[Closed] Christmas and Covid

Well, I live in England but from Northern Ireland. All my family is back there. I wont be going. My partners parents are both very high risk, so she will potentially have a Christmas get together with just them before the 25th. So, in summary for me, Christmas can do one. As for everyone else, well I just don't know. I fully expect this current lockdown level to be extended. If I put my optimistic hat on, maybe back to the old teir system we had before. And hopefully my motorbike tests wont be cancelled again. Pretty sad when the only thing you have going on in your life is a bloody motorbike test! Will 4-6 days of freedom be deadly in the long run? Hard to tell. I'm sure PHE or whoever has been modelling all this.

Four or five days of lockdown amnesty doesn't make it sound like lockdown is ending on the 2nd.

TBH, I suspect the powers-that-be have taken the view that people will simply get together with family anyhow in defiance of the mixing regulations at the time, so offering this up is intended as a carrot to allow them to extend lockdown before and after.

I wasn't intending to host family this year, although some recent events now mean that one member of the family is likely to be joining us at some point.

We must take all necessary steps to protect the National Elf Service to allow Magic Key workers to continue to deliver.

Will 4-6 days of freedom be deadly in the long run?

I'm no expert, but based on all the things they've been saying, cramming a couple of households around a table in a nice, warm, poorly ventilated room sounds like a recipe for transmission, you add in "It's not Christmas without Nan!" argument you'll no doubt hear from some and it just shouts "a Thousand Deaths a Day" through January to me.

I can only assume they're thinking people will defy rules through Christmas anyway, we might as well attempt to control it / not lose too many votes trying to ban the unbanable.

Which made be think about those of you in England, you’re into week two now of your month-long lockdown

We're in the North West of England. We only came out of lockdown for 3 weeks in July then we've been back in it ever since. Anyone around here who thinks we're coming out of this on December 2nd wants their bumps feeling. We're not.

I'd imagine that Christmas will depend on how affluent the part of the country you live in is.

Me and Mrs Binners were discussing it the other night and we're quite looking forward to knowing that we're not going to be doing christmas, so therefore not having to think about it and have the usual shite about who's family you're going seeing when, etc.

December is the one time of the year we never go out anyway as I'm a miserable bastard and I can't stand pubs packed with amateur drinkers or forced frivolity, so I've been doing a self-imposed lockdown during the festive period for years

People do chuff all in January anyway, either cos they're skint or overdid it at Xmas so it seems reasonable to me.

It's a tough one for me, the sensible part says nothing should change over Christmas and I shouldn't visit family, the less sensible part though thinks Christmas without visiting family would be very shit indeed (and something that hasn't happened before, for me).

Assuming the government allows it I'll let my dad decide, on the one had he's said he wants to die anyway (failing eye sight and other issues since a stroke a couple of years back) on the other hand he's a bit of a grinch these days so could well play the vulnerable card as a reason not to meet up but I'd obviously respect that. Might head to my brother's for a day or two to deliver presents for the nieces and nephews.

If I'm on my own I might still roast a turkey and see what the health effects are if I try living off it for a few days...

Oh, let's make no mistake. No matter what happens, I will be eating turkey.

We normally spend Christmas in the caravan up near Grange-Over-Sands, but this year we'll be at home. That's the main difference for us. Won't be going out anywwhere or anything though I do feel bad that my Dad will be on his own on the other side of Manchester 🙁

Keep the lockdown but allow families to meet over the break.

I do all my shopping online and never go out drinking so not really bothered about opening up for a spree/binge.

Missus will only get xmas day off.

TBH, I suspect the powers-that-be have taken the view that people will simply get together with family anyhow in defiance of the mixing regulations at the time, so offering this up is intended as a carrot to allow them to extend lockdown before and after.

^^ I think this too.

It's to stop people calling the police all over Christmas as people [b]will[/b] break lock-down rules and they won't have anywhere near the man-power to deal with them all.

Do we really think it’s worth the cost?

A rhetorical question?

Anyway, where can we can small seasonal birds for our mini-roasts…?

I'm in England. It'd be nice to meet a few mates for a beer or two, but other than that, I'm not really bothered about being in "lockdown".

We used to have quite big family Christmas's* but that tailed off in recent years for one reason or another, so this year won't really be too different. I feel sorry for my nana and grandad though, as theyre bothe about 90 and been locked away since March. They would love to see the family together again, but they wont be able to. The rule of 6 needs looking at imo, as it doesnt account for family sizes properly. Six individuals could all meet up, but a couple with 3 kids can't see a pair of grand parents! For me that's what needs changing for Christmas.

I don't give a shit, but the old folk who have hardly seen anyone all year deserve a break...

*I hosted 22 a few years back and we had to have dinner in a large tent in the garden as I couldn't fit them all in the house for a sit down meal!!

Personally for me it is no big deal to "skip" Christmas. Its just another day. I live in Manchester and haven't seen my family all year but just because one of those days will happen to fall on 25/12 doesn't really change much to me.

Have already cancelled the large family gathering. Stil trying to coordinate the arrangments for three uni students to return home, meet their respective partners etc, manage the youngest still at school etc.

With just immediate family we are already 6, so there is a bit of an issue from the three eldest who want to see their partners (and haven't been able to since forever) and adhering to the rules - think there will be lots of meeting in the cold outside air!

My 89 year old dad is in a bubble with my brother’s household, so I hope that he will be able to have a few days with them. As long as he is not on his own, I am not too concerned if I can’t meet up there as I usually would just for Christmas Day. It would be nice to see him beforehand, after 2nd December if restrictions are eased a little, but if it can’t, then so be it.
Family Christmases have always been important to us, but have never been extravagant so I guess it is less of a wrench than for those with younger and larger families.

It seems a bit bonkers to say we need restrictions to control the virus, and then say, its ok to ignore them for a few days to have to go back into lockdown for all of January.

The advice is something like we'd need a further 5 days of lockdown for every day without restrictions.

Many other faiths have had to go through their festivals in lockdown (Eid, Diwali, etc), what makes xmas any different to those?

Not sure... Lost my dad just before last christmas and my mum this month so, it was always going to be a weird one but it feels like a bit of a double whammy. Plus, it's not so much christmas itself but it was always a time where friends just got together in smaller gatherings, that'll be a big loss.

No reason to think about it at this point though, with 5 weeks of 2020 still to go before then there's plenty of time for an asteroid strike, nuclear war or triffid invasion.

Personally I’d rather they keep the lockdown all through December and even January then open things up properly in February. Transmission in a small room of people is going to be very high and it’ll inevitably lead to further lockdowns. It’ll not be ideal but then this year has been ropey anyway so we may as well finish it that way.

I’d rather see them open the pubs and restaurants rather than allowing meeting at home. The rate is of transmission is much lower there and it’ll help keep some places afloat.

I also don’t want to see the “Boris saves Christmas” headlines...

Many other faiths have had to go through their festivals in lockdown (Eid, Diwali, etc), what makes xmas any different to those?

Only numbers really.

Not to mention British Christmas isn't really a festival of faith anymore, and pretty much universally celebrated in some way, shape or form.

Not by me though, I bloody hate it ha ha, I don't celebrate Xmas, I suffer through it.

triffid invasion.

I for one welcome our Triffid overlords.

I fancy they'd do a better job of it.

“It’s not Christmas without Nan!”

Depending on how well these current restrictions work for some people that may not be a choice some families have.

how you do you fancy coming out of it on the 2nd of Dec (if it’s not delayed) allowed “freedom” for the annual two week retail Xmas orgy, then put back in lockdown for a week before and a week after Xmas?

I'm missing the point spectacularly, but are you implying that people do all their christmas shopping 3rd to 16th December? What about the male half of the population?

Male half of population can just order on line whilst 'browsing the internet' on the toilet.

For me, its not an issue, will be quite nice to have a christmas without the expectations of having see lots of family and xmas work parties.

The people i feel sorry for are elderly relatives, who will be left alone this year, and those small shops that probably rely on xmas footfall money to weather the quiet Jan/Feb months, who will miss out whilst everyone spends their money at Amazon.

I have said to everyone this year, that they are getting presents I can get from local small shops, and actually most family and the few friends we buy for have thought it is a good idea. I think it is something we should all aim for.

I have also told people they won't be getting xmas cards from us, we will be donating to Shelter, and that if they are more than welcome to donate to them as well rather than send us a card.

Male half of population can just order on line whilst ‘browsing the internet’ on the toilet.

very true. sometimes there's no substitute for physical browsing for those hard to buy for people. In previous years, I'd get all that done in one weekday evening in the week before xmas. Praise the lord for late weeknight openings.

Still waiting to hear thoughts from others, but regardless of what Boris says, I don't think the NOTG household should be doing the usual Xmas family get-together...

Mrs NOTG's mum is in her mid 60s
Mrs NOTG's dad is in his 70s and his wife is in her 60s(?) and shielded all year
Mrs NOTG's nan and great auntie are in their 90s
Mrs NOTG's aunt is in her 60s and shielded uncle is in his 70s
Mrs NOTG works for NHS and currently has Covid +ve patient in ward, plus now thought to have had Covid twice (late March and mid October)
I may well have had a second Covid infection, given the repeat achy/painful ribs plus fatigue I had twice, plus I come into contact with lots of people as a postie

Would have loved to have spent a very rare Xmas with my mum (60s) and sister (30s) as I have a decent break from work simply down to rota luck, who think they had Covid in mid March, but they are over the Welsh border before even considering any moral dilemma.

I suspect a very quiet Xmas is on the cards for us, I'd hate to pass Covid on to any of the elderly family. Plus if Mrs NOTGs serious breathing issues was down to genetics, I couldn't see any of her elderly family not ending up in ICU or worse if they caught it.

small shops that probably rely on xmas footfall money to weather the quiet Jan/Feb months, who will miss out whilst everyone spends their money at Amazon.

See also all those restaurants and bars that rely on Xmas to pay for the low footfall months on Jan and Feb.

They can do it if they offer support to all those businesses. Which they won’t.

I have also told people they won’t be getting xmas cards from us,

I'd say of all years this is the one to be sending them. Each drop through the letter box will cheer up the recipient

The government needed to start preparing folks during the latest lockdown briefing. They should be saying that we all need a quiet Christmas this year to ensure our loved ones live to see plenty more christmases in the future

If you have Xmas cards to post, get them sent asap, Royal Mail have not planned this Covid Xmas any differently than a normal one. Depots are already getting to a point where some posties are being told to just take Tracked and Special Delivery parcels, because they don't have space or time to take the letters.

I've got a 2kg ribeye roast in the freezer to cook at Christmas.. i'll be quite content only sharing it with my eldest daughter (wife and youngest daughter are vegetarians)

TBH as said above - people are going to ignore the rules over christmas anyway so i don't really see they've got many options other than to relax things..

Me and Mrs TNW discussed our plans last night. We agreed that, since visiting our families needs to be at least an overnight stay due to distance, and that seems unlikely, and will be uncertain (probably until they make their minds up on December the 23rd) and therefore difficult to plan for (annual leave, travelling, etc.), we should just forget it and take time off and go visit family when restrictions are eased, hopefully Jan/Feb. This is something we've done before in normal years - it's loads easier than trying to negotiate your leave with colleagues who all want the same time off, travel at the same time as everyone else, and going back to work with nothing to look forward to.

BUT... this latest news has thrown a big spanner in those works: the primary gifting period appears to be considered sacred by the government, so that might be the only window of opportunity, with the inevitable spike in infections afterwards delaying our post-lockdown plans. Obviously the battles for annual leave and traffic chaos will be even worse than normal, which makes me want to avoid the whole thing even more, but I'm not sure she'll be so keen.

how you do you fancy coming out of it on the 2nd of Dec (if it’s not delayed) allowed “freedom” for the annual two week retail Xmas orgy, then put back in lockdown for a week before and a week after Xmas?

Not going anywhere, thats whats Amazon and Ocado exist for.   The one question we haven't answered is that should 84yo Great Nan who lives on here own get a cab to ours and mix with kids?   Probably not, yet could we allow her to sit at home all Christmas?  And if we do, should we invite the in-laws (my MIL and her daughter)?

Aka what 'goat said.

THe only family we will potentially see is in Wales, so that may not happen because of that anyhow.

Personally, i'm ok with Lockdown anyway. I've no issues with it at all. If they can keep it locked down until March when i get my motorbike back out, i'm ok with that.

Personally, i’m ok with Lockdown anyway. I’ve no issues with it at all. If they can keep it locked down until March when i get my motorbike back out, i’m ok with that.

Everyone has their own thoughts.

For me:

Personally, proposed xmas relax and subsequent re-lockdown would be the final nail in the already unlikely coffin of going skiing this winter. Thats the happy place that gets me thorugh the dreary months. However, not all about me.

Family-wise, distances to everyone bar my parents necessitates an overnight stay. If the older relatives are happy to see me knowing I've worked up until the 23rd or 24th, then I'll gladly go. It could well be the highlight of the year for some of them and I'd happily make the sacrifices to help them acheive that.

country-wise, stuffing over the leisure and retail industries in one of their most profitable months seems idiotic, and as I've said for this entire pandemic I have higher sympathies for those losing their life's work and livelyhoods.

Many other faiths have had to go through their festivals in lockdown (Eid, Diwali, etc), what makes xmas any different to those?

The economy?
There's A LOT of small shops, etc. that don't sell online and rely upon Xmas trade.

Got very mixed views. Resigned to not being able to have Christmas Day with my parents as kids are a potential virus factory.

Rules will be broken regardless, seems pointless to have the rules there. Maybe allow two households to mix. Give us a week to support small local shops in the run up, a week for Xmas and New Year, and then a proper lockdown on 3rd January for 4 weeks - schools closed this time.

I wonder what the British Muslim community think about all the talk about relaxing rules for Christma? Eid was cancelled on the morning of Eid with the first lockdown

It would be OK if we could have a friend round or SIL as both live on their own. Won't be mixing with the larger family though on both sides as not worth the risks to others. Would be nice if my wife could hug her mum in a nursing home. I expect we will have to be tested and isolate for a few days before just to see her in person.

Fark it if we face more lockdown in January. Had restrictions since July here, in Manchester's least covid infection case Council area, grrr.

I can see two different things here - run-up to Xmas pubs with colleagues/ mates / Christmas shopping. None of that will be allowed to happen.

The other is Xmas day lunch, firstly any restrictions will be widely ignored - we've been able to sit at a table with parents in an resteraunts for months now. Sitting in a home dining room isn't much of a step up risk wise.

Which leads on to, there will be no politician in the land wanting to "steal" xmas dinner / day. Secondly there will be no police officer wanting to go in an break-up xmas lunch.

I would be inclined to expect xmas day to go ahead as "normal", but everything else kiboshed

I'd quite happily swap the 5 days or so of forced family run around Christmas for 5 weeks no travel lockdown which allowed me to get to the lakes and try out my new bike.

Not likely to happen though.

I’m missing the point spectacularly, but are you implying that people do all their christmas shopping 3rd to 16th December? What about the male half of the population?

Thankfully the local Texaco is open until midnight Xmas Eve, in fact they’re open from 6am Christmas Day, Mum loves a set of Jump Leads and you can never have enough distilled urea.

Slightly more seriously though, when lockdown lifted here in Wales the shops went mental.

L

we’ve been able to sit at a table with parents in an resteraunts for months now. Sitting in a home dining room isn’t much of a step up risk wise.

Evidence suggests otherwise.
In a restaurant you sit distanced apart in smaller groups, at home you sit closer together.
Restaurants are generally bigger and better ventilated.
You don’t move around as much when you’re out and you won’t be hugging people as they leave.

It’s safer to open the restaurants and ban meeting at home. Better for the economy too. Though it’ll never happen.