Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
MulledWineBeMine · 25/12/2023 02:17

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 24/12/2023 23:46

Yes,do this .

Show quote history

No don't do this.

you have to cancel & don't be having people drop by to collect food.

theyll all have food at home (unless maybe they're homeless or something, but there are other options)

noro virus is nasty.

dont risk passing it on outside your house, then them passing it on.

im really sorry you're in this position, but you do have to cancel.

PyongyangKipperbang · 25/12/2023 02:21

As someone who ended up on a drip thanks to Noro, as a healthy 32 year old at the time, yeah cancel.

No they wont have the Xmas day/dinner you all envisioned but I am sure that they would rather have freezer food than Noro. They will thank you!

Dibbydoos · 25/12/2023 02:22

I'm so sorry but sh1t happens!

I'd cancel. They'll have to make do.

I'm in a pickle too. I thought I was helping my son by cooking the turkey tonight so it's easier for him tomorrow - he didn't want to join us for a family lunch. We'll it didn't help him and there's no way I can get any turkey for him to cook in his way tomorrow. It's one blooming day! He could have turkey on 28th and the beef he's been marinating tomorrow....

Hope you have a happy Christmas inspite of norovirus x

Morrisons01 · 25/12/2023 02:25

@Sarah202023
Should the operation go ahead, then the following may help : To minimize the likelihood of transmission, it is crucial to follow recommended hygiene practices, isolate or limit your Dh when and where possible, and be vigilant about food safety and environmental cleanliness eg wiping surfaces etc.

That said overall it does seem the better course is to abort.

YireosDodeAver · 25/12/2023 02:29

You can't possibly host 12 people with an acrive norovirus case in the house.

I would be finding a wayvto convey all the food to the house of whichever among the 12 is best placed to be backup host.

ChocolateCinderToffee · 25/12/2023 02:31

Team beans. People will have food in, it’s Christmas after all.

Bournetilly · 25/12/2023 02:35

There’s a high chance you will get it too.

I think cancel or if you are ok in the morning you could let them know the situation and leave it up to them (if you still want to host). I’d probably feel bad for your husband though as I doubt he would want guests round.

Teder · 25/12/2023 02:35

WhycantIkeepthisbloodyplantalive · 25/12/2023 01:24

I'd give people the choice. I'm not too bothered about catching a stomach bug so would still go, my brother and family would too.

This isn’t a cold. Noro is grim even if you’re otherwise fit and healthy. It’s not just a stomach bug. Generally, it’s pretty bad vomiting, diarrhoea and a fever. I’m robust with illness but norovirus knocked me for six. I’d take Covid anyway over that!

LaurieStrode · 25/12/2023 02:57

Of course you must cancel.

JANEY205 · 25/12/2023 03:03

YireosDodeAver · 25/12/2023 02:29

You can't possibly host 12 people with an acrive norovirus case in the house.

I would be finding a wayvto convey all the food to the house of whichever among the 12 is best placed to be backup host.

I wouldn’t want to eat anything coming out of that house honestly

Motherof2nannyof4 · 25/12/2023 03:29

Can you not go ahead andplate it up and maybe get to collect it or deliver it to those in need x

misssunshine4040 · 25/12/2023 03:32

No one will want food from a house with a sickness bug so I wouldn't bother cooking for others and handling it out.
You do have to cancel though as awful as that is

JANEY205 · 25/12/2023 03:33

Motherof2nannyof4 · 25/12/2023 03:29

Can you not go ahead andplate it up and maybe get to collect it or deliver it to those in need x

So they can then all get noro?! Whyyyy?!

oakleaffy · 25/12/2023 04:08

TwentyThreeFifteen · 24/12/2023 23:37

Well if you called me and told me DH was ill like that, I would rather sit at home eating beans on toast than attend and get ill.
I’d say cancel.

Same here...Cancel @Sarah202023 .
Simply not worth the risk, and you may become ill as well.
I too would rather beans on toast rather than risk norovirus. I think most people would!

Northernsouloldies · 25/12/2023 04:26

Personally I'd cancel and as a guest I'd rather forego the turkey etc than shit and puke myself inside out.

Dunnoburt · 25/12/2023 04:39

You absolutely need to cancel/postpone....or at least be honest with your guests so they can decide, hope he feels better soon and you manage to dodge the bullet xx

Nanaof1 · 25/12/2023 05:14

You need to cancel. Norovirus is too nasty and nothing like a regular stomach bug.

I missed Christmas Eve dinner with my family because they went to MIL's and she's in her 90s, so wasn't going to chance if this is a stomach bug, IBS or what (headache, cough, nausea, dry heaves, achy, chilled). It's not norovirus, but it's something, and it's lasted 30 hours, so far. Luckily, we are home tomorrow and don't go to a family dinner/gift opening until the 26th. Crossing my fingers, toes and eyes that I feel better.

Babybelle23 · 25/12/2023 05:20

cancel 100%, it’s not worth it. I’m sure if most people were given a choice they wouldn’t come anyway with an active nv case in the house. I wouldn’t. X

mrsbitaly · 25/12/2023 05:30

Yes cancel. My dd was sick didn't know it was norovirus at the time.

Had everyone around for Xmas, by the next day we had a phone call off every single guest as they were all ill with diarrhoea and sickness it was something I've never seen before. It was just a domino affect. Pretty much ruined their xmas.

MintyfreshSW · 25/12/2023 06:26

Norovirus is absolutely grim. Our house got it last year, we had been ok for 48 hours so thought we were fine to go to parents house for family get together and within 24 hours everyone was puking and shitting themselves where there weren’t enough toilets
Sorry for ruining your birthday Mum! Lol

ripplingwater · 25/12/2023 06:41

You MUST cancel. I had it a few years ago and felt like I was dying. I vomited 15 times during the night, it was the worst I have ever felt in my life. There is no way I'd rather go through that hell again than miss a bit of turkey.

Rosejasmine · 25/12/2023 06:50

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.

One in 5 people have resistance to Norovirus - it’s genetic. Could be your DH and DS are in that lucky 20%

TheaBrandt · 25/12/2023 06:53

Maybe their neighbours could help? Ours got covid last year realised hours before leaving for their sons so they couldn’t go and had nothing in. We plated up Christmas lunch for them and handed plates of stuff over the fence as most people over cater.

GoldenFishes · 25/12/2023 06:53

Rosejasmine · 25/12/2023 06:50

One in 5 people have resistance to Norovirus - it’s genetic. Could be your DH and DS are in that lucky 20%

Show quote history

I didn't know this.
This helps explain why my DS never gets a bug even if the rest of us are filling buckets as well as the loo.
OP I'm sorry Christmas is delayed at your house.