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Original poster

Covid xmas restrictions

67 replies

Teacher12345 · 09/09/2020 07:04

With meeting more than 6 people being made a law, I wondered if people were adapting their plans?
We were meant to be meeting 5 other households (15 people) for 4 days. I cannot see the restrictions being lifted enough to allow this but I also don't think that my family will be willing to book until closer to the time. Luckily, they can cancel with a months notice without penalty.

Even when we don't do this, we usuallt have inlaws over xmas day which I think we would get away with (7 of us but only for a couple of hours) and then boxing day, we go to my parents and there are 3 households of ten in total and we have a big party. I am not sure how we will see family without that day unless my sister leaves before we arrive so my kids can legally see their granparents.

Anyone else contemplating plans?

OP posts:
InDreamland · 09/09/2020 12:10

Christmas is 15 weeks away but I have been thinking about plans for weeks. If things remain as they are or get even stricter it'll be so sad. We normally have 6 of us (2 adults x 3 households) every Christmas day, however this year we have a new addition to the family, DD will be 10 months at Christmas and I was really looking forward to a nice normal family Christmas for her first. My parents and sister would be equally disappointed if we cannot gather as we usually do and share in DD's first Christmas. Boxing day is normally spent at SIL's and her family + step kids so around 10 adults and 4 kids (including DD) which is 5 households. That won't be able to happen either. Just have to hope that things are relaxed for just a couple of days. We are not likely to break the law given we're in law enforcement jobs and so it's not worth risking our employment for it.

LadyCatStark · 09/09/2020 12:16

The restrictions had never been lifted enough to allow the gathering of 15 people from 4 households though. Winter is Coming (and I love that I’ve had the opportunity to use the Stark family motto so much lately 😂) and cases are only going to rise along with the usual seasonal bugs.

We have already told family we’re having a low key Christmas with just our household. That way we can’t be disappointed. Yesterday, pubs in Bolton had to ask customers to leave because the restrictions came into effect immediately and look what happened with Eid so It’s not inconceivable that the government will change their minds with a moments notice.

I don’t think it’s worth the risk of planning a big family Christmas this year unfortunately.

FraterculaArctica · 09/09/2020 12:19

Won't be meeting any family over Xmas ( all GPs over 70) but wasn't planning to anyway regardless of the change in law. I think it's completely irresponsible to do so.

CrackersDontMatter · 09/09/2020 12:30

We're a family of seven so if current restrictions are still in place, we won't be seeing anyone over Christmas. We'll just have to take it as it comes and see where things stand at the time.

TheSockMonster · 09/09/2020 13:01

We’re a family of 5 with DSS. DSS generally lives with his Mum, but he is driving now so I expect he’ll want to pop in and out over the festive period, and I don’t want him to feel he has to ‘advance book’ space with us in his own home!

My parents will be able to see DB, SIL and DN, so I expect they’ll all celebrate together and we’ll zoom call them at prearranged times. We had some degree of success with family quizzes during lockdown, so will probably do that.

PIL will be harder as SIL is also a family of 5 and PIL have slow internet and don’t really do technology all that well. However, MIL and FIL do not get on well and I suspect they’d actually have a much better Christmas apart, so I might start suggesting that MIL comes to us and FIL goes to SIL!

katienana · 09/09/2020 13:03

I'm going to ignore it. How would they possibly police it?
I'm only mixing with my close family and everyone is working from home, as long as no one has symptoms we will keep mixing.

LadyCatStark · 09/09/2020 13:45

@katienana if your neighbours report you, the police will have to investigate. I’m sure they’ve got better things to do on Christmas Day so I hope you get on with your neighbours!

hopeishere · 09/09/2020 13:53

@merrygoround51

I really think that there is no point in making plans right now, things are changing so regularly
I agree. I'm amazed people make plans for Christmas this early but given everything I'd be planning a very small household only gathering.
Themostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 09/09/2020 15:08

We have a holiday cottage booked for 8 people (3 households). Will be gutted if it can't happen as the last two years has just been our household and DS is prime Christmas age so I want him to have a family Christmas.

IJumpedAboardAPirateShip · 09/09/2020 15:49

There is always the option that you all test and quarantine yourselves for 2 weeks before Christmas to be sure you’re Covid free when you come together? Depends if you have vulnerable people in your group

catherinep80 · 09/09/2020 15:52

For us it's usually 12 people (4 households) and we meet at our parents house in Ireland 300 miles away. It depends on what Ireland's rules are, but I don't think it's looking good for Christmas anywhere. With the numbers constantly going up I think the rules are only going to get stricter over the coming months. Although I know my parents would love us all to come, they've been following the rules to the letter (one parent is over 70 and my grandmother is 86) so I think we might end up having Christmas at home this year Sad.

Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd · 09/09/2020 15:54

[quote LadyCatStark]@katienana if your neighbours report you, the police will have to investigate. I’m sure they’ve got better things to do on Christmas Day so I hope you get on with your neighbours![/quote]
Yeah, they have so much manpower to go investigating each and every report, just like they do with crimes in non-Covid times, I'm so sure that will be top priority on Xmas Day. Said no one ever.

We all know how much they police people returning from nations where you're supposed to quarantine. This will be just like that.

They don't have the funding or the manpower to police this.

Not to mention all the malicious twats who will make up a report just to fuck over their neighbour.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 09/09/2020 15:59

It won’t affect our plans as we do Christmas Day as a family and have guests on Boxing Day and would still be within the new guidelines.

Christmas or not, whilst this is going around I’d not be joining multiple households of 15 indoors where the 2m space was highly unlikely much less for four days.

windyautumn · 09/09/2020 19:39

@IJumpedAboardAPirateShip

There is always the option that you all test and quarantine yourselves for 2 weeks before Christmas to be sure you’re Covid free when you come together? Depends if you have vulnerable people in your group
Doing this doesn't change the fact it's illegal though. Just might make people feel better about doing it...and you can't just waste tests when you haven't got symptoms!
ginsparkles · 09/09/2020 19:43

Our Christmas plans are always pretty low key so it's not altering things for us much at all.

Mustbethewine · 09/09/2020 20:07

We've decided to keep things very simple and very small this Christmas. Agree that things can change a lot between now and then but would much rather decide and plan for it to be just us 4 than having to change it closer to christmas.

Original poster
Teacher12345 · 09/09/2020 20:33

Just spoken to my mum who mentioned it and said I was preparing myself for the reality it won't be happening. She acknowledged that it is possible but it sounds like she thinks the restrictions will be lifted by then. I guess time will tell. I am going to be looking for ways to make this year extra special after the crappy year we have had!

OP posts:
blue25 · 09/09/2020 20:55

Looking forward to a quiet Christmas this year, with just us at home. Also means we won’t be disappointed by change in plans.

Surely people aren’t surprised by the restrictions, I don’t understand why anyone would be planning a big family Christmas this year TBH.

kittensarecute · 09/09/2020 21:03

I'll be very surprised if it's lifted by Christmas. If anything I think restrictions will have to be made tougher by then. But I hope I'm wrong.

drspouse · 10/09/2020 08:04

We have booked a cottage near my mum's (she usually hosts my DB plus family who is Favourite Child) so we'd have dinner in the cottage but mum could come and watch the DCs open presents etc and we can go for walks, mum and I can take the DCs to the cinema etc.
If DB doesn't go (she's panicking because he hasn't confirmed, it's September mum, chill out!)
She says we can eat in two rooms, we'll get our own turkey crown because NO).

aquamarine1 · 10/09/2020 08:16

I'm honestly amazed at the amount of people thinking there's any science behind the arbitrary rule of 6 and telling the rest of us that if we hang out with a family group of 8 we're delaying 'normality'. Have you jo critical thinking abilities at all? Where else of earth has a 6 rule and what's the actual methodology behind it?

drspouse · 10/09/2020 08:40

Well, for every one extra that catches it, that's however many more others catching it.
If the R number is 1.1 and you have 10 people in your house and they all catch it that's 11 more people who then become 12 people who have it etc etc. So you've spread it to 33 people.
If the R number is 0.9 and you have 6 people in your house and they all catch it that's 5 more people who catch it, they spread it to 4 people. Now you've only spread it to 15 which is plenty but still fewer.

lynsey91 · 10/09/2020 11:16

We are always 16 people from 8 households. No way can I see that being allowed this year.

From lock down I have thought Christmas will have to be different this year but I will be very sad about it. I have always spent it with my parents (I am in my 60's) and then my siblings as they came along, then their partners. Then they both had children so they came too and now they are grown up with partners of their own but still every Christmas we all get together.

Me and DH might think about breaking the rules but one of my siblings and their partner definitely would not and I don't think their children and partners would either.

I think it will be just me and DH this year.

merrygoround51 · 10/09/2020 11:32

@aquamarine1

I'm honestly amazed at the amount of people thinking there's any science behind the arbitrary rule of 6 and telling the rest of us that if we hang out with a family group of 8 we're delaying 'normality'. Have you jo critical thinking abilities at all? Where else of earth has a 6 rule and what's the actual methodology behind it?
Well it’s not about applying critical thinking is it. Unless you are an epidemiologist or public health expert, your opinion is pretty much worthless. These are the rules brought in to supposedly halt the spread of Covid and they are enforceable. That’s all that’s to it really. You can decide to break them, however you are not doing so in an informed way
Fifthtimelucky · 10/09/2020 12:37

There are usually nine of us for Christmas (two households) and I'm hoping that if everyone keeps to the new rules for the next couple of months, the rate of new infections will start to fall and we will be able to relax the rules over Christmas, even if only temporarily.

Obviously we will have a plan B in case that doesn't happen.