Dear LPG,

I have been thinking about how Christmas might be this year. 

It is usually the one time in the year when everyone in the family can make time to get together, and just as we were getting used to popping our heads round the front door, the word lockdown is being uttered all over the country again. 

I am writing at a time when we have been told that it will all be over in good time for the most important holiday of the year but we all know how much things change with day-to-day surprises for us all.  Our latest restriction is supposed to finish, leaving us three and a bit weeks to get out for those essentials that generate the last minute Christmas shopping and planning panics, but what if it does not.  We all know that the whole thing depends on statistics and, with all the forecasts and scientific research in the world, we could still be locked down when the big day comes.

I know that many people of my age who would never have worked out how to make a video call but for the fact that it was a way of being able to see and talk to people the sight of which we may well have forgotten to recognise by now.  I am particularly thinking of the young grandchildren whose appearance changes by the day as they grow into adulthood.

I know that I am one of those who usually grumbles about the fact that the shops peddle Christmas too early each year, but forward planning has to be the way forward in 2020. 

Just in case I will not be able to get to Church on the day, the first part of my plan will be finding out what is happening at my church electronically.  We churchgoers most probably have got used to watching services on our mobiles and laptops by now so a little forward planning will make for a different service but a service none the less.  

I have decided that another answer is to follow the advice of JE (►►►) with an electronic family dinner and present opening session.  All the apps that make group video calling possible appear to be working on increasing the maximum amount of simultaneous participants, and I understand that most will now allow eight different contributors at a time.  All the practice calls to be made in advance for getting that right on the day, can only make for more family contact, and can I remind you that placement of your electronic device to allow the best view of others and vice versa is another thing that we need to plan for.  Laptops, mobile phones and tablets will most probably need you to clear a space on a bit of living room furniture for propping them up so that you can get best vantage point for the after dinner celebrations.

 There is no way that the nightmare of present buying will really change but getting presents to people might cause a large postage bill so I think that might have to be postponed somewhat, but during more recent years in my family, secret Santa has featured as a fun thing to do.  This is the thing where each person who is part of the game draws another’s name out of the pot and has to buy a cheap and funny present designed to make everyone else smile. Of course we will have to make do with watching the giver opening our present for us this year but I have found out that you can organise who is assigned the task of choosing who’s present electronically.

So, if the worst comes to the worst and we all have to stay home for Christmas, we can start planning now and all still have a little fun on the big day, and I am sure that there is not one person who would be happy if all that planning is not needed because as scheduled, lockdown is lifted on the day. 

JN, Ladywell.

JN suggest that this information, which explains the different video calling apps and how many people can join in with one call, might be a little complicated but worth getting one of the younger family members to help your family to organise and understand…

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She also offers some information about playing secret Santa electronically…

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… and a few silly present suggestions…

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