Do you think lockdown will be lifted for Christmas?

[BlusteryShowers]

I can't help but feel quietly confident that there will be an announcement some time in December allowing an easing of lockdown measures for a short period over Christmas.

I propose that the govt suspect many would flout rules any way, so they may as well make it Part Of The Plan and take credit for their benevolence.

The timing of the announcement would be interesting. The spending that goes into Christmas is huge and lots of businesses rely on it. Can we even afford a very very low key Christmas?

Does anyone else think this?

It's too early to call it or even worry about it. The difference in May to July was enormous so the best thing to do is follow the rules yourself and literally sit back and see.

If you like to plan ahead then plan for fewer people or your own household and then if things change....great.

The virus mustn’t be that dangerous then if they even think of relaxing the rules at Christmas.

Even at Christmas, If the virus is that dangerous then why even lift the restrictions?

No awkward work Christmas do is sounding a-ok to me!!

Sometimes it’s quite hard to get your head round your exposure. So you see two children , but now they are back at school they could have been exposed to 60 other children and in turn their immediate families . Whereas before even if you bent the rules during lockdown it might have only been a risk of a small exposure .

We met up with a close relative and luckily strongly resisted the temptation to hug and kiss them as normal . The following day they were contacted by track and trace and it made us realise how quickly you can let your guard down and be close to catching it .

And as we have lost 4 members of our extended family to the virus we are obviously nervous.

Boris has an ego the size of a planet. He won't want to go down in history as the PM That Cancelled Christmas (leave the calling off Christmas to the superb Alan Rickman) - they'll find a loophole to make sure they can dispense festive benevolence and keep their opinion poll ratings up.

As long as they don't close the churches again. We already had the whole of Holy Week and Easter under lockdown, as well as more minor celebrations like Pentecost, and over 100 days without church at all, not even for private prayer. I don't know if I'd cope if church services stopped again, certainly not for Christmas.

@Devlesko

How many are actually ill and dying now? Hospitals are empty, do you think we're being had?

For gods sake - hospitals are not fucking empty. I work in one. It's bursting and the covid wards have all reopened. Get your head out of your arse and stop minimising.

@Choosingmyring

If only we could arrange it so that only selfish articles like the ones posting on this thread get it and die of it

Bit far

Our restrictions have just changed in Scotland, so as of Friday (but they’d like it to be practised from tomorrow) we can’t visit each other’s houses at all.

It’s a real shame as me and my group of friends only really meet at home for coffee and a catch up, just means we’ll need to go to the cafe instead!

As for Christmas it won’t change too much here as we tend to have it just me, husband and the kids, but it’ll be sad if they can’t see my mum and sister like they do around Christmas.

Hope the no house visiting rules are lifted at least!

treebarking

Many of us know this, but some with tinsel in their hair already don't give a shit.

Best of luck to you. I hope if numbers rise the Gov have the balls to close Christmas travel and visiting from all over. Really I mean that.

No awkward work Christmas do is sounding a-ok to me!!

I stopped going to these years ago. They're always an anti-climax at best. I don't know why people complain about them but still go to them. Just don't bother.

I will miss our own Christmas night out we'd book at work among a small group of us and a night out with friends and I had concerts booked in November and December, but that's all gone now.

It’s not really @Littleposh surely if there was the option to have it so that only the ones who break the rules and don’t give a shit about others get it then that would be fairest?

@BuffaloCauliflower

It wouldn’t be Christmas without it all

Nope, but how many of them are you
Prepared to kill to have your Christmas? You're an adult FGS, you can have a summer family day instead.

I love Christmas, have flights booked to spend it with my family who we haven’t seen last Christmas but do you know what I’m not expecting miracles

We can only succeed with this through people complying and making sacrifices and that seems increasingly hopeless

Life as we know it for now at least is changed and that includes Christmas

@Choosingmyring

If only we could arrange it so that only selfish articles like the ones posting on this thread get it and die of it

Just vile. This is not acceptable. Please delete.

Sorty, didn't mean to pos t, meant to report!

I’ve booked a restaurant for lunch for myself and a pensioner aunt. She normally goes to a friend’s daughter’s house while I normally go to family overseas, neither of which will be happening this year. If the rules change again, I will cancel. I WFH so I am going to isolate for 2 weeks beforehand so I don’t risk getting her sick. I’ve also booked a hotel so if the ‘don’t go in the house’ rule still applies, I’m covered.

The whole thing about Christmas needs to change. It is just far too much for one or two days, well it was in the past maybe not so much this year. We don't know.

Airports overrun, crowds everywhere, motorways clogged, a bit of snow and panic stations!

Shopping centres are like going to and from a Premiership football match and a mad dash to get everything, and queues everywhere.

And then the food. Nice to have a good table, but honestly far too much of this plus treats, elves, and all that shyte.

Maybe kids will realise that times have changed now and they cannot get everything they want, but I honestly think the adults are worse lol!

I always have all my family for Christmas dinner. There are 12 of us to cater for. We have already decided that Christmas dinner this year will probably be a very different affair.

All my family live in the same town, so if the guidelines remain as they are, I’m going to do a “takeaway dinner!” So I’m still going to cook for everyone (usual 4 courses) but instead of them eating here, I will pack everything into containers and they will collect their dinner! We will then have Christmas dinner in our own homes, but together over Zoom!

I know everyone won’t be able to do this, but it will work for us. Plus there will be less left overs as, instead of choosing their starters and desserts on the day, they will “pre-order” them so I know what everyone wants before I make them. Just have to hope I get everything I need with my online shopping!

This Christmas will be my DF's last as his previously treatable cancer is now terminal due to lockdown suspending his treatment. I will be seeing him and my DM on Dec 25th if he is still with us. I am not selfish for doing this, I am obeying the rules in all other areas and it is devastating that I cannot be with my parents as much as I wish at this time. It is not about being stupid or selfish for so many of us, or spoiling our kids or any of the other condescending and unpleasant terms that have been flung around on this thread. So I expect I will get Covid and die now as that is what I clearly deserve, eh?

@Cruachan31 I just wanted to say that is absolutely lovely

No, why would they want to entice a peak two years into a new year, right when the flu season is ramping up.

@expectingnumber3 I’m so sorry . I think previously Whitty has explained that people who have terminal illnesses will make their own decision of risk, and that is right and I don’t think anyone would judge you for your decision , I would do the same.

A lot of the UK isn't under lockdown atm.

If following all the rules for near enough a bloody year, then wanting to be with my whole family for one fucking day is that selfish - I don’t care. I’ve barely left the house for 7 months. I’ve done everything I’ve been asked, but wanting one normal day means I should die first?? Fuck this martyring evil shite.0