How Are People Feeling about Large Gathering This Christmas?
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Trying to decide how many Christmas public events to attend... Town light switch on's, garden centre Xmas trails, visits to winter wonderland in London etc. Just wondering people's options on these events regarding safety of not catching covid... Is it too risky?
Thanks to online shopping I will not be venturing to any shopping centres.
On the flip side, I am going to Riga to see the Christmas Markets, although I understand face masks will be mandatory onboard the plane.
Malls are dying out as it is and online shopping has only accelerated the process. The fourth industrial revolution is ongoing and humanity feels ever so more disconnected.
i do most shopping online but now with covid things in place it will be safer than before as long as others too are considerate, maybe select a few you want to go to depending on venue.
wonderingsoul that's the problem I'm having, during half term holidays we visited a few attractions covid restrictions/precautions seem to be not existent now. Legoland for instance, rides that had enough seats for more than one household - they just piled in next family too! No space in queues, staff not masked, soooo many people and most hand sanitizer were empty.
Hopefully having a family gathering this year as long as everyone stays Covid clear 
Its of course down to the individual how much risk your willing to take. Personally i take every precaution I can, so I'm happy enough to go to some events.
Glitterandgold I too take every precaution and have done since start but did still catch covid last year and fear it's everyone else around me seeming not to take any precaution I worry about.
I sincerely hope to have the whole family round christmas has much more magic when there are children present, i love to see their faces light up or a smile at a surprise.
SharonBardell I completely agree, the happiness and excitement from the little ones is what makes Christmas magical!
Honestly we haven't had a big family gathering since my mum died so normally we just stay with are own families and see each other boxing Day I do go see my dad tho before he goes to my brother's for dinner
We don't have a big family so will just see out son and family on Christmas Day for a couple of hours and then lock ourselves in for a quiet one. My partner and I have been so careful, more or less keeping ourselves to ourselves, masking etc but we were both tested positive last week with Covid, keep racking our brains as to how/when we caught it but no idea.
TiaTia oh dear, sorry to hear you have covid. I was the same last Dec... So careful and yet caught it, whereas I have friends who take no precautions and haven't had it. Seems luck of the draw if ask me. Just takes someone walking past or touched something in a shop before you I guess
Personally I’m not going out in the run up to Christmas, my parents and grandparents are coming to us on Christmas Day so I don’t want to risk either of us catching anything, not just covid. Last year was ruined so I’m going overboard this year. Lol
I don’t tend to go to gatherings under normal circumstances and this year we are away and will miss it all.
eyeballkerry does seem like alot of people are opting to go away this Christmas. Have a great one.
I'm very nervous about Christmas gathering trying to keep our elderly grandparents safe . So at the moment we're not sure. They've just had their booster which is good to know . Were just going to have to wait and see x
I’m certainly avoiding any big events like Christmas markets and to be honest last year I didn‘t mind not going to parties so hope that’s still acceptable this year.
I don't do crowds anyway. I see loads of people I start panicking. So I usual turn about or freeze and hyperventilate if caught out by it. So I hate the busyness at this time of year.
tracisinclair01 oh no that sounds terrible, but on flip side at least you know you will be staying safe out of the crowds.
I don't normally go to big gatherings at Christmas anyway. Our son is still a little bit too young for Santa's grotto etc. We will possibly have my parents over for Christmas day but that's as big a gathering as we will have.
Just when Christmas is around the corner, a new so-called variant shows up. Yeah, sure.
If they want Christmas canceled then just be honest. Oh wait, politicians aren't.
PhilipMarc does seem terrible timing, just when things had started being "normal" again. Fingers crossed we won't go into another lockdown.
I am ignoring Christmas this year and dog sitting for two weeks. I shall get presents for kids and grandkids and then relax, no cooking, no shopping, just relaxing.
for company sounds a lovely relaxing way to have Christmas - it can be so stressful. enjoy 
I would just enjoy it while you can
With the new variant coming in
Will it be Lon before not going out is a thing again
SarahHorsfield it does seem to be worrying times ahead with the new variant and the scientists unsure if current vaccines will give protection.
vixe80 I know
My opinion we sold a false promise
To be fair Iv not been out really it gets too cold sat in my wheelchair all the time
Just be as safe as you can
SarahHorsfield - almost given taste of what we all craved, only for it to begin looking like it will be taken away again 
the problem is the cold weather makes more gather inside whereby not so much ventilation available, at least in summer we can be outside spread away from everyone.
I have mixed emotions about this, I have been avoiding crowds, since the 1st lockdown when I was shielding.
I want to get back to some sense of normalality and I was planning on attending late night Christmas shopping, where there will be various stalls and I have booked a murder mystery dinner mid December.
However, my work team of 8 have been talking about getting together for a Christmas lunch, which I would have liked to attend. But we had to fill in a personal risk assessment form, I thought my risk was moderate but my line manger thinks it's high, so it's made me have 2nd thoughts, plus the recent news....
beccatavender I too have avoided over crowded places since lockdowns, I had a panic attack in summer at Thorpe Park - due to the lack of social distancing /masks and how busy it was. I so long to be able to go back to doing these normal things, forcing myself too for my children's sake, but questioning it's safety all the time.
I think we are not alone, we were supposed to see a tribute band next Saturday but the couple we were going with have pulled out due to Covid fears, which in turn are giving me 2nd thoughts vixe80
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