dad died 3 weeks later of Covid. So very stupid.

Although as a poster said on here yesterday, ‘most people who die with Covid are old and would have died anyway’. Sickening.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was a real Father Christmas who could deliver all our gifts to each other thus avoiding us having to meet up to do so

To follow medical and scientific advice (and actually who really knows how accurate or not, that is) then they probably need to keep the restrictions going through Xmas...or even go into lockdown. I just don’t know how serious a situation we are in, and no doubt nor do many people-really. However....because I don’t know, we are going to be cautious and just not see our family this Xmas. It means travelling quite a way, and into a higher incidence area, and it doesn’t feel that the occasion is worth the possible risk. None of us celebrate Xmas in a huge way but I understand that some do and so it would be even more of a sacrifice. I’m very sad that I can’t see my children and grandchildren and am just trying to focus on happier times next year.

travelsfar it isn’t about gifts is it? God I hope it’s more than that.

It’s about being able to see family, our GCs were in tears last night because they have realised that they won’t see us this year. But we are Face timing instead.

We are gritting our teeth, ref my post above.

I don't think it can be stopped now. The visiting, not the virus.

I'm Christmassing at home, alone with the dog - the friend and I who had been going to meet for Christmas Lunch having cancelled that weeks ago.

There are some people who so long to see relations, that they will take precautions and go for it.
There are some people who don't give a toss and will do what they want, regardless.
At this stage, I feel both above groups will do so anyway, whether an official change of plans is announced or not.

I continue to do my household shopping at 07:00, which makes it a delightfully solitary experience, and my hands and purchases are sanitized as soon as I get them home.
In the new year, when the Christmas Spike begins to trickle in, I hope not to do any shopping for the month. No stockpiling, I always do try and make as many meals out of the Christmas food as is nutritionally possible! ?

Then I'll wait for the Group Five vaccinations to kick in??