Not a chance in hell of a proper Christmas?

[ShortFatandDumpy]

So I'm in lockdown after weeks of local restrictions here in Wales.

I keep hearing the "if we clamp down now we can have a proper xmas" line being spouted out.
That's bullshit isn't it.
Cases started to surge (in the areas that have seen a surge) at the start to mid September when schools and unis went back and after a good 6 to 8 weeks of more social interaction over August.

So I'm in Wales, on day 1of a so say short sharp 17 day lockdown. IF and I mean IF this Lock down ends in 17 days time that's about 7 weeks ish to Xmas, surely that will be prime peaking out of control time again for Covid hospital admissions??
Even if we go back to our local restrictions here, there's not been a great slow in numbers. I just cant see Xmas happenning either unless we stay locked down until mid December, and no way does anyone want that.
Someone local posted on our community page our area has had only 9 weeks free of restrictions since March!! No idea how true that is, I've lost track but it certainly feels like it.
Add on top of that, people like me live in a rural area and have been unable to travel to larger shops for weeks now. Normally by now I've done the kids Primark stocking filler haul, but I havnt been able to get into Cardiff for weeks now. If we keep on the restrictions, I won't be able to do Xmas shopping. I have Amazon Prime but bloody hell the price difference is quite vast compared to budget shops!
I'm so fed up and can't see anything like a normal Xmas. Ive also student kids in 2 tier 3 cities and parents in England. I'm licked in Wales and so fed up.
Anyone else thinking and feeling the same?

I'm a bit disappointed about the religious bits (carol concerts, midnight mass etc) as its the first year I think DS1 would have enjoyed it but luckily I think he'll get to do some of the 'fun' religious stuff with his bubble at school (Catholic school).

If we can't see people I might do things a bit differently and have a party buffet for the DC instead of a roast dinner.

What do people mean buy a 'proper Christmas'? If they mean Christmas markets as normal, a normal panto season, office Christmas party, Christmas night out with their friends, out for drinks on Christmas after last minute Christmas shopping and then see all the family on Christmas Day and another big get together on Boxing Day then absolutely not.

If they mean we'll self isolate for a week or two before Christmas Day so we can spend Christmas Day with Gran and Grandad or go and see Mum, then possibly.

People can't be in and out of each others houses through the Chrismas period just 'because it's Christmas'. See some close family on Christmas Day and perhaps Boxing Day if they've isolated in the build up at most.

Sorry I should have said. A proper Xmas for me is being with my family.
My kids have so far never been away for Xmas but both are in tier 3 cities at uni.
My parents in England.
My husband left me for 20 year younger model in the spring.

I suppose deep down I'm worried it will be a non event for me here alone.
I'm semi planning. Ive already bought Bailey's and sherry and some crackers for cheese.
I love to go to a carol service and midnight mass but cant see that happenning either.

It's just crap.

A proper Christmas for me is lunch in our local chinese restaurant which has shut down because of coronavirus, so I fully sympathise.

Op, I'm sure your children at Uni are allowed to come home!!

Yes worrying isn't it.

We haven't seen my mum since the kids went back as she's vulnerable but I'm tempted to pull kids out of school a week early and frankly they can fine me, but I want to see my mum on Christmas day after months of not seeing her. My mum is really struggling with no seeing us, we live a few doors away so it's hard.

I ordered kids presents so that's all done, and I ordered a turkey, but half expecting the welsh government to screw us over again.

I support the lockdown but a lot of it is ridiculous, like the essentials bombshell.

@sunflowers246

What does 'no Christmas' mean?

No turkey? No tree? No Father Christmas? No presents? No time off work? No immediate family?

To me the only difference is that we can't see our extended family. We'll have to zoom instead this year. But everything else will be pretty much the same .

It means all the things you might normally do in the couple of weeks before Christmas Day (go to Christmas markets, nights out with friends, office parties, pantos, hectic shopping sprees) will have to go out the window if you want to spend Christmas Day with your elderly relatives.

If you're being extra careful it means no Christmas Day with elderly relatives either and everyone stays in their home, which realistically isn't going to happen, therefore more precautions need to be taken in the build up. The problem is a lot of people won't see it like that and will want a normal December.

@Brighterthansunflowers

There’s no chance of anything like a normal Christmas in the devolved countries. England might Get closest because the idiot running things there probably quite fancies “Boris saves Christmas!” Type headlines. But they shouldn’t have a normal Christmas!

But I think lots of people will ignore the rules at Christmas anyway and just do what they want.

January is going to be atrocious.

I agree. And I won't be shedding any tears for those who say "I'll do what I want / stuff the rules" if they become ill.

@Bedsheets4knickers

I think they will allow a short window over Xmas and say do as you please from this date till this date (if we get numbers down before then ) Because if any MP gets caught out visiting family or breaking any sort of restriction rule the uk will go ballistic . I think We'l get a 10 day window .

That would be ridiculous.

I think they will relax things for the day if they can (depending on NHS/rates) as so many people will ignore the rules that day anyway. They'll have to consider this in their planning.

It will be difficult for a lot of people - my DF is in a support bubble with myself & DH so he won't be alone. But MIL is a key worker and will be working Xmas day this year leaving DH's DF alone now too. I dont want anyone to be alone - perhaps relaxed rules for just those individuals would be a good compromise.

perhaps relaxed rules for just those individuals would be a good compromise.

That's a good idea. Nobody should be completely alone.

I don’t know about other people but me my dh and our dc will be having as close to a normal Christmas as possible. Don’t get me wrong there will be no parties but we will be seeing certain family members separately eg both sets of parents and my sister and niece. No grandparents sadly as they’re vulnerable. So yes it will be a bit different but there is no chance in hell after such a shitty year that I won’t be seeing my family.

If cases aren't completely out of control then Boris might allow a 'Christmas Day truce' but will rely on people using common sense.

Just skip it - not the end of the world! All in the same boat

Is it really that terrible that you can’t go to Primark? Seems like a serious first world problem

Boris might allow it. God that’s laughable. Just use your own common sense and decide what it right for you and your family whilst limiting the risk the best you can. God there really are some miserable people on here.

I am trying to scrub Christmas from my mind this year. I live alone. My mum lives in Wales - alone. My dad died three Christmases ago. She's already in a complete depression.

It's great that people will be able to have some semblance of a festive time with their immediate nuclear family and I don't begrudge it one iota.

But fuck me, I'm depressed at the idea of of the Christmas to come for me and my mum.

@annabel85

If cases aren't completely out of control then Boris might allow a 'Christmas Day truce' but will rely on people using common sense.

"Boris might allow"

Sorry - what?

"Boris might allow a 'Christmas Day truce' "

Well that will be great then - not - for all those families who have their dinner on other days due to working in the emergency services, split families etc - how will they have a christmas dinner then if its just one day?

"All in the same boat"

😂😂😂😂😆😆😆

Have a nice dinner at home. This is just one Christmas and there are more important things

It's in the title "firebreaker" take away one thing a fire needs and you can extinguish it. However we're not doing that. We are reducing one of the things a fire needs.. All this will do is make the fire smaller... Then once lockdown is over and we stop reducing the element of fuel it will go right back to where it was again.

It would be called fire Extinguisher lockdown if they thought any different. Only way out is herd immunity or a vaccine.. I'm fine with either just wish they would hurry up and decide. My guess is if no progress on vaccinne by Xmas then most places will opt for herd immunity route.

The important thing for me is not what our Christmas is like but what my father's is like. It's his 99th Christmas, and the first he has had without his family around him.

If you self isolate beforehand, you could visit your dad?

@MereDintofPandiculation He won't be on his own though ?

The thing is it's a virus and it doesn't know it's Christmas. If you allow households to mix, especially indoors at a time of year with little ventilation - you will get a rise in transmission of the virus. That is inevitable - and possibly for some families worth the risk.

I worry that the pressure of it being 'Christmas' might make clinically vulnerable people take risks they wouldn't at any other time. Both my parents in law and my sister in law are vulnerable - but if they allow household mixing at Christmas - my mother in law places such value on us 'being together' that she will convince herself it's worth it - despite the fact my father in law hermetically seals the house because he feels the cold, and despite the fact we have 2 children at school - and therefore multiple vectors of infection.

Obv, we can say that actually for us we believe the risk is too high for them, but they will counter thats for them to decide - but in reality we have the potential to take out all 3 of them. And it therefore has the potential to cause a huge family rift. (Because mother in law will claim we are just using Covid as an excuse not to come for Christmas)

So I would welcome some clear boundaries!!