What are you doing for Christmas?

Just the two of us and the cats who are racing round the house like the outbreak of WWIII

I'm not doing anything for Christmas - fair's fair, it's not doing anything for me either... there's the Doctor Who special to look forward to, but that's about all!

Goose so sorry you will not be seeing your family at Christmas - I truly hope the season will make them rethink and contact you.

OOhh yes Scarlet - I'm back
...can't keep an old goose down y'a know! really need all the support I can get to survive the prospect of a very lonely yuletime:-(

Goose!! Is it really you? You cheered me up so much when I was down and it's lovely to hear from you again, even though it's under such sad circumstances. Keep talking. I'm so glad you're back .

I'm dreading Christmas this year, not because I'm a Ba-Humbug sort of person but because, after over 30 years of my loving 'doing' Christmas for my (now) 'ex' husband and my three now grown up daughters, everything has gone pear shaped after a previous nuclear sized explosion at the beginning of this year, which resulted in my three daughters and their partners withdrawing any contact between myself, them and my two grandchildren (one of whom I've never met). I am facing my first Christmas alone. I have sent cards and gift cards to everyone (including my grandchildren) but have had no acknowledgement of their being received.
I'm returning to the Gransnet board after being struck down with severe depression.
I wonder...is there any other grans 'out there' who, like me are facing the prospect of Christmas alone and who would think about supporting each other by contacting on here on Christmas day???

For most of my married life Christmas has included nuclear family plus members of the generation above, parents, in laws, aunts & uncles, friends, whoever needed a home for Christmas. But as time moves on the older ones have died and numbers began to shrink. At which point DS married and Christmas expanded to include DDiL's family, mother, sister and partner. Now DS & DDiL have children and SiL has a partner who needs to stay at home to see his children so DS & family alternate Christmases, one year at home with other Grandma and the next year with us. As a result the year they stay at home there are now only three of us in our home, us and DD. The smallest (in number) Christmases I have ever experienced.

I am not unhappy about this, we have had one Christmas like this and will have another one again this year. We will see the others next weekend and again on 28 December. It is just that I am experiencing a new version of Christmas, the same but differerent and it takes a while for it to feel as normal as all the other bigger Christmases.

Decorating the house we have moved into! Extension is almost finished, starting on kitchen (needs re-plastering, decorating etc.

We are going out for Christmas Dinner and to my Sister's boxing day. Not putting up decorations etc. (no where to put them really).

Will also be visiting Mum in hospital - having planned surgery. So few people want to be in hospital over Christmas so was offered a place very quickly. She does not mind, just wants it done and be out of pain.

Lovely Maniac - I am sure you will have a great time

Barrow I'll be thinking of you.It seemed I might also be alone-we might have got together. But DD and SIL have just invited me to spend Christmas with them in London .Train ticket booked (7.45 a.m.on Christmas Eve) weather permitting I'll be in Paddington by 10 a.m.
In their small flat it'll be a low key time with no children.They are TT but DD is a good cook and they have lots of books,music,DVDs and games.Probably a walk on Hampstead Heath on Boxing Day
Good wishes to all you busy,busy GN cooks

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.

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

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

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 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.

Cruising!

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

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 !!

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

No idea.....