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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:
flipapoo · 19/12/2020 18:30

@steppingcarefully my mum is completely alone though. Does that make me less selfish? It we all self isolate before & after it's not high risk is it?

The rules cannot be nuanced but individually there will be different risks. Would I consider seeing my mum if I had to travel & was working out of the home just before Christmas if I lived in Tier 2? no.

ketosavedmylife · 19/12/2020 18:30

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

No longer visiting my parents in London on Boxing Day. My DM is heartbroken. The thought of this was keeping her going recently. She's freezing a turkey leg and we will have Christmas... Even if it's in summer. The next big event in our family is my DDs birthday. We had the family dinner on the 15th March (the day) this year. We hope to have it at the same time next year. Thinking positive thoughts. (Poor girl never got her birthday party though... Again, fingers crossed for the coming March. It should have been the 21st March)
DH says we can have a family Christmas at Easter. I sincerely hope so but do not hold out much hope to be honest.
User158340 · 19/12/2020 18:31

@NotGenerationAlpha

Agree the UK flagrant disregard for rules has all our kiwi friends back home in disbelieve. (A few PP has mentioned it). DH and I are from NZ and we have never locked down compare to them in Auckland.
It must be truly baffling for those down order the way many Brits have behaved.
MandosHatHair · 19/12/2020 18:31

@onlyreadingneverposting8

We have been keeping away from my family, I don't have a single relative within 2 hours drive so we haven't seen anyone in months. We were living for this Christmas break, if Boris had been more upfront with us we would have had time to prepare ourselves, not a few days before!!

I am on the fence about breaking the rules, it depends how much police presence there is likely to be on the drive up.

friendlycat · 19/12/2020 18:31

Xmas plans in tier 4 should be cancelled. Are you and your family normally law abiding citizens or do you feel laws just apply to other people?
I’m genuinely not even being sarcastic. What is so difficult to understand. I’m in the SE and I understand the rules and have just cancelled.

LearnedResponse · 19/12/2020 18:32

We’re still mulling it over but I think rearranging to visit one family member who is living alone: we are their support bubble.

Hence we’re staying within the law as I understand it and also have also been keeping as safe as possible, none of us are in work or education outside the house and we’ve not taken public transport, eaten out, had haircuts, been to crowded areas or done anything else apart from going for walks and visiting shops for the past 2 weeks. The only problem lies in the fact that with this new strain things like a quick masked trip round Sainsbury’s which I’d previously have been quite relaxed about now may possibly present a genuine risk.
We’re getting private tests next week.

The additional family member who would have been visiting and travelling by public transport has cancelled by mutual agreement.

MandosHatHair · 19/12/2020 18:32

And those blaming the British public for this, remember back in summer when Brits literally had to be paid to eat out to get them out of lockdown mode?

HundredMilesAnHour · 19/12/2020 18:32

We're in a T2 area and will go to inlaws Christmas day and leave boxing day. However a family from a T4 area are going to be there too.

Then quite simply I wouldn't be going to my inlaws if there were people from Tier 4 also there. There's no way I'd be "going along with it" to "keep the peace". The Tier 4 people are idiots and your inlaws aren't much better for going along with it. Don't be a sheep. Follow the guidance and don't mix with them or you put yourself at risk.

I live in Tier 4. The increase in cases here is no joke.

NewLockdownNewMe · 19/12/2020 18:32

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.

If you’re going to break the rules (or law, I’m not sure whether this will be law), then own it. Don’t hide behind what “everyone else is doing”.

GinAtMerlottes · 19/12/2020 18:33

My parents are supposed to come here 24th until 27th, then FIL coming 28th and going to MILs 29th.

So far my parents are umming and aahing, FIL and his wife are still coming and MIL we probably won’t see.

WhatKatyDidNxt · 19/12/2020 18:34

We had literally nothing left to cancel! Christmas Day was a meal out to a restaurant just the 2 of us? Then switched to takeaway and that got taken away today. Boxing Day was the MIL’s house but we cancelled it yesterday, fiancé’s work site isn’t COVID clear as he’s a nurse and MIL was nervous

zzzaaaqqq · 19/12/2020 18:34

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!

flipapoo · 19/12/2020 18:34

We're in a T2 area and will go to inlaws Christmas day and leave boxing day. However a family from a T4 area are going to be there too.

Are they self isolating before hand? If not I wouldn't feel comfortable about that.

LivingOnAnIsland · 19/12/2020 18:34

I'll be following the rules. I'm delighted not to have to do so much cooking and entertaining. We'll Zoom with family. Really can't see what all the fuss is about - my Christmas hasn't been ruined, it's just been adapted.

Lindy2 · 19/12/2020 18:34

Our Christmas plans were very small but now they are even smaller.

I know of so many people falling ill with Coronavirus in the last few weeks. I presume it's the more contagious strain as it is ripping through our community despite high levels of adherence to the current rules. The changes today are needed despite how upsetting it may be. Losing a loved one would be worse. ☹

Danglingmod · 19/12/2020 18:35

Parts of Australia (Victoria) have had a lockdown, stricter and longer than ours, and it worked, so they do know what they're talking about.

friendlycat · 19/12/2020 18:35

On another thread someone has posted a list that shows the increase in cases across a period of time and it’s truly frightening to see the latest figures for the new tier 4 areas. The increase in the last two weeks is absolutely huge.

IrenetheQuaint · 19/12/2020 18:36

I've cancelled and will be spending Christmas alone. It's horrid but I can't justify breaking the law in this situation.

LittleSwede · 19/12/2020 18:36

We had only planned on meeting FIL, SIL and nephews outside in the woods but won't be doing this now. We are all in Tier 4. FIL is in a support bubble with SIL and family so won't be alone. It will be myself, DH and DD here.

Miriel · 19/12/2020 18:36

I'm staying at home, but the family members I live with will still be visiting people from 3 different households between them. I'm not terribly bothered by that. One works in retail - far higher risk from that than from having a meal with her partner and his family.

Alarae · 19/12/2020 18:36

I am heartbroken. I was planning on driving to see my family with my 9 month DD on boxing day but now I can't. My whole maternity leave has been shocking (DD born beginning of March but in NICU for two weeks, took her home two days before lockdown) and I have never suffered so much with my mental health.

I have been really looking forward to spending time with my family as it is something to look forward to. They also have not been able to see my DD as much as I would have hoped while on maternity leave, so they have missed so much.

I know I am not alone in these circumstances but I am crushed. No, I will not be breaking the rules. My area just went into Tier 3 today but is Tier 4 tomorrow. My family all lives in Tier 4.

Essentially I am just postponing Christmas in my mind until I can see my family again. Obviously will have a small celebration at home still.

Lindy2 · 19/12/2020 18:37

flipapoo don't mix with a tier 4 family. We are in tier 4 and things are worse than they ever were - even in March and April. The tier 4 family should show more concern for others safety and stay at home.

Coolieloach · 19/12/2020 18:37

@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.

How irresponsible to even post this, why encourage even more mixing? Why can’t you just follow the rules?
Trickyboy · 19/12/2020 18:39

@RunningFromInsanity

We cancelled. Is one Christmas alone really that bad? We have the vaccine now. There is an end in sight if we follow the rules now.
Exactly that.. follow the rules now and have grandparents alive next year.

For me - the ONLY exemption would be a family member with a terminal illness who won't be alive next year .. other than that .. anger, loneliness, mental health issues .. don't cut it.. stick to the rules, wait for a vaccine and have a family gathering at Easter when a combination of good weather outside and vaccines make it much much less dangerous. !

KaptainKaveman · 19/12/2020 18:39

I'm in London and we are cancelling our plans, depressing though it is.

TBH people should not be querying this.

It's very upsetting but you must cancel.

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