Quick poll: who intends to continue with Xmas plans in tier 4?

[Missmidden]

To help with my discussions with family who were due to come entirely within the rules as they were pre 4pm!

Genuinely in a total quandary as to what to say- all low risk people but it’s our decision as our house. If I thought that a big chunk of the affected population would “rebel” or that everyone else was towing the line that might help, so thanks in advance.

@Matchsticklady support bubbles are still allowed.

If the support bubbles were allowed to continue I'd still keep the plans, as DH and I could really do with a break and some extra hands with DS but apparently they're not and it wouldn't feel right.

They are allowed to continue.

I really hope all the people who are going to be breaking the rules weren’t out there clapping for the nhs earlier in the year.

I never did that. It was performative nonsense and every one of my family members who are NHS workers hated it.

I've cancelled our trip to Barnard Castle.

Bloody autocorrect- I mean Leeds Castle

It's just me & dc this Xmas and our plans haven't changed.

We cancelled earlier in the week as case numbers are really high where I live and the local hospital is under huge amount of strain

@treening in his announcement yesterday Boris said it support bubbles for those who are likely to suffer particularly from isolation and loneliness can continue, but didn't mention the others, and that's not us if I'm being honest :(

Around us in tier 3 I would estimate that 80% are not fully complying, so clearly not ignoring everything but not far off. We live literally a 100m from the boarder with tier 2 so literally the pub down the road is full of groups of mums getting together for morning coffee and lunch which is even a breach in T2 I think?

I suspect people will comply more with T4 given how strict it is and clear

@TheFormerPorpentinaScamander I thought it was single person support bubbles only. Are the bubbles for children under 1 still allowed then? I wonder if that would mean we could see my parents over the Christmas window still in that case and actually get a bit of a break

*@zzzaaaqqq

I’m cancelled my plans. Spent all of lockdown at uni by myself, moved to south east for my grad job and now can’t go back home to the North. Live in a house share with random people I don’t know and haven’t seen anyone for months. Now spending all of Christmas and New Year alone, I’m only 21 so it’s a bit tough!*

My heart goes out to you. That is so hard

@Matchsticklady the gov website seems to suggest you're still allowed here

DISGUSTING that so many of you don’t give a shit. I’m currently laying in bed with 2 heart conditions listening to my 4 year old cough her guts up after testing positive. My 7yo fell sick yesterday, one of her eyes has swollen up and she feels awful. Other than sending our children to school we’ve stayed home and followed the rules to a T. Almost everyone else has happily been flouting them, fucking about with massive Halloween parties and baby showers, Sunday lunches and god knows what. I’ve sat month after month listening to what others are doing watching this thing spread across the the country. Then to put school. Now in my fucking home. Now I’m waiting to wake up sick each morning wondering if I’m going to land up in hospital. It’s pathetic that you can’t cope a day without seeing your families, yes it’s Christmas but you aren’t children if you can’t cope with that then you need to grow a pair. The death toll is going to soar and yes, have your little tantrums at me IT IS YOUR FAULT.

Selfish fucks.

Are the bubbles for children under 1 still allowed then

Yes, it clearly still says that in the guidance.

Cancelling but more because it’s too far to travel there and back in a day with 2 small ones

I'm so fucking and tired of the word selfish. Fucking sick and tired of it. I have a DM with a chronic illness who lives with my sister who has severe mental health problems. A brother who lives alone, with high functioning autism and a history of suicide attempts (around Christmas). Another sister in an abusive relationship with a history of self harm. They all need face to face interaction to stay well. After 9 months zoom is not cutting it any more and nor are socially distanced walks.

Please tell me, what am I meant to do? Every single one of the people above is at significantly higher risk of death or serious illness from poor mental health than from covid, yet multiple people on this thread and others are telling me that I should leave them to it in order to protect other people's families. Where is the protection and empathy for mine?

I'm sick and tired of it. Society has made it abundantly clearly it couldn't give two shits about people like me and my family.

I work in mental health as well and let me tell you I have never seen it so bad in over a decade of working in the sector. It is truly horrifying and the ramifications will continue long after covid.

I would simply say,because I love you, I won't be with you in person this year.

Only just seen this. Sorry but have you any idea what it is like dealing with a suicidal person? This, along with "count your blessings" is about the worst thing you could say to them.

We've cancelled our plans.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

I'm sick of all these gaslighting posts "nobody said it would be over soon"

Boris has. Repeatedly. He said social distancing would likely be done by October. Be said something about normality in November. Then Christmas. This arsehole has repeatedly got people's hopes up. And he's not Barry from down the pub or Ian shouting shite on the village Facebook page, he is unfortunately prime minister and people funnily enough do listen to him.

Maybe you special people knew better but forgive the rest of us plebs for listening to the man who is bastard in charge!!

Where has boris said all thus stuff? Because i haven't heard him say this. He said winter will be worse than it was in spring and summer

I think the majority of opinion on here is to cancel - and a poll I saw on BBC said approx 73% will cancel. This restores my faith in humanity a bit. I desperately want to see my mum, and my mental health is not great. She had 5 hours of surgery just before the last lockdown, by the most incredible surgeon who removed a satsuma sized cancer. That surgeon saved her life. I can’t put into words how much gratitude and respect I have for our NHS. Her area is now i tier 4 and the hospitals status is critical. I will absolutely cancel my plans to keep safe. If one person is allowed to break rules, then that gives permission for us all. And if we all break the rules we will kill people. I would not be able to enjoy an event where I’ve knowingly broken the rules. I actually feel like I’m giving to the community by staying home - and Christmas is about GIVING - not selfish overindulgence.

@Jenny4235

Ok then....

@loulouljh

The beds are less occupied than this time last year. Look at the stats. Do your own research. be critical. Follow the rules if you wish but do it knowingly......The Government does not always know best. Its not about staying safe or protecting the NHS at all. There are so many people truly on the edge tonight.

The goverment is not trying to ruin their economy and make themselves unpopular and other governments around the world. Conspiracy are more prevalent during times of unknown and worry. Because its easlier for people to latch on to a conspiracy than just sit with the unknown.

Christmas is about GIVING - not selfish overindulgence.

Please read my post tell me where I'd be being selfish by seeing my mentioned family members.

@loulouljh

The rules are not about the virus. They are about control Wake up people.

I suggest u do some reading on conspiracy theories and how they take hold and how people fall for them, as ur so insistent people read and research

[quote SomewhereEast]@onlyreadingneverposting8
I wouldn't go ahead in Tier 4 BUT....people are social beings. We're just not designed to live like this. Staying apart for Christmas would be infinitely more sustainable if we hadn't had to stay-a-fucking part for everything for nine months while having every sliver of joy sucked out of our lives. And people in Aus and NZ can fuck right off frankly. They haven't lived through this, largely because they are island nations stuck out in the arse end of nowhere. No where else in the developed world is keeping any better with this endless social distancing bollocks to be honest[/quote]
Hate to point out the blindingly obvious but the UK is an island...