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What are your plans for Christmas?

(157 Posts)
Kandinsky Sun 11-Oct-20 17:31:46

It’s going to be very strange this year isn’t it.
I normally have all the children ( & their partners) over, but that won’t be happening now as there’s about 12 of us!
I love Christmas, but actually dreading this one.
How about you?

WOODMOUSE49 Mon 12-Oct-20 11:10:32

Davida1968

No plans. Niet, nada, rien. No idea what the next week holds, never mind December!

Same with us. Only plans are to have:
Food in the fridge/freezer.
Drinks on the shelf.

Craftycat Mon 12-Oct-20 11:11:03

Not even thinking about it yet- so much could change before then & we have no idea what it will be like.

Quizzer Mon 12-Oct-20 11:12:04

Our family, 12 plus ourselves, live a long way apart and Christmas is usually the only time we all meet together. Probably not going to happen this year. If we are on our own we probably won't bother with traditional Christmas dinner as neither of us are fond of turkey !

4allweknow Mon 12-Oct-20 11:13:12

Hopefully visiting son,DiL and GS. Going by today's rules should be okay - two families, within rule of 6.

polnan Mon 12-Oct-20 11:23:03

I admit it, haven`t read all the posts, but me?

I think we make to much of Christmas,, but that is my opinion, so much stress etc. at the best of times

now? GNW hope I got that right, yes, working and good health is what I hope for my family, and not a mad escapism by too many of the population.

Suzan05 Mon 12-Oct-20 11:27:53

This will be our third Christmas on our own. Children too far away including Australia so won't be any different. Children and grandchildren have Christmas Day in their family unit then go to in laws on Boxing Day as they live close to them. Son in the south of England spends Christmas alone, he always refuses invites. I think we all have to go with whatever restrictions are placed on us this year but personally it will make no difference.

CrazyGrandma2 Mon 12-Oct-20 11:35:56

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.

Phloembundle Mon 12-Oct-20 11:40:42

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

icanhandthemback Mon 12-Oct-20 11:42:36

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.

GagaJo Mon 12-Oct-20 11:45:26

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.

linspot Mon 12-Oct-20 12:01:33

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

Kim19 Mon 12-Oct-20 12:07:32

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.

Saggi Mon 12-Oct-20 12:38:06

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!

GrauntyHelen Mon 12-Oct-20 12:40:13

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

Mapleleaf Mon 12-Oct-20 12:45:00

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.

Lulubelle500 Mon 12-Oct-20 12:45:36

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!

Purplepoppies Mon 12-Oct-20 13:01:50

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. ?

grandtanteJE65 Mon 12-Oct-20 13:08:02

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.

Lexisgranny Mon 12-Oct-20 13:17:41

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!

ReadyMeals Mon 12-Oct-20 13:23:27

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!

pengwen Mon 12-Oct-20 13:28:19

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

Daisymae Mon 12-Oct-20 13:33:17

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.

M0nica Mon 12-Oct-20 13:51:14

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.

aonk Mon 12-Oct-20 13:55:39

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.

Summerlove Mon 12-Oct-20 13:57:53

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