This year's Christmas in England is like none other in peace time. We're still under lockdown, and the rules were supposed to be relaxed between 23 to 27 December for up to 3 families to spend Christmas together. Sadly, our Covid cases kept on rising, and the weekend before Christmas it was announced that London and much of the surrounding areas would go into a more stringent lockdown Tier 4. Put simply, no gatherings with other households - that meant no Christmas!!!
If I remember correctly, the government announced the changes on the day and there was a scramble as many in London tried to leave town before the midnight deadline. There were many others who were caught out if they couldn't leave on time and ended up spending Christmas without their families, and with their flatmates instead, or even worse, themselves!!! It was tough on people, but personally I think had to be done as things were going south fast. I just wish people had more notice.
Other areas in England could still spend Christmas with up to 3 families, but only on Christmas day. I live in Tier 2 so was ok. My sister who lives nearby me, was due to go to London to spend Christmas with her daughters. Of course, that plan got thrown out of the window. With her Christmas plans messed up, my sister invited us around for Christmas dinner. I made a video of it, as it's been quite a few years I spent Christmas in UK, and more importantly, having a bit or normality in life to have dinner at somebody else's home. Not sure when that will be possible again.
Originally I wasn't going to share this video on Hive as I made it in Cantonese. I got a request today for English subtitles, you'll see that in one of the comments on YouTube. That melted my heart, and I'll share that story with you in a later post. Till then, I figured since I have added all the subtitles to the video, I'll share it with everyone so you can get a glimpse of my Christmas this year. Take care.
今年英國聖誕lockdown，原本3個家庭可以在12月23至27日一起度過聖誕。但疫情個案一直上升， 政府終於在聖誕前的週末宣布倫敦和周邊很多城市最入最嚴重的Tier 4 lockdown 。 市民不能與其他家庭一起在室內共處。 這就易會著不能與其他人一起渡過聖誕節。 新措施宣佈好像不足一天就會實行， 當晚有很多人連忙趕緊離開倫敦回家。 其他人因為工作關係，不能在期限前離開，唯有獨自留在倫敦自己一個度過聖誕。
除了最嚴重的Tier 4外，其他英格蘭地區都容許三個家庭在聖誕節當天聚會。我住在Tier 2 未有影響，但住我附近的姐姐，原本打算到倫敦跟女兒一起，計畫要泡湯了。結果姐姐和姐夫邀請我們到他家一起慶祝聖誕分享美食
我已經很多年未有在英國到過聖誕，亦有一段時間沒有過正常生活，到別人家晚餐。難得有今次機會，度過一個很愉快的晚上， 所以拍了影片留念。我原本沒有打算在Hive分享影片，但今天收到一個要求加英文字幕，我中英文一起加了，就決定在Hive也分享英國的聖誕大餐 。加英文字幕的要求，其實背後還有一個很窩心的故時，改天分享。