What would you do?

[RedPandaFluff]

DH, DD and I live in England (Tier 2). My parents and sister's family live in Northern Ireland. Until today, DH, DD and I planned to fly over for the five-day window. We would stay, as we always have when we visit them, in my deceased Gran's place (a self-contained flat built on to the main house when my Gran got older, so that she would still have her independence but be near my folks if she needed them).

I can't work out whether travel restrictions have or will be imposed, but I don't know what to do if they aren't. Should we still go, and stay in the flat, bar Christmas Day when we're allowed to mix? We have no vulnerable people in the family. My DD is a year old and has barely seen her NI family since she was born.

I am heartbroken at the thought of cancelling our plans, but I also don't want to be selfish and contribute to this virus' spread. WWYD?

Hopeful bump - I was thinking that any travel restrictions would be made clear overnight but I can't see anything.

Does this mean we can still go?

no, it isnt necessary.
do you have people who are due to take the vaccine soon
can you rebook for after then?

I'd stay at home for Christmas.

I don't know about travel restrictions but stricter rules are coming in in NI on boxing day

No, we're all fit and healthy, no one will be receiving the vaccine any time soon. And yes, we can rebook for later in the year, but seeing my family with my little girl has been the light at the end of a long, difficult maternity leave.

arent your parents due to have the vaccine?

Having parents in Ireland myself I think I would cancel. It would kill me but I dont think I could relax knowing the risks and the restrictions.

They're only 62, @Skipsurvey - I thought older people were having it first? According to that NHS vaccine calculator/schedule, it will be April-May for them.

i would go in the spring op

@MummaBear4321 I think the issue that I have is that what we'd planned to do is still allowed. If there aren't any travel restrictions (and I can't find anything that says we can't fly over on 22nd as planned) then because we're living separately, and will only meet on Christmas Day, then technically we're okay.

I'd find it much easier to cancel if it was expressly forbidden - the choice element would be removed and I'd just have to suck it up.

I also don't want to be selfish and contribute to this virus' spread.

If this is a concern, don’t travel. This is why the govt has asked everyone in all tiers to stay local this year.

Op your mental health is important too I would go.

I'd go later in the year

@singingstones DH and I haven't been out or in contact with anyone for almost two weeks. So, we probably don't have the virus. If we're super-careful at the airport, wouldn't the risk be very low?

one in three people have the asymptomatic virus op.

@farfallarocks I don't want to use mental health as an excuse, because I'm okay, not at crisis point or anything. But I've been miserable for months. This has been the only thing keeping me going.

you can rebook it op

The flights were £350, @Skipsurvey - if there are no travel restrictions, we won't get that refunded. Money is tight after a year's maternity leave; we won't be able to rebook any time soon.

but I believe there are travel restrictions op

Are there, @Skipsurvey? Can you send a link? I can't find anything that says we can't travel out of a tier 2 area, or get flights. Just that we're being "asked" to stay at home.

It’s tricky, we’re in a similar position (not NI) and have decided not to go. Overall it feels like the right thing to do. We’re following the ‘stay local’ advice, which seems to apply unless if you’re in a support bubble. But for these scenarios there aren’t such firm rules so we’re back to making our own decisions to a certain extent...

oh sorry op, if you are being asked rather than banned that is difficult financially also.
do your parents want you to come?

We're in a very similar situation OP, also have flights booked to travel to NI for the window, complete with small child. I haven't seen my family for 6 months, no one is vulnerable, etc. I've been extremely compliant so far, but my intention is to go providing its within the law, as this to has been the only thing to look forward to for months. The travel advice in tier 1-3 is just that, advice, and you can use your own judgment on how closely to follow that. If however NI bring in a travel ban between them and the UK we will cancel.

Where possible, you should stay local and avoid travelling outside of your local area, meaning your village or town, or part of a city. You should stay local and avoid travelling outside of your local area, meaning your village or town, or part of a city, where possible.
Tier two.

I’d defer, however hard that might seem.

We're meant to be going on holiday for Christmas and New Year, OP. Booked it a year ago pre-Covid. And I'm confused too. We're in tier 2, have to have a private covid test before travelling, it's still on the air corridor, no quarantine, and nothing saying we can't travel....?!! Agh!