Xmas bubbles

[MyNameHasBeenTaken]

I know things are likely to change a few times between now and xmas.

But does anybody know there latest rules for meeting loved ones over xmas?

I am single mum to 2 kids. One under 12, one over.

My sister lives alone.

My mum lives with her new partner.

That's 3 houses

We all want to go and see my grandparents. That's household 4.

But only 7 or 8 (depends on step dad) people. Usually 7.

Can we do this?

We would all isolate for a week before travelling.

We are all in england.

I think you and your sister living alone are already allowed to form one bubble (a change in the rules since the first lockdown), so technically yes (assuming you're living in the same Tier as said sister?).

Is your sister in a bubble with anyone already? If she bubbled with you she would become part of your household bubble and then there would only be 3 households for the Christmas bubble.

Yes

Allowed - yes.
Wise- probably not.

Are you or your sister already in a support bubble with anyone else? If no then one of you can form a support bubble with your mum then that household counts as one. So as long as none of you see anyone else your plan would be three households and allowed.

I know it may not be the wisest choice.
But none of us have seen each other since last xmas.
My grandparents get shopping delivered. And live alone.
My sister lives alone and works from home.
My dd is the weak link here. She is in school
So we would isolate from the 17th before visiting.
Grandparents are nearly 90. And always worry that it will be their last xmas.
I know its affecting their mental health!
They want to see everybody at xmas.
So we are all trying to work out how to do it safely . Same as most people!

Oh, we all live more than 50 miles from each other. Can we still bubble?
Nobody is bubbled with anybody else.

Yes bubble with your sister to form 1 household. Then GPS and Ps.. I would.

Yes, as others have said, you can bubble with your sister and then it’s only three households so it’s allowed... but probably not wise with 90 year old grandparents, even with the isolating. You have to make your own risk assessment, though.

Could you get your daughter a private test a few days before to put your mind at rest?

I’d not risk the grandparents with only a week to isolate given the amount of germs in schools and the fact children can have it without symptoms. Is your mums household isolating as well?

I wouldn’t take a child that’s been in school, to visit grandparents who are nearly 90, no matter what the rules allowed.

From what I've heard this is 4 households and so not allowed. If however your sister moved in with you and maintained that until after Christmas you would then constitute 3 households.

to have 2 different dwellings constitute 1 bubble (as others have suggested) is only allowed if your sister was disabled and you were her carer - but that's not the case from what you say. so the only way to work this is to combine the two dwelling well in advance.

and - it's a waste of time to get your daughter tested but not the rest of your household. she might bring something home from school and you may all be pre-symptomatic.

You can but unless you isolate for 14days beforehand then any of you could have it pass it around all of you. And isolate means not leave the house or have contact with anyone for any reason

And testing will mean diddly squat too so there is no point in that either. Just because you can doesn't mean you should of course

Your sister doesn't need to move in, the above poster is wrong. A single adult living alone can have a support bubble, and they can stay with that household overnight.

So you are allowed a support bubble - your mum. Your sister is allowed a support bubble - your grandparents. That's two households. You can technically, in the eyes of the law, still have ANOTHER household join you for Christmas and still be within the law.

And yes, at 90 your grandparents may not have many christmases left. I would do what you are doing too. Take as many precautions as I could in advance then cherish a wonderful Christmas with my family. Particularly if your grandparents want to see you all. They are old but still allowed choice in their life and for many older people it comes down to quality of life not quantity of life, and they want to see their loved ones while they are still here.

A week isn't long enough to isolate if that's what you want to do. You need to isolate for 2 weeks to be sure you're safe.

Will you be staying with them?

If you and your sister form a support bubble, then you would be three households. You will not be able to see other people in the Xmas period. Would your mum's partner want to see any of his family?

No, we wouldn't be staying overnight with gps .
They will need a break from having so many people. Especially a very excited dd.
We had planned a 2 day trip (before all this covid). Arrive lunchtime xmas eve. Do some prep for xmas dinner. Watch a film or something. Stocking up for dd. Sleep in hotel.
Spend xmas with family. Go home xmas night.
I also think gp may have had the virus at the start of this year .
Before all the tests. They had constant coughs. O2 in hospital. Isolation ward in hospital, but they were told norovirus. Although nobody left their bed to use the bathroom.

TBH you have made up your mind and are going to do it so not sure what you are wanting others to say? Regardless of testing (which tells you nothing btw), isolating for 7days (which means nothing as it should be 14days) the fact you believe GP had it earlier this year (which may not provide immunity even if they did have it) you believe it is a safe and appropriate thing to do, so go ahead and do it.

Medics are advising a woolly jumper Christmas. Dress up warmly and meet your family outdoors. 🎄☃️🎄

It's a really tough call, but my DS has caught Covid at school and I am so relieved we haven't been around my mother for ages (she's in her 70s, not 90s, but we feel it's too risky with two DS at secondaries in high risk areas).

I agree with @selflove. As you and your sister only have one adult in your household then you can each form a bubble and technically there are only two households.

Distance does not matter for the bubbles or for the Christmas rules.

However, I think you should be worrying more about whether it's the right thing to do rather than whether you are breaking the law.

Just because it's legal doesn't mean you should be doing it, you have to make judgements depending on your own circumstances.

@SmudgeButt A single adult household (including single adults with children under 18) have been able to form a support bubble with one other household since the summer. There is no requirement for those in a support bubble to live together. We are in a support bubble with my 72 year old dad who lives alone and it would be bloody cruel for him to have had no social contact for all this time. See gov guidance below.

www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-support-bubble-with-another-household

[quote BunsyGirl]@SmudgeButt A single adult household (including single adults with children under 18) have been able to form a support bubble with one other household since the summer. There is no requirement for those in a support bubble to live together. We are in a support bubble with my 72 year old dad who lives alone and it would be bloody cruel for him to have had no social contact for all this time. See gov guidance below.

www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-support-bubble-with-another-household[/quote]
Yes - I get that but the OP didn't say there was a support bubble between any 2 of the 4 households she was talking about.

Glad to know that your dad has your support - it's a dreadful time for so many individuals.