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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:
ohwhatamiserableyear · 19/12/2020 19:21

Of course you fucking shouldn't continue with your plans.

I bet all those people breaking the rules and thumbing their noses at the government won't accept blame for the continued spread of the virus and shout the loudest if schools can't reopen because of it.

wendz86 · 19/12/2020 19:21

We were going to be spending it with my support bubble (parents) but they are tier 2 so have cancelled.

AcornAutumn · 19/12/2020 19:22

@YouokHun

My Dad is dying. This will be his last Christmas. We live in the same village and we are in Tier 4. I can’t put off this Christmas so that I can spend time with him next Christmas because there is no next Christmas. I can’t leave my mother and him alone and contemplating this.

What would you do?

Go and see him

When the law is published, I think it will allow for this.

SoupDragon · 19/12/2020 19:22

@ohwhatamiserableyear

Of course you fucking shouldn't continue with your plans.

I bet all those people breaking the rules and thumbing their noses at the government won't accept blame for the continued spread of the virus and shout the loudest if schools can't reopen because of it.

Well, that rather depends on what your plans were doesn't it?
Purpler5 · 19/12/2020 19:23

@blue25

We cancelled. Why do people think they can just do their own thing? So selfish.
Agreed.

It needs to be socially unacceptable to break the rules.

Babyroobs · 19/12/2020 19:24

@bumbleymummy

why can't people actually just stick to staying away from each other so we can all have a more normal life back sooner??

Because people have been doing that for months with the promise that ‘it will be over soon’ and it hasn’t worked?

How can you say it hasn't worked? The NHs has not become overwhelmed but is gravely in danger of becoming overwhelmed now with a new variant that's spreading more rapidly. How on earth is households mixing going to help that ??
Trickyboy · 19/12/2020 19:25

[quote MandosHatHair]@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.[/quote]
It's irrelevant how much 'police presence' there is ..

Do you not drink and drive because it's an unsafe activity.. or because you might get caught. Your moral compass needs an shake !

PurpleDaisies · 19/12/2020 19:26

We’re continuing with our plans...not to see anyone.

roarfeckingroarr · 19/12/2020 19:26

Carrying on as planned.

My parent (our support bubble) coming to us - allowed.
Another parent who lives abroad is already here and quarantining at ours - allowed.
Partner's sister - quite severe MH problems, having a hard time, lives alone - also meant to be coming. How can we expect her to be alone? She lives nearby if makes any difference. Genuinely what would strict rule abiders suggest?

QueenoftheAir · 19/12/2020 19:27

why can't people actually just stick to staying away from each other so we can all have a more normal life back sooner???

Totally agree @onlyreadingneverposting8

Two principles:

  • we should all be behaving as if we had the virus;
  • Just because something is "legal" doesn't mean we should do it

I am wondering if I will see my elderly mother alive again, and I'll be spending Christmas on my own, and on Zoom with family. Because I just want to hang on in there until we're all vaccinated.

There will be other Christmases. This is not the be all & end all.

woodhill · 19/12/2020 19:27

No, all cancelled

shinynewapple2020 · 19/12/2020 19:27

I think if you are going to break the rules it's probably more reasonable for people meeting up within the tier 4 area, rather than people driving and mixing in and out of the tier 4 area .

JacobReesMogadishu · 19/12/2020 19:27

@YouokHun

My Dad is dying. This will be his last Christmas. We live in the same village and we are in Tier 4. I can’t put off this Christmas so that I can spend time with him next Christmas because there is no next Christmas. I can’t leave my mother and him alone and contemplating this.

What would you do?

I’d be far more sympathetic to that even if against the rules because it’s the same village so there is no issue with spreading the virus round the country. I guess it increases the chance of a larger spread if one of you happened to have it on the day and spread it to others. I’m not sure whether it will be allowed or not but I do think for people who are in such a position it should be.
Benjispruce2 · 19/12/2020 19:28

Rule follower here.

Lovelydovey · 19/12/2020 19:30

We’ve downgraded our plans to a doorstep handing over of presents and a socially distanced walk with my parents. We are now effectively isolating ahead of that too.

User158340 · 19/12/2020 19:30

@pjmask

So bloody sick of people banging on about Aus and NZ, it's not comparable for reasons you are obviously too thick and unimaginative to understand

Look at our neighbours in Europe
today and how their celebrations are being impacted for a (marginally) more reasonable comparison

We're an island our neighbours aren't.
Elfieishere · 19/12/2020 19:32

I plan to continue what I was doing before and will be going to see my parents on the evening and I will stop in to see a different family member on the way.

Scarby9 · 19/12/2020 19:32

My brother and SIL are now stuck in Berkshire as can no longer visit my pstents. On the plus side (for them), they have the turkey crown and ham, sprouts and parsnips as well as an artificial tree they were bringing north. We have the Christmas pudding, crackers, napkins and potatoes...

Scarby9 · 19/12/2020 19:33

Pstents = parents

FuzzyPuffling · 19/12/2020 19:34

We have been shielding since March and seen family briefly, once, outside. Christmas was only ever the two of us.

We'd like our life back please.

Just BLOODY STAY AT HOME.

SunshineCake · 19/12/2020 19:34

@Oysterbabe

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. They packed up and fled to the inlaws this afternoon and will stay there until boxing day. I'm not delighted about meeting them and really disagree with what they've done but will just go along with it and keep the peace. On boxing day they are travelling up north to see the other set of parents too Hmm I think there will be a lot of people who ignore it and the new strain will spread across the country too.
You keeping the peace could mean someone gets ill or dies Sad.
NailsNeedDoing · 19/12/2020 19:34

We are carrying on as planned for a tier 3 Christmas Day, we have enough space that we don’t have to be too bunched up, we can open windows, and we’ve agreed no hugs.

FelineUK · 19/12/2020 19:35

Dad and I have just cancelled Christmas - DH and I would have driven 4 hours from London to Wales to be with him (78 yr old widower) on Christmas Eve. We're all very pragmatic about it - last week we were planning to be with him but it was always up for review and today's news meant there was no question about us going - we're not! In 55 years I have never spent Christmas away from my parent(s) but this year is like no other and I'd rather have more Christmases with Dad than risk ruining this one. Both DH and I get regularly tested for Covid and whilst we last tested negative a week ago, we simply can't take the risk. Anyway, we had to hire a car and who knows whether our neighbours would have grassed on us ;-) It's shite and miserable but we simply have to be responsible.

So I've just organised Parcel Force to pick up his pressies and hamper of goodies which he'll get on Tuesday and we'll chat on the phone whilst he opens them Christmas Day. I've got a Turkey, and some mince pies in the freezer as a standby, a few choccies, the Radio Times... box of tissues cos it's bloody miserable.. but I've still got my Dad and by us not going down from our Tier 4 into his Tier 1, we're at least doing our bit to keep him safe.

JuliaDomna · 19/12/2020 19:36

I am in my late 60s. I am a widow and I live alone in a Tier 4 area. I have been housebound since March because of underlying health issues.I was going to spend Christmas with my adult children but we have cancelled now and it is the right decision. It is one day, there will be others. Just think of the long term and the bigger picture. I miss my adult children but it is not worth the risk. We will get together when times are better.

To all of those visiting family or loved ones who are not likely to survive until next Christmas, how would you feel if you passed on the virus to them and ended their lives sooner? How would you live with yourselves? Many people do not have symptoms so you cannot be absolutely sure it won't happen unless you are tested. Who are you really doing it for? Them or you?

CherryPieface · 19/12/2020 19:36

I cancelled my plans weeks ago - the Christmas plans always seemed like madness.