What is Christmas going to look like?

[confusedlots]

I know it's an unknown, but just interested to hear what people think is going to happen over Christmas. I have a feeling they're gearing us up for more restrictions, maybe a limit on the number of people you can visit again like last year. I would just rather know now, it unsettles me when I can't really plan and things change last minute.

If restrictions are in place then DH sand I will follow them. We are both in high risk jobs and wouldn’t put my parents in the risk of catching it from us. Some colleagues ignored rules and mixed last year and passed covid to elderly relatives who didn’t survive, there is no way I would risk that personally for Xmas. If people managed it last year there is no reason why they can’t again except lack of wanting to do so

@Scottishgirl85

They won't introduce lockdown over Christmas. But many many people will have covid at Christmas and will be isolating/ill. It's the latter I'm dreading as I tend to be quite unlucky. I feel on tenterhooks just waiting to have to cancel our 4 weeks of lovely plans and activities for the kids leading up to Christmas...

Agree with this - I am really worried it will just be everywhere and that will put a bit of a dampener on things anyway.

We don't socialise much over the festive period, but will have my mil over for Christmas dinner. We were able to do that last year too. No way are we leaving her on her own.

Will also visit my dad over the festive period. He has really missed a lot of time with his grandchildren over the last 18 months and was too scared to see us last year due to the travel restriction between tiers here. But has already said he would like a visit.

I don't think there is much public appetite for restricting gatherings in homes, especially if you can meet in public. If it's more a lockdown with businesses shut I worry that really will mean lots won't reopen

It depends what more information about the spread and effects of the variant are known. As it stands mask wearing pretty in low risk settings like a half empty supermarket seem a bit pointless when pubs and clubs are packed and work Christmas parties are in full swing.

I don't know but DP and I are booked to go away (just within the UK) for a break by the sea. We obviously didn't get to do it last year, and we really REALLY need the break and the change of scene, and it will be gutting if it gets cancelled again, so they'd better fucking not put travel restrictions on!

I'll be seeing who I want over the Christmas period regardless of any rules (if there are any).

@Waxonwaxoff0

I'll be seeing who I want over the Christmas period regardless of any rules (if there are any).

Same here. All of my three DDs will be with us on Christmas Day and we are booked to go out to a local restaurant.

I will also be going to see my elderly, increasingly disabled and recently widowed mother during the Christmas to New Year week, maybe my sister too.

I will ignore any attempt to impose restrictions on me for that.

It will look like whatever you want it to look like.

I can't believe anyone will listen/folllow restrictions again this year

I honestly think it'll be fine, our February ski trip on the other hand...

I think that schools could close a week earlier than planned and that we'll be strongly encouraged to limit contacts over Christmas.

Just feeling a bit sorry for myself if I'm honest. I'm seeing friends jetting off for a week in the Canaries, enjoying Christmas nights, but anything I try to plan gets cancelled because of COVID. Had a family holiday planned in March 2020 which obviously got cancelled. Booked a few nights away locally in the summer, nothing fancy but really needed the change of scenery, and DH had to isolate due to being a close contact, if only it had been booked for the week after he wouldn't have had to isolate because the rules changed! Then I had planned 2 Christmas nights out which I was really looking forward to but am now going to miss because we've got a positive case in our household. Just feeling pretty fed up!

Quiet for us, as usual. Immediate family only, no elderly parents who also enjoy quiet days at home with nice food and good telly. We usually visit them a few days before but they’re more comfortable if we don’t this year as youngest will be home from university. That’s fine, we’ll all chat on the phone.

I thought new mask mandate started today.
Went to school run, no masks on parents.
Went to Tesco, no masks on customers, few on staff.
Went to the very small local post office, staff in masks, no customer masks and no limits on people in there.

If this couple hours of my experience is representative of other people's, it's making me wonder whats going to happen tbh.

Starts tomorrow, presumably to allow time for people to acquire masks.

Our usual 12 all crammed around an extended table and borrowed chairs.
Another 2 dozen pigs in blankets more than last year (5 dozen let year) in the hope there are some left for the chef by the time they get to sit down.

Probably less spending, and just giving cash because masks in shops and buying online is too laboured.

We've got a few gigs in the run up, starting next week which we're looking forward to. Maybe some of the cash not spent on gifts going to the hospitality industry as meals out instead.

Probably windy and cloudy with a chance of rain.

@Sleepyblueocean

Unless people are scared by the death rate/severe illness rate, people are going to visit and mix regardless of what any guidance/ rules say.

Correct.

I cannot imagine the government aren't abundantly aware of this, so I agree with the poster who said the most significant restrictions are likely to be on international travel.

I think it will be fine, January/February lockdown though, that’s when winter is at its coldest too

@MrsSkylerWhite

Starts tomorrow, presumably to allow time for people to acquire masks.

I see, that explains it.

But, considering they found cases yesterday, another confirmed Omicron case today, seems like no one let Omicron know they had to wait till Tuesday.

@FissionMailed

I thought new mask mandate started today. Went to school run, no masks on parents. Went to Tesco, no masks on customers, few on staff. Went to the very small local post office, staff in masks, no customer masks and no limits on people in there.

If this couple hours of my experience is representative of other people's, it's making me wonder whats going to happen tbh.

If people believed that much in masks, they'd be wearing them already. It was the same in Newcastle yesterday. More than normal wearing them into a venue to see classical music. I put that down to the type of venue. Crammed in like sardines, enjoying their wine and not an anxious look between them by the interval

Normal in the shops, and the restaurant we ate in was just lovely.

I don't think they will restrict visiting at Christmas. January maybe.

International travel.. more restrictions maybe. We are booked to go away on the 17th-26th. I'm mentally rearranging our plans... especially since half the kids presents are related to the holiday.

I'm not sure whether the mask mandate is actually in force yet, at least I couldn't see any new legislation re masks on legislation.gov.uk. Whereas the new travel regs came in on Saturday.

I didn't spend my mum's last Christmas with her thanks to covid so I'm way past caring.