Christmas nights out with friends

[Jungfraujoch]

Obviously outside, eating a scotch egg with your cocktail etc etc.🤣. Are people planning a few sociable gatherings or not bothering this year? Just curious.

Well, as per my picture, I don’t think I’ll go. I’m going over and over it in my head so obviously I’m worried about it.

I had 5 friends round this afternoon. We put up the gazebo in our garden on Friday. Unfortunately it was pouring with rain today so my OH spent ages putting up a tarpaulin over our pergola and sheets of plastic round the sides. We put plastic down on the floor of the gazebo and I ran an electric cable into the gazebo so that I could plug in 2 free standing radiators.

We dressed warm and had cushions and throws and lovely christmas lights and we spent a fun 2 hours drinking mulled wine, prosecco and exchanging gifts.

It was a lot of work for 2 hours but it was so lovely to see my friends so I felt it was completely worth it

Lots of walks planned with friends with similar aged children. Flasks of hot chocolate (baileys for the adults) mince pies, stomps though the woods or on the beach... could be worse. Just need the rain to stop so we can make it happen!!

That sounds lovely @99victoria. We can't even do that where we are

Nope
Tier 3 so nothing open
Doing a couple zoom things but nothing face to face

Bloody miserable

To clarify, I’m happy to meet up and walk, grab a takeaway coffee etc. Even do like 99Victoria in the garden as you can distance from your friends.

Where I get anxious is in a pub or bar garden if there’s 5/6 of you around a table. You can’t distance enough, plus eating and drinking so no mask.

Anyway, I’ve cancelled now so feeling happier!

Stay safe everyone whatever you do. X

In tier 3 so I couldn't even if I was stupid enough I wanted to.

Nope!

No
Even if we weren't tier 3 I wouldn't... My only mixing will be family group on Christmas and boxing day.. Both other households have had covid and my kids will be 8 days clear from any mixing...

Nope

What are people so scared of? Do you all have underlying issues? That I can then understand but if healthy 🤷‍♀️

If you distance from vulnerable people and are herhy the risk is crazy low

Like under 500 healthy people out of 67 million have died under 44 so all this isolation is really out of proportion for most

@Ginfordinner

Tier 3 here and cold and wet. I'd rather watch paint dry than socialise outside right now.

ditto!

@Ginogineli

What are people so scared of? Do you all have underlying issues? That I can then understand but if healthy 🤷‍♀️

If you distance from vulnerable people and are herhy the risk is crazy low

Like under 500 healthy people out of 67 million have died under 44 so all this isolation is really out of proportion for most

I have mild asthma and elderly parents (mid 80s, one with Alzheimers). My father has become more cautious , particularly knowing they will get the vaccine soon hopefully, so don’t want to put them under unnecessary risk.

Tier 3. Met friends in the woods today for mulled wine and snacks. Miraculous the rain abated and we had a great time. Would definitely recommend

@Ginogineli

What are people so scared of? Do you all have underlying issues? That I can then understand but if healthy 🤷‍♀️

If you distance from vulnerable people and are herhy the risk is crazy low

Like under 500 healthy people out of 67 million have died under 44 so all this isolation is really out of proportion for most

I'm not worried about myself. I've been in and out of schools as a supply teacher since sept. Every single one has had several confirmed cases. However over Christmas I will be seeing my family, several of whom have underlying health issues and I won't be able to distance from them. Going out for a few drinks with friends, potentially contracting the virus and then passing it on to my family isn't worth the risk. It's about them not me. I don't understand how people find this difficult to get their heads around.

@Ginogineli

What are people so scared of? Do you all have underlying issues? That I can then understand but if healthy 🤷‍♀️

If you distance from vulnerable people and are herhy the risk is crazy low

Like under 500 healthy people out of 67 million have died under 44 so all this isolation is really out of proportion for most

Most people aren't scared for themselves, but for other more vulnerable members of their families.

Or they're also afraid of long covid - the risk of that is much higher in younger people than the risk of death. Still a small risk but not tiny.

covid.joinzoe.com/post/long-covid

"The researchers discovered that older people are much more likely to get long COVID than younger people, although it does occur across all ages. Long COVID affects around 10% of 18-49 year olds who become unwell with COVID-19, rising to 22% of over 70s. Weight also plays a role, with people developing long COVID having a slightly higher average BMI than those with short COVID. Although men are more likely to be admitted to hospital with COVID-19, women appear to be slightly more likely to suffer from long COVID than men (14.5% compared with 9.5%), but only in the younger age group."

Also I'd be a bit careful putting up plastic walls around pergolas and that sort of thing - put up too many too well and you'll have much less ventilation, which is the thing that protects you when you're outside, even though it's also the thing that makes you cold!

Tier 3 here also so no meeting up even in gardens / outside etc for us. It’s pretty rubbish 😒

Hi
You can’t do garden but you can do the woods, beach, even picnic blanket in the park. I know toy need the weather but the odd day it does actually happen!

@BusterTheBulldog the rule of 6 applies for tier 3, just not in private gardens.