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 dunno why people are so precious about being outdoors in a mild U.K. winter with patio heaters and canapés unless they have an underlying health condition. You can just layer up.

@SmidgenofaPigeon sounds like most of the OPs family including the OP have underlying conditions.

This is one of those things that sounds nice but isn't. If it was then it would be a popular regular winter pastime

I dunno why people are so precious about being outdoors in a mild U.K. winter with patio heaters and canapés unless they have an underlying health condition. You can just layer up.

Walking (or being otherwise physically active) outdoors in the cold is one thing. Sitting still for anything up to a couple of hours is quite another. We also don't know what the temperatures are going to be like at Christmas. Mild and wet may not be a lot of fun for the children playing in the open part of the garden for that length of time, and near- or sub-zero won't be easy for adults either. I would struggle with this, and I'm fit and well and very used to walking in all weathers.

Cold increases the risk of clots snd strokes in the elderly. But as long as it's notcovid that kills them people can have a clear conscience apparently.

We usually host pil but not as I think mixing of households are a bit reckless, no matter what the government say. We are tier three, if its not safe for me to go into pil house for a visit on the 22nd why is it suddenly ok on the 23rd?

Also think people will be nipping in and out anyway to use the toilet or to go through to the garden, just seems rather uncomfortable and unnecessary in my opinion.

My step daughter is travelling to us after work Christmas Eve where we will have Chinese food and then hot chocolate and family games and a movie and a late night.

Christmas Day the ex is coming over to spend the day with the kids. I will cook dinner and drink wine and we will have a fabulous day of food and games.

Boxing Day is all about eating whatever is left over from Christmas and snoozing while watching tv.

Then step daughter goes home.

If it was younger relatives I'd say go for it, a few glasses of something alcoholic and you'll soon be warm and festive. But the age of your grandparents, absolutely not. Too cold and no old person wants to sit on a garden chair for hours at that age (unless you put the sofa in the garden?)

WhatsApp results in: sister is pleased (NHS 111 worker, has had a fair few freak outs about the situ recently), parents relieved they aren't the ones to say something. Everyone happy with plans, taking it as bit of an adventure. I've got big bifold doors so can open those up and do a bit of an indoor/outdoor thing, and I've got enough loos on ground and first floor to do one loo per bubble so that's that sorted.

Grandad is going to go home and stay with parents afterwards (they're bubbled up anyway) to get his "proper" Christmas dinner.

All worked out ok then ☺️

We’re doing Christmas Day (evening) around a fire pit. Hot turkey and stuffing rolls, pigs in blankets on the BBQ and lots of mulled wine.

I’ve got some weird thing that goes in the fire and you get 45 mins of multicoloured flames, and lots of glow sticks.

Everyone will dress up warm (we are all campers) and have lots of rugs.

Only rain will bugger it up, but we’ve agreed to just do Christmas day on another day if that happens.

Then dh are I camping overnight in PILs garden. That way we can both drink.
Up on Boxing Day for hot bacon rolls and a long walk. Done.

Really looking forward to it

I think you'd be insane to all meet up indoors.

The outside idea is better as at least you are putting each other at a bit less risk.

The most sensible thing however, would be to stay at home in your separate households and each have a safe and small Christmas this year. Meet again in the summer. Have a lovely celebration then, without fear when hopefully the vaccine will be providing protection.

@Nuie I feel like we would be friends irl 🤣

I just saw your update. I'm glad you are all agreeing your safer approach and taking care of each other.

That's fair enough then. Enjoy!