How are we getting through it?

[sean66]

Seconded.

Don't let this start getting political, Gang.

Cheers - Phil

I don't think you have much hope of that Phil. from the outside looking in you have main Government saying go and have your break we all agree then less than an hour later, two of the three dissolved Governments/Parliaments say no that's not right we should all stay in our bubbles.
i think people just want clirity and one voice (a certain divolved party just seem to use the Covid breifs to say how great they are compared to rest of UK)
its the same in Germany main government saying one thing regional say something totally different (the State of Bavaria has been in total lockdown for nearly a month because of infection rates. whereas rest of Germany been living life quiet normally.
The Bavarian Government has been blaming the infection rates on people going to Austria ski-ing so shut the borders! but infection rates in Austria are no where near Bavaria's 
me i go to work go home paint my little friends watch some tv go to bed and do it all again the next day (ex military so used to having restrictions on my life when on tour)
Regards
Sean

[John Cook]

At least the respective governments are marching, more or less, in step on this one but, though I applaud the 'libertarianism', I have no confidence that elements of the public will behave cautiously as they are being asked to do.  I'd be delighted to be proved wrong though

[Raider4]

For a full lockdown to be fully effective, you need the full support of the population.

And I think we had that, at least back in March/April/May.

Since then a steady drip-drip of stories of the rich/famous/politically connected behaving as they want - because the rules for the plebs couldn't possibly also apply to them - has diluted this support.

So, thank you the PM's special advisor, England footballers, Barbarians rugby players, vacuous popstars and everyone else who's just carried on as normal.

[mmcv]

two of the three dissolved Governments/Parliaments

sean showing his true anarchist colours here 

All we can really do is follow the best advice that science and the experts can offer for ourselves and our families, and hope enough others have the sense to do the same. I understand the political motivations behind the "Christmas amnesty" and yes if there were stricter rules a lot of people would have ignored them anyway, but it does seem like it's giving a lot more people who were on the fence a free pass to undo all the good work they've been doing the past year. All the experts say it's a bad idea and going to lead to more deaths next year, so ultimately people have to weigh up the cost of morale vs human life and make their decisions.

I have no intention of putting my family at risk for the sake of one year of "traditions", though others within my family have made different decisions in that regard, mostly due to political "allowances", so all I can do is my best to minimise any further impact.

[Leman]

Oh well, here I am in my new flat in the Netherlands with just my son for company, so we shall be having a very quiet Christmas, although we shall be inviting round a few new Dutch friends called Grolsch, Heineken, Amstel and Hertog Jan. Couple of mates from Chile popping by, as well as a Scotch pal.

Cheers all, Andy

[Raider4]

Oh well, here I am in my new flat in the Netherlands with just my son for company, so we shall be having a very quiet Christmas, although we shall be inviting round a few new Dutch friends called Grolsch, Heineken, Amstel and Hertog Jan. Couple of mates from Chile popping by, as well as a Scotch pal.

We have a Dutch guy at work. His opinion is that Amstel is the Dutch equivalent of Carling. Grolsch is good though!

[steve_holmes_11]

We have a Dutch guy at work. His opinion is that Amstel is the Dutch equivalent of Carling. Grolsch is good though!

Le Trappe takes you to the Belgian style, without crossing the border.

Thumbs up also for Grolsch.

[sean66]

sean showing his true anarchist colours here 

I must be the worst Anarchist in history  :-
24 years serving in the British Army. then working past 6 years for the American Army as a contractor 
Regards
Sean

[OldenBUA]

Grolsch and Hertog Jan, yes. Heineken and Amstel not so much. With both Belgium and Germany as neighbours there is always quite a selection of quality beers available in the supermarkets, and even more in specialty shops.

[jimduncanuk]

A few of the times I have been in the Low Countries I was partial to Kasteel.

It came in a distinctive glass.

[mmcv]

I must be the worst Anarchist in history  :-
24 years serving in the British Army. then working past 6 years for the American Army as a contractor 
Regards
Sean

Working to bring them down from the inside, clearly! 

Grolsch and Hertog Jan, yes. Heineken and Amstel not so much. With both Belgium and Germany as neighbours there is always quite a selection of quality beers available in the supermarkets, and even more in specialty shops.

I remember getting a pack of Dutch craft beers in the summer and quite enjoying them (on a beer subscription service). Seems like there's a good brewing scene there.

[steve_holmes_11]

Well worth a visit if you are in "The 'Dam" for a few days.

https://www.arendsnest.nl/en/enjoy-beer-from-dutch-brewers/

[OldenBUA]

I remember getting a pack of Dutch craft beers in the summer and quite enjoying them (on a beer subscription service). Seems like there's a good brewing scene there.

Yes, brewing beer is quite popular, lots and lots of micro breweries. There are 1745 different beers made (or formerly made) in the Netherlands listed here:

https://www.biernet.nl/bier/merken/land:nederland

[mmcv]

Yes, brewing beer is quite popular, lots and lots of micro breweries. There are 1745 different beers made (or formerly made) in the Netherlands listed here:

https://www.biernet.nl/bier/merken/land:nederland

This is making me very thirsty! 

[Raider4]

So, the answer to the question "How are we getting through it?" appears to be alcohol, lots of alcohol?