What are the chances of Doris saying no house mingling at Christmas?

[MrsKingfisher]

What does everyone think? Will he lift restrictions for Christmas goodwill to all men and all that or will he tell us not to mingle unless you have to mingle then only mingle with 1 other household?

Doris

God knows. I don't think he knows himself.

Who will listen anyway?

To be honest I'm not sure why people are so worried about Christmas. I get it will be shit for many with no gatherings. But with the amount of job losses, illness, education going down the toilet. Christmas which is one day is the very least of my worries.

I don’t see how anyone can answer this so early. We have no idea what will happen with the number of deaths by Christmas.

If they decide to lift restrictions they should be doing the same for Diwali too.

I mean it’s September, nobody can answer that right now it’s too far in the future. Will obviously depend on what the death rate is then.

I think they will try to suspend all rules for Christmas but it depends what happens with the virus between now and then.

Obviously I’d like a normal Christmas, but I think it would be a) really unfair to other religions who have had things cancelled if the numbers are worse but it gets a special dispensation and b) a really really big risk as it involves full-country mass movement on a scale only otherwise seen on May/August bank holidays, combined with those people then sitting in small enclosed spaces together with other households for long periods. So if it has to be one household only because numbers are very high that is OK with me.

I'm thinking how will businesses survive without a lot of the revenue from Christmas parties and all of that kind of thing.

I don't think there will be any mingling allowed at Christmas. I think that the retail sector would blow a gasket if anyone said as much right now.

Far too early to say I think, the situation is going to get far worse before it gets better, can’t see a huge improvement until the spring. It’s one Christmas out of a whole lifetime, if it has to be a quiet one then so be it.

Probably no mingling in the local lockdown areas. My area is very low for cases numbers do really hoping we can hold out for Christmas but don’t think it’s likely unfortunately.

What would be the point in all that effort between now and Christmas only to spread it like wildfire by allowing massive gatherings on that one day?

Based on the usual Mumsnet threads 95% of the population either a) don’t leave their homes and refuse to see anyone else; or b) do nothing but moan about who they have to see at Christmas anyway.

Would it even be a good idea even if allowed?

I mean how many families spend Christmas crammed around a table, sharing everything, in a poorly ventilated room, stuff everywhere and little room to move.

I think it would be a Covid spread waiting to happen.

How many of us end up sick over Christmas probably from all the pre Christmas mingling.

Well, Doris will say nothing at all. Boris might try though. I don't doubt that we will get a typically indecipherable Boris bumble.

I'll now not be able to stop thinking of him as Doris. 🤣

Whether Johnson decides to go for the big Daily Mail headline grabbing ‘PM Saves Christmas’ or not large gatherings, parties etc probably won’t be a great idea in December. Sure, a couple of households mixing to avoid isolation at Christmas, but it’s not going to be rounds of parties and mass travel/visiting, at least I hope not. Will be a huge blow to the hospitality sector.

Who is Doris?

@Chloemol

Who is Doris?

Johnson, Doris Johnson

Just say you need an eye test

I've seen a few people on the book of faces liking various different Christmas markets, surely they'll not be allowed, how do you socially distance at the mulled wine stand?

I’m hoping for no large gatherings for Christmas. Quiet, just my family. No big family party.

It will be great not having to ask the bloody inlaws around for a change, but I would be really sad not to see my parents or son & his family.

Maybe no big parties allowed, no works do's etc but extended families for one meal hopefully still allowed.

Well as this is the 1st Christmas without Mum and probably my dads last (terminal cancer and given 6 months tops), Doris will have to call out the army, air force and bloody navy to stop my family spending this Christmas together.

@Missingsockswheresotheygo

God knows. I don't think he knows himself.

Who will listen anyway?

To be honest I'm not sure why people are so worried about Christmas. I get it will be shit for many with no gatherings. But with the amount of job losses, illness, education going down the toilet. Christmas which is one day is the very least of my worries.

This I can't wait for it to be over in all honesty no panto, Christmas markets ,depression. The list goes on fk Christmas and 2020

It's 3 months away who can possibly say.

My bet is that he will go for a rule of 6 over 2 households. He wont want to be known as the PM who stole Christmas.

It's too early to say.

I am, however, assuming to be on the safe side that it won't be possible, to avoid disappointment nearer the time. And any food I buy in advance will be frozen, not fresh - I know people suddenly put into enhanced lockdown as Eid was about to begin, who'd bought food for family gatherings which was then wasted. If it can happen at Eid, it can happen at Christmas.