To ask what your plans are if you are hostingChristmas?

[Meatshake]

I'm not sure what to do. Originally I was planning to host mum, dad, grandad, sister, BIL and nephew for a normal dinner and slouchy evening of food and farting in front of the telly.

Now.... I'm not so sure.

I'm thinking of doing a gazebo in the garden decked out with fairy lights and christmassy shit. Couple of patio heaters and a fire pit. Canapes set out seperately for each household and a feck load of mulled wine/hot chocolate in slow cookers.

Im not sure if I'm neurotic and overreacting or if it's sensible to be cautious. I'm scared that the govt has got it wrong and hospitals are going to be rammo come mid Jan.

We are in an area where infections are 200 per 100,000, and in tier 2. Numbers have risen about 35% in the past 7 days.

Grandad is mid 80s, few health problems, had a stroke a few years back but has bounced back ok. Dad is 60 and has a dodgy ticker and high blood pressure. Me and my sister are obese and I have pre-diabetes.

YABU- calm down you daft bitch, you'll be fine and its Christmas.

YANBU- it's sensible, and we have changed our plans too.

Love to hear what you are all doing. Feel free to tell me I'm bonkers if you like haha.

I was hosting a Christmas Eve lunch for my son and DIL and to exchange gifts with them. Until DIL just informed me at 8am in the morning that I will either host them on Christmas Day, invite her parents and sibilings and treat each child equally. I told her to get bint and I won't be seeing her at all until she straightens herself out and realize she gets to make no demands on myself,my home or my funds. Walked her and granddaughter to the door and locked them out

If the gazebo is open to the elements, won’t it be very cold for your grandad and parents? I know you plan on having outside heaters and fire pit etc - I think you should run the new plans by them and give them the option to stay at home if they would prefer.

Leaannb what a cheeky sod your DIL is. I don't blame you for telling her to piss off.

@Leaannb

I was hosting a Christmas Eve lunch for my son and DIL and to exchange gifts with them. Until DIL just informed me at 8am in the morning that I will either host them on Christmas Day, invite her parents and sibilings and treat each child equally. I told her to get bint and I won't be seeing her at all until she straightens herself out and realize she gets to make no demands on myself,my home or my funds. Walked her and granddaughter to the door and locked them out

I don’t understand, what did she mean by treating each child equally - do you have other children or did she mean step grandchildren or that you are expected to get gifts for her siblings?!

God, I'd turn you down for that OP. I do not want to spend Christmas Day sitting in a garden. No thanks.

Following for ideas 🎅

Hmmmmm.... Interesting.

I don't think it'll be too cold if it's a day like today. It's pretty mild 9/10 degrees, and I got a sweat on doing the school run in my coat.

They're all kind of outdoorsy, skier, country walks and camping types and its just for a couple of hours so they can see grandkids in as much comfortable as possible. The kids would likely be tearing around the garden anyway because they're getting a swing set for Xmas (which they don't know about haha)

I don't know. I just don't feel I can suddenly pretend that the pandemic isn't happening, that we are safe and risk free just because it's Christmas. I'm worried it's going to cause a massive problem in hospitals in January and if any of us do get poorly then the hospital care won't be there for the oldies.

I think that sounds lovely. There’s a fire pit!!

It frequently does not get as cold as people seem to think in December and probably won’t next week. It’s not the Arctic Circle. Wrap up warm, wear some gloves.

I couldn’t even deal with wearing my coat today as it was very mild.

If you're not comfortable then just cancel. It's 9 degrees here now and sunny and I most certainly haven't been sweating! And I don't really feel the cold.

To me Christmas Day isn't about sitting in a garden with kids "tearing around" but not is is "sitting in front of the telly farting" 🤢

Ask your family what they want to do or cancel altogether but in time for them to make alternative plans!

Well, I’d be there in a flash OP. It’s nice to do something different at Christmas anyway.

Christmas at my in laws is like Groundhog Day for three days straight, I’m more of a fan of mixing things up a bit. Yours sounds like a nice festive gathering at a Christmas market and I don’t see a problem with it!

Sorry but that doesn’t sound good, just make sure that everyone understands that if they have any symptoms that they must not come, get everyone to sanitise their hands on arrival, and regularly sanitise throughout the day. Keep people seated
as far away as possible from one another, keep some windows open so as to allow ventilation. All this doesn’t mean that the virus can’t transmit but adding extra protective measures will help! If you do it outside people will be more huddled together. Also remind people to be careful in the week running up and limit their interactions with others.

I would cancel. I think the government have been reckless allowing mixing. With an 80 year old coming I think you’re mad and you are all high risk. It’s only one year.

Fuck me patio heaters are like gold dust right now 😱

The gazebo idea sounds really nice. I’d like that. We’re having another family of 3 join us. We are loosely bubbled together. I have no enthusiasm for it so we haven’t finalised anything yet. We’ll work out a plan today, I might add an outdoor component too like your idea.

It would be too cold for me. Sorry.

I could tolerate perhaps half an hour outside near a patio heater then I'd be making my excuses and leaving. And I do think that an octogenarian who has had a stroke shouldn't really be hanging around in the cold. Given the uncertainties of British weather it could also be pissing down with a biting wind remember!

With the additional info you've added about it being a couple of hours and them being outdoorsy types it sounds like a great plan. But yeah, if you've not already got the patio heaters you might be a bit stuck. Good luck!

What if it’s raining? that sideways rain we sometimes get.
Sounds like a nice idea, bit nippy though!

Hot water bottles and blankets maybe!

Just put a message out on the family WhatsApp asking for opinions. Described by it as an "apres ski" style thing haha...

Two patio heaters panic bought from Argos 🤣

And I just found a snow machine for £50. Probably shouldn't, tempted though.... 😁

If it rains, we're fucked and will have to cancel I guess 🤷

I am having my mum and brother over. Both live alone and we have seen them all through this.

I am however getting a Christmas dinner in a box type thing from a local deli. Expensive but it will be nice this one year

Isolating for 10 days. DS will have finished school, I will have finished work and DH is WFH. We have online shops booked so will only be going for walks in the country if we need to get out of the house.
We’re having MIL who lives alone so in our bubble and my parents, all mid 70s, over for a festive meal but it won’t be Christmas Day as that’s too soon- we want to isolate beforehand. We’ll be doing some private tests too.

I would absolutely not be spending Christmas Day sitting in a garden with canapés, however many heaters you had. I would rather stay at home. But you know your family best.

I wouldn't be making plans that involve additional expense. It's been announced that the relaxation plans are now under review.