Aibu to wonder how the Upper Middle class are surviving with all the ski trips, Xmas in the Caribbean & weekends in Norfolk?

[Starzinhereyes]

Just that... Old friends of ours are part of the UMC set & pre covid had at least 2 ski trips a year, Xmas in Antigua, Safaris in South Africa & most weekends spent with "mummy & daddy" in Norfolk.... Obviously there are plenty like them. We haven't heard much from them over the years, lovely family but we drifted.. I'm pondering out load really, are the UMC making the most of lockdown or secretly breaking all the rules! This couple were fairly active on social media up until lockdown!

I think they'll be doing just like everyone else. Planning for when things return to normal, with even more holidays planned to make up for the lost time!

Maybe not what you wanted to hear!

To answer the OPs question whatever the motives, I suspect there has been some visits within the UK against the Covid 19 restrictions. Chancing the paltry fine that happens, because the government would not want to have prosecuted Dominic Cummings or Robert Jenrick, or even sacked them as should have happened.

Nothing brightens ones' day like a little-bit of Schadenfreude, eh, OP?

you're very goady.
Usually we would go abroad at christmas - we stayed at home
last years Easter to the caribbean - stayed at home

Girls trip to France each June - stayed at home
Skiing in Feb - stayed at home
eldest son may trip to visit a friend in the US - stayed at home
DP's golf trip with friends in May - he's staying at home

last year out of 6 trips we managed one which was 10 days in a villa in europe.

Obviously we haven't gone anywhere because you know, it's lockdown and we're not idiots

Lashings of ginger beer and a new dog called Timmy will see them through.

I rather suspect they are working at home and bored to death like the rest of us. We are firmly MC and used to go on many lovely holidays. Since last March we have managed a weekend in London and that is it. I know no one who is any different.

I can see why you drifted op!
You should send them some flowers to let them know you are thinking of them during this difficult time.

We stayed at home. Counted our blessings at the wonderful holidays we had in the past. Have redesigned our gardens and have enjoyed that instead. @Starzinhereyes

This is a bit like the kid who points, laughs and says HA HA when a neighbour has their good new bike stolen

FFS Op, cop on. Everyone is missing the things that made their lives and enjoyable - whether it be Friday night bingo or a week in Antigua.

You can almost hear the glee in your post OP

There is no way that all the ultra rich adventure types are now just living quiet sedate lives in front of the TV now, surely?

Some of them will still have means and ways of getting what they want, when they want, or something pretty close. They'll still have hairdressers, chefs, assistants, private yachts or planes, vacations at friends' resorts and so on - they just won't advertise it.

Oh dear! OP isn’t getting the responses they were hoping for.

@Stronghold You are talking about the mega rich there, not just the well off or UMC. Most are staycationing and getting on with it

the UMC who were so active are coping that is all - who knew that only the UMC were so active? So the working class do nothing at all - because their holidays, family occasions, sporting events and hobbies only take place in the UK or in their own neighbourhood they don't count? If you were genuinely curious how people were managing without all their usual activities you wouldn't have singled out a single group, OP!

I really am missing my ski holidays, if you are interested.

But have no fear, I have saved loads of money in lockdown and will double up next year when we can get out there

It was perfectly possible to travel last year between lockdowns. I was away in February, July and September. Perfectly legally and one lot of quarantine in September.

I've been skiing before for 500 quid for two of us (yes it was a dump), borrowed lots of gear or got it in tk max, only thing not possible to do cheap was lift pass but was still all well under a grand. I dont think you've got to be UMC to ski

I'm not upper middle class but frequent holidays and short breaks were our luxury.

We are getting on with things just like everyone else. We miss the things we used to do and the people we used to visit very much. So much it actually hurts sometimes. Just like I expect it does for pretty much everyone.

Having a higher income might mean the the things you miss are different from the things someone on a different budget liked doing, but we all miss our previous lives. Missing people we love also has no price tag or class.

What a weird thread!

The ones I know are getting Ottolenghi hamper deliveries every week and jetting off to Barbados as often as they can. When restrictions were lifted last summer, they bounced around European countries, working remotely all the while it was nice to see them enjoying themselves.

Ah well just to irritate you further op, most people are planning trips wayyy beyond the EU and it’s vaccination fiasco .... It’s been a bit of a shit not being able to get to our house in Italy but we’ll wait until next year.

We’re going to Asia for Christmas and also somewhere else hot for October half term.

HTH!

I had to google ottolenghi hampers. Jeez - the price for what you get made my eyes water

@Cheeseandlobster me too! A bunch of spices for £70 plus. I'm fairly middle class and partial to a hamper myself, but this is beyond reasonable.

Not sneering

Yes you are.

We’re coping fine, thanks for asking.

We have a nice big house and garden to enjoy, and the money not being spent on holidays has been added to my pension, meaning I’ll probably be able to retire a year earlier than planned (57 rather than 58).

It’s been nice spending more time riding our horses, using our swimming pool and cooking in our outdoor kitchen/ BBQ area.

How are you coping, OP?