Reduction in social gatherings.

[py_megapixel]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned but just heard on the morning news on Radio 4 that Wales will also be reducing to 6, but only for indoor gatherings.

 

[C J Snarzell]

Yes and I don’t like that either!

As if this year hasn’t been bad enough already, all we now need is for the big Christmas frenzy to start *even earlier* than it normally does.

I don't like Christmas either - the hype for it now is ridiculous. Last year, my local Tesco was playing festive tunes at the beginning of November. I am hoping that the Covid measures might take some of the edge off all the nonscene we have to endure year after year.

CJ

 

[Nicholas43]

...these clowns are asking us to obey a new law as of next Monday

which has not yet been 'laid before parliament' as of Friday morning, and which MPs will not be able to debate or amend.

 

[Bantamzen]

I don't like Christmas either - the hype for it now is ridiculous. Last year, my local Tesco was playing festive tunes at the beginning of November. I am hoping that the Covid measures might take some of the edge off all the nonscene we have to endure year after year.

CJ

That "nonsense" being families coming together? Maybe you don't like it, but you can easily avoid it. But wishing for other people to have a miserable time is a bit mean to say the least.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That "nonsense" being families coming together? Maybe you don't like it, but you can easily avoid it. But wishing for other people to have a miserable time is a bit mean to say the least.

I can see a few people are revelling in this because there is an expectation for them to meet with family, with serious fall-outs likely if they don't, but they don't want to...

 

[scotrail158713]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned but just heard on the morning news on Radio 4 that Wales will also be reducing to 6, but only for indoor gatherings.

Once again Wales are taking the sensible option. Their initial easing of lockdown was maybe too cautious compared to the rest of the UK, but they’re now proving again that they’re the only ones left with any real sense.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Once again Wales are taking the sensible option. Their initial easing of lockdown was maybe too cautious compared to the rest of the UK, but they’re now proving again that they’re the only ones left with any real sense.

The thing is that Welsh independence is totally non-viable (you'd end up with something with an even weaker economy than Albania if you did), and thus there isn't the same game of one-upmanship as there is with Scotland.

 

[talldave]

Once again Wales are taking the sensible option. Their initial easing of lockdown was maybe too cautious compared to the rest of the UK, but they’re now proving again that they’re the only ones left with any real sense.

I have to disagree there, they're going down the mask stupidity route.

 

[scotrail158713]

I have to disagree there, they're going down the mask stupidity route.

What stupidity? Not mandating masks everywhere?

 

[talldave]

What stupidity? Not mandating masks everywhere?

Stupidity = introducing a requirement based on zero evidence it has any effect and increasing evidence that it actually has a negative impact.

But that discussion is for another thread...

 

[Smidster]

That "nonsense" being families coming together? Maybe you don't like it, but you can easily avoid it. But wishing for other people to have a miserable time is a bit mean to say the least.

It isn't the bit around families getting together that is "nonsense" (although it is certainly not an easy time of year for many families) it is all the rubbish that goes alongside Christmas that makes it a pretty rubbish time of the year.

The pressure to buy silly amounts of money on stuff that no-one actually wants is miserable and represents everything that is wrong with society.

Unfortunately it is the needless consumerism that we are probably still going to be able to do this Christmas - Even if you can't actually get together.

 

[Bantamzen]

It isn't the bit around families getting together that is "nonsense" (although it is certainly not an easy time of year for many families) it is all the rubbish that goes alongside Christmas that makes it a pretty rubbish time of the year.

The pressure to buy silly amounts of money on stuff that no-one actually wants is miserable and represents everything that is wrong with society.

Unfortunately it is the needless consumerism that we are probably still going to be able to do this Christmas - Even if you can't actually get together.

Restrictions aren't going to stop retailers trying to get people to buy stuff, restrictions are trying to stop people seeing other people which for a lot of people is what Christmas is about.

 

[ainsworth74]

Reminder that the face covering thread is located here.

 

[C J Snarzell]

That "nonsense" being families coming together? Maybe you don't like it, but you can easily avoid it. But wishing for other people to have a miserable time is a bit mean to say the least.

Nonsense is the sheer commercialised aspect of Christmas with the festive season starting from the end of October - by the beginning of December I'm already sick and fed up of listening to the same Christmas tunes we have to endure year after year. Birthdays and wedding anniversaries are family celebrations, but we don't start celebrating them weeks in advance.

CJ

 

[Bantamzen]

Nonsense is the sheer commercialised aspect of Christmas with the festive season starting from the end of October - by the beginning of December I'm already sick and fed up of listening to the same Christmas tunes we have to endure year after year. Birthdays and wedding anniversaries are family celebrations, but we don't start celebrating them weeks in advance.

CJ

Like I said, that won't diminish because of any restrictions, if anything the bombardment will be worse as companies try to recover losses from earlier in the year. However you can choose to zone it out, or avoid it altogether.

But restrictions will impact on families trying to get to see each other.

 

[adc82140]

Here are the exeptions:

[Withdrawn] How to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19)

www.gov.uk

There will be exceptions where groups can be larger than 6 people, including:

where everyone lives together or is in the same support bubble, or to continue existing arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both their parents
for work, and voluntary or charitable services
for education, training, registered childcare, or providers offering before or after-school clubs for children
fulfilling legal obligations such as attending court or jury service
providing emergency assistance, or providing support to a vulnerable person
for you or someone else to avoid illness, injury or harm
participate in children’s playgroups
wedding and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions, or for other religious life-cycle ceremonies - where up to 30 people will be able to attend
funerals - where up to 30 people will be able to attend
organised indoor and outdoor sports, physical activity and exercise classes (see the list of recreational team sports, outdoor sport and exercise allowed under the gyms and leisure centre guidance
youth groups or activities
elite sporting competition or training
protests and political activities organised in compliance with COVID-19 secure guidance and subject to strict risk assessments

So protests are allowed. In which case have as many as you like, then shout "Down with Boris" if a policeman comes.

 

[WelshBluebird]

So protests are allowed. In which case have as many as you like, then shout "Down with Boris" if a policeman comes.

I suspect you would caught out by the "subject to strict risk assessments" caveat!

 

[Huntergreed]

Sturgeon is saying she’s going to consult experts to see if it’s safe to exempt children from the “2 household” rule to allow for birthday parties of up to 6 for example.

Goodness knows how England is able to allow 6 households, surely this wouldn’t possibly be political one-upmanship, would it?

 

[C J Snarzell]

Like I said, that won't diminish because of any restrictions, if anything the bombardment will be worse as companies try to recover losses from earlier in the year. However you can choose to zone it out, or avoid it altogether.

But restrictions will impact on families trying to get to see each other.

I agree Crimbo is good for families getting together and I really see it as just a day to relax and enjoy a good meal and have a couple of drinks. I simply don't like the endless build up to it with Christmas everywhere. It just encroaches on the year too much now - 30 years ago Christmas was strictly confined to December but we now seem to embrace it from the end of October which I don't agree with.

CJ

 

[Bantamzen]

I agree Crimbo is good for families getting together and I really see it as just a day to relax and enjoy a good meal and have a couple of drinks. I simply don't like the endless build up to it with Christmas everywhere. It just encroaches on the year too much now - 30 years ago Christmas was strictly confined to December but we now seem to embrace it from the end of October which I don't agree with.

CJ

That one is an issue to take up with retailers & advertisers.

 

[C J Snarzell]

That one is an issue to take up with retailers & advertisers.

....and the radio stations!!!

 

[scotrail158713]

Goodness knows how England is able to allow 6 households, surely this wouldn’t possibly be political one-upmanship, would it?

What else could it possibly be?
Unless of course there is some magic Covid change that happens at Hadrians Wall.

 

[S&CLER]

Here are the exeptions:

[Withdrawn] How to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19)

www.gov.uk

So protests are allowed. In which case have as many as you like, then shout "Down with Boris" if a policeman comes.

There's nothing on that list specifically about coach travel. I've just organised a coach holiday for 36 pax, members of a walking club, in October. The company took the balance cheques on Tuesday, and my own cheque had cleared already by Wednesday. So far I have heard nothing to suggest that we will be prevented from going, so I'm assuming that group travel of this kind is still OK. I'm not worried, since we got our money back without difficulty when we had to cancel in April. I notice from an email received earlier today that Ramblers Walking Holidays are adopting a policy of 1 leader for every 5 walkers on their holidays, so no doubt we shall have to do the same.

 

[stevetay3]

How can it be safe for hundreds to meet in the workplace, but only six to meet at private homes.?

I suppose anything that envloves making money for our paymasters is OK anything else a big No No.
Why can they not just say this.

 

[3rd rail land]

How can it be safe for hundreds to meet in the workplace, but only six to meet at private homes.?

I suppose anything that envloves making money for our paymasters is OK anything else a big No No.
Why can they not just say this.

I expect its a case of balancing the need to limit the number of virus cases and to keep the economy going.
I doubt hundreds are meeting in the workplace. A lot of office will be quite empty with a fraction of the usual workforce frequenting them. Perhaps in places such as warehouses and factories but closing these down would decimate our economy so badly I don't know if it would ever recover.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I suppose anything that envloves making money for our paymasters is OK

This "us and them" is really unhelpful. We need jobs as much as "our paymasters" (as you put it) need the work done. And they need our custom to be able to have a business to offer those jobs. It's all interlinked, treating it as adversarial (like the railway often does) just doesn't work.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

How can it be safe for hundreds to meet in the workplace, but only six to meet at private homes.?

I suppose anything that envloves making money for our paymasters is OK anything else a big No No.
Why can they not just say this.

Because most of the rules they are coming up with have more holes than a sieve?

 

[adc82140]

I notice from an email received earlier today that Ramblers Walking Holidays are adopting a policy of 1 leader for every 5 walkers on their holidays, so no doubt we shall have to do the same.

Clever. I like it.

 

[Jamiescott1]

The new regulations also state "When you visit one of these places, such as a pub, shop, leisure venue, restaurant or place of worship you should..... provide contact details"

Does that mean you need to provide contact details to shops ?

 

[Nicholas43]

The Scottish new regulations from 14 September 2020 (but not yet, as far as I can see, the English) have been published. Warning: it's a long and complex read!
SSI 2020 / 279
I am struggling to understand the (repeated) provision which allows (I think) any gathering of students which

is taking place in student accommodation, where all the persons in the gathering—
(i) are using cooking, dining, toilet or washing facilities which are shared with any [my italics] person who is not a member of their household, and
(ii) have the accommodation as their only or main residence.