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Original poster

Help- do I cancel christmas lunch!?

172 replies

Sarah202023 · 24/12/2023 23:34

I am hosting for 12 people for Christmas lunch tomorrow...but my husband has just this evening come down with norovirus. What do I do!? If I cancel, whoch given the the time id have to do on christmas morning, no one will have their own christmas lunch. But I don't want everyone to get sick... help!

OP posts:
AndThatWasNY · 24/12/2023 23:59

ExTheCheater · 24/12/2023 23:39

You can't cancel Xmas day. Husband upstairs and clean.

Of course you can cancel. I 100% would eat cereal rather than get near to norovirus. It was sooooo hideous.

43ontherocksporfavor · 25/12/2023 00:00

And just in case you’re not aware, you’re still contagious until 48 hrs after last bout of V or D. I caught it after a meeting at work with someone who felt fine but came back to work 24 hours later. I wasn’t impressed.

louderthan · 25/12/2023 00:00

Absolutely cancel. I am emetophobic and this is my worst nightmare.

SkinnyMinny88 · 25/12/2023 00:02

Tell everyone what's happened. Tell them you're fine and will do a good clean in the morning and he'll stay upstairs away from everyone if they come over. Tell them if they prefer not to come though of you'll understand. Don't cancel. Just leave it up to them in what to do but tell them. Is, not in the morning. He can't help getting ill. Hope he gets better soon and that you don't get it!

PoptartPoptart · 25/12/2023 00:02

I had noro last weekend. It was hideous. But.. I slept in the same bed as my husband (no other option) and he did not catch it. Neither did my son and we were all sharing a bathroom. I was super careful about disinfecting and bleaching surfaces, washing hands, not sharing towels etc.
Just saying that it’s not inevitable that others will catch it. Having said that, you should absolutely warn your guests in advance and let them decide for themselves.

WhatTheFuk · 25/12/2023 00:02

Jenpeg · 24/12/2023 23:38

Nightmare, can you isolate your husband upstairs and give everything a serious disinfect downstairs and sleep separate from him? I think if everyone is super careful about hugs and kisses and hand washing and he is kept well out the way and has no contact with everyone and the house is as thoroughly cleaned as possible before they come you will greatly reduce the risk? Obviously if you or anyone else are showing signs of it overnight or in the morning this won't work :( but we've had it in our house and only 2/4 got it, I think it depends where you are at tomorrow. Maybe the food can be taken to someone elses?

Edited

Norovirus hangs in the air. As does, you know ... covid, which most of the vomiting bugs going around actually are.

OP, you need to cancel. Nobody will thank you. It's a shame but maybe you can do a special meal next weekend, or new years?

icouldhavebeensomeone · 25/12/2023 00:03

Out of interest how do you know it's norovirus and not food poisoning / tummy bug. Is there much difference?

Also, Team beans on toast here. Hope DH recovers quickly and you don't catch it Flowers

Moveoverdarlin · 25/12/2023 00:03

I would send a WhatsApp now and say ‘look I was planning to call in the morning, but wanted to let you know asap. Mark has spent that last few hours being incredibly sick with the norovirus, I don’t think I have any alternative but to cancel dinner tomorrow. I couldn’t live with myself if you all caught it. I have considered ploughing on and keeping Mark upstairs and out of the way but what if I come down with it? I am happy to plate you all up a dinner and you come and collect it, but I’ll leave that up to you…totally understand if you don’t want to do that option. Sorry it’s so late but I thought if you were still up it might give you chance to get something out of the freezer. Will call in the morning. So sorry, this is a complete cock-up, I’m so upset, I’ve been preparing for days. Xx

Hollyhead · 25/12/2023 00:04

I’d want you to cancel but give us the chance to cook the food for everyone else.

louderthan · 25/12/2023 00:04

Sarah202023 · 24/12/2023 23:49

I knew the right answer, I just needed someone (or everyone!) to give me a little shake!
I'd cooked the turkey etc in advance today so will offer that up for collection tomorrow :)

Tbh I wouldn't even do that. Don't let anyone into the house. If I knew there was noro in a house I wouldn't go near it or any of the inhabitants for weeks. Before anyone starts I KNOW this is irrational and a massive overreaction. I have a severe phobia of vomiting and phobias are not rational.

newyeardelurker · 25/12/2023 00:04

DM did Xmas a few days after norovirus one year. Was supposed to be past any risk of infection. Got my sis, BIL, their baby DD, they passed it to his DM. Also my brother, his GF. Certainly was a good choice we made not to go that year.

cancel!

crumblingschools · 25/12/2023 00:04

Cancel.

I missed a close relative’s 100th birthday as I was still in the 48 hour window of last bout of D&V. I was devastated but no way was I going to risk spreading that to them or their elderly guests in the care home.

Emmadowns · 25/12/2023 00:06

Yes you should cancel,
Offer to give the food youve bought in and hopefully someone else can cook in theirs would be the best solution

Gulbekian · 25/12/2023 00:07

Please, please cancel. I've been on the receiving end of a non-cancellation in these circumstances and it was horrendous. Both DH and I would have much preferred to eat jam on toast that what we went through.

All the best to your DH.

crumblingschools · 25/12/2023 00:12

I also wouldn’t want the food you have already cooked, sorry

Snugglemonkey · 25/12/2023 00:13

Birdcar · 24/12/2023 23:40

If you're feeling ok yourself and able to cook you could give people the option to come or not to come. Let them decide for themselves.

This is what I would do!

lovinglaughingliving · 25/12/2023 00:13

PoptartPoptart · 25/12/2023 00:02

I had noro last weekend. It was hideous. But.. I slept in the same bed as my husband (no other option) and he did not catch it. Neither did my son and we were all sharing a bathroom. I was super careful about disinfecting and bleaching surfaces, washing hands, not sharing towels etc.
Just saying that it’s not inevitable that others will catch it. Having said that, you should absolutely warn your guests in advance and let them decide for themselves.

That wouldn't be norovirus - sounds like just a tummy bug! Noro is hideously contagious!

Sugarfish · 25/12/2023 00:15

Cancel it. Or atleast let everyone know and give them the option in the morning. My nan had gastric flu once when she was hosting an Easter lunch and managed to hide it from us. It took out the entire family about a week later. Awful illness, I was young but I still remember how bad it made me feel.

Abidingailurophile · 25/12/2023 00:15

Hell no, cancel the meal! And honestly no one is going to want that food off you. Sorry!

Charlize43 · 25/12/2023 00:18

I'd also put something on your driveway / front door - a DO NOT CROSS sign or hazard tape... in case a well meaning but unsuspecting neighbour ambles over with a mince pie.

You can always ask them to throw it through an open window.

purpletrees16 · 25/12/2023 00:19

Cancel. Once caught it from A&E for Christmas (attendance unrelated a few days before). Wouldn’t wish it on m my worst enemy, let alone people I liked. We stayed home. You can eat your turkey… if you can eat!

Rosesandstars · 25/12/2023 00:21

It's essential that you cancel. Text people now because it's just happened and it will give them hours to adjust to it. You can always say that they have the option to come but no-one would rather have turkey plus norovirus than just have a normal meal and stay healthy.

TheFormidableMrsC · 25/12/2023 00:23

I would cancel. That's a nightmare waiting to happen. So sorry.

Jingleballs2 · 25/12/2023 00:24

Numbersarefun · 24/12/2023 23:54

I agree cancel.
Can I just ask though, how do you know it’s norovirus?

Sudden violent puking, shiting, everything flying out of every orifice it can?

If you have that it's norovirus 😷

randomuser2020 · 25/12/2023 00:24

This reply has been withdrawn

Removed at poster's request due to privacy concerns.