So if Christmas is no mixing of households indoors

[RunBackwards]

What will you do?

We usually have the four of us (two young adult sons) my parents and my sister and her family (two teens). TBH as the children have got older it's been hard enough to make the day special/different to any other day but if it's just the four of us I can't see it being much different to today.

What do you have planned?

Will you comply with the no mixing of households. It's already in play here, although my sister is in another area where it's not. My parents are being very compliant, although my FB feed suggests most of people aren't.

I wouldn’t break the rules if this wasn’t the case.

We will be having 9 of us for lunch. We are farmers, our nearest neighbour is two miles away.

@Dotinthecity

I think most people will, quite rightly, ignore the "rule of 6" and spend Christmas with their families as normal. It's rather sad to think that people will be so rigid/ blinkered in their thinking that they'll allow family members and friends to spend Christmas in their own.

Rigid? blinkered?

Or sensible?

Why would you risk passing it to the people you're supposed to love the most?

Neither of our sets of parents live close enough to come for Christmas without staying, so we'll be having a Christmas with just us and the DC. DH's siblings also live too far away to be an issue.

I don't think we're any less close to our parents than other people are, but while it's obviously far from ideal (I haven't actually seen my parents since before Christmas last year) I'm also not wringing my hands over it as if it's the end of days.

We're in a tier 2 area which is getting worse so will possibly be tier 3. Current Tier 2 rules say that no one can socialise indoors so we're planning a quiet Xmas day, just me, DD (6 yo) and DH.

It will still be a lovely day with presents, the magic of Santa Claus, a fantastic lunch, lots of snacking and plenty of Xmas tv and playing.

We would usually spend boxing day with in laws, but it's likely that will change to a chilly picnic in the park or their back garden. We're planning for a hood food picnic either way and if it's at the park we'll take hot sausages in a food flask and do hotdogs and hot chocolate. Might even take a disposable bbq for toasted marshmallows and a bit of heat.

@RunBackwards

Theres no rule (currently) that says anyone must be on their own.

But if we follow the rules, my son will be on his own. He shares a house with one other person who is going to be elsewhere. He can't be in a bubble with us because he doesn't live on his own normally. Makes me so sad to think of him spending Christmas on his own.

Well this makes a change from those worrying about travelling for five hours to be miserable in situ with the in laws and outlaws.

Great excuse to just stay in bubbles at home within the 6 rule.

I do understand that everyone wants to be together at Christmas don't get me wrong, but it is different this year. I await the brickbats lol.

I am not a big Xmas fan to be honest so I don’t care personally if we have Xmas just the 3 of us or not. DS wants a games console so he’ll be happy enough if he gets the whole day playing on that.

Be sensible about it. No need to be absolute. @ RockingMyFiftiesNot

But parties of lots of people on the Royle Family couch etc. are probably out.

Common sense should prevail.

Whoever is there or whatever the rules are, I'm going to be drunk from 11am onwards.

Tier 2 here so we'll be at home just the 4 of us.

@Needmorecoffeeandcake

I have a terminally ill parent. This is most certainly their last Christmas. I will be led by them.

I'm sorry to hear that x. I think the 'knowing' makes it SO hard. Sadly 'been there' a few times, but my Dad died suddenly & that's dreadful too. Life's hard sometimes xx

Unless there are police checkpoints on route to the in laws we will be going to stay with them for Christmas. They want us there, we want to be there so we will go. We live away from all of our family, our DCs have missed thier grandparents so much so we will allow them Christmas even if it is illegal, our children's happiness is paramount to us.

There are exceptions for vulnerable people in the rules anyway .

I think most people will wait to see how hospital admissions are faring before making a decision. That seems sensible . Plus the rules may change yet .

We have some blood tests we purchased so may just do tests before joining up families.

Not a big deal for me...a sigh of relief..

@MJMG2015 I’m sorry you’ve ‘been there’ too and also about your dad. I’m not keen at all to break the rules and I’m a teacher so high risk for chances of being infected but my parent is of the mind that they’re dying (soon) anyway. As I said, I will be led by them.

We always just have our household for Christmas but if I had a relative or close friend who would be on their own but I wasn't in a bubble with them, I would still invite them over but try to socially distance as much as I could.

I can't believe the number of thread on this! Yet I'm aware here I am replying on one!

If we stick to the rules then BiL will spend Christmas Day on his own.

I think the government know people won't stick to it and will prepare for a surge a few weeks later.

Huge sigh of relief, skip decorations and cooking altogether and I might go on a relaxing holiday somewhere if that’s allowed. Thirty years I’ve hosted Xmas, someone else can do it!

We are tier 1 so can mix households up to 6 people but there are 4 of us already. My parents may come over but my brother has also invited them so not sure what we are doing.

We won't be breaking the rules although it is upsetting we can't have my brother over on a separate day as there are 3 of them.

I'm in Scotland my parents live with us and I work with my sister and her partner and we will ignore all the rules and have christmas as normal.

I will be home alone.

I will be very much hoping that my student daughter is able to come home for Christmas. Finding a way to be as kind as possible to various elderly relatives. But not stressing too much about what/when/how we do things, as long as everyone is safe.

Christmas in July is sounding good to me.

Far too much angst about it, but I understand about those with very ill relatives and so on. But does it HAVE to be 25/12?

Christmas past is not going to be Christmas this year, but my view is do what is the best for YOU and keep it discreet.

I'm ignoring the rules, I'm spending Christmas with my auntie uncle cousins and grandad.

My kids will be at their dads, my first Christmas without them my dad passed away several years ago and my mum lives abroad. I am not spending Christmas alone