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Original poster

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

480 replies

Missmidden · 19/12/2020 17:46

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.

OP posts:
Fizbosshoes · 20/12/2020 09:49

We're on our 5th set of xmas plans which is now just staying at home, with our household.
Considering we were meant to be away on holiday (although had doubts that would happen from about May) it's a big come down, but hoping there will be scope to celebrate in spring with other family. PIL are over 80 with health conditions (although v blase about covid) and another elderly relative is over 90 with health conditions so we had already planned not to see them (much as it pains me that the 90 year old will be alone for xmas Sad)

Lindy2 · 20/12/2020 10:03

(much as it pains me that the 90 year old will be alone for xmas)

My mum in her 80s is now going to be alone. 😥

I feel like a really rubbish support bubble right now.

She's been in our bubble but we've been very careful still. She saw my children outside in the summer and I've been seeing her on my own every fortnight but also maintaining social distancing when I visit.

With 2 children at schools where there have been numerous cases and a critical worker husband who goes to a location every day where there are also cases, it's not safe for her to be here, even though we are her bubble.

She is actually very down to earth and isn't particularly bothered by being alone. I feel like I've failed her.

ohwhatamiserableyear · 20/12/2020 10:46

It's depressing to see so many people defiantly breaking the rules because they essentially want to.

It was horrifying to see the packed trains departing London last night across the media, all willing to risk bringing the faster spreading variant of the virus to the rest of the country.

It's so selfish.

QueenoftheAir · 20/12/2020 11:14

@ohwhatamiserableyear totally.

I'mmaintaining a plodding kind of equilibruim - by not thinking too far into the future, but just taking it a day at a time.

To see so many people behaving selfishly & thoughtlessly upsets me more than my day-to-day life. I am doing everything I can to make sure I am no risk to others, that I am not part of the spread. At considerable sacrifice (not touched or been touched by another human since March). It is really upsetting to see so many people who just do not care.

snowisfallingallaroundus · 20/12/2020 11:37

@onlyreadingneverposting8

Ffs - why can't people actually just stick to staying away from each other so we can all have a more normal life back sooner??? Aus and NZ can't believe how people are behaving over here (DH speaks to them daily as part of his job). They also can't believe how lax the government has been at enforcing rules and guidance. Do a zoom call and stay at home!
This all day long
NeurologicallySpeaking · 20/12/2020 11:43

@Lindy2

(much as it pains me that the 90 year old will be alone for xmas)

My mum in her 80s is now going to be alone. 😥

I feel like a really rubbish support bubble right now.

She's been in our bubble but we've been very careful still. She saw my children outside in the summer and I've been seeing her on my own every fortnight but also maintaining social distancing when I visit.

With 2 children at schools where there have been numerous cases and a critical worker husband who goes to a location every day where there are also cases, it's not safe for her to be here, even though we are her bubble.

She is actually very down to earth and isn't particularly bothered by being alone. I feel like I've failed her.

That's rubbish. Loads of cases at my daughter's school too but fortunately broke up on 11th so more than 10 days clear before Christmas.
Tater05 · 20/12/2020 11:45

I'm not changing my plans. My dad is terminally ill, this will be his last Christmas and potentially the last chance I will see him. After a difficult year where I have hardly been able to see him and his condition has changed so much I will absolutely still be going.

I was in tier 2 and moved to tier 3 yesterday, now we're in tier 4. Even in tier 2 I have been self isolating for the last 2 weeks so that I can safely see my family. My nan will be alone for Christmas this year and I had originally planned on visiting her on Christmas Eve, but now will probably just briefly stop by on her doorstep.

I hate breaking rules and have always been one to get annoyed at the 'those rules don't apply to me' type, so I don't feel massively comfortable doing this. If circumstances were different I would just suck it up and have a quiet one in the flat with DH, and hold out another couple of months or so to get together with family.

RedToothBrush · 20/12/2020 11:48

@treening

Support bubbles are not enough to cover all bases. I can't be my mum's support bubble because she doesn't live alone, but my sister can't meet her needs on her own.
And there appropriate exemptions to the rules to allow visits on the basis of care for people with special needs (such as autism) or for people where there is a reason to be worried about someone being at risk of harm. This includes giving support to a carer who is dealing with someone who has a significant disability.

I believe that from what you have posted you have sufficient justification to already fall under the exemptions.

So saying you are going to break restrictions is irrelevant as you wont be but you are encouraging people who dont have justification to do so.

It would be better to stress what the exemptions are rather than doing this....

treening · 20/12/2020 11:50

So saying you are going to break restrictions is irrelevant as you wont be but you are encouraging people who dont have justification to do so.

That isn't what I've done.

AlexaShutUp · 20/12/2020 11:51

I'm amazed that people even need to ask this question. This year has really highlighted how incredibly selfish a large chunk of the British population is. No wonder the country is fucked.

Mooreton · 20/12/2020 20:07

The government is fine with me teaching 30+ kids and mixing bubbles, but won't allow my parents to come to me for xmas dinner. And my mum is my childcare bubble. But as they're now in tier 4 and im tier 2, it's not allowed.

RosePetalss · 20/12/2020 20:12

We shall be keeping to our plans.

iabvvu · 20/12/2020 20:37

Honestly really struggling with this. I've stuck to the rules all year, worked my arse off and not seen my family. I'm very low risk - I've had covid very recently, completed isolation and will have isolated (with DP) for 14 full days by Christmas Day. My dad is desperate for us to go - it's been a dreadful year, his sister is dying and he just needed a break. Everything we've been doing for the last few months is because we thought we'd be able to see each other at Christmas. Objectively we're very low risk but I'm so worried about the potential consequences/judgement.

Rulesdontapplytome · 20/12/2020 22:10

I’m currently trying to arrange hosting Xmas at mine, since tier 4 arrived and scuppered original plans and I’m trying to talk OH in to going away on Boxing Day . We are in tier 4. I’ll run the risk of a fine thank you.
I have taken all the precautions, wearing masks, sanitising shopping trolleys and hands etc. But due to the lack of enforcement generally and the fact Cummings got away with it, I’ve decided to be selfish and do as I please..... if I can get everyone else on board that is.

TurquoiseDress · 21/12/2020 00:52

Very interesting reading this thread

We're in Tier 4 (SE London) & debating whether to see my parents on Christmas Day (they live locally & are Tier 4 as well)

DH is up for us going with our DC (the youngest of whom is looked after 2 days a week by the grandparents due to our work circumstances.

Do this childcare/support bubble count for Christmas too?

TheFormerPorpentinaScamander · 21/12/2020 01:01

@TurquoiseDress

Very interesting reading this thread

We're in Tier 4 (SE London) & debating whether to see my parents on Christmas Day (they live locally & are Tier 4 as well)

DH is up for us going with our DC (the youngest of whom is looked after 2 days a week by the grandparents due to our work circumstances.

Do this childcare/support bubble count for Christmas too?

Are they a childcare bubble or a support bubble? They aren't the same thing

If they are a childcare bubble then you shouldn't be mixing socially.

Only certain people qualify for a support bubble (single adult, parents of child under 1, parents of child under 5 with a disability, and some others that I cant remember)

Furries · 21/12/2020 02:28

[quote wanderings]@loulouljh Thank you, we need voices like yours. This is not about the virus.

"It's one year."
"Do it next year."
"It's one Xmas not a lifetime."
How do we know that Saint Boris (or whichever Cromwellian dictator replaces him, to continue brainwashing the public) won't be fucking us over next year as well? And the next, and the next, and the next? "We can turn this virus around in twelve weeks." "Normal by September." "Normalish by Christmas." "Significant normality by Easter." According to Saint Boris Who Can Do No Wrong And Always Speaks The Gospel Truth, it was going to be normal by this Christmas. It's about control.[/quote]
Could you at least jazz your posts up with some interesting diagrams or something? Getting bored with seeing your boring rants posted over multiple threads. At least make them a bit more entertaining whilst w3 scroll on by.

bumbleymummy · 21/12/2020 09:39

“ Are they a childcare bubble or a support bubble? They aren't the same thing”

Yes, the virus distinguishes between the two and only infects people if they’re in a childcare bubble, but not if they’re a support bubble.

steppingcarefully · 21/12/2020 09:48

@TurquoiseDress

Very interesting reading this thread

We're in Tier 4 (SE London) & debating whether to see my parents on Christmas Day (they live locally & are Tier 4 as well)

DH is up for us going with our DC (the youngest of whom is looked after 2 days a week by the grandparents due to our work circumstances.

Do this childcare/support bubble count for Christmas too?

You say parents so presumably 2 people. If you are not a single parent your bubble is a childcare bubble so no it doesn't count. There is no need for you to get together in a Tier 4 area with anyone unless someone is on their own. Why are you even thinking of doing this?
steppingcarefully · 21/12/2020 09:50

@Rulesdontapplytome

I’m currently trying to arrange hosting Xmas at mine, since tier 4 arrived and scuppered original plans and I’m trying to talk OH in to going away on Boxing Day . We are in tier 4. I’ll run the risk of a fine thank you. I have taken all the precautions, wearing masks, sanitising shopping trolleys and hands etc. But due to the lack of enforcement generally and the fact Cummings got away with it, I’ve decided to be selfish and do as I please..... if I can get everyone else on board that is.
Wow, and this is why the rest of us can look forward to this virus spreading for the next few months. You say yourself you are being selfish. Do you really not care about anyone else?
AdoretheBeach · 21/12/2020 09:50

We already planned not to see FIL as he’s in his 80s and not yet had vaccine so already planned just us and D.C. home from uni (came home 2 weeks ago as classes were only on line). So we’re continuing with our original plans as we knew the virus was still out there and not a good idea to mix inside

A virus won’t know it’s Christmas and that it shouldn’t be so contagious.

This is a bit similar to the dimmer when all those people were booking trips abroad and then complaining when the travel bridges collapsed due to infection rates.

nannapat58 · 21/12/2020 10:05

T4 here neighbour has just put up marquee????

Notstayingup · 21/12/2020 10:18

I live within 25 metres of my brother and his family and have been providing childcare for each other throughout COVID (new baby with severe colic born in lockdown 1 and tantruming toddler on his side) our mum lives round the corner and she completely illegal alternates her support bubble between us so we are going to carryon as normal on Christmas Day and eat together.

TheFormerPorpentinaScamander · 21/12/2020 12:11

@bumbleymummy

“ Are they a childcare bubble or a support bubble? They aren't the same thing”

Yes, the virus distinguishes between the two and only infects people if they’re in a childcare bubble, but not if they’re a support bubble.

Well technically you still have to socially distance in a childcare bubble but not a support bubble. But facts aside I was merely pointing out that one is allowed to mix at Christmas and one isn't. Confused
Changi · 22/12/2020 09:04

T4 here neighbour has just put up marquee????

Common sense would suggest that anywhere with a roof and walls should count as indoors, whatever the roof and walls are made of.