What do you think the chances are of Christmas being cancelled?

[43leftfeet]

We're meant to be travelling to visit the grandparents in Scotland - from England - for Christmas. DCs and GPs are so excited, they really missed each other while we were on lockdown.

But I'm getting nervous at the talk of "plan C".

What do you reckon, do I need to start making a Christmas back up plan in case it's all cancelled?

@itsasmallworldafterall

Can anyone that was watching explain about the new isolation rules, it says on BBC if a close contact (not household) then can stop isolating if a negative PCR and double vaccinated, does that mean all kids under 12 will need to isolate 10 days whether close contact or household contact? I'm thinking then whole classes being off will happen more?

I think for non household contacts the rules haven't changed, so don't think under 18's need to self isolate once the have a negative pcr.

Wasn't mentioned if there was changes on what is a close contact as currently school isn't considered close contact for covid purposes.

Our secondary school is doing social dance, inside with no mask requirement.....

Thanks @tigger1001 I can't keep up anymore

If you think they might be make a decision not to see
Family early. We did last year and it did help when the announcement happened. Though wish I had used the last day before lock down to see my parents through the window rather than working.

Whether he deserves it or not a covid briefing isn't the time for political point scoring.

@tigger1001 Very true, although we are living in 'interesting times' and I would say that positioning herself as more cautious than Boris Johnson is such an open goal that it's barely even sport!

Fingers crossed for everyone trying to plan something. My Christmas was very much cancelled last year as they shut the borders/cancelled all flights (with very little notice) and my DP wasn't able to get over from Scotland to visit me. I spent most of the Christmas period in bed alone with very dark thoughts, and following what had been a pretty difficult year all-round I'm sure I wasn't the only one! Fortunately I was able to move to Scotland a few months later and so even if they bring in the most extreme restrictions we will at least have each other this year, but I can completely relate to the anxiety and gloom and uncertainty

I don't get the feeling that we're likely to see the return of tiers/travel bans etc.

However, if Omicron is much more infectious then we're far more likely to have someone in the family infected by it, and they're far more likely to pass it on to another family member.

Mild or not, if you get a positive test today then that's Christmas stuffed unless you get through 10 days isolation with noone else coming down with it and having to start their 10 days.

So, back up plan required in any case.

OP, you seem to be going off topic, having posted an anti Boris thread kind of irrelevant when it’s queen mammy that makes the rooolz for here. 90% waffle today, which we’re all used to. Expecting some anti English rhetoric closer to Christmas with a nod towards closing the fantasy border. So it really will be up to you to decide on your journey- just know there is no border, so you will be free to drive here regardless of what mammy says.

Oh christ what is Plan C? I've avoided the news today.

We will be driving up regardless. We've not had a Christmas with the in-laws for about 3 years now and we're all so looking forward to it, especially my youngest. He asks every day if we're still going to Granny's and I'm not breaking his (or Granny's!) heart again!

Even in the peak of the pandemic last year the trains were still running from England to Scotland, so I'm sure you can get there don't worry.

Personally I think people will think fuck you boris and visit family if pubs are shut not a lot people can do but those with family who want and don’t mind visiting then they’ll go.

I think it's going to get stricter I'm in Scotland and they've just said if anyone in the house tests positive, it's back to full isolation for the WHOLE HOUSEHOLD 😖😖😖

I’ve seen far more people and spent far more time with people at work than I have family members this year.
So no, Christmas won’t be cancelled in my household unless we are definitely not well

@RaspberryRoyale88

I think Sturgeon would love to lock us up for Christmas. But seeing as she doesn’t follow her own rules I couldn’t care less what she has to say as I’m not complying. Enough is enough.

I agree. We will choose to stay very locked down anyway i.e. just immediate family but not because Queen Nick has decreed it.

Same here my in-laws are not visiting this December we’ll make up for it one day.

God I wouldn't give a crap what the rules were

@NameChangeCity123

I think it's going to get stricter I'm in Scotland and they've just said if anyone in the house tests positive, it's back to full isolation for the WHOLE HOUSEHOLD 😖😖😖

If people test. If someone is unwell in our house we would manage it like any other illness at this point. Sorry I don't think we are alone.

@Puddington

Fingers crossed for everyone trying to plan something. My Christmas was very much cancelled last year as they shut the borders/cancelled all flights (with very little notice) and my DP wasn't able to get over from Scotland to visit me. I spent most of the Christmas period in bed alone with very dark thoughts, and following what had been a pretty difficult year all-round I'm sure I wasn't the only one! Fortunately I was able to move to Scotland a few months later and so even if they bring in the most extreme restrictions we will at least have each other this year, but I can completely relate to the anxiety and gloom and uncertainty

That sounds horrendous. Wishing you a much, much better Christmas this year.

@FluffyBunnyz

Even in the peak of the pandemic last year the trains were still running from England to Scotland, so I'm sure you can get there don't worry.

It's not about whether we can get there - we're driving so I know we can.

We're visiting elderly relatives and if the rules say no, then they will also.

I’m absolutely done. We’ve lost loved ones this year. We don’t have infinite Christmases left with elderly GPs. We will be meeting and that’s it. What a time to have a self serving ego maniac as PM and a self serving ego maniac as FM. Both hell bent on doing what serves them best. If NS is serious about the SNHS why not increase the number of student places for medics at Uni? Not an instant fix but improve things for future generations here. 10k school leavers wanted to study medicine and had the grades. There are 2k places.

Nope, not in our house.

@43leftfeet you make a fair point about it being elderly people you're visiting. I suspect after the messaging from last night, my DPs in their 80s won't want us to come now, so unfortunately perhaps yes a back up plan is needed, even if Christmas isn't officially cancelled.

We don’t have infinite Christmases left with elderly GPs.

And this is one of the problems. People cancelled seeing elderly relatives last year until they got the vaccine.
This year it's omicron, next year it will another variant.
And then suddenly the older relative is no longer around.
Or the kids are no longer young and at the Christmas Magic stage.
Covid is here to stay.

I think after COP26, the FM being pictured at a huge family gathering recently with no social distancing (one rule for me but not for thee I see) and yes the PM having a party I can’t judge anyone for saying fuck the rules.

I only intend to see my parents who live ten minutes away. We have all been vaccinated I will take the risk.
It also doesn’t make sense to me, I can go down the pub with my family and get drunk but I’ve been told to think twice about going to their home?
Football matches, concerts have all re opened but nativity plays in schools aren’t allowed to go ahead? Make it make sense. I have a disability and I’ve not been allowed to see my GP since March 2020, I have phone consultations.We wear masks and have the ridiculous vaccine passports but numbers still aren’t reducing.

Covid isn’t going anywhere. I’m getting rather tired of the threats of being locked up whilst somewhere the FM rubs her hands in glee at having all this power at her fingertips.

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” George Orwell 1984

Pretty much sums it all up.

@43leftfeet I'm not sure that you need to consider any rules if you're worried about visiting elderly relatives.

You can work out for yourself what is the best thing to do, in conjunction with the elderly relatives themselves.

It's a hard decision, but it's yours and theirs to make after weighing up the risks.

This is what we will do. I'm not following any future lockdown rules- I'll so what works for the individuals involved.

So this Christmas we will spend the day with sister in law and brother in law and their children because we all are prepared to take the risk.

My Dad will also join us despite being old and vulnerable because he is adamant that he would rather die than spend any more time in lockdown (lives in Leicester and the isolation almost broke him).

My mum and her partner may or may not join us as they are very concerned about catching Covid and may well prefer to not be in contact with anyone whilst infection rates are high.

I may be accused of having a selfish attitude but I would disagree. I'm being considerate of those who suffered immensely due to lockdown, they matter too.