Advise me please, NHOTWers - I'm in a support bubble with my parents, and they only live 25 miles away, but their area has just gone into Tier 4 whereas I'm still in 3.

We were going to meet for Christmas, and the rules say that's still allowed within a support bubble, but it feels irresponsible to proceed.

Would you still go ahead with the plan? I'm prepared to hear the answer no.

You're a single person household, right?

I am - that's why I'm allowed to be in a support bubble with them.

Yes, just checking for sure.

Legally it seems like the support bubble factor trumps all other considerations.

So, even though it says:

Quote :

In London and the south-east, people must stay at home over Christmas and must not meet up with other households. One resident could meet up with another one person for a walk, but not a whole household of people.

If you're in a support bubble this can be discounted?

I don't know.

That's still helpful. If we're both not sure, then the point is probably genuinely ambiguous.

Is it just me who thinks it's not entirely clear?

By "Christmas" do they mean Christmas Day alone, or Eve + Day + Box - and if so is that specific period especially super strict?

Also, Countess, one problem you have is if you drive to your folk's place but aren't allowed to stay overnight then you'd have to drive home at night and thus stay sober.

Which is obviously, patently and absolutely untenable.

My only advice therefore is that you get smashed and sleep in the car.

Personally, I'd be tempted to go, provided you and they've been avoiding other people for the last two weeks.

And provided the rules say you can.

Thinking about it, I probably wouldn't go.

It's a tough one isn't it?

I too have an simular dilemma BTW.

My family are all abroad. I don't have to worry about visiting them.

Plus, I don't want to visit them anyway.

I was quite looking forward to seeing mine.

But more importantly, this will now be the first Christmas ever I spend by myself.

I'll have to go out and get a 1-person Christmas pud, and some turkey dinosaurs or something.

On the plus side, I will now have all to myself the bottle of Montrachet I was going to bring to Christmas dinner.

Actually, my first Christmas alone means I can drink all day, doesn't it?

I feel it's mandatory.

If you're already in a bubble and do all the social distancing and open windows and whatever else is recommended then you should be okay. But then I'm not yet fully sure of what the tier 4 rules are for London and area so my advice could be void.

I've just had my own plans disrupted, but this is 2020 all over isn't it - and I've (currently) got my health. I also don't live alone so won't be lonely at least. I had a half 40th birthday in the summer so I'll have a half Christmas. I'm always a bit indifferent about Christmas anyway.

I was due to travel back to the Midlands on the lesser days of the Christmas window - all within the guidelines - but that's been cancelled now and it looks like I'll be briefly seeing family that live not too far away from where I live now on actual Christmas Day.

I asked this question on 3 platforms, and 79% of the 14 respondents said not to go. So I won't go.