What are your plans for Christmas?

I'm in high hopes of several Christmas Days - one with DS and DDiL and GS and GD, and at some point DD, SiL and GS. I am determined that we will have a happy day with the usual food, games and fun, and think ourselves lucky that we can do so. There is usually a Christmas meal with friends too - so that can go ahead with the 'allowed' number present. Attitude is everything.

I’ve booked my Christmas delivery slot from Waitrose today. So with that and my Cook order I’ve actually kept all my options open. If it were safe and allowed to have Christmas with dd, then that can happen as Waitrose and Cook orders can be cancelled at very short notice. However, getting delivery slots at the last minute would probably be almost impossible. It suits my personality to have all bases covered and all choices available.

Summerlove

Lucca

Isn’t it early October ?
Does everyone have it all rigidly planned every year ?
I am allergic to it personally.

My family does
So many politics
So many tears when certain inlaws don’t get the day envisioned.

Far more stress than fun

Hideous! With The DS and family I have in UK I always made it totally clear that I expect nothing and will go with the flow. I’ve Spent some Christmases with them at theirs, some at mine, at least three not with them (going abroad etc.)
I can’t understand the rigid one year with one family next with the other all planned wrapped up etc by November, sorry but I don’t find that idea fun at all !

SAggi... neighbours interfering ? Don’t understand. I’m guessing your plans may change according to restrictions ? Or dud you mean you will ignore them?

Not everyone celebrates Christmas, you know.

No plans! Pointless making any as everything changes from day to day. Daughter, son-in-law and grand baby have already cancelled their visit from NY twice. Miss them terribly!

Lucca

Isn’t it early October ?
Does everyone have it all rigidly planned every year ?
I am allergic to it personally.

My family does
So many politics
So many tears when certain inlaws don’t get the day envisioned.

Far more stress than fun

No definite plans yet. Likely to have DD SIL and GS on the 25th. Would like to see other family on the 26th. In today’s paper it says that Alok Sharma is suggesting a relaxation in rules for the 24th and 25th. That won’t help our plans for the 26th! We will wait and see. For us it’s a special time. One thing I will miss is the children’s church service on Christmas Eve. It really makes everything seem so special but it’s always so crowded so unlikely to take place this year. We always insisted that our 4 children went to church on Christmas Eve to bring home the real meaning of the season. 3 of the AC still stick with this now that they have their own children.
As for ordering food I don’t see the need. We will buy everything in our local shops going very early in the morning if necessary.

Lexisgran Nothing priggish about your comments. I think your attitude is the same as most of us. I do not think any of us have hard and fast written in stone decisions. All we have is outline plans that will be adapted to circumstances when they arise.

Meanwhile the turkey is ordered, and the blackberry gin is marinating. If only part of the turkey is eaten, the rest can go in the freezer, neatly portioned up - and if I am still eatinging it come midsummer day, so what? Much the same applies to the rest of the Christmas fare.

At the moment plan to go to DD for Xmas lunch, having other children and family over Xmas Eve and boxing day. That means no more than 6 from 2 families at any time. However everyone knows that it's quite possible this is not going to happen. In which case we shall sit at home in splendid isolation. Our area is in a low infection rate, currently.

Have always had mum,who lives 140 miles away,to stay.
Family all sad that she won't be able to come this year.

Not a huge problem here but more a kind of annoyance. This is the first year the court have ordered a sensible arrangement for my 4 year old grandson that allows him to spend the whole xmas 3 days with one parent instead of rushing back 100 miles in time for xmas midday handover to father. I was going to have them here all over xmas. Rules or no rules, DH and I have been pretty much shielding due to our own health risks, and DGS and DD go out a lot and see loads of people to get infected by. Next year he's with his dad all xmas so if we can't do this year I have to wait another 2 years for the family xmas! We can do a video meeting to watch each other opening presents but like I say it's irritating that it just had to be this year!

I don’t intend to sound priggish, but my husband and I will be taking decision much near to the time, because the health and continuing wellbeing of our family is far more important to us than celebrating Christmas en masse. Whoops, I probably do sound priggish!

Probably just be DH and me, as our son and daughter in law were here last year, so we don't expect them this year.

I could not be more grateful that I spent last Christmas with my mum, and that her sister was there too.
My sibling has invited me to their house for Christmas this year. I've no idea what the rules will be yet, nor how I'm going to feel about my first Christmas without mum. I have my daughter and grandkids nearby but don't normally see them Christmas day (I cannot pretend to like sil even for 1 day)
I may invite my aunt here, she will otherwise be alone but that will depend how she feels too. ?

My DS and DIL have both just had the virus. Normally the rest of the family would have taken their sons away to stay in turns so they could get well, but obviously couldn't with present restrictions. And it comes and goes this thing - you can think you're over it and then back it comes. Also, my other son is awaiting results of his test; he works in the City and had an outbreak in his workplace. Both boys have their own companies so are worried about not going in to take care of it. So Christmas? Just want everyone I love to be well. That'll be all the celebration I need!

No particular plans as yet, and of course this year very much depends upon what restrictions might be in place then.
At the moment, the plan is to go to the Christmas morning service in church which lasts about half an hour (so far it is still happening), then come home and prepare dinner for the two of us, and just have a relaxed day.
Depending if the rule of 6 still applies, we may say a quick hello to local family members, but won't be staying very long if we do. Family living further away we will just have to speak to via phone this year, as we won't be able to travel to them because of where they live (more restrictions) and their ages - normally we would see them at some point during the Christmas period, but not this year. Neither will we be doing the usual things we do in the run up to Christmas, but it is as it is. Let's hope that next year will be different.

I'm hoping for the best but planning for Christmas with just the two of us

I’ve just got me and husband two grown kids , daughters husband , and two grandkids. Seven off us....they will all be at mi e for Christmas as normal. If any neighbour wants to interfere .....let them!

Patiently wait for my usual invitation. Love it. However, if it doesn't happen this year, I'm totally ok with that. Fact is, Christmas is just another opportunity to spend time with GC and any reason for that will do.

My family live a long way away, so I will be spending Christmas with my cat! However, I have suggested on our neighbourhood Internet group that we have an evening when we all stand in our gardens and sing carols and Christmas songs (hopefully the same song at the same time!). I think it would bring us all together and be quite a moving experience. From the responses I have had it seems a popular idea so far

If I ge the to see my grandson I'll be happy. But I have a nasty feeling I'm going to be stuck, overseas, at work.

I can't see any point in making concrete plans but as we are unlikely to be having a huge family celebration on Boxing Day, we are considering having a 3 bird roast rather than the usual huge turkey and joint of Beef.

No change, just 4 family members. Don't care.

No point in having plans this far ahead of the event. If we have to be on our own, then it will be an M&S meal with some nice wine.