Empathy Only Lockdown for Christmas

[Dante]

I now this skirts the edge of allowed topics for this subject, but London and South East England are now in lockdown even on Christmas day (They say Tier 4, but the restrictions are the same as lockdown). I live alone, which means my Christmas is going to be spent alone, all the Christmas food was sent to the house we were going to be meeting at, so my Christmas meal will likely be a salad or omelette or something simple, and we all held onto our presents for each other so we could exchange them on the day, so that's not happening either, since we were gathering at a different house and since I am living alone I figured I wouldn't bother with any serious Christmas decorations in my home,

So to sum up, my Christmas will consist of me sitting at home, eating a salad with no presents, no decorations, and no company save for the rats who have moved into the attic scratching away through the night. I'm already going crazy from cabin-fever and isolation, and now Christmas is essentially cancelled, it was the ONLY thing I had been looking forward to.

What makes it all so unbearable, makes me so angry i can feel my blood-pressure spiking and my head pounding, is that if all those inconsiderate arseholes who ignored the first lockdown and met with friends anyway had just bothered to follow the rules, this probably wouldn't have been necessary, and whilst I'm sitting home alone trying to keep the will to carry on, they are probably all having fun celebrating at their friends houses for Christmas anyway. This world punishes the good and rewards the inconsiderate, it always has and always will, so what's the fucking point?

 

[SillyOldBear]

Join the club @Dante. I will also be spending Christmas alone. Only difference is I knew it, so have something nice to eat. Many will spending the day alone this year.
And in USofA, where I live, they are now debating who should get vaccine next. The older people, like me, who are more likely to die of it, or the essential workers. I have a feeling the essential workers will win out. And us old people can just get sick and die.

 

[Dante]

Join the club @Dante. I will also be spending Christmas alone. Only difference is I knew it, so have something nice to eat. Many will spending the day alone this year...

My issue isnt just the fact that im spending it alone, which does suck for anyone in that position, but that we (in London) found out we would be spending it alone with only a few days notice, not enough to change any plans, so no presents have been sent in the mail, no christmas food has been prepared, nothing, its all just cancelled.

But you do have a point, so, since I am clearly not the only one spending Christmas alone due to Covid, To all who read this, if you are spending Christmas alone, feel free to use this thread to vent your feelings on the subject if you would like. This thread was originally just for me to complain, but that's selfish, so the more the merrier.

...And in USofA, where I live, they are now debating who should get vaccine next. The older people, like me, who are more likely to die of it, or the essential workers. I have a feeling the essential workers will win out. And us old people can just get sick and die.

Not necessarily, in the UK we are prioritising the elderly over essential workers. This is because the Pfizer vaccine shows good results with the elderly and not all the vaccines in the works do, so when we approve later ones they may not work as well for the elderly, so they are prioritising the elderly whilst the main vaccine in circulation is shown to work for them, if the US comes to the same conclusion, you could be in with a shot, although the Maderna vaccine supposedly also works well in older people, so who knows.

Good luck either way.

 

[Champagne]

Hi @Dante I was just reading about the cancelled Christmas on the Daily Mail in the UK. I feel so sorry for you and the millions that will have to spend the day alone, all the cancelled plans, heartbroken aduts and kids, I would feel the exact same as it is the only thing I have to look forward to too. I am so sorry your plans which you were looking forward to are now ceased, I feel for you so bad and anyone else that has to spend Christmas alone. Words just aren't enough... I hope you find a little comfort in the fact the vaccines in the UK have started already and here's to a brighter, less isolated 2021. What this virus has done to people's mental health is just .. heartbreaking. I'm so sorry Dante. x

 

[Dante]

Don't feel too bad for me @Champagne, I haven't had a rental agreement yet where I haven't found a loophole I could use, in my first year of university I even found a loophole which allowed me to have a campfire in my bedroom if I wanted. I'm sure I can find SOME way to spend Christmas with my family without breaking the rules, and I have now set my mind to this challenge. If I post back here on christmas eve miserable and alone, then you will know I failed, otherwise, Merry Christmas.

 

[Sunspots]

Hi Dante - if you're alone you can form a support bubble with one other household (as long as you are their only support bubble) so I'm sure there's a way for you to be with family.

I guess I'm lucky that I'm not alone. I have my husband and my mother (who is in a support bubble with us) but as things are very strained between us all I was relying on my son and his partner to bring some cheer.

It's absolutely heartbreaking to spring this on families at such short notice, especially when over the last couple of weeks they have repeatedly told us that the Christmas relaxation would definitely go ahead.

 

[Dante]

Hi Dante - if you're alone you can form a support bubble with one other household (as long as you are their only support bubble) so I'm sure there's a way for you to be with family.

I guess I'm lucky that I'm not alone. I have my husband and my mother (who is in a support bubble with us) but as things are very strained between us all I was relying on my son and his partner to bring some cheer.

It's absolutely heartbreaking to spring this on families at such short notice, especially when over the last couple of weeks they have repeatedly told us that the Christmas relaxation would definitely go ahead.

Yea, I was thinking that might work for me, but that still means I can only see either my dad or my brother (sister is isolating to avoid brother in law getting Covid) its probably what I'm gonna have to do, but I'm still looking for a way to get all of us together.

Thanks At least I wont be ALONE at christmas, even if its gonna be a small christmas

 

[DrownedFishOnFire]

Join the club @Dante. I will also be spending Christmas alone. Only difference is I knew it, so have something nice to eat. Many will spending the day alone this year.
And in USofA, where I live, they are now debating who should get vaccine next. The older people, like me, who are more likely to die of it, or the essential workers. I have a feeling the essential workers will win out. And us old people can just get sick and die.

My states portioning the first rounds to the healthcare workers and residents/employees of LTC sector: nursing homes, rehab, group homes etc thats who is the hardest hit. The LTC sector we lost the majority vs any other population in this state. It will be more likely 1-2 months before I even do vaccine if i decide to. Im allergic to many meds. The 2nd most vital is the black communities they also have higher morality rates in the city. Thats where it will go too.

It sucks. But with two companies now in the equation it will work quicker. I know Pfizers vitals had enough for one or two more doses than what was labeled and they authorized to go ahead and give those shots too to get more people vaccinated so it might even be few weeks earlier than ancipated now getting most of the people in and out. They will more likely do next rounds on the older population first. Will be few months 🙏

Cheers

 

[DrownedFishOnFire]

@Dante im kind of in the same boat. Spent my thanksgiving at work and then at home alone due to covid hitting my worksite hard.

It sucks again for Christmas but ill be roostered into work it still is not the same. Ill be spending christmas day evening alone. We can come on here and spend the time chatting here on SF

 

[Nick]

Hi @Dante,
I do understand. While I had a bit more notice than you did, I had cancel my Christmas trip last week. My family is either a 36hr drive or a 5hr-7hr plane ride (depending on flight pattern and airport) away. I did sort of know this was coming. My dad and brother have sent presents in the mail, but the post is not promising delivery by Christmas so it is unknown if they will arrive. There is no loophole for me to work around. There was no way for me to comply with regulations, maintain safety AND go and see them. My local area is currently a hotspot and mixing households is not on the table. So, my cat Calypso and I will spend the holiday alone.

It's not what I had expected Christmas this year. This year was supposed to be the best Christmas ever, and who knows maybe it still will be, but it certainly isn't what had been envisioned going into 2020. I hope you get to spend it with at least some family and you get to have a nice meal.

 

[Sunspots]

Sorry @Nick, that's pants

 

[Healthanxious]

A lot of people are spending Christmas alone and it sucks. Maybe you can do a video chat Christmas celebration with your friends and family, that's what I'm going to do.

 

[Angie74]

I'm spending Christmas Day alone. But I am very fortunate and blessed. I do have more than adequate food, etc. And I've managed to have some social time....

 

[Angie74]

I'll probably pop by here Christmas day, depending on my phone and internet situation.

 

[Dante]

Ok, update, I had christmas with my dad, his girlfriend and their dog, and EXTREMELY hyper 5 month old cocker spaniel. My brother set up video calling with the whole family so we did get to interact a bit and share present opening. And i did manage to get my brother's present to him, which I wrapped with:
- 2 large sections of Polyethylene foam which I cut into shapes to form a box
- 4 packets of Super-glue
- 1 packet of cocktail sticks
- 50m of Gorilla tape
- a large cardboard box (cut up and made into 2 smaller carboard layers)
- 2 packets of cable ties, one in red and the other in green
- some wrapping paper and cello tape.

It took him a good 10 minutes to get into it, even with a knife, and I got to watch via video chat. So somewhat salvaged.

 

[SillyOldBear]

@Dante. I got a gift wrapped up in similar fashion once. Rules were, no scissors allowed. Not sure if I was angry or amused.

 

[Dante]

@Dante. I got a gift wrapped up in similar fashion once. Rules were, no scissors allowed. Not sure if I was angry or amused.

My brother looked like he may have been a bit annoyed but played along anyway, until he reached the ziptie later, it was such intricate work (took me hours) that he started to appreciate the journey after that.

What was used to wrap yours?

 

[SillyOldBear]

@Dante been so many years ago but I believe it was plaster of Paris, lots of newspaper secured by lots of glue.

My brother used to give chewing gum packages to his daughter. The first time she was real disappointed. He told her to look further. He would take the gum out and then carefully wrap money inside instead. Must have been hard to do. She never complained about gum packages again.

 

[Dante]

@Dante been so many years ago but I believe it was plaster of Paris, lots of newspaper secured by lots of glue.

My brother used to give chewing gum packages to his daughter. The first time she was real disappointed. He told her to look further. He would take the gum out and then carefully wrap money inside instead. Must have been hard to do. She never complained about gum packages again.

I appreciate someone who turns wrapping into a thing of its own, too many just think "cover the present and make it pretty", but not, it should be WAY more involved