Planning for Christmas

[PuzzledObserver]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54713802

Surely the safest/least disappointing thing to do is for everyone to plan to have Christmas at home with their own household - and if it turns out that restrictions are lifted, we can all mix and mingle and feel happy - like we’ve been given a Christmas present!

I appreciate it’s not that easy if you live a long way from family. But this is the approach I think we’re going to take.

[starfish4]

We're assuming worst case scenario, it's just the two of us. If DD can get home from uni, she's got work lined up and it'll do her good - even before Scottish restrictions were brought in, her household couldn't get a table together out of house! Think she'd come home early December and isolate, but if later my Mum has said she'll have Xmas on her own and meet us for a walk. My Mum will cope better on her own, than DD if she can't come home.

[THATbasicWITCH]

We will be staying at home. I am imagining the whole situation will be pretty shit by then

[Fawnfour]

Exactly IceCreamAndCandyfloss
Such a shame that so many are so determined to break the rules .
We all would like a normal Christmas and see family, but it's not normal, we have to look after ourselves and our families and others, and the NHS and we do that by following the rules and guidelines

[IceCreamAndCandyfloss]

@Fawnfour

Covid spread will be massive after all this

I know.

The nhs staff will be dealing with the fallout and those that followed the rules will be more at risk when all those that didn’t go to work, shopping or send their children back to school.

[Fawnfour]

Covid spread will be massive after all this

[CloudPop]

No point in making plans. Who knows what the situation will be by Christmas. It will be what it will be. Not seeing family on Christmas Day won't be the end of the world. Let's save our concern for those who may be on their own, not for those who can't do all of their "traditions"

[MummaPI]

I'm dreading it. We got our head around it being just us a while back but have in laws waiting to see when we are going to see them! We have been over cautious as both key workers and vulnerable members in extended family but I doubt family will understand that at Christmas. I'm avoiding the conversation!

[MayFayre]

I’m working on the assumption that it will be just us.

[3littlewords]

@DownWhichOfLate

What happens if police were to break up a family get together and all drivers in the group had been drinking so couldn’t go home?

Its going to be a long cold walk home or expensive taxi

[littlestpogo]

I am a single parent, so this year when my kids go to their dads I will be on my own for the next week. Usually I fill a lot of my time with friends etc then go to see my family with the kids the week afterwards. Have to say I’m really not looking forwards to it at all - just trying to think it’s just one year and only a couple of days I guess.

[IceCreamAndCandyfloss]

I’ve only ever been stressed at Christmas when really ill with flu. I didn’t want he children to not have their traditions.

We usually have a relaxed Christmas though and share the cooking so it doesn’t all fall on one person. No fuss over what time we eat and just go with the day rather than a military plan.

[RufustheSniggeringReindeer]

@DownWhichOfLate

What happens if police were to break up a family get together and all drivers in the group had been drinking so couldn’t go home?

Ooooo

Good plan

I was going to put a ladder on the back fence and chuck my 75 year old dad over it if the fuzz arrives

[Kinneddar]

What happens if police were to break up a family get together and all drivers in the group had been drinking so couldn’t go home

That'll be the drivers problem then. Surely if you are going to ignore the rules you'd not be planning on staying the night. People know by now if they break the rules theres a chance a neighbour will call the Police

[NaturalLight]

MrsKnott that’s exactly why I won’t be seeing family this xmas. I can’t get my head around why so few people are thinking about this and declaring that they will meet up whatever. My family agree - it’s only 1 day, 1 year. I personally think too much is made of xmas anyway.

[NotAKaren]

Considering there are usually threads full of people stressed about Christmas family gatherings and people feeling guilted into spending time with family or in laws that they detest, I am surprised that there is so much fuss about this.

[DownWhichOfLate]

What happens if police were to break up a family get together and all drivers in the group had been drinking so couldn’t go home?

[IceCreamAndCandyfloss]

We are assuming it will just be our household and planned accordingly,

I’d hate to pass it on unknown and have to live with that. All future Christmases would be a constant reminder. Not worth it for one day.

[Flowersinthewindowstill]

I live with a complete stranger who I never see. I WFH and only see my boyfriend, who's in a bubble with me. I think my parents are planning on having me home for Christmas (and they're very cautious) but it depends how heavy handed the police and fines are. Otherwise I'll spend it with my boyfriend or on my Todd I guess.

[PuzzledObserver]

Lovely if your children still live at home. Not the case for the rest of us.

I don’t have any children, but my mother does (!). She is a widow in her 80’s, my siblings and I all live at a distance, and her normal Christmas involves either staying with one of us or having one of us plus family at hers.

She has already told me she is planning to spend Christmas on her own and seems fine with it. She has all mod cons, including the ability to video call.

[Flagsfiend]

I've already ordered my M and S treat food for 2 so committed to staying put this year - planning to have a nice time even if it is different. I'm a teacher in a tier 3 area and don't want to risk taking covid to my medically vulnerable parents or in-laws. If there is an extension of the school holiday I'd consider visiting after Christmas, but they are too far to go in a day and I wouldn't want to be indoors with them within 2 weeks of school finishing.

[Tyzz]

Lovely if your children still live at home. Not the case for the rest of us.
My two DC are early 20s, each living alone in another town where they work.
I am very vulnerable health wise (it's not just grandparents) but I am desperate to have my chicks in the nest at Christmas, even if only for a few hours.

[AlecTrevelyan006]

Who would have thought last Christmas that in a years' time there the police would be threatening to enter homes and break up family festive dinners?

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/10/27/family-christmas-gatherings-breach-covid-rules-will-broken-police/?li_source=LI&li_medium=liftigniter-onward-journey

[Racoonworld]

@mrsknottschicken

Do you not worry about asymptomatic spread, though? Or if a child/teen breaks up from on the 21st, meets up with extended family and carries the virus to grandparents and others over Christmas? Because at our family Christmases, this happens so often with colds, and it is always one of the school-aged children, usually the older ones. So if that can happen with a simple cold...

To the people who say they are going to meet up with family regardless - does that prospect really not worry you, if you have children at school?

I would worry about that if I had school children. I wouldn’t visit grandparents if we did. However neither us or any family has school age kids so it’s not something I’m worrying about. We will have a quiet couple of weeks before Christmas to reduce the risk of us bringing anything to family.

[Bickles]

We only see my parents and MIL who is in our bubble anyway. We will isolate from 17th so we can see them all- they are all local anyway.
Getting food and presents prepped now.

[Didntgetmydiamondring]

We usually have 2 households together.
We have already said we will coordinate our lunches and chat over FaceTime whilst we eat in our own houses.