Christmas mixing and Tiers

[meow1989]

I know we are all just guessing at the moment, but ..

I get that its likely we are allowed to mix 3 households total over the 5 days, but doesn't that become moot if your area is tier 1? Because in tier 1 you can mix up to 6 households technically (one from each). Do you think they will have the forethought to clarify this ir will it be more interpreting the rules as you go? (Fwiw I will follow whatever the guidance is, I'm not looking for loophole just curious as to how this would work)

@goodname

This is a terrible idea. It’s not only going to lead to more cases but whole families falling out! I have a huge family, sisters and brothers in laws, nieces and nephews, parents, grandparents, in laws etc. It’s impossible 🤯 and what about people that no one chooses! How sad would that be. Now people on their own will feel even worse

I have a big family and by circumstance aren’t going to be ‘picked’ to spend time with. Luckily I have my husband and kids, and I dont begrudge the rest of my family for seeing other people rather than me, but is going to be pretty shit. Particularly as, as a northerner, I’ve watched all my southern friends live the life of Riley meeting their families and friends for meals and drinks and sleepovers, whilst I couldn’t even go for a drink in my brothers garden 10 minutes away.

Rather keep the status quo (whatever tier that might be) and have some more flexibility to meet outdoors in Jan rather than ending up back where we are now.

@Autumnblooms

If A,B and C are the 3 and then that’s it, it doesn’t make sense does it. If we are A and B is my mum and C his mum- my mum isn’t going to waste one of her people being C is she- why would she want to see my partners mother over Xmas? Hence why it just must be 3 at a time no matter who?

You’ve got it wrong. It’s a temporary bubble. You decide between you whose in a bubble and stick to those same three households over the period. It’s not designed so you get to see everyone, it’s designed so you get to see someone.

Justyou Are your parents happy to bubble up with your sister's inlaws though???

You decide between everyone who sees who and split it up so everyone gets to see someone. People won’t be able to see everyone but at least see someone over Christmas which is better than nothing.

You put it better and more concisely than my waffle!

I don't care what the government says. I'm not exposing my 88 year old parents to me ( a supermarket worker) or my DD ( a student) for the sake of a Christmas dinner. What did you give Granny for Christmas? COVID-19 Not worth it. I'm waiting til they're vaccinated. I appreciate the government giving people the choice but just because they've said we could- doesn't mean you should. It hasn't suddenly become safe because BoJo says you can forget restrictions for 5 days. The virus doesn't know it's Christmas

@Dadnotamum72

People may stick to the 3 households, but those not too concerned with religiously sticking to rules unlikely to stick to the stationary bubble and will just see different people on different days, how is it ever going to be policed? Unless you test positive then have to tell track and trace where you have been?

Agree.

Chelsea567 Same here. Quiet Xmas with just me, DP and DC and we'll see my parents and in-laws when it's safer to. I want them to see many more Xmases, not just this one.

@Longwhiskers14

Justyou Are your parents happy to bubble up with your sister's inlaws though???

Nope but they won’t upset her so won’t say anything.

I'd rather have Christmas dinner at Easter with my parents then never have Christmas or Easter with them again.

@meow1989

I believe its like chain links.

So family a can mix with b and c.

B can mix with a and d
C can mix with a and e
D can mix with b and f

And so on.

This makes no sense from an infection control point of view.

I understood it was "pick two other families and stick with them", not "mix and match as long as there's no more than three at the same time".

I'm viewing this as the government basically trying to legitimise what people are going to be doing anyway, whilst saying "But we'd rather you didn't if you don't mind".

They've made the bubbling far too complicated, as shown by this thread.

Families A, B, C form a bubble. They don't have to see each other the whole time, but they can't then introduce families D, E and F (and whoever else). God knows how Boris will manage it.

Justyou Even though it means missing out on seeing you? And does your BIL have any other siblings his parents might want to see?

It's such a logistical nightmare for so many families. I do suspect the Govt is hoping lots of people will think sod it and not bother.

Will people from England be allowed into Scotland though? We're in the north of England and at the moment I'll get fined if I'm caught going into Scotland.

My sister in Scotland is my support bubble so at the moment I'm not allowed to be with my support bubble and knowing Nicola it is possible she won't relax this for Christmas.

Chelsea567 That's what we're planning to do as well! I've promised our DC we'll even get the tree down from the loft again.

Its just been announced that over 65s in care homes cant go to their families, but people living in shared households can as can students.... its all getting very complex and unfair (none of this applies to me by the way)

@JamonCroissant

People aren't going to comply. Personally I think Christmas is just going to be a free for all.

Yes. We were tang about it at work and the majority of people are spending Christmas Day with one set of parents (and extended family) and the evening or Boxing Day with the others. It's just going to be ignored. I feel sorry for the people who were secretly thrilled at not having to do a round of various relatives homes on Christmas Eve/Day/Boxing Day!

I think I feel worse knowing the latest Christmas bubble news than I did when I thought it would just be us on our own as a household at Christmas. How do you choose (on behalf of other people in some cases) who your 2 other households are?

Will b&bs and hotels open over that period even in tier 3 areas?

I’m very confused by the whole thing. We’ve been in a bubble with my DM all along. So can we now go and meet two other households? Or does DM count as one of the three? Can we mix with two different households every day or is it us plus two others full stop? Can we have socially distanced visits with other households in the garden?

@Chelsea567

I'd rather have Christmas dinner at Easter with my parents then never have Christmas or Easter with them again.

That’s what we’ve been saying. We can plan for when things are safer and more relaxed.

It's pathetic. All this misery. Then Christmas and then back to square one. Total madness.

Rather than guessing let’s just wait and see, I have heard it’s up to three families and that’s for the whole period so no mixing with others

If you are in a support bubble already you count as one household so can mix with two other households .

@PucePanther

I’m very confused by the whole thing. We’ve been in a bubble with my DM all along. So can we now go and meet two other households? Or does DM count as one of the three? Can we mix with two different households every day or is it us plus two others full stop? Can we have socially distanced visits with other households in the garden?

It's two others full stop, for a period of five days.

@Gumps

Currently having heated discussions as to whose family to chose. God this is so awful. With divorced parents how do you decide?! And unfortunately mine and my husbands choices don’t match. How do you choose your favourite child/parent/in law?

If parents are older they may not want to mix....