I was going to write a post about what I saw when I finished work on Saturday. It looked to me as if the whole of London had been invited to a party and I was not on the guest list! I was surprised to see the pavements packed with hundreds of people in their gladrags, make-up like they were in a pantomime, covered with bling bling and wreaking of strong perfume.
Where were they going? None of my business, but from what I saw, a lot of people were on their way to take advantage of up to 30 people (which is supposed to be from two households) being allowed to party together, before the change that started on Monday…only 6 people (from two households).
But I have a better story for you…it is my friend who had arranged a big-ish party for next weekend, which I was invited to. I had already said no, because I don’t feel comfortable going to a large social event while I am still interacting with so many vulnerable patients. But now she has had to cancel her party. Oh wow! I forgot how much of a drama queen she could be. She called me in tears and asked why we are not allowed to live yet. I tried to reason with her, but I don’t think I got anywhere. She is fuming and seemed inconsolable.
She will have to accept that big and medium parties are on ice at the moment. Only six people are allowed. Just think of all the fun a group of six could have – you could play Cluedo, you could play Pictionary, or even Twister! It will be just like the old days when we used to have little get togethers.
But come on drama queens – is it really that big a deal to ask you to socialize in small groups until the danger has passed?
I am already counting my blessings. The way things are going there might not be any trick or treaters – that would be an amazing result!….and Jack and I will be allowed to sneak off to a romantic hideaway for the holidays (that would be because both of us have lots of family, so we might volunteer to give up a place at the dinner table so others can claim it). We might be able to hire a cottage and snuggle up for a week all on our own! (Do you think the NHS is going to let me have a whole week off work at the end of December? Nope! The rules are no holidays during December.) But still….not having to upset any family by choosing where we spend the holidays would be awesome. This year might end on a high afterall!!!
Caramel 
Good thinking ..you’re absolutely right ..small groups are so much fun
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In some ways we get to know each other better in a smaller setting. When you go to a large gathering, it’s easy to be a bit lost and not to be able to hear each other because of the noise levels.
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Agreed. I can’t believe how many adults are acting like babies over these sensible precautions
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I still think that it is the minority who are behaving like spoilt children on the whole, but whenever we hear or see silliness from people who should know better we are left taken aback by the general silliness levels! 🙂
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It’s funny, my wife (and her nursey friend) will not see each other for about the next month, just because each of them is off for a couple of weeks. They have accumulated lots of leave during the lockdown and been told that they cannot carry any over.
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I had to go back in and correct my post. I had some annual leave recently, including the week I went up north to see family. But we have a no holidays in December rule, so I meant a week in December.
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I don’t know it she’s mentioned December yet, I know she normally has a blip around now with the flu clinics, but this year, the doctors are doing it all themselves in a marquee around the back. When they mooted this idea to the nurses, everybody (including wife) told them where to stick their marquee.
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It kinda shows how skewed many of our little worlds had become.
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I think London life in particular is very sociable. There are a lot of people who live alone in tiny flats, or they rent a room in a house share. They have so little space – can’t swing a hamster, nevermind a cat. So parties are very popular. Since I moved to London, there are always salsa parties, or other dance parties, cocktail parties, or just a crazy number of people turning up to eat jollof rice and jerk chicken. The Spanish, Italian, Latinos, and anyone with West African or Caribbean family are so sociable and lively. I think perhaps 75%+ of the invites I get are my friends from those cultures. So hospitable and fun loving.
My friend has often arranged big parties in the past. I think she has really missed getting together and having a dance with everyone. I did warn her to be very careful not to give the impression they could gatecrash what she was organising. But when the number dropped from 30 to 6, she cancelled. She will have to wait.
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