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Original poster

Will you be cancelling your Christmas plans?

402 replies

Illy605 · 15/12/2020 19:46

With the impending news that the govt may do a U-turn on the relaxation of the rules over Christmas, will you be cancelling whatever you may have had planned with family and friends?!

I only ask as I’ve seen so many people posting on social media that there’s no chance they are cancelling now, this close to Christmas.

I must be in close contact with hundreds of people everyday due to my job, I travel from region to region- tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3. It just seems unreasonable that I might not be allowed to spend a day with a couple family members who are also out and about for work everyday.

OP posts:
DirtyDancing · 15/12/2020 22:34

We will stay in our family of 4 and not see family. It’s heartbreaking but quite frankly, even though we are being utterly careful, it’s not worth risk.

I know an childminder friend who had close contact with some in the park last week. Tested positive today. Not possible? It bloody well is that easy to pass it on, so these family Xmas meals are going to see this wave sky rocket. Not through my DM, DMIL & DFIL it isn’t. I love them all too much to give them covid this Xmas

WotsitWiggle · 15/12/2020 22:37

We're two households, total 4 adults and 1 child - one day meeting and no overnight stays, both areas currently tier 2 and low case numbers in both. If we have to cancel, we will but I'd rather not.

Unfortunately we're not meeting the inlaws, they are tier 3 and it would require an overnight stay. We're hoping things will be better by March (family birthdays, missed this year) so we can get together then - elders are all over 70 and one had to shield so hoping high up the vaccine list.

Hophop26 · 15/12/2020 22:38

All those posters so adamant they are not changing their Christmas plans whatever happens dont really seem to realise that ALL plans have always only been tentative anyway, at any split second your plans could be immediately cancelled by being a close contact and needing to self isolate or someone you are planning on being with etc, the numbers of people getting those calls is on the up, what would you do then?!

Mousehole10 · 15/12/2020 22:41

@Hophop26

All those posters so adamant they are not changing their Christmas plans whatever happens dont really seem to realise that ALL plans have always only been tentative anyway, at any split second your plans could be immediately cancelled by being a close contact and needing to self isolate or someone you are planning on being with etc, the numbers of people getting those calls is on the up, what would you do then?!
Obviously if that happened we would have to change plans. But that is very unlikely to happen, none of us are seeing anyone else in the run up to Christmas, no one working outside the home, no school age kids.
TheWichitaWineOne · 15/12/2020 22:42

With a vaccine on the horizon, I really do have admiration for anyone with the integrity to put their desire for a 'fun' Christmas aside in order to protect others, particularly those who have had a particularly bleak year (I've spotted a couple of posters on this thread who I know have faced more than most).

Accepting our own bit of personal responsibility is fundamental, when this virus spreads so insidiously. If everyone shirked it to have the Christmas they want, the collective cost would be catastrophic.

timeforanewstart · 15/12/2020 22:43

No only going to my parents from 10 mins drive up the road , will stay over but they have 2 bathrooms so we can use a bathroom each and have spare rooms
Only 2 days , huge change to our normal xmas where we would have a large extended family xmas as well as have friends over in between etc
So for us a much quieter xmas but my mum wants us to go so providing none of us show symptoms
My parents are in their 60's and general good health plus both out working as well , ds1 finished college last week and I am
Keeping ds2 off school tomorrow and for half day thurs that he is due in and they are staying at home

Fortherosesjoni70 · 15/12/2020 22:45

People unwilling to change plans will have a serious impact for all the key workers who have NO choice but to be in public roles and in physical work.
I hope the Governments do change their lunatic plans. It was a ridiculous idea in the first place and absolutely certain to cause a spike right in the middle of winter and exactly when we don't want it.
I am actually dreading January.

Sertchgi123 · 15/12/2020 22:47

The doctors seem pretty worried, so I think it would be madness to mix this Christmas.

WeatherwaxOn · 15/12/2020 22:47

It's so tough. Have a family member who is due for surgery just after christmas and has to self-isolate from boxing day. We usually spend Christmas day together, so hoping that they'll feel up to doing so. Other than that its three of us and a friend who is in a bubble with us.
Have planned to go and see my sibling on boxing day, so hopping that they're all well enough to go ahead with this as we haven't seen each other for a year.

CherryPieface · 15/12/2020 22:49

@ImNotCutOutForThis

Nope no prime minister will tell me who I can and cannot have in my house over Xmas.
Your neighbours must love you.
PerditaNitt · 15/12/2020 22:49

Cancelling the plans for my parents to visit us for a day, and will just be staying with my support bubble (six of us in total) over Christmas. It is a shame, but we also missed out on Diwali, and it wasn’t the end of the world.

I think that people choosing to visit relatives after self isolating for as long as possible before (probably starting now) are also making a sensible compromise. Visiting people living alone is also reasonable.

Mousehole10 · 15/12/2020 22:50

Sounds like they’re not changing the rules, just strengthening the guidance thankfully! Nice to know my plans won’t be illegal 😀.

SavageBeauty73 · 15/12/2020 22:51

I didn't make any Christmas plans as my parents are vulnerable. As a single parent, it'll be just me and the kids. We are going to have a cozy day and dog walk. It's only Christmas 🤷‍♀️ Hopefully see some friends depending on the rules.

My best friend has long Covid and it's been life changing and I really don't want it.

RedRiverShore · 15/12/2020 22:52

Doesn't look like it is being cancelled for England according to itv news but message being strengthened, more talks tomorrow with other nations

Purplecatshopaholic · 15/12/2020 22:52

Nope. No plans before so still none. Crazy to get together just now, so we won’t be

Fancycrackers · 15/12/2020 22:57

@CoronaIsWatching

I'm doing the sensible thing and staying away from my elderly parents, not because I've been told to but because I want to have many more xmases with them! Hmm
This. Exactly this!

A 3rd wave after the Christmas mixing is going to be inevitable

CosyAcorn · 15/12/2020 22:58

Looks like the rules aren't going to change so our plans are going ahead unless one of us has to isolate.

But we are only mixing with my parents. And we are avoiding everyone else as much as possible between now and next week.

Snowman2020 · 15/12/2020 22:58

Three households, 6 adults and 3 kids! Can't wait for a proper family Christmas!

NotJust3SmallWords · 15/12/2020 22:58

Nope. We're very lucky in that we can isolate for the 2 weeks before Christmas so will be going ahead regardless.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 15/12/2020 23:02

Nope. I've kept the kids off school this week so as not to risk having to isolate. I'll be seeing the people I planned to see.
We will oy be having dinner with my mum. My brother is supposed to be working, so if he can go to work and serve several families their dinner, I will eat dinner with my mum.

Cattenberg · 15/12/2020 23:07

We were planning to mix with one person outside the household this Christmas - a lonely relative who lives some distance away and is off sick from work due to stress and depression. I’m not going to tell them that they can’t come after all.

Apart from that, I don’t really mix with anyone. The occasional shopping trip or takeaway is as exciting as it gets.

Covidnomore · 15/12/2020 23:08

I've kept the kids off school this week so as not to risk having to isolate

But surely everyone in your household is isolating now?

SushiGo · 15/12/2020 23:13

Plan is to mix with one family for one afternoon, and outside as much as possible. Usually would have 6+ families, overnight in different locations.

I am worrying about whether it would be better to cancel, but rates in both our areas are pretty low.

I too would have much rather they said no earlier in the year. Once you've made plans it's much harder to break them.

derxa · 15/12/2020 23:14

@Illy605 the Scottish police have been doing folk for travelling from Eyemouth (only shop is small, expensive Co-op) to Berwick (choice of several, large supermarkets) to get their weekly shopping. These people have been doing their shopping in Berwick for years! I get my hair done in Kelso, so I'm likely to resemble Cousin It for a while yet... FFS

Porcupineinwaiting · 15/12/2020 23:14

We started self isolating last Saturday so we can visit elderly parents on 26th and 27th. And we will be (assuming no-one gets sick), havent seen them for months.