I honestly don't know what to do with the presents

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All for adults, no ones going to be crying because they didn't get their gifts, but I have some reasonable presents for my parents, who live nearby.

We're Tier 4, no leaving home except for....

To add to the "drama" DH and I have just ended our isolation after being ill with Covid and whilst technically allowed out, DH is still quite ill.

So, I could drop them round and leave them on the doorstep, but then parents touch them and I'll have left the house for a non essential reason. Plus my Dad will see me coming and want a chat, Mum will want to give me our presents.

Just dumping them seems so cold

I'm not sure if any of it's worthwhile, we can just have them when we are able to meet up, but who knows when that will be?

As an aside, I wasn't going to do neighbour cards this year because I didn't think people wanted things through their letter box, but neighbours have done them.

I really wasn't so concerned about all this until we got it. I honestly think I've been sensible and followed all guidance through the whole thing, but we still ended up with it. I've no idea where I picked it up.

You can take your presents to your parents and they can put them out of the way for 72hrs and then have them on Christmas day. So long as they wash their hands thoroughly after collecting them from their doorstep and putting them wherever.

Cards for neighbours? Leave them this year. Hopefully the ones sent to you, you wiped and/or left for 72hrs before opening?

@Twospaniels

You can take your presents to your parents and they can put them out of the way for 72hrs and then have them on Christmas day. So long as they wash their hands thoroughly after collecting them from their doorstep and putting them wherever.

Cards for neighbours? Leave them this year. Hopefully the ones sent to you, you wiped and/or left for 72hrs before opening?

Seeing as we both had the virus when the cards started arriving, wiping them seemed a bit like bolting the stable door...

We're tier 4, my mum dropped the kids' and our presents round yesterday on her way to the supermarket. She was going out anyway, she lives five mins away from us, and the kids got to wave and blow kisses down the hallway to her. I've lost zero sleep over it, and anyone who wants to flame me can go ahead. She didn't stop for a chat, she wished us a merry Christmas and we promised to video call on Christmas Day when we all open our gifts.

As for neighbours, I'm giving my neighbours cards and a little gift. For one, our kids go to the same school, and for the other I'm genuinely very worried about her at the moment as she lives alone, works from home and isn't even putting up Christmas decs because she doesn't see the point. I won't lick the envelope and I'm sure she can antibac the wine bottle if she feels the need!

We had presents from Grandparents arrive on doorstep too. Put in car for few days to quarantine and will be smuggled in when Kids in bed. Short local journey in tier 4.

We're in tier 4 and did the doorstep drop rounds yesterday. Everyone, including elderly relatives happy to take presents straight in, and of course happy to see us.

Do your parents have a garage? Dh had this earlier in the year when we were waiting for covid test results (thankfully negative) but PIL needed something dropping off. He called them, got them to leave the garage door open, he put the stuff in the garage and shut the door. Then rang the bell, walked to the end of the drive as they answered it and had a shout from distance conversion.

They got the stuff out of the garage a couple of days later. All safe and minimum fuss. Shed would also work, failing that a lidded plastic box outside the front door?