Breaking rule of 6 over Christmas

[SarahSinuses]

Hi, so in my family we will have to break the rule of 6 as there's me, DH, DM, DF, DB, DS and DD (who is only a baby so don't understand why she counts).

We had planned from ages ago to rent a big house so we can spend a week together comfortably because since DD was born we don't really fit in my mum's house.

I was saying to my mum that we have to cancel the rented house stay because there's no way the owners won't ask if we're all from the same household, and just be a little uncomfortable and cosy at her house.

Other option I suppose is to go to Wales where children don't count.

So, what should we do?

1. Go as planned to the house already booked
2. Cancel and stay at my mum's (very crowded)
3. Cancel and book in Wales where children don't count (lose lots of money probably)

Thank you!

Wales is already closed and I doubt very much your 3rd option will be possible - restrictions will of course have changed by then but I wouldn’t make a booking on the hope of a loosening

If you are tier 1 then go for option 2

My sister cleans big holiday houses, there have been loads of multi household people staying. It's been more than on a usual year. There have been bookings for a family of 5 , where each of the 10 beds have been used plus extra quilts laid out on the floor to make beds (and left there) and tonnes i of rubbish. So i guess its common place for people to lie.

You can only make your own decision though. You're all going to be together regardless.

Alternatively, you could stick to the rules.

Yes, why on earth couldn't you both celebrate Christmas as seperate households and be legal ffs. That's not even an option on your list 😂

‘We will have to break the rule of six’

Seriously? That’s not how it works. You don’t just break it because it doesn’t fit with you plans. I know people will but you’re acting like it’s so matter of fact and expected.

Everyone will probably be in tier 2 or 3 by then, so you probably won’t be going anywhere.

I'm no stickler for the rules but I'm confused why you "have" to break them? Can't you just spend Christmas with your household?

We’re breaking the rule of 6 for Xmas. I don’t for one millisecond think the twats in power will follow their own rules.

We’ve given up enough already, due to their failings. I’m not giving up my Christmas, that’s been this way for 30+ years.

I don't really have an issue with people breaking the rules particularly but your assertion that you'll have to is ridiculous. You could go for option four and spend it separately.

(I'd go for option 2, wouldn't risk booking for Wales as they're currently locked down)

You are being ridiculous and breaking the law.

You need to celebrate Christmas separately. In groups of 6 or less.

I think that if you think of it as the law of six (which it now effectively is) rather than the rule of six you might find it easier to make your decision. If you normally break laws then go ahead, if you normally don't break laws then meet in a smaller group. As you seem unsure, a baby counts because she can breathe, catch an illness and pass on an illness.

@TeddyIsaHe exactly!!

For all the decent law-abiding citizens on this thread, DF has a serious illness and this could be his last Christmas with us. We are spending it together.

Don’t break the rules. It’s just stupidity
It’s the covid equivalent of being an anti vaxxer

@SarahSinuses yeah people on mumsnet were calling people murderers for going out to buy tampons during lockdown because they’re not essential So you won’t get any measured resposnses.

Spend Xmas with your dad, I’d keep the house booking and see how it is, there’s still 2 months.

YABU

I think there are certain circumstances where it’s ok to break the rule of six, for example I know a family of 4 who are carers for the mother’s elderly parents and also have an older son who lives alone. I can see why they wouldn’t want to leave the son on his own in that case. Equally if it’s a parents last Christmas as they have terminal illness and they want all their children/grandchildren together then fair enough.

In your case why can’t you just spend Christmas as a 3 and a 4? It’s one year FFS!

@SarahSinuses well that’s a massive drip feed

@TeddyIsaHe seriously?! Wow.

I just wonder where the common sense is. Someone even suggested breaking the rule of 6 is as bad as being an anti-vaxxer 😂

I think I'm leaning towards option 2, just in case.

Thank you to those who answered my actual question.

I shall leave this thread now but hope everyone has a lovely day and sorry if this thread has annoyed you!

I would speak to the owner of the property you're renting off.

For christmas day they might turn a blind eye if it means they get some income

And ignore all the people telling you to celebrate separately. Almost everyone I know will be with more the 6 xmas day

Do the house owners live next door ? As chances are they aren't going to see exactly who is staying there . Or do you need to tell them for insurance ?

I would check the cancellation policy on the house as who knows what restrictions will be in place over Christmas and travelling .

Do you live far enough from your parents that an overnight stay is needed ?

I think I would plan to stay in separate accommodation but get together for your meal.

I doubt they are going to be arresting / fining people for having one meal with their family on Christmas Day .

And really , there's only 7 of you and one of those is a baby . It's not as if you are having a massive party .

I would go to the house have a lovely Christmas and enjoy which maybe the last one as the extra person is a child ....xxx happy Christmas xxxx

I’m not sure why you couldn’t split the day and let your dad see you and you husband and child at one point and then your sister and brother at a different point? You can surely see your sister and brother another day?
Though I suspect the rules will relax for Christmas tbh. With the standard guidance repeated but the realisation that people will break the rules so they might as well try to engage with the public and limit the damage.
We have an extended bubble in our family set up and my mum is childcare for my sister. Mum and my older dd met to go round the shops together and for a coffee. All distancing observed etc. Both got Covid. So now my sister, nephew, both daughters, husband and myself have had or got Covid in the last 10 days. It really does spread like wildfire... and thankfully my at risk dad is negative for now and seems fine. But he is still significantly at risk.

I couldn't get my knickers in a twist about rule of six when the seventh is a baby. Hope you have a lovely Christmas OP

I’m usually a very rule-abiding type, but in our case the ‘6’ pisses me off too. The two elder Gdcs are at primary school every day, and the most likely of any of us to be picking up bugs, so why it’s OK for us to be 6 with them, but not 7 with the baby, who won’t even be 12 months by Christmas, I fail to understand.
Especially when Wales and Scotland aren’t counting children under 11 or 12.

And when there’s so little effort to enforce mask wearing around here. In local small shops virtually nobody except me and the bloke behind the till ever wears one, and I don’t believe for a moment that they’re all exempt.

And ignore all the people telling you to celebrate separately. Almost everyone I know will be with more the 6 xmas day

Really ? this makes me so sad. How is anything ever going to improve with an attitude like this

Really ? this makes me so sad. How is anything ever going to improve with an attitude like this

Improve how? Do you know what makes me sad, this could be the last Xmas my friend spends with her mum before the dementia really takes a hold, next year or the year after I'm pretty sure she will have no idea who she is. If these ridiculous rules are still in place she won't be seeing her. Now that's sad.