When will this shit end?

[Zoo Music Girl]

9 minutes ago, Fuzzy Afro said:

Just to reassure you a bit, a family member of mine is going through cancer treatment at the minute and has been told they are not at any additional risk because of the cancer. If your in-law is going through chemo, then that’s a different story because they need to immunosuppress you, but cancer itself and treatments like surgery and radiotherapy do not increase risk of developing serious covid 🙂 

Yep I'm aware of all that as once of my best friends is having chemo. My in-laws just have plenty on their plate already with the cancer and the age bracket already makes them high risk.

[Fuzzy Afro]

1 minute ago, zahidf said:

I dont see how the govt can cancel Xmas now... Maybe reduce the time period? instead of 5 days, have 3 days ( Xmas Eve-Boxing Day)

I could see something like that. “If you can, just drive round for Christmas dinner itself. If you need to use public transport then only go for 2 nights”

[xxialac]

2 minutes ago, Fuzzy Afro said:

I’m smelling a u-turn at least in part. They’re already moving towards “discouraging” people from making full use of the three household bubbles. 

The right thing to do here is to change their minds.

So they won't.

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, zahidf said:

I dont see how the govt can cancel Xmas now... Maybe reduce the time period? instead of 5 days, have 3 days ( Xmas Eve-Boxing Day)

It’s quite easy, they get up in front of the podium at a press briefing and say ‘blah blah blah sorry, cases high, Christmas relaxation is cancelled’. 😉

They are setting us up for it if you look closely. The messaging has changed already. I think it’s coming. 
 

Reducing it to 3 days won’t do anything, that would be a fairly pointless move. 

Edited December 15, 2020 by Ozanne

[Fuzzy Afro]

1 minute ago, Zoo Music Girl said:

Yep I'm aware of all that as once of my best friends is having chemo. My in-laws just have plenty on their plate already with the cancer and the age bracket already makes them high risk.

Yeah it’s not ideal for over 75s. Hopefully my one remaining grandparent doesn’t get covid. 

[Zoo Music Girl]

5 minutes ago, Fuzzy Afro said:

Yeah it’s not ideal for over 75s. Hopefully my one remaining grandparent doesn’t get covid. 

We are just so close to them getting vaccinated now that it feels a bit reckless to take the risk. Not my direct family though and ultimately not my decision so will go with what everyone is comfortable with. We've already decided not to see my family or either of our siblings, thinking we will do bigger gatherings in spring when it's safer.

I absolutely cannot see the government u-turning on this, but I do expect a lot of "be careful" messaging over the next few days. Which will be heeded by those who are already careful and ignored by those who are not.

Edited December 15, 2020 by Zoo Music Girl

[Fuzzy Afro]

Hearing good things about the chances of a Brexit deal. 

[squirrelarmy]

4 minutes ago, Ozanne said:

Reducing it to 3 days won’t do anything, that would be a fairly pointless move

If anything it will add to the problems as people who planned to do things for the full 5 days will try do the same things in 3 days so more people crammed into houses. 
 

Grow some balls Boris and cancel the lot. 

[zahidf]

5 minutes ago, Ozanne said:

It’s quite easy, they get up in front of the podium at a press briefing and say ‘blah blah blah sorry, cases high, Christmas relaxation is cancelled’. 😉

They are setting us up for it if you look closely. The messaging has changed already. I think it’s coming. 
 

Reducing it to 3 days won’t do anything, that would be a fairly pointless move. 

Maybe but its unenfroceable and people arent going to change their plans really IMO at his late stage. I think its better to try and manage it so people do it in a safe manner

[Fuzzy Afro]

Effectively criminalising most of the British population would be a bold move 

[Guest]

1 minute ago, zahidf said:

Maybe but its unenfroceable and people arent going to change their plans really IMO at his late stage. I think its better to try and manage it so people do it in a safe manner

All of the rules are unenforceable really, and besides just because a small few will meet up anyway it isn’t a reason to not act for the greater good. They can’t manage the situation now, let alone allowing a Christmas truce. I know you are desperate for some form of normality but it really is the right thing to do for the government to cancel this. We are going to have to wait for that normality just a little bit longer. Nearly everyone is saying it now, it is the right thing to do.

[incident]

6 minutes ago, zahidf said:

I dont see how the govt can cancel Xmas now... Maybe reduce the time period? instead of 5 days, have 3 days ( Xmas Eve-Boxing Day)

They can fuck off with any changes this late on to be honest. People have made plans in good faith based on the announced rules.

I've been close to isolating for a week now in order that I can see my parents safely / normally over Christmas, and after an Ocado delivery tomorrow doubt I'll see another human before I drive down on the 23rd other than from afar.

Plus reducing the timescale like that would put more pressure on roads and transport on those days. Yes, the rules may be a likely problem, but the way to prevent issues now is for better messaging about risks not to change the rules again.

[stuartbert two hats]

4 minutes ago, Zoo Music Girl said:

We are just so close to them getting vaccinated now that it feels a bit reckless to take the risk. Not my direct family though and ultimately not my decision so will go with what everyone is comfortable with. We've already decided not to see my family or either of our siblings, thinking we will do bigger gatherings in spring when it's safer.

I absolutely cannot see the government u-turning on this, but I do expect a lot of "be careful" messaging over the next few days. Which will be heeded by those who are already careful and ignored by those who are not.

So basically, we think the Government's master plan to save thousands of lives will boil down to:

Sounds about right.

[faymondo]

My worry is that giving the 5 days will lead to a view of oh well might as well carry it on for the holiday period and that would include new years as well. 

Give people an inch and they take a yard. 

I am sure we have all bent the rules at times but this large relaxation of the rules gives people and excuse to bend them to the limit !

[zahidf]

 

Doh

[zahidf]

5 minutes ago, Ozanne said:

All of the rules are unenforceable really, and besides just because a small few will meet up anyway it isn’t a reason to not act for the greater good. They can’t manage the situation now, let alone allowing a Christmas truce. I know you are desperate for some form of normality but it really is the right thing to do for the government to cancel this. We are going to have to wait for that normality just a little bit longer. Nearly everyone is saying it now, it is the right thing to do.

Or if you keep changing the rules on people last minute, they'll just say 'fuck it ill do what I want.'

[Fuzzy Afro]

1 minute ago, zahidf said:

 

Doh

If they’ve managed to lose track of how many old biddies and NHS workers have been jabbed in a week then how on earth are they meant to count how many of us have been vaccinated when the mass centres open next year? Wow. 

[Guest]

Just now, zahidf said:

Or if you keep changing the rules on people last minute, they'll just say 'fuck it ill do what I want.'

No, because the country isn’t full of children.

We are entering the winter of a pandemic, people should be adult enough to understand the situation can change rapidly and as such rules will need to as well. 

[Euphoricape]

19 minutes ago, Ozanne said:

It’s quite easy, they get up in front of the podium at a press briefing and say ‘blah blah blah sorry, cases high, Christmas relaxation is cancelled’. 😉

They are setting us up for it if you look closely. The messaging has changed already. I think it’s coming. 
 

Reducing it to 3 days won’t do anything, that would be a fairly pointless move. 

I agree with you, the messaging is definitely changing. I would guess an announcement incoming by the end of the week.

[Fuzzy Afro]

Just off the phone with a mate who’s a police officer and he told me that the force are shitting themselves that a u-turn is incoming. Last thing they want to be doing is enforcing household mixing bans on Christmas Day. 

[gigpusher]

We've opted not to be in any bubbles at all because I don't trust my husband's family members not to be seeing way more than we should. We'll meet my brother and sister in law outdoors for a dog walk and do a present exchange at the end but that's all we are doing. We've come so far and are so close I just don't see the point in taking risks now. 

[xxialac]

Covid doesn't respect pre-announced fixed plans (which is why its better to have a framework, rather than determine the action itself in advance).

Anyone who complains about the rules changing needs to take a long look at themselves.

They are changing because a pandemic is growing out of control. That good enough reason for you?

 

[dotdash79]

11 minutes ago, zahidf said:

 

Doh

Interesting as I know the majority of the vaccine hubs have had reporting set up to go to NHS digital. I don’t know how often that report is set up to send the data. 

[incident]

2 minutes ago, xxialac said:

Anyone who complains about the rules changing needs to take a long look at themselves.

They are changing because a pandemic is growing out of control. That good enough reason for you?

No. That's flat out incorrect. They'd be changing because the government got them wrong in the first place.

[WestCountryGirl]

I'm sure this will label me an immature, selfish brat, but if the rules do change at this point, I'm going to be absolutely devastated. 

I haven't seen my parents since July. With the relaxation, my boyfriend and I have planned to go and spend Christmas with my parents. Two households. As we live in Liverpool, we're lucky enough to be able to get tested before we go (though I know that isn't perfect), just to give us some more peace of mind. 

Knowing that I would be seeing my parents soon is the only thing that has been getting me through. The only thing. Knowing that it is coming up has meant I have not been crying every day, wondering when I'll next be with my family. 

So thanks, I'll take a "long hard look at myself" when I'm upset, put out, disappointed that there's a rules change, and remind myself of what a twat I am for needing to see my parents in the most responsible way we could.