to think just because its lockdown doesn't mean you can forget birthdays

[pheasanteggs]

Parents and siblings announced that they're not sending anything this year. Siblings too. DP says we will do something for my birthday after lockdown.

As a creative person I think birthdays can be extra special during lockdown. Birthdays should be celebrated. Here are ideas on how to make someones birthday special during a lockdown for anyone who needs ideas

-Make an incredibly ambitious cake together, finding creative inspiration online

• treasure hunt involving clues leading to a gift
• beautiful walk with whoever you are self-isolating with
• picnic at home in the garden
• decorate the kitchen with lots of birthday signs
• birthday music
• games night with friends and family online over video chat
• With kids its easier, kids party games, musical statues and musical bumps
• Moon pig and other online card companies if you can't leave the house
• Many online gift companies are still operating
• Movie night with popcorn
• 3 course fancy meal with decorated table
• buy a kit and make cocktails, soap
• hang a sign from your window 'Happy birthday X'

If you're lucky enough to have a garden or have kids it's easier.

Just wrapping presents for my 13 year old for Wednesday. I'm a tough old bird but this is breaking my heart a bit.

OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow

It's a nice idea - I just can't find any food shops to deliver. I know she won't eat fancy cheeses or the like so it's trying to find something that she will enjoy and somewhere that will deliver.

DD turned 18 yesterday.

Family were originally getting her experience type gifts such as afternoon tea with grandparents, spa session, days out etc. Obviously those are out so all our immediate family sent 'interim' gifts with the promise of experiences later in the year. Amazon, Hotel Chocolat, Apple, MoonPig and others delivered on time. One was collected by DH at the same time as dropping off some legal documents at a friends, which had to be done this week anyway. Her boyfriend dropped of a gift by car - he was having to make that journey this weekend anyway and just saved the trip to the day of the birthday, making less than a 2 minute detour. I wrapped everything on arrival using paper I already had.

We decorated our house using the decorations we got for her now cancelled party. Cake came as part of our normal shopping delivery. Meal in the evening was via non contact food delivery.

DD spent most of the day chatting to family and friends and sharing a drink with them using the houseparty app.

It was a nice day. Different to what was planned, but good regardless. And when this is all over we will have an even bigger party to celebrate it again!

Hearhoovesthinkzebras

Our local taxi firm have joined together using City Grab to offer additional online food and drink deliveries locally. This includes things like the local ice cream farm, local small stores, market stalls for food and drink items, local breweries as well as take aways. We have a fair number of local restaurants doing different take away deliveries too.

You can order standard cards, though limited, on the MoonPig app. The website lets you order some flowers and gifts I think. Places like John Lewis are doing home deliveries. On Amazon you have to look carefully to work out what you can and can't order to come in time.

I am assuming there is no way anyone get her home. I know that moving home is one of the reasons for permitted travel and in the Q&As they did say that retrieving students from university would come under that too.

Aragog the universities have written to students and said that official advice is to stay put and not travel home.

Presumably, if it reaches the point where her tenancy ends than I guess it will be essential travel to move home.

I agree OP, its my DD 13th birthday today and week before last was my eldest DD 21st birthday so two birthdays in lockdown so far and its mine next week.
We have made the effort to celebrate both birthdays so far and its been rather nice. You can still buy cards and gifts online, some restaurants are doing takeways and weve played games,gone on a bike ride, watched a film together . Absolutely you can and should still celebrate a birthday during lockdown.
Mind you only my mum and sister were organised enough to send cards and gifts, my brother bank transfered some birthday money to DDs and DHs family have done nothing - as usual! some people just cant be bothered with birthdays in any circumstances!

Hearhoovesthinkzebras

Okay, the stance may have changed then.
All the students I know are now back at home and were advised to go home as soon as was possible.
Sorry that wasn't possible for you and your DD.

Only students I know stayed in accomodation in local uni are students who either couldn't fly back abroad and states didn't repatriate and students who had to self isolate.
It's odd that uni would make all students stay tbh

It's my DC's birthday soon. Usually I'd make a cake and we'd have a take-away pizza (don't judge - we usually don't eat junk food!) but that's currently not so easy (where I am, anyway) so I guess we'll be be making that up in the summer? (fingers crossed)

OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow

They didn't make students stay. Her university didn't decide to move to online lectures until very late in the day - other students we know of, at other universities, already knew the week before that face to face lectures had stopped but Kent was still saying that lectures were continuing as normal. Two of her housemates, and many of her friends, had actually gone home because of the strike action and weren't due back until the Wednesday after lockdown was announced. She decided to stay because she needed to work on essays etc. Then lockdown was announced and the next day uni announced they were going to online lectures so her friends and housemates didn't return - but she was still there. Many universities have informed students that any who were still there should stay there as it would be considered non essential travel. To be honest, it has been very confusing and a lot of conflicting information. But, we've gone with following the over arching advice which is to stay put.

They just want their rent so much, don't they

Our uni taught even on lockdown day and only students who stayed were foreign students who couldn't travel and self isolating students.
I would very much question the stay put no matter what and non essential travel advice

Tbh unless you are worried she has it, as you are in the shielding group, there is really no reason for her not to go home.
I checked and the uni states on their website that accomodation stays open for students who need it. That suggests that it's for students who can't go home.

How do we know whether she has it or not though? And she isn't in halls. She's in private accommodation.

Not being funny but surely the rules of lockdown trump what people on an internet forum think? The advice is essential travel only and don't mix households.

Alright

. Many universities have informed students that any who were still there should stay there as it would be considered non essential travel. To be honest, it has been very confusing and a lot of conflicting information. But, we've gone with following the over arching advice which is to stay put.

The university may have said that but in at least one of the Q and As after and in at least one of the BBC live reporting on their website it was clarified that moving students back home was fine to do even under the rules.

As I say I know several families where university students were collected after the guidelines were implemented. None have been told to stay by their universities.

It's a shame for you and your dd that you all weren't able to arrange for her to be home with you together. It's annoying the university told these students something different to what the government briefings said would be okay.

Perhaps Hearhoovesthinkzebras would rather be in her university accommodation where she has peace and quiet to finish her dissertation. I know I can't get my college work done in the family home with everyone here!

I'm in my 40s (retaining) but went to university at the traditional age too and had finals on my birthday and the day before and after. I only spoke to my parents on the phone. I had A levels on my 18th and O levels on my 16th birthdays too! All my celebrations were a month after the event.

She'll be fine Hearhoovesthinkzebras and probably less bothered than you are!

I'm not convinced all 21 year olds want to be with their parents on their 21st as much as the parents want it (and I will try to remember that in 6 years when my own dc1 turns 21 )

Sorry Hearhoovesthinkzebras 's DD obviously!

anothernotherone

Thank you. I'm sure she'll be fine but it just feels awful. If she were there with friends, or even if we could arrange lots of treats and things, it wouldn't feel quite so bad. But with very limited deliveries, and no way for her to socialise there it feels particularly austere.

My youngest DD’s birthday is late April, my eldest DD’s birthday is early May, neither are expecting much but I did say we can all go out for a lovely meal once things hopefully get back to normal, I have a big birthday coming up in June, I haven’t organised anything & to be honest not bothered in the slightest, I just asked my DH to bring me a cup of coffee up to me in bed, my eldest son celebrated his just before isolation!

It’s a good friend’s 50th today. We are all setting the table for a takeaway dinner and will have a Zoom call while we eat.

My DD's is the end of May she knows she wont get a party, but I will get her a cake and do something a little special for her on the day.

OP I totally agree with you. OMG people be creative, I'm sure the recipient will love it, you don't have to break the bank and you only need do one item on the list. Shop online, post offices open, and royal mail still delivering. Those that are having a really tough time at the moment "then I get that" and a big hug to you.

The rest of you. Or you can choose to use Covid 19 not to bother your a~~s!

As someone who just celebrated a birthday in lockdown and thanking the Lord it wasn't my 30th (that's next year if anyone is wondering.) 😁 I had friends who dropped cards through my door maintaining social distancing on their daily exercise. Flowers delivered to me through an online company. Wooden flowers delivered by some amazing friends. And various knocks at the door which turned out to be amazing and presents hand delivered by friends out for exercise. Some very close friends also went shopping for vulnerable people and while they were there for a cake which they delivered. Brought one for themselves. Went home and skyped me sang happy birthday and asked me to blow out some candles. It can still be very special. Ps I now have enough wine to sink a battle ship!

You can still do bits n pieces for children to make them feel special enough... If you are a young adult or older just grow the FCUK up!