Personally I can’t get my head around this. Lockdown straight after Christmas will be inevitable. The surge of ill people the pressure on the NHS and lives lost. I would love people to stay well and when things are settled have a bank holiday weekend and a party that we can all enjoy. Shielding people will just continue to shield except for those who have to work. I will have to go back to work on the 3rd December as my shielding cover will be finished.
I agree completely but then my friends' nickname for me is "Bah humbug" because hubby and I haven't bothered with Xmas for several years now 🙄😂Seriously though, I can't see why one or two days are important enough to risk lives and I really think that will be the result.
Just read an article about the impact of people not buying flowers...and how much of annual income many small shops earn in run up to Christmas. So yes, it will make a difference. I’m certainly not going to go to the normal effort if it’s just the two of us.
(But maybe I’ll send my sisters some flowers today to cheer them up!)
Interesting... I suppose that I'm not the one to comment on this as I only buy 3 presents! However, I am planning to buy them from a small producer who is struggling and to spend more than usual to help him out rather than just use Amazon.
A further development - one of the three friends (actually the one who is usually the keenest amongst us about Xmas) has just suggested that we forget the presents this year and each donate to our local food bank instead...
On the flower front, I've been sending a few from M & S for a variety of reasons, but the times I've trusted the supermarket and added them to my order they are rubbish so stopped wasting money. I miss them in the house especially this time of year. Superficial with all that's going on, but as you mention it thought I would put my thoughts down. I feel for the industry, but supermarket pickers are not good in my experience. Hmmmm didn't realise how strong I felt till I read that back. Sorry.
You're not alone there, my hubby and me haven't either. I do send the usual Christmas cards but that's it. I have a big family and it was decided many years ago that we would not buy each other presents.
I shall buy the presents, post the cards and get some goodies in as usual. I won't, however, be doing any mingling, visiting or going to parties. Yes, celebrate, but not putting me or mine at risk
I agree totally. I think we have a belated xmas party after xmas if all goes well but a surge after xmas is very likely. Im tired of this now but defo wont be meeting anyone over the festive period as im still highly vulnerable. Stupid decisions but dumb people....rant over lol xx merry xmas everyone xxx
My family are planning to get together for a few hours, although we might not all have Christmas lunch together. Several of us have our own health issues / pregnancies and have not seen each other for many months as we have been very compliant regarding Covid guidance. But, for a few hours on Christmas day we are planning on getting together, it might be one larger group or two smaller groups depending on the guidance that comes forth, we will be complaint in that respect, but meeting up we will do.
For mental health sake, family and new baby bonding I believe it is worth it.
I do agree Mmrr that maybe for one or two days with precautions but what about the days leading up to this? People will go mad shopping and partying. I have to return to work for 3 weeks I have no choice then potentially go into shielding again. This stop and start is effecting my 17 year old
No parties or anything else, and severe penalties on those who do. I don't think partying will be part of the agenda.But controlled meeting up is needed.
I'm really torn about this one, personally. My Mum's a widow and lives on her own several counties away from me. She's been shielding all year, not even leaving the house for a walk, and I've been similar apart from a brief spell back at work for a few weeks - no shopping, no socialising and now back to isoalting again. The prospect of seeing her at Christmas has been like a little bright beacon all year, but now I'm not so sure it's a good plan. We could drive down and pick her up, and drive her back up with us so there'd be no public transport etc involved, but even so - is it worth the risk. I'm starting to think that it isn't.
If you’ve not been out shopping, socialising etc and you mum hasn’t left the house in all that time I’m sure you would all be safe enough if you pick her up in the car. If you ignore the fact it’s Christmas - it’s just a case of seeing and talking to each other. If she is looking forward to it and you are too, I’d go for it. 🌲
I say that as someone who isn’t shielding in that I go out for walks but I don’t come into contact with people, so I’m very cautious- I wouldn’t say I was a recluse - maybe one step up - but I haven’t been in anyone else’s house etc and I’ve only seen my son twice for flying visits since January and that was outside in the garden .
My friends parents have not left the house or had visitors since March they are extremely vulnerable . Both gave Covid and have no idea how they caught it.
We had a similar situation, we think - I had symptoms that seemed covid-like back in April (when no testing was going on outside hospital), having not been out of the house for a month prior apart from one short walk just in my street, where we didn't encounter anyone. We had groceries/veg box delivered, so that's the only way we can think we caught it.
I have similar situation here. 2 months ago my mom insisted I sent her to my auntie’s home as both of them were old, my mom 86 and my auntie 90, they are the only sibling left now, there was no movement control yet then, since she would be in my car hence she would be safe.
I make it the point to call her every week. Since 2 weeks ago, she already said that her knee is killing her, it swell, warm and painful. My auntie lives with her daughter but her daughter is busy enough to take care of her own mom and she runs her own restaurant so my mom doesn’t want to trouble her on my mom’s knee.
Since a month ago, the pandemic has been getting worse here so we have movement control order therefore we are not allowed to cross different state, I can’t pick her up now and I am not sure how long this will end.
Before she went there, I already warned her on this possible movement control order issue but she insisted to go and said that she would be very healthy.
Before that I also called to inform my cousin of my mom’s possible problem and I worried she would have to trouble them if it happened. But then since my auntie insisted my mom to go live with her, so my cousin said it should be ok and she would take care of both of them and let them enjoy their life together as much as they can now.
Our decision base on our good thought to let them enjoy as much time as they can together but now I just can’t do anything and not sure how soon I could take her back.
The movement control order was supposed to end early Nov but extend to another month because covid gets worse. It continues to go up each day until now so I don’t think come early Dec the order will be cancel.
If they are happy together Amy...leave them to enjoy what they want to do.....they will thank you when the rules are lifted. Just because we are old doesn’t mean we can’t make decisions for ourselves.
I am in the same situation I have been shielding all year firstly because of shoulder replacement early in the year then told to shield have not seen family as they live all around the country and up in Scotland too. My sister and sister in law want us to visit their families but I am very concerned- what is the point after all this isolation? They both think I have become a paranoid agoraphobic but I am just very careful at the moment. The extremely vulnerable letters have made me even more concerned!
It is so hard as there are people who are torn and like you have been shielding and are having to think of risk factors etc and then there are others who have not heeded any advice, are hell bent on having Christmas come what may and don't think of the consequences of their actions...they are the ones that trouble me. It is so hard and I hope that whatever you decide you are able to make the choice that is right for you and yours. Take care xx
Completly agree ! It's stupid but the briefing tonight suggests that the tiers will be tougher so maybe stay at home and work from home will be in some areas. I feel so lucky not to be working, although guilty in others x
I so love Christmas for a variety of reasons, but not at the expense of catching or spreading covid. We are both shielding, family are torn as want to see us but as I say not worth it. Christmas is always at our house. Not this year. Makes me sad, but necessary for us.
I'm torn. Got the extremely clinically vulnerable letter. Having a steroid injection next week.But my mother in law is planning a family Xmas dinner with her and her husband. Her daughter, husband and two kids. Plus me and my husband.
Its our first year married so I feel pressure to go. Plus my husbands ex kept him away from his family so I feel extra pressure too. She's super excited about it.
Dont be emotional about the decision. Maybe she could do a huge Easter instead. She would be unhappy if you caught the bug .... and kids have had lots of contacts. Maybe you could do dinner together but you too on zoom.... or if she lives near she could deliver dinner to you. She could step up as best mum in law by realising your safety not her feelings are the issue x
It is indeed a very difficult situation if the other party doesn’t see what you see. If you do decide to go, do put on your mask and keep the distance.
As a follow up to my earlier post, Mum and I decided today that it's not worth the risk for either of us - so Christmas by Skype it is! I guess we decided that having taken so much care for so many months, we don't want to have gone through that and then get sick. Purely personal decision of course, I am in no way criticising anybody who comes to different conclusions. Christmas means the world to me, so this was not an easy choice at all. Hope you are all able to make plans you're happy with xx
Completely understand. Its looking at the bigger picture, difficult tho. Well done for getting it sorted. Stay well and enjoy your zozoom s much as is possible.
I guess we have decide what may be right for us in our given situations and also to think in time to come when we rid this virus of it's chance to infect and potentially cause harm/take the lives of those we love and care about that once we have bid it's farewell be this through vacine, treatments or other that all our Christmases will have come and then there will be time to be thankful and celebrate with those we hold dear. xx
For the first time ever I will be spending Christmas alone. I live in London and family in Yorkshire. I have not seen them since last Christmas. We’ve all agreed it’s just not worth the risk this year and will consider organising something later if we want. It’s a shame but what will be will be 🤷🏻♀️
we have always went to my mother in laws for the past 25 years but they are in their 70,s and have been careful, when we mentioned it to our kids 16 & 21 that we were staying at home for xmas day they were delighted , and even they can see why we are all being so careful, we are very lucky that we have not lost anyone in this pandemic and for that we are very grateful and easter will bring hopefully a big family get together, 😀
Don’t forget all the uni students coming home too.... poor doctors /nurses paramedics are not going to have good Christmas. They will be on their knees.
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Lockdown flare
Do I need to shield if I’ve had the first dose of vaccine? 
Lockdown 
How lucky ... off topic
Another lockdown coming?
