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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:
CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 25/12/2023 06:54

Flux1 · 24/12/2023 23:54

Just wondering how do you know it's norovirus rather than a standard tummy bug?

Either way, sorry to hear. So disappointing for you after all your preparation.

Norovirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in adults in England and Wales, according to NICE.

Isthisblocked · 25/12/2023 07:09

Cancel, I would never forgive you if I spent the Christmas period and saw in the New Year with neurovirus

AInightingale · 25/12/2023 07:18

Nope, you've all got it although you don't know it yet. Cancel. Could another relative host if you gave them the food?

Horrible for you, so sorry.

keep the toilet lid down after 'episodes' and bleaching and before flushing - saw some doc once where they used some special camera to show the germs proliferating through bathroom after flushing - yeuch!

TwoCoffeesPlease · 25/12/2023 07:53

Please please please cancel and don’t suggest cooking and handing out food - that will also be full of virus.

It’s shit for you OP but there is no way you can host. It would be horrible anyway, to be in a house where you could hear someone upstairs being sick.

If this were my family, someone would suggest coming over to theirs - bring any food and treats you have (we aren’t hosting but there is cheese, pate, cold meats, nuts and chocolate in our house) and enjoy a not free Xmas buffet…but sadly you should not be invited OP.

BardRelic · 25/12/2023 08:04

Anyone that has had a true Noro would never willingly expose themselves again.

Yes, this. It wasn't just the days of D&V it was the fact it wiped me out entirely for about a fortnight and I didn't fully recover for months. I'd cancel Christmas in perpetuity to avoid going through that again.

Relatively few people celebrate for religious reasons now. So it's a day in midwinter where you eat and drink lots and give each other presents. It's a moveable feast.

Goatymum · 25/12/2023 08:05

Yikes! Last year ds had covid, tested positive the night before but everyone agreed he could stay in his room and they still came - and no-one caught it. However, noro is more contagious. You’ll have to tell people and see what they say.
I’ve never caught a stomach bug from the DCs, and my parents never caught my awful one in the 80s, but it’s likely you’d be tending to DS if he’s ill so not like he will be able to be in his own completely either.

Solymoly · 25/12/2023 08:08

I would cancel and freeze what you can of the food, portion out the cooked turkey and freeze that

formulaonecar · 25/12/2023 08:09

Anyone that has had a true Noro would never willingly expose themselves again

This. If you'd risk it again, then you haven't actually had it.

Nannyfannybanny · 25/12/2023 08:17

Of course you cancel, don't give everyone any food you have cooked either. I was always on shift this time of year, nursing big general hospital. They don't call it The Christmas Vomitting Virus for nothing. I've done barrier, reverse barrier, isolation nursing and never caught it,or ironically Covid, for 3.5 years,up till September (just after getting a puppy) My eldest DD always thought I was OTT, she's got no underlying health issues,has had covid 5 times,last time, she couldn't even walk upstairs! My youngest who lives 5 miles away, having Christmas at home.... she is now the last man standing!!

Catsknowbest · 25/12/2023 08:18

ExTheCheater · 24/12/2023 23:39

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

You can. If someone vulnerable catches noro it is very serious!

Catsknowbest · 25/12/2023 08:19

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 :)

👍👍

InALotOfPainOnChristmasEve · 25/12/2023 08:23

Hope you've cancelled and are managing to make the most of today! Do not share already cooked food round the family even if you freeze and save it for NYE it will not be safe for them.

Just accept this week is an expensive write off of D&V for your household and try not to spread it.

Papillon23 · 25/12/2023 08:24

Offering up turkey for collection (with a warning that they need to reheat it thoroughly!) sounds like a sensible compromise option.

Round here we have a big international supermarket that says it's open today - there may be similar options near your guests if they're in a decent sized town?

(I'm not wholly sure how they're open as I'm 99% sure it's bigger than the regulation size so I think it's meant to be shut but I'm sure it will be very handy for anyone who's missing bits!)

Beautiful3 · 25/12/2023 08:26

Of course you cancel, it's norovirus and contagious. I'd be annoyed if you didn't tell me! Hope your husband feels better soon and that you don't catch it.

Igmum · 25/12/2023 08:36

Yes cancel. My DSis and her family have just gone down with this and they were hosting. I'm now defrosting chicken from the freezer and wondering who would like mega amounts of M&S chocolate desserts plus giant cheeseboard Grin

Ostryga · 25/12/2023 08:38

I would cancel op.

Also - if anyone is trying to avoid catching noro from children etc, drink as much grape juice as you can. The Welch’s purple one (not the light). I’ve got zero idea how it works, but since I learned this tip I’ve not had noro once, despite catching DD’s vomit with my bare hands more than once 😅

Advicerequest · 25/12/2023 08:39

You have to tell people. My babies had Moro virus and o thought we'd all recovered and a friend came round a day later and still got it. It ruined her holiday. People will understand.

scaredofff · 25/12/2023 08:44

Enjoy the turkey op you're doing the right think it's not even a risk with being so contagious it's a definite that people will get sick

I hope you are ok and if caught it is minimal. Merry Christmas! X

Toomuch44 · 25/12/2023 08:57

Hope your DH feels better soon. Your guests might not have a traditional xmas lunch in, but I'm sure they won't starve. Most people have potatoes so can have roasties and either store cupboard ingredients or something in the freezer, as well as a bottle or two!

PinkflowersWhiteBerries · 25/12/2023 09:07

@Igmum I will come round and share with you. We have a similar scenario 😱 Cheese is the best bit, but I can bring you the beef I was contributing 😁

Igmum · 25/12/2023 09:08

Welcome @PinkflowersWhiteBerries (does this mean I have to tidy up and get out of my comfy clothes?)

Metallicant · 25/12/2023 09:12

You have to cancel!

nobody will want to catch that.

AgnesX · 25/12/2023 09:25

This happens every year.... people coming down with the nasties at the last moment.

Having been in the receiving end previously we always have enough in for a Plan B just in case. Thank goodness for freezers.

Grimchmas · 25/12/2023 09:57

I'm glad you're going to cancel.

Honestly, get extra loo rolls and hydration sachets on order from amazon if you don't already have loads (and stay away from the delivery person), get buckets out and buckle in for the ride.

Cerealkiller4U · 25/12/2023 10:19

Cancel. We’ve got family who are having chemo and then having noro virus would kill her!!!

jot only that but there’s no way I’d risk it.