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Get a grip woman!
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Hadn't heard about them ceasing- goes along with Arcadia and Bon Marche (and Debenhams in March, by the looks of it) There's never a good time, but I always think that losing (or knowing you will lose) your job around Christmas puts such a dampener on things.
Such a hard year for so manyI am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soulRepaid mtge early (orig 11/25) 01/09 £124616 01/11 £89873 01/13 £52546 01/15 £12133 07/15 £NILNet sales 2024: £206 -
Puts things into perspective doesn’t it with the losses that so many have suffered this year.DFW (08/08) £64,346.53 Gone (02/19)
MFW (08/08) £118k Gone (09/23)3 -
We had a call with our bubble person last night and he is going where he usually goes for Christmas - but coming back to us for after the 27th for New Year. He might also come the week before Christmas if we drop back into Tier 1 as we can socialise in the Village a bit then and he likes it here.
This means we might only be three. I think I will ask DH if we can check what our dog-walking friend is doing, so that she isn't on her own if she would prefer company. Christmas is kind of creeping up on me and I must get the cards underway - I found the cards I could not find last year and made a mental note of where they are!! - they were bought two years ago in the post Christmas reductions. Good job they don't have a use-by date. It does mean they are very MSE of course!!Save £12k in 2025 #2 I am at £4863.32 out of £6000 after May (81.05%)
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I am at £1286.68/£3000 or 42.89% of my annual spend so far
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the Grow your own thread
My new diary is here7 -
I am completely clueless as to what will happen on Christmas Day. Our usual plans are we descend to Mrs SJ's parents for the day (only a 10minute walk), as do sister in law, and bro in law. All in all usually 15 of us, plus 3 dogs. Sister in law and clan have been very adherent to the rules throughout in order to protect both their sets of parents. But on the flip side bro in law just does whatever they feel like..., which causes friction. We kind of sit in the middle in that Mrs SJ has adopted caring type duties, I haven't been since April (other than a mercy mission to fix the washing machine and then we made sure that they were out). All 3 siblings also have in laws the other way still going with various degrees of health issues, and its like the elephant in the room, without being in a room, that no one wants to instigate a discussion!
And there must hundreds of thousands of families in the same predicament...other than the great unwashed who will do as they please...!MFW: Was: £136,000.......Now: £47,736.58......7 -
Is your bubble person breaking the bubble by visiting around, SL? I'm not criticising - because I just see my sister, and she lives on her own, I'm actually clueless on the detail.
Good job on finding the cards! Mine are now sitting on the windowsill, along with the lists of who received/ sent last year
Jimmy! Best of luck with talking about it - it really does need talking about. That's the thing with big gatherings, isn't it - there's usually going to be one person who, as you say, just does whatever they feel like. Hope you find a solution that feels worth it to you.2023: the year I get to buy a car5 -
My understanding of the bubble is that it must be someone who lives on their own and they became a virtual member of your household when (or since) the concept was introduced back in July for support purposes - then for the period between 23rd December and 27th December all the Tier rules are off, and the rule is three households (and if your bubble person is there, they count within your household). So your bubble person could travel to see their family for the Christmas rules, then resume their support bubble afterwards, or they can stay in their bubble virtual household and be with two others (each of which could include a single bubble person too, conceivably). There is no limit on numbers in the three households thing.
In our person's case, he explained to me that he would very much like to spend Christmas Day with the elderly couple he normally sees (they have a bubble person who lives on his own too) and has not seen for months, and another health impaired couple who live in the Lincolnshire Wolds, miles from anyone who have been on their own since March. By virtue of the whole County being in Tier 3 because Kings Lynn and Boston have got problems, they have been further restrained. So three households, all very risk averse (our person has rheumatoid arthritis with the consequential immunosuppressant drugs), and in my view, they are low risk to us when he resumes in our bubble after Christmas. He is also planning his last shop until January next week, to avoid any crowds.
I've also just emailed the other people we normally see for New Year to see what they want to do, depending on the rules.That is the bubble person (who will be with us) and two other couples. One couple has a diabetes sufferer and the other has one with a blood condition (too much iron; haemochromatosis) that means they have to have some blood regularly removed to prevent organ damage. I'm half expecting a no thanks but we could do something outside (brrr!) or virtual (if there is any bandwidth that night!)
@shangaijimmy Jimmy, I feel your pain. In Mrs SJ's position I would be inclined to moot the idea that her parents came to you as the carer who has been having the contact already and just say to the others that you can't choose between them and don't want to risk it, suggesting their in-laws as an alternative - and see if anyone minds or objects - you might find a big sense of relief that someone has suggested something, even if they don't agree. By moving it to yours, you take the risky BIL out, and could possibly extend to be with or without yours, siblings dependant. ...Of course it is always more complicated than that!
Save £12k in 2025 #2 I am at £4863.32 out of £6000 after May (81.05%)
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I am at £1286.68/£3000 or 42.89% of my annual spend so far
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the Grow your own thread
My new diary is here6 -
My head hurts trying to work that all out! And in our case I'm doing the honourable thing and staying out of it!!MFW: Was: £136,000.......Now: £47,736.58......5
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I concur that christmas is sneaking up rather too quickly! I was utterly bamboozled by R2 playing christmas songs the other day when I went out in the car for the first time in a week.
I'm assuming i'm invited to my parentsotherwise all the more sausage rolls for me that i've just made up and frozen in readiness & a date with some floor filler and sealant
sounds like you're got a pretty good grasp on it all SL- Mortgage: 1st one down, 2nd also busted
- Student Loan gone
Swagbucks, Mingle, GiffGaff, Prolific, Qmee & Quidco; thank you MSE every little bit helps7 -
trix-a-belle said:I concur that christmas is sneaking up rather too quickly! .....
sounds like you're got a pretty good grasp on it all SLand SL, thanks for that, it must feel good when everyone is being so sensible that you can use the regulations to the full, I'm pleased for you.
I turned down my Christmas invite today - I phoned them, it was only fair to speak to them myself, I felt so sad for the time they've had (non-covid emergencies) but trying to look forward to May when I want to arrange something.
Hope you've had a good day, SL, and not got too cold.2023: the year I get to buy a car6 -
Well I rummaged the cupboard under the stairs and found the cards - plenty hopefully (8 boxes of ten and a collection of little ones for local doors). And I had two lovely Zoom calls with friends, offering to host one friend if she cannot have her son home for Christmas Day from his supported living. She is also at risk (cancer surviver) and so is he. She is currently back to contact through the window and everyone finding it very hard.
This morning I must go shopping - I was going to get DH to do the other town bits (eg buy stamps) but I might not wait for him to get up - I would rather go early and get it done before there are more people about. He will want to wait until 9.00 so the PO is open (understandable with nowhere for a coffee). It might be good for both cars to have a little run out really.
Money is tight and I must top up from the emergency pot (it's why it is there) but I must get some cash too as I have DS's car insurance on my card this month and it is the only way to reimburse me without going in to the bank!
Save £12k in 2025 #2 I am at £4863.32 out of £6000 after May (81.05%)
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I am at £1286.68/£3000 or 42.89% of my annual spend so far
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the Grow your own thread
My new diary is here8
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