What are you doing for Christmas?

First Christmas alone (well the two of us, so it is different). Our eldest and grand-children are off to Ireland to his parents, and our youngest and partner have to keep the business going in Tenerife and try and catch the Christmas trade. We will be visiting them mid January for 2 weeks- then the others will be coming here for half term in Feb.

Shame in a way you won't accept those invitations, but I can see what you mean. Must be nice to know you were asked.

In the next few weeks, if we hear of other friends in the same position or any of the young families on the local expat Forum - we will invite them to share- but just playing it by ear now. If we are on our own, I won't be sad. We'll cook a really nice meal, and then go for a snowy walk with the dog.

I will be spending three weeks with my sister in Manchester, going up to Scotland for a few days to stay with her son's family. I will also be going over to Yorkshire to stay with my oldest grand-daughter and her fiance and my two little great-grand-daughters, and her cousin will visit me at her house. Sadly, I won't be seeing my daughter and her other three children for a second Christmas because they have cut off all contact.
I will speak on the phone to my other daughter in New Zealand - I am looking forward to spending six weeks with her in February and March.
I will also be meeting some lovely Gransnetters for lunch, which is very exciting

I can understand your wish to be in your own home, Barrow - perhaps you could make some visits on Boxing Day, or at New Year?

I'm going to spend time over Christmas with DS1 and family. Other DS and his family will be coming over on Christmas day. It will be good to be with the four young GC - it is still possible that senior GD will also join us. When I come home, I will be expecting my sister and her husband to come from Scotland to spend a few days with me and see the new year in with good friends. My cousin, who always comes over from Florida to her house in the Wirral at this time of year will come for lunch on new year's day - oh and DGD is 21 on hogmanay, so if she is not away, we'll take her out for a celebratory lunch.

We are being descended upon! We have DD2, SiL and DG2 coming on the Sunday and leaving on 27th. Then 3 of the remaining 4 children, DS1, DD1 her husband and two children, DD3 her husband, baby and puppy, will come for lunch on the big day. DS2, partner and sons will go to her family but call in for present opening, champagne and nibbles on the way. That amounts to 12 people and a baby so we are having 2 tables - one for the grown ups and one for the children, which DH says he will erect in the garage!

On Boxing Day (my favourite day!) we'll eat after DH and DS1 come home from the football and anyone is welcome.

The next day - we sit down.

Then it's New Year when we have DH's brother and his wife to stay. Which is great, as she is the nearest thing I have to a sister.

My son is coming home with his new partner whom we've yet to meet, will spend a few days over Christmas with us then fly to Edinburgh to her Mum for a week , back to us overnight before catching flight home. I hope the poor girl isn't too overwhelmed as there will be 15 for lunch on Christmas day, so I will have both my daughters and my son together for Christmas dinner at our eldest daughters (the only place that has enough space), plus all but two of the grandchildren who will be spending this Christmas day with their Dad . I find it sad that every other year my second daughter is minus her children, but she makes up for it on Boxing day she usually spends Boxing day alone with them.

Barrow I can see your reasoning , its nice that you'll be able to visit people at your own pace too.

My sister and I will be having Christmas dinner together then a cup of tea and Christmas cake, goodbye and back home to watch our respective TV programmes.. The real fun starts with the Family Christmas Party which will be on 29th Dec. We always have sausage and mash and last year I cooked 120 sausages and made 4 gallons of fruit salad! We all play silly games and have a session of Secret Santa, sing carols round the piano, have a bran tub experience and catch up with what all the grown up grandchildren are doing. The next day my sister and I collapse!

I have 12 this year some years its more .its some think i,ve always done .

Lovely to read about all your plans - it seems you will need a holiday to get over the holiday!

I will certainly be visiting relatives and friends over the Christmas period and although I am now alone I don't feel lonely.

After lunch I plan to have a long walk across the fields and then back to a log fire and watching a Christmassy film!

We will have our daughter and family here in France. The house is perfect for Christmas with masses of space, log fires, country walks etc. We will Skype at present opening time with our son and family in Spain and hope that they will make it here sometime!

No idea.....

I am going to Ireland to spend Christmas with DS2 and family.
It will be lovely.
I might even manage a Guinness in the local.

I haven't 'done' a Christmas for 30 years - my elder daughter took over when she was 18 as she is a much better cook than I am. It has been quite funny over the years to watch the numbers grow as the ten grandchildren came along, then their partners were added, and finally the four great grandchildren. For her last UK Christmas before she went to NZ, she seated 22 - she found a microwave was great for allowing her to serve all the veggies piping hot.
I was with her in NZ last Christmas, and two of the three children that remain in the UK came over, which made her very happy. We all said 'hello' to her son and DIL and two grand-daughters in Kent via Skype. We voted to forego the big turkey dinner and had a huge bbq - her eldest son took charge of that and she just had to make lots of salads. It was very hot and sunny. This year, she is entertaining her daughter's fiance's parents who are visiting, but there will only be eight people. She has just about adjusted to having only four people to feed regularly.

greatnan next year i am planing going eles where just for a change

DD1, her OH and the two grandsons will be with us for Christmas Day then DD2 and her tribe will arrive on Boxing Day. We're hoping DS and his family will be able to get down from Staffordshire sometime during the Christmas break but he's only been in his new job for three months so is treading carefully with regard to time off. I'm looking forward to doing all the cooking again as we haven't had Christmas at home for four years.

I think we have "done" Christmas ever since our DD was due on Christmas Eve thirty-nine years ago and we couldn't go to our parents. As we both love cooking, we are very happy with this. Our DD comes every other year, but our son only gets a few days holiday so can't get here from Spain. He has to cook for his large family of Spanish in-laws at midnight on Christmas Eve!

After spending a miserable Christmas on our own in Barbados last year we are coming back to be with our three children ,their partners and our five grand children. I can't wait!
For me Christmas isn't right in a hot place without our family.

We are off to DDs for xmas day and I am chief cook and bottle washer,I love it all the chatter and excitment from the little ones and phone calls from all over the world from different people.I think that there will be about 14 around the table but that just adds to the joy of things.Then back home feet up and foot spa bath,snuggle up and watch tv.sorted !!

Lovely, barbadosgan - I'm sure they all missed you last year too!

Cruising!

I am cooking the dinner on Christmas Day and will have two of my children and partners round. One of my sons will stay over on Christmas Eve. We'll do the rounds on Christmas morning and see the children, then visit more family at tea-time. I'm not sure yet whether I will get to see my eldest grandson on Chjristmas Day, but things are much better this year, and I know I will see him the day before or after, then he'll come here for a New Year party.

After visiting mum in her care home, I will go home and cook for just DH DS and myself. I would love to have a house full but our family is to far flung. The 3 of us will then spend the rest of the day watching TV.

DD DSIL and DGS x 2 will be in Germany with his parents. Much as I would love them to be here I can't begrudge his parents as they only see DGC 2-3 times a year.

However, after New Year DD and family are moving a 2-3min drive away instead of 90mins WOO HOO!!!

I am going to Brussels to be with DD and SIL. When I get back my sister will arrive from Germany and my DS and family will return from other GPs and we will all get together. Only children get gifts and ours will be getting theirs from us next week because Santa can't deliver them to the other end of the country

My three children will be in three different countries this year so I'm off to the sun and will ignore Christmas. We'll have a family get together here in January when everyone will stay over and we'll play games. Playing games is the most important aspect of Christmas in my childrens' eyes (could be my cooking

Once again reading these posts I count my blessings. With all my close family within five miles, I well see and cuddle them all on Christmas Day, then my Sister and her family + ancient Uncle on Boxing Day. Since the DGC arrived and DD1 moved to a smaller house we cannot all get together at once so the plan is for DDs + DGC to come here about 10.30 for Brunch and present opening - last year they all arrived still in their Christmas Pyjamas. Meanwhile the 2 sons-out-law will be preparing Christmas Dinners. We will have a wee rest and then to DD2's home for our meal, while the other GPs+their Son and his pregnant partner will have their dinner at DD1's house, then we will arrive there and all have pudding together. Finally DD1 + 2 DGC will come home with us for the night so that her outlaws can have her beds.

Boxing Day there will be buffet style Breakfast, Lunch and Tea here for all the extended family who will mainly walk here if the weather is reasonable and some of us will visit Uncle in his care home just up the road. He is always invited to come to us but prefers to stay 'at home'. Then we will have a few days hibernation and play with our presents while DD2 and DGD1 go down south to stay with DOL's family.