What are your plans for Christmas?

Because it’s not fun. At all

It’s all about “fair”.

My MIL was the worst for needing ‘her time’ and fair, but never compromised for us.

I was by far the least fav Dil who kept her (grand)children away

Probably going to our son's house in Suffolk if the Rule of Six is still in place. If the restrictions here in Northumberland are changed to the ROS then we'll host Christmas here.

I’m with M0nica. I’ll prepare for a normal Christmas but will accept whatever restrictions are in place at the time. I won’t like it if we can’t have family here as normal but it is what it is. I’ve spent time alone over Christmas in the past when DH has been working and AC have been at in-laws.

I may be here alone with my two cats. I think they like turkey.

I am hoping that my best friend, of more years than either of us is prepared to admit, will be able to come and stay but, that depends on the rules at the time. My daughter will be with her own grandchildren.

Church is currently taking place online and still will be on Christmas Day.

My sister and I have started spending Christmas and New Yesr in Egypt but, we decided months ago to give it a miss this year. We plan to meet her in a restaurant for Christmas lunch.

They are very fluid plans. It all depends on the COVID-19 situation.

Let us hope that next year will be different.

Tedd1

Oh dear, I’ve stopped in the middle of this discussion and ordered some frozen food for next week. Thanks for the suggestion as I hate cooking every day!

I thought I should try to get a Christmas grocery slot - zilch with Waitrose, all gone.
Now I have to keep an ear open to see when Tesco release theirs.

I knew we should have planted sprouts.

Call WR randomly add delivery slots. Last night they had none for Christmas week, this morning they had several hours for the 20th. I keep looking because I’d like to shift my slot by a couple of days.

I managed to get a Waitrose delivery slot for 20/12 on Saturday. They seem to release more slots randomly.

This is madness. Booking Christmas delivery slots right now. Selfish and unnecessary imo

Iam64

This is madness. Booking Christmas delivery slots right now. Selfish and unnecessary imo

What a truly horrible thing to say. Every year this happens, it’s not just a pandemic issue. What do you want people to do? Not be able to get food delivered in Christmas week?

Well I guess a lot of needy folk may not be as quick.off the mark so yes they might struggle to get a slot when they think about ot at a s normal folk would..in December.

Iam64

This is madness. Booking Christmas delivery slots right now. Selfish and unnecessary imo

It’s actually later this year for Waitrose to release December delivery dates. I have normally got my slot reserved by mid September. Absolutely nothing to do with the current pandemic just being organised!

Iam64, what on earth is selfish about being prudent? The prudent ones are survivors

Re christmas I am prepping for a solo christmas, bearing in mind that it is a full week in reality. I may be able to see family beforehand but who knows, nice to be prudent and prepared. I have bought myself some presents and some treats to eat, will be gettng smoked salmon to freeze, made a small cake. Bought a couple more lit decorations for my living room. I shall have candles and wear a sparkly top, even if on my own

craftyone that’s all any of us can do. I am definitely buying more decorations and lights for indoors and outside.

Iam64

This is madness. Booking Christmas delivery slots right now. Selfish and unnecessary imo

They've all gone, Iam64
Even the priority slots.

I never even thought about it until I read this thread, so I checked and, as they say round here, there they all were - gone!

I'll have another look occasionally, thank you all.

Although I won't panic, turkey is not essential.
I can always cobble something together.

Sadly being estranged from one of my children makes Christmas sad for me usually so a low key one this year makes it easier. We will probably see our DS in the morning with our wonderful granddaughter and our other DD with her baby in the afternoon. I have never seen my new DGS and his brother only twice when he was a baby, which is still heart wrenchingly awful. I hope Christmas is nice for other people though and maybe people in general might evaluate the occasion and realise what is important.

Good post sallywally

Suziwoozie, loved your positive post with ideas of games and pressie opening on Zoom. This is our first Christmas as grandparents and tbh our Grandaughter will be 6 months old by then and for her it will just be another day but will miss not being with her mummy and daddy enjoying watching her reactions to new things but when we go to look after her on the days we help out with childcare then we can see her looking at fairy lights etc. Your ideas of subscription gifts is great as we all need something to look forward to and it will give these businesses a boost. No point giving experience vouchers etc during lockdowns and I really don't want to be paying postage for lots of parcels. My sister is a postie and has found this summer of Amazon parcel deluge more overwhelming than Christmas anyway. I will suggest Zoom pressie opening and charades to my offspring, maybe a bit of carol singing round our piano complete with different internet speed flaws to make it more chaotic too. At least we can still go to a number limited church service if current rules are still in place. Happy planning.

Booking a slot at WR is not exactly like reserving a place in the queue for the local food bank. And I didn’t feel guilty either about being well organised enough to book my flu jab early.

Thanks Deek Maybe nearer to Christmas when things are clearer (??) we could have a thread for Christmas Zoom activities/games. Yahtze and Boggle work well

suziewoozie I booked my flu jab as soon as I received the email from Boots.

I do think having five children and a business that I have always had to be organised otherwise it would have been a continuous game of catch up.

I had an email from Ocado last week inviting me to book a Christmas slot as I get a regular weekly delivery. The minimum cost is £90 so thought I might have to cancel if I am on my own. My next door neighbour then suggested we both use that delivery. Sorted!

Well, we have just heard that our local panto is going ahead, so we have booked tickets, but in two separate household groups, just in case rules have been tightened up by December.

It is better to make plans and then change them than make no plans at all and end up alone when with a bit of forethought, you could have had a Christmas with some semblance of normality.

It is better to make plans and then change them than make no plans at all

Tried that M0nica; the pantomime tickets that we bought last Christmas, for this Christmas, have been cancelled, despite them doing their absolute best to try and carry on. The christingle that we attend every year has already been cancelled. And unless the COVID pandemic is seriously under control within the next few weeks, the family Christmas party won't be able to go ahead. Ditto the neighbours Christmas party on the Saturday nearest to Christmas. Best laid plans and all that......

The less said the better regading Christmas .