Advice, guides & articles

Recently, we uploaded a blog on a worst-case scenario: being forced to self-isolate over Christmas due to Coronavirus. But today, we’re going to take a more optimistic look at the future. Just a few months ago, it seemed like there was no end in sight for the global pandemic, but since then, multiple vaccines have been approved worldwide. While immunising the planet is a gigantic task, we can finally start to dream of a world without Coronavirus. So, this time next year, where will we be? And, importantly to many, what becomes of Christmas 2021? In this blog, we’re going to discuss where we could be in 12 months’ time, and how next year’s festive season may look.

The short answer to that is no, you could never cancel Christmas nor the Christmas spirit and feelings of goodwill it evokes, however Christmas 2020 will be a Christmas like no other. With Coronavirus still ravaging the United Kingdom, measures are in place to help stop the spread of the disease over the festive period. The UK Government had initially made arrangements for a 5 day ‘Christmas Break’, where Coronavirus restrictions would be slightly relaxed so as to allow families to spend time with each other, something which has been sorely lacking for many. However, due to the rising cases nationwide and the spread of a mutated strain of Coronavirus – thought to be up to 70% more infectious than the more common version – spreading across London and the South East, these plans were abruptly cancelled on December 19th, just days after Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a press conference in which he promised there would be no such U-turn. So, let’s try this again. What are the rules in place for Christmas now? In an updated version of a previous blog published at the end of November, we will take a look at how ‘Christmas 2020 2.0’ will pan out across the UK.

Recently, we published a blog on how the Coronavirus pandemic will affect Christmas 2020, detailing how this will be a festive season like no other. However, there’s one Christmas tradition which will no doubt endure: hymns. Hymns are popular in religious circles all year round, but they take on a particular significance around Christmas. In December they even become commonplace amongst those who don’t practice religion, and are seen as a key part of the ‘Christmas spirit’ by many. In today’s blog, I’m going to cover some of the most popular Christmas hymns and the significance behind them.

This year’s been tough for us all, which means that many people are looking forward to Christmas more than they ever have before. But picture this: a few days before the festivities you come down with Coronavirus symptoms, take a test and low and behold, you have the disease. Christmas is ruined, surely? Of course having Covid over the Christmas period will more than likely change your plans drastically, but fear not! In this blog I am going to cover some suggestions for what you can do to entertain yourself if you’re forced to self-isolate during the festive period.

Contributed by Helen from the Lovely Memorial Gifts Traditionally, Christmas is a time for celebration, family time and latterly gift giving. It also provides us with some down time, a time for reflection, and I think it's a combination of all of the above that makes Christmas a time more than any other time of year, when we most miss and want reminding of lost loved ones.

2020 has been a lot to take in. Whether you’ve been wondering about who you can see, where you can see them, or just what time the pub shuts, this year has had a lot of rules to navigate that we are all not used to. One of the most difficult times to experience this confusion is on the run up to a funeral. Are you allowed to attend the funeral? What are you supposed to tell others? Can you still place an announcement in the newspaper? Now that we have come out the other side of our second lockdown, it’s worth taking another look at all the information regarding funerals, so that hopefully it’s one less thing to worry about.

National Grief Awareness Week takes place for the second time in the UK from 2nd December to 8th December. It is driven by The Good Grief Trust, whose vision is to bring together all of the different bereavement services together from around the UK in order to help those who are grieving access the support they need.

As we all know, Christmas 2020 will be a Christmas like no other. With Coronavirus still ravaging the United Kingdom, measures will be in place to help stop the spread of the disease over the festive period. However, the UK Government has made arrangements for a 5 day ‘Christmas Break’, where Coronavirus restrictions will be slightly relaxed so as to allow families to spend time with each other, something which has been sorely lacking for many. In this blog, I will look at what these rules entail, as well as other aspects which will make Christmas 2020 the first – and hopefully last – Christmas of this manner in our lifetimes.

When a loved one passes away, it can be difficult to focus on anything else. But eventually, things in your life will start to return to normal. A big part of this will be returning to work. But after something as devastating as the loss of someone dear to you, how can you possibly go back to normality? In this blog, I will look at going back to work after bereavement and how, while unquestionably challenging at first, it may help you in your efforts to get back to how things once were.

If you can’t attend a funeral it can be difficult for you and the family of the deceased. Try not to feel guilty if you can’t attend, everyone has commitments or circumstances they can’t get out of. During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic many of you might not be able to attend someone's funeral due to the government restrictions. Whatever the reason maybe in this blog we’ll show they are other ways you can express your condolences and sympathy.