To be a little relieved by the new restrictions around xmas?

[Ohdoleavemealone]

I hate having plans lingering in the air. Hate the uncertainty of can I see my family or can't I.

DS came home from school yesterday having to isolate until xmas eve so yet again we were on the fence of whether or not we could visit family boxing day. We cancelled my parents but they kept saying "lets see". Now Boris has said only mix on xmas day I can accept it and move on.

Am I the only one thinking it would have been kinder in some ways to say this from the start?

It is unfair to leave it so late to announce this. Now will probably be on my own Christmas Day cos although I'm not in tier 4 I can't make it to my family's house and back in one day. This is so depressing.

@Angel2702

Not relieved here at all, got to cancel our only Christmas activity, we had been clinging to getting to Christmas to get some support as families caring for disabled children don’t get to form a support bubble. We now have to face Christmas on our own, no proper Christmas dinner, no much needed support and face endless days in front of us dealing with endless meltdowns whilst trying to shield our other child from the fallout. Throw in a child with a Boxing Day birthday which we haven’t finished buying for and I don’t think the news could have been any worse for us.

Why can't they support a bubble? They can with the current rules and part of his speech mentioned that bubbles were allowed?

How is it a horrible thread?

We are all upset we can't see family over Xmas.

We decided a couple of months ago we weren't going to do it.

Does this mean we love our family less? Is it mean to hope that this change to restrictions may save lots of lives?

WE HAVE ALL MADE SACRIFICES & MOST OF US LOVE OUR FAMILIES EVEN IF WE WEREN'T SEEING THEM THIS XMAS.

I think it’s a good decision but come far too late and I agree they should never have got hopes up. It’s very sad but necessary.

I think it seemed reasonable when they sorted the xmas bubble idea but the spread of covid in the south east has been massive in the last 2 weeks.

Yes it would have been kinder not to get people’s hopes up.

Better disappointed than dead.

@Sojo88

It is unfair to leave it so late to announce this. Now will probably be on my own Christmas Day cos although I'm not in tier 4 I can't make it to my family's house and back in one day. This is so depressing.

It is unfair, they should have said week ago, or let it go ahead, perhaps shorten it to 2 days.

To be honest why anyone had fixed plans in place given this is an ever changing situation is a mystery to me as there was always the possibility that the rules could change with short notice.

Those of you that had firm plans - what would you have done if you were told to self isolate?

super your circumstances sound exceptional. I would do what you are doing.

This is not aimed at you. This is aimed for the vast majority of families who could not socialise at Christmas & be just fine with it emotionally and mentally.

@Covidnomore

How is it a horrible thread?

We are all upset we can't see family over Xmas.

We decided a couple of months ago we weren't going to do it.

Does this mean we love our family less? Is it mean to hope that this change to restrictions may save lots of lives?

WE HAVE ALL MADE SACRIFICES & MOST OF US LOVE OUR FAMILIES EVEN IF WE WEREN'T SEEING THEM THIS XMAS.

People are saying it is horrible because they read the word relieved in the title and assumed the rest of my post without trying to understand my point.

Everyone is emotional, it happen!

Why anyone has made plans in the middle of a pandemic is beyond me. Anything can change, and does. All this talk of people being devastated? Really? Can't people just be thankful loved ones will be safe... rather than being selfish. I find it really odd people are willing to risk people's health, for the sake of a roast dinner. Bonkers. Devastation is seeing someone you love in a hospital bed. How bad does it have to get for people to realise?

For the people that made plans that were so concrete that you're devestated, what would you have done if you developed a cough tomorrow?

No plans should have been concrete and children etc should have always had expectations managed for changeable situations, no matter what the government said.

@Angel2702

Not relieved here at all, got to cancel our only Christmas activity, we had been clinging to getting to Christmas to get some support as families caring for disabled children don’t get to form a support bubble. We now have to face Christmas on our own, no proper Christmas dinner, no much needed support and face endless days in front of us dealing with endless meltdowns whilst trying to shield our other child from the fallout. Throw in a child with a Boxing Day birthday which we haven’t finished buying for and I don’t think the news could have been any worse for us.

I thought that households with children who need care are allowed to form a bubble? Like those with under 1s are now allowed.

I'm a little relieved too. We've found it so difficult not seeing family and friends this year. I've recently been spontaneously bursting until tears just feeling completely trapped. But we agreed with my/in laws families that we shouldn't meet as it's much too risky. I've been terrified that despite the mental struggle, we'll be exposed to everyone else's mixing through nursery anyway.

Before anyone says it, this isn't an 'I'm alright Jack' attitude from myself. We've really struggled with all the restrictions and with an end in sight I feel so disappointed at these restrictions potentially having to be extended even longer.

@Ladylimpet

Why anyone has made plans in the middle of a pandemic is beyond me. Anything can change, and does. All this talk of people being devastated? Really? Can't people just be thankful loved ones will be safe... rather than being selfish. I find it really odd people are willing to risk people's health, for the sake of a roast dinner. Bonkers. Devastation is seeing someone you love in a hospital bed. How bad does it have to get for people to realise?

People invest alot of emotion in xmas. I am the least religious person I know but to me it is about family, being together and showing love, sharing happiness.

This year has been shit and xmas has been dangled like a carrot at people desperate for a light at the end of this tunnel. IT was cruel and now it is gone.

Although I'm in tier 4 the new restrictions won't affect our plans. We're in a support bubble with DP so he will still be coming here for a few days over Christmas even though he lives in tier 2.

The main effect will be that I was planning to go out tomorrow to finish off some bits of Christmas shopping in Primark etc, can't do that now.

However I do appreciate I am lucky and that this is going to affect a lot of people quite severely and I have every sympathy for them.

I'm feeling relieved as in, I was scared of cases rising. I was scared of catching covid whilst pregnant and the risk of people travelling about increasing the chances of this. It is one day of the year and we will get on with it.
Single adult person households are still allowed their support bubble so they arent saying be entirely alone.

No it's horrible. And pointless. If you see your family for one day (Christmas day) then why can't you see them for the other 4. Your mixing with the same people so no increased risk.
I think a lot of people will just say fuck it and mix for more than one day anyway.

@Ohdoleavemealone I knew what you meant because I read your post. Yes, I too am relieved that the uncertainty is over. They should have announced it earlier though.

For the people that made plans that were so concrete that you're devestated, what would you have done if you developed a cough tomorrow?

No plans should have been concrete and children etc should have always had expectations managed for changeable situations, no matter what the government said

Exactly!

Honestly, all the people spewing nasties need to seriously give your head a wobble.
Yes you want to see your mum/gran etc and now you can't. It's shit - I fully agree but picture burying that loved one come January and ask yourself if it's worth it, because it really isn't.

We had taken measures to ensure we could safely see an elderly relative at Christmas. Now we still can't see them even though there's no way we're infectious.

YABVU and unimaginative and insensitive

I'm now in tier 4, my turkey ( due to be picked up on Monday) is in tier 2, 5=miles along the road.

My Christmas click & collect order, due to be collected on Weds is also in tier 2.

Most importantly, my frail elderly widowed mum, just revive from a fractured pelvis, has been very ill all year and it's a high chance that this is her last Christmas who's TV broke today, is also in Tier 2 and I've just had to break the news to her about Christmas

@Luckyrabbitfoot

You can’t in tier 4. Did you even see the press conference *@Hahaha88*

Wow someone made a typo, big whoopee 🙄