Ignoring Christmas rules?

[Moomin12345]

I've been invited to celebrate Christmas with my husband's family (including a woman in her 80s). There will be many households there, around 12 people at least. I'm not too keen but apparently I'm a killjoy because no one in the UK will really adhere to the pesky rules. Thoughts?

I wouldn't do it but then I'm in Scotland so our limit is 8 adults over 3 households.

We will be following the rules! Usually have my mum and sisters over for Christmas. However, we don’t feel that covid will have Christmas off, so we are spending it apart, irrespective of the relaxed approach encouraged by the government.

You’re not a killjoy.

Everyone I know is following them or bending them in a very measured, sensible way. I don't know anyone who'll be flouting them.

I’m sure lots won’t follow the rules. If our leaders don’t, why would Joe Public?
Sadly, it will make the third wave worse.

Nope I’d not be doing that either

If that was an event I was invited to, I'd sit at home on my own so that my conscience would be clear, as I wouldn't want to be a part of that.

I think the relaxed rules are irresponsible enough, so people could at least bloody stick to them and not push their luck even more.

I've been branded 'antisocial'. Well, I am introverted but normally don't mind big Christmas events and attend many every year.

Its incredible isn't it, that after months of seeing repeatedly how the virus takes hold, people still think 'rule breaking' is ok.

Probably the very same people wanging on about lockdowns arent fair, seemingly too dense to make the connection.

@BernieInn

Everyone I know is following them or bending them in a very measured, sensible way. I don't know anyone who'll be flouting them.

No I don’t know anyone flouting them and actually the very few people i speak to about this are tying themselves up in knots trying to make sure they are in the right bubbles and no one is left out

I think the rules are OTT and really inconsistent especially in Scotland but I wouldn't be attending a party with many households, that's asking for trouble.

I'd make your excuses 'sorry we've bubbled with my family'

It’s actually only on here (MN on other threads) I see people ranting against it and encouraging others to ignore the rules.... everyone I know in real life tries their best as others have said.

I wouldn't go. What are you going to do OP - see what the balance of opinons on MN is and then decide? Why let yourself be cajoled into doing something you aren't keen on doing just because you are called names if you don't go? People who call others names are bullies.

DH is a hospital consultant and we will be following the rules. Very concerned about the effect Christmas is going to have. Not taking this seriously is helping to drag this out and making it worse. DH & his colleagues are exhausted from the unrelenting pressure this year.
We understand the effects on mental health it's taken its toll here on the family too (we've faced death, family in care homes & SI several times) but with the numbers still so high in our region we can't see an end without more caution not less.

I wouldn’t feel happy either. I don’t know anyone who is doing a big get together this year, even when it’s allowed.

You have to do with what you are comfortable with.

Nope. We've currently got Covid in the home now due to school. If it knocked my teen for six then who knows how others would respond.

@wonkylegs

DH is a hospital consultant and we will be following the rules. Very concerned about the effect Christmas is going to have. Not taking this seriously is helping to drag this out and making it worse. DH & his colleagues are exhausted from the unrelenting pressure this year. We understand the effects on mental health it's taken its toll here on the family too (we've faced death, family in care homes & SI several times) but with the numbers still so high in our region we can't see an end without more caution not less.

Your post should be pinned to the top of these threads. Thank you to your DH, their colleagues and families.

As I have absolutely no idea what is going on any more I have said we will go visit my parents xmas day for a bit and that's it.
No idea if we can or not I've lost the will to live with bubbles, rule of 6 etc

We won't be adhering for what it's worth. Several households, including woman in late 80s with various health issues, including COPD.

3 members of my close family had it last month. 1 funeral for one of them yesterday. Devastating and couldn’t even cuddle my family.
I will 100% be adhering to what I’ve been told to do, not just to save my close one but other people’s families too.
Sick of selfish people’s attitudes

We’ve just pulled out of Christmas after one of our 3 decided to add another 4 households into our bubble without asking us. But we are the ones getting the silent treatment.

12 households-what are they thinking?!

No, just no. I also wouldn’t care a jot if they called me a killjoy.

Thanks everyone. I'll do my best to get out of it and have a quiet Christmas at home.

Do your best? I think from me it would be a straight forward, sorry but no I'm too frightened and it's too big a risk.

Not only is the risk of infection, even if you escape infection there's the risk of having to self isolate. And that's before you consider action if you get caught.
Most neighbours would turn a blind eye to an extra one or two households but 12 is taking the p.

OP said 12 people not households but still, several households is too many if we want to see an end to this any time soon.

We won’t be mixing households, I’m not prepared to put anyone else at risk.
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. The virus doesn’t know it’s Christmas

People breaking rules and mixing will result in the third wave and more hospitalisation and deaths.

I wish people could see what it’s actually like in the NHS for the staff and the loved ones of covid victims