Christmas - following the rules or not?

[BIWitched]

From what we know right now (and accepting that things may change in the next few weeks) if you're in tier 2 or 3 re you going to obey the rules about not mixing households indoors?

YANBU - I will be ignoring the rules
YABU - it's my civic duty to obey the rules

[Zenithbear]

"I think there will be a huge fallout of loads of people think "fuck it" and have huge gatherings. I would love to, but it's massively irresponsible".

Yes I think 'fuck it' seeing as when I have to go to work I've got a little bottle of hand sanitiser and naff all else and can work with up to a hundred people a day. Similar circumstances for 5 of the 8 people (including us) I've invited for Christmas day.
So being logical we're actually less in harms way.

Also it's different for those rule followers who are happy to stay at home with dp and young dc that still live at home.
Those of us with grown up dc, step dc, grandkids and have relatives/friends on their own will quite rightly be breaking the rules imo.

[DougRossIsTheBoss]

I have been having a think and changing my mind a bit

I was planning on saying fuck it and having a gathering of 9 (although as it's in Wales 3 of the kids don't count so would probably be barely legal if Wales goes back to reboots rules)

It's very emotionally important to me to be with my extended family at Christmas this year for various reasons that I do feel are important.

The one thing making me reconsider is not really respect for rules or altruism for the wider community I'm afraid. That would stop me going to something less important but not this.

The only thing giving me pause is that I could not live with the guilt if my family or I passed it to my dad and made him seriously ill.

So maybe we will stay at home after all. I will miss them so badly though.

[BluebellsGreenbells]

Yes I think 'fuck it' seeing as when I have to go to work I've got a little bottle of hand sanitiser and naff all else and can work with up to a hundred people a day

So with a considered high risk job, you think sharing the risk with family is a good idea?

[Aposterhasnoname]

No fucking chance. It’s my dads last Christmas and my grandsons first, so if any one thinks we’re not having a family Christmas they can get to fuck.

[unmarkedbythat]

I will follow the rules. It would make an absolute mockery of sticking to them for months on end if I decided that just because it was Xmas I could ignore them all now.

[IceCreamAndCandyfloss]

DougRoss, yes I’d feel guilt too if I passed it onto anyone.

I’d rather forgo a big Christmas than risk the health of others or the thought that subsequent Christmases would be tarred if anything happened.

[Feministicon]

@Aposterhasnoname

No fucking chance. It’s my dads last Christmas and my grandsons first, so if any one thinks we’re not having a family Christmas they can get to fuck.

Hope he enjoys it 💖

[RegularHumanBartender]

No fucking chance. It’s my dads last Christmas and my grandsons first, so if any one thinks we’re not having a family Christmas they can get to fuck

That sounds like a bittersweet time for you

I would do exactly the same if I was you

[DougRossIsTheBoss]

It was my mums last Christmas last year but we didn't know it. If she was still alive this year then wild horses would not keep me away but now that she has died and my dad can be with my sister who is closer and lower risk then although I personally desperately want to be with them I think perhaps I should fall on my sword and stay away.
Because I only have one parent left and I want him around a good while longer.

[thetoughhaveleft]

I'll be following the tier 3 rules where I live. I'm a teacher and so is dh. Between us we attend 4 different schools. There is no way I will be visiting elderly relatives having been surrounded by teenagers without PPE in the preceding weeks.

[BoomAndLifeIsFucked]

Yes, we will be following the rules and I am going to thoroughly enjoy it.
Every year both sets of families descend on us, leaving me cooking, cleaning, changing beds, making endless drinks etc from Christmas Eve to the day after Boxing Day. This will be the first year we will have our children all to ourselves and I am going to make the most of it.

[DougRossIsTheBoss]

I just wish in a way that I could enjoy a quiet Christmas but I know I won't

It's always been a huge, joyful inclusive family affair since I was a kid and for my whole life and it would have comforted me to still have that despite losing my mum.

I just can't imagine enjoying it just the 4 of us in our usual surroundings. All the traditions gone. No carols. Socially distant masked church or Zoom. No-one to share with. I am sure it'll feel flat and depressing and disappointing.

And of course if it's not going to be that then it's only me that will change it and I don't feel anywhere near like doing it. I have no motivation to make up new traditions etc. I just want to curl up and cry most of the time.

I know it isn't a big deal to lots of people but for us it really is.

[Zenithbear]

BluebellsGreenbells
"Fuck it" surely implies I don't care what you think

[BlackLambAndGreyFalcoln]

We had booked before Covid a ski trip abroad over the Christmas week. I have no idea at the moment if it will even be possible (Italy have just closed their slopes to non-professional skiers) or allowed (currently our area doesn't face any additional restrictions, But this could of course change by December). If we do go it will just be our household travelling and we will follow all social distancing rules etc, but of course it will mean (based on current rules) returning on boxing day to a 2 week quarantine. I have to say that after reading on here about all the planned rule breaking for Christmas day (and even if you're in Tier 1 it's maximum of 6 people inside WITH social distancing from those not in your household) that this quarrantine is probably a blessing in disguise away from the increased circulation that will result from this increased household mixing indoors in winter.

[MercyBooth]

@BlackLambAndGreyFalcoln So how are you planning to get there then? Straddling the top of the plane or wingwalking. Or do you have a private jet?

[BlackLambAndGreyFalcoln]

Driving @MercyBooth. As I say, we won't go if it isn't possible or allowed.

[starsinyourpies]

We're following the rules. The responses here are nuts!

[2Rebecca]

I wouldnt mix lots of households but I wouldn't leave a family member on their own either. Covid is just 1 factor amongst many to bear in mind. Other illnesses still exist. We are all going to die of something. For many people it will be their last Christmas even if Covid didn't exist. Quality of life matters too.

[MercyBooth]

YY @2Rebecca I will be seeing my parents so thats one other household. There is only me and DH.

[BluebellsGreenbells]

BluebellsGreenbells
"Fuck it" surely implies I don't care what you think*

Happily you don’t live anywhere near me!