Christmas with the tier system

[rainystorm]

I heard on the news that currently their 2 and 3 (who can't socialise indoors) make up over 50% of the population. Presumably more areas will join them (mine included) - I can't see anything that would suggest areas are going to come down tiers very easily.

Jeremy Farrar has just been saying that Christmas will be very different for almost everyone and won't be a family celebration like usual.

Do you think they are trying to ward everyone that we should be largely expecting to have Christmas in our own homes without visitors? (Bar bubbling obviously)

@picklemewalnuts

I think many many people will want to stick within the restrictions. Many people do not want to risk getting ill. The people who will find it hardest to follow are those who have to risk exposure at work anyway (why should they stay in at Christmas when they have to go out the rest of the time).

I'm hoping my DM will be able to come up and stay with us for a fortnight. She's 81, and it's the best chance she has of having a reasonable time.

I work in a hospital and everyone I work with is planning on an isolated Christmas. We've all stopped seeing relatives already and showering when we get home again etc as the cases in the hospital have risen. Not sure if it's people like us that will want to break rules. In fact, I don't know anyone who wants to break the rules!

@Waxonwaxoff0 do whatever makes you happy 😊 it’s so tough sharing Xmas. But it’s the fairest way.

I am desperate to have my family over for Christmas. I haven't seen my mum since March. Every time we made plans, new restrictions would come in and I've followed rules to the letter due to disability. My DC's will be utterly devastated to not have her here.
If things don't go completely tits up I can see Bojo relaxing rules over two weeks at Christmas, mainly for the economy but also because he won't be able to resist the Churchill moment he would have "saving Christmas".
But who knows at this point, just keeping my fingers crossed!

As long as single person support bubbles and checking up on people who need care is left alone I think that a rule of 6 Xmas is reasonable (unless there's 7 or more in a household )

However I think that people will do as they want and they police aren't going to be doing roadblocks or anything like that

I think there'll be a Christmas truce on the 25th at least and maybe Boxing Day. The police aren't going to be knocking on doors and fining people for seeing their family on Christmas Day.

We're in tier 1, but assuming worst case scenario, ie just us two which we'll make the most of. It won't be too bad if my Mum can't come to us as part of our bubble as she's very independent. My DD has been struggling at uni feeling trapped in her own four walls, so that won't be easy for her to accept if she can't return. We're more than happy to meet other family for a walk in local park which is lovely or nearby hill, two lots are like us in limiting contact but my SIL won't be happy.

@rainystorm 💐💐

"Blame those that haven’t respected the rules and have carried on regardless"

No. Blame, an incompetent govt for London-centric decisions, and failing to sort out Test Trace and Isolate, clear strategy and comprehensible communications, and fostering esprit de corps of the nation.

I predict a 2 day free for all as it will just be too embarrassing for the fuckwits govt to have incredibly low compliance.

For us, we only spend Xmas with the 5 of us + the person we are bubbled with. And we are doing our best to keep contact circles low as can be done when you send 3 kids off to 3 separate schools on public transport.

@rainystorm I work in a hospital and everyone I work with is planning on an isolated Christmas. We've all stopped seeing relatives already and showering when we get home again etc as the cases in the hospital have risen. Not sure if it's people like us that will want to break rules. In fact, I don't know anyone who wants to break the rules!

Thank you, OP, for making those sacrifices. It's a shame others on this thread are too bloody selfish/stupid unwilling to do the same.

I reckon a few journos will be spending Xmas keeping an eye on the homes of Cummings and others.

We are planning a Christmas with just us (family of me, dh and 4 kids) mum was supposed to be with us this year but she lives in NI and they have just gone into total lockdown so we have had the discussion that she won't be able to travel to us this year - MIL lives down the road and is determined to see the kids on Christmas Day but I've told her it will be outside or nothing!

Is it wrong that I'm actually looking forward to Christmas with just us 6? - first time in 25 years!!!!

@Ihatemyseleffordoingthis

"Blame those that haven’t respected the rules and have carried on regardless"

No. Blame, an incompetent govt for London-centric decisions, and failing to sort out Test Trace and Isolate, clear strategy and comprehensible communications, and fostering esprit de corps of the nation.

I predict a 2 day free for all as it will just be too embarrassing for the fuckwits govt to have incredibly low compliance.

For us, we only spend Xmas with the 5 of us + the person we are bubbled with. And we are doing our best to keep contact circles low as can be done when you send 3 kids off to 3 separate schools on public transport.

Yep, this. If you let it get endemic, people sticking fully to the rules still wouldn't be enough to stop the spread. That is the unfortunate position in which we find ourselves now.

Nope we will be following whatever the rules are on the day. Dh will be straight back to work after the bank holiday days can’t afford for him to get sick hospitals still need outside companies to help keep them running otherwise they have no drugs/food,drinks/stock of anything.

I think there'll be a Christmas truce on the 25th at least and maybe Boxing Day.

I'm pretty sure viruses don't do truces - even at Christmas. Unfortunately you risk getting infected on 25th and 26th December just as much as any other day. It's your actions, not the date, that determine your risk.

We will have a much quieter Christmas this year. It will be just me, DH and the 2 DC. I would have liked to have my mum over as she is bubbled with us. However, the amount of grief we'll get from MIL if we did this has meant we've already said no hosting by us this year for anyone. MIL is in London and merrily travelling around on buses for non essential reasons like popping to Costa Coffee. She's surprised how quiet the buses are and clearly hasn't grasped what being in a tier 2 high risk area means. She's not going to be coming into our house.

@Lindy2

So you’re going to leave your elderly mother alone at home on Christmas Day?

Certainly would not be happening in my family.

I don't really fancy killing my parents or in-laws, I work in a secondary school so whatever the rules we won't be spending time indoors with people. I am hoping once I've been off for two weeks we can see people briefly, my kids haven't hugged another adult since February.

To me it isn't a "fuck the rules" but rather a case of no matter the rules don't fucking spread it to those most at risk. It will be shit not seeing family, but this is better than the alternative.

Maybe a marqee with doors open or a gazebo and a patio warmer and lunch outside

*Ecosse

@Lindy2

So you’re going to leave your elderly mother alone at home on Christmas Day?

Certainly would not be happening in my family.*

No I'm not. My cousin and brother, both of whom are single and have being careful will spend Christmas with her. They will be a group of 3. We will be a group of 4.

My children are at school and a risk to my elderly diabetic mother. This is a safer arrangement for us all. We hope to all meet outside for a walk, depending on permitted numbers.

My MIL has a different support bubble for everyday depending on who she fancies going to and where.

I have followed every rule. I've not been in my parents house since march. I stay in the garden when I drop off their shopping as I feel it's safer. I go to work and don't go anywhere else. I don't go out to shops.

I will be having my parents round for two hours though to have their Christmas diner. They are mid/late 80s and I'm not having them on their own. There will be five of us in total.

I’ll have my parents and brother over with my family of 4 (inc a baby). There will be 7 of us in total. It’s a rule I’m happy to bend every now and then.
Mind you, I’m in an area of high infection rates atm and my parents are both 70, so I will make a risk assessment before we decide for sure who’s going where.

I might change my mind nearer the time but at present I have zero intention of sticking to the rules on Christmas Day.

You only have to look at the MPs cross country Covid trips, grouse shooting exceptions and the commons bar being apparently exempt from the 10pm curfew to see that the people making the rules aren't even arsed about following them, so why should i be?

I'm totally aware btw that I've hit some sort of 7 months in apathy wall. Which isn't right but I really can't put up with the thought of spoiling Christmas right now.

There are so many here who dont know any one who follows the rules and so many who dont know anyone who doesnt!!

Does anyone who has friends or family working in ICU not follow the rules??

Does anyone who has friends or family working in ICU not follow the rules??

Yes, my BIL.

He is a doctor working in ICU and sees his family and also my sister whom he doesn't live with.

I think one MP driving to his parent house is hardly cause for everyone to throw parties.

It appears those living in estates where people aren’t concerned about their health or jobs are more likely to break the rules.

Others understand the need to balance the economy and health.

Ultimately the economy hasn’t bode dived yet whilst being supported by the government- this time next year they’ll be very few surviving businesses bar Netflix and delivery firms.

Coffee shops, sandwich bars, transport are all suffering. Jobs will be lost. House prices will drop. Manufacturing is at half mast.

People have short memories of the possible impact that’s coming.

It appears those living in estates where people aren’t concerned about their health or jobs are more likely to break the rules

Hmm. This is why im all for another lockdown IF the low income workers, who will be working in supermarkets or delivering your food (a lot of them in these jobs are living on estates but dont let that get in the way of your classism) get to lockdown too. Maybe this will put a stop to the whining untruths that its those on housing estates not following the rules. I am and have been and i live on an estate, the same estate a young police officer also lives on. You know, one of those who may have to hand out fines. Dont let these inconvienient facts get in the way of your Daily Mail assumptions about who lives on estates though.

And if these assumptions continue to be made some might decide..............well i might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.