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?

@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.

OK, to repeat. The elderly relatives we are visiting will want to stay within the rules. That is non negotiable for them.

I am well aware that we can make our own minds up and do what we want, there is no one standing with a gun telling us we must obey.

But, our relatives will not want us to break the rules. Any working out "in conjunction with them" will include abiding by the rules, whatever they are.

I'm due to be going the other way (Scotland to England) to visit elderly parents and am in the same boat as the OP. We both take what the FM says seriously and if she advises that it's not safe to have Xmas gatherings, then that's what we will do.

@KittyBurrito

I'm due to be going the other way (Scotland to England) to visit elderly parents and am in the same boat as the OP. We both take what the FM says seriously and if she advises that it's not safe to have Xmas gatherings, then that's what we will do.

Out of interest @KittyBurrito, if NS doesn't say that you should avoid a Christmas gathering will you feel safe to go ahead? I'm not being goady- I'm genuinely curious.

@freckles20 I think it depends on how my elderly parents feel - they are frail and in late 80s. If they are anxious, they wouldn't have a good time, do happy to go with their judgement. They have tended to rate NS advice higher, despite being in North England, as don't trust PM.

John swinney has hinted in the press that there may be further restrictions announced this week.

John Swinney's the biggest arse around and I can't believe anyone listens to him. "Blended learning all year, back full time, we never said anything about blended learning you must have imagined it" is typical of him.

Utterly useless.

They have tended to rate NS advice higher, despite being in North England, as don't trust PM.

I wonder why though, in covid matters. The messaging is certainly a lot clearer but end result is no different.
One of the (Westminster) gov ministers was asked a question on Andrew Marr this morning.

"What makes you think bringing in working from home, vaccine passports and face masks will make any difference, Scotland has had all of this the whole time and has just a big a problem with covid cases/omicron?"
Funnily enough he didn't/couldn't answer the question, waffled on about everyone getting their booster!

@MLMshouldbeillegal

John Swinney's the biggest arse around and I can't believe anyone listens to him. "Blended learning all year, back full time, we never said anything about blended learning you must have imagined it" is typical of him.

Utterly useless.

Oh I agree. But this has been the Scottish governments mo throughout this -leak stuff to the press then make announcements in the following week.

@ecceromani

They have tended to rate NS advice higher, despite being in North England, as don't trust PM.

I wonder why though, in covid matters. The messaging is certainly a lot clearer but end result is no different.
One of the (Westminster) gov ministers was asked a question on Andrew Marr this morning.

"What makes you think bringing in working from home, vaccine passports and face masks will make any difference, Scotland has had all of this the whole time and has just a big a problem with covid cases/omicron?"
Funnily enough he didn't/couldn't answer the question, waffled on about everyone getting their booster!

Its utterly depressing how complicit people have become to having extreme (not minor!) imposition put upon their lives. And look where it has got us - lockdown by stealth. Sturgeon wreaked havoc a couple of days ago upon hospitality, in one speech, and shes did it without these sectors having ANY financial support. I felt a crumb of comfort that there'd be an 'in it together' national backlash against restrictions without support. But no. Indeed I'm probably 'selfish' in my concern for the livelihoods of affected thousands!

@GaolBhoAlba

Absolutely, My DH and I are due to go out for a meal this evening to a local restaurant owned and run by friends. It's to celebrate the life of my lovely MIL who died a year ago today, I got a call yesterday from the restaurant checking that we were still coming as they'd had 60 cancellations for this weekend and next. I am so upset for them!

On another thread someone was suggesting that as we hadn't been in lockdown since April (which isn't true anyway, hairdressers only began to open again on 5th April) that we should be grateful we'd had all that freedom!

I absolutely understand that we are still in a pandemic, and that lives are still being affected but it is very telling that we have as many (If not more) cases here despite the more cautious approach of the Scottish Government.

[quote KittyBurrito]@freckles20 I think it depends on how my elderly parents feel - they are frail and in late 80s. If they are anxious, they wouldn't have a good time, do happy to go with their judgement. They have tended to rate NS advice higher, despite being in North England, as don't trust PM.[/quote]
Oh please do not miss seeing your elderly parents based on anything any politician says. You can take a test if that reassures you enough and see them. I say this as someone who has lost friends this year (not covid, in their 40s) and I have a DC with no grandparents still alive to visit. Life is so short and we should not be taking instructions from politicians about seeing our loved ones. They cannot judge your individual feelings and environment to deem it safe or not, even if general guidance applies.

Op hope you can get to your relatives for Xmas, the not knowing really takes it’s toll on trying to plan for anything.

Does anyone in Scotland have any ideas on what is happening in the hospitality sector? We are due to travel from England to Scotland to stay in a log cabin. It was cancelled last year and have re arranged for next week. All the talks about new restrictions are worrying, I understand it’s not as important and spending Christmas with elderly relatives. But we have all looked forward to this for nearly two years now.

Not as important as spending Christmas with elderly relatives that should say.

@GingerFoxInAT0phat at the minute there are no restrictions on the hospitality sector, but I'm increasingly nervous after announcements on Friday from SG and rising Omicron numbers, that there will be.
Without furlough though I don't think SG can do too much drastic measures. Reintroduce social distancing which would cut down numbers in restaurants and the isolation for all means staffing will be an issue.

@rookiemere Thanks for replying, increasingly nervous is how I’m feeling right now. Torn between buying what we need to go and starting to pack or preparing to cancel the cabin and the stop overs we’ve booked for the way there and back.

@BigSandyBalls2015

Surely nobody will take a blind bit of notice after what has come to light this week 🤷🏼‍♀️

^^This