Can’t-be-bothered Christmas

Relax and just do what you want. Please do not be driven by people saying that you will have fun! I am not keen on these festivities either.

Right, onwards and upwards (but not up a ladder!)
I shall feel better if I make just a bit of an effort.

Christmas through to the New Year will be just the two of us.
Family gatherings have been postponed as has my birthday on the 30th.
Presents for us have been forbidden as I know my two AC are both struggling financially. Our main gift to them will be in their bank accounts for them to treat themselves. Some tasty Cornish treats will arrive next week. Parcels have been sent to all DGC.
I’m hoping for good weather so we can do a short coast walk on Christmas Day and again for my birthday. Then we’ll find the bench that overlooks our favour beach and enjoy a picnic lunch of soup and sandwiches.

Hats, gloves, scarves and throws will be in the car ?.

A bit of sparkle has gone out of Christmas 2021 for me so nowhere near as many decorations have gone up.

I am another one who can`t be bothered but I did the whole Christmas thing for so long I`m now happy with mostly ignoring it.
I have a few candles and some nice flowers thats it.

I'm not really bah humbug either but we are not seeing any family this year as it seems sensible not to, so it is just DH and me again. I have left the big artificial tree in its box but brought in the tiny real one in a pot and decorated it. We also have a lot of cards on a string and a few lights about, not as much stuff as usual. I'm finding the whole thing very depressing and will be glad when it's over, tbh.

Calistemon

Right, onwards and upwards (but not up a ladder!)
I shall feel better if I make just a bit of an effort.

That's exactly how I felt the last three days Calistemon. And I do feel better now it's done. We haven't put anything up high for years, just masses of (mainly fake) greenery on widow sill and mantelpiece, strewn with (mainly fake) red and gold and white flowers, berries and pine cones and some small lights and pretend candles. Plus the front door and the tree. We used to have real candles in amongst real greenery but after nearly setting fire to the mantelpiece one night decided to stick to battery operated candles ?

I looked at the candles and thought no, can't be bothered, but yes, I need to get them out.

I love Christmas but hate the fuss too. Today or tomorrow will bring out the table top tree I slid into a bin liner last year with ornaments still on and give it a tickle.
It was nice to find the small coloured lights permanently fixed to my wooden trellis arch came on after a year, at least thats something cheery from the road.
The very thought of Christmas plans and bother induce a feeling of inertia.

I might bring in the tiny tree too, NotTooOld - but only because my granddaughters are visiting. Perhaps I'll decorate the mantlepiece too - but no more than that. It's me that has to pack it all away again.

Calistemon, my pre-lit tree is very lovely - but it's just too big. I have to assemble three sections (and they're heavy) then need steps to reach the top. If I were you, I'd get a small one - really wish I had.

I have a naughty cat that can't resist removing baubles etc. and chasing them round the house in the early hours - so must keep that door shut.

Hetty58 I think my Sis-IL bought a pre-lit tree this year, it looked quite a manageable size in the picture she sent me.

No cats here!! ?

I haven’t gone all out this year either. We have 3 poinsettias, 2 Christmas cactuses, a small prelit tree from Homebase 50% off last week, plus cards from relatives and friends. We are moving in the new year and are surrounded by chaos. The thought of getting our big tree out, decorating it, taking it down, packing it all away again…..I just couldn’t face it. Plus, we are not having a turkey either, we are having a chicken with all the usual veg.

I must buy a poinsettia or three. If I buy them too early I kill them.

Forsythia
Will your old tree need to move house with you now you have a pre-lit one?

I keep thinking I'd throw a lot of stuff out if we move. Downsize the stuff too.

Cba to even do that Callistemon! If I bought a poinsettia, I'd have to water it and look after it. Nah! CBA.

I am not decorating, am on my own, no one visiting, don’t have
to do any baking, have liquid meal replacements.

Calistemon

Forsythia
Will your old tree need to move house with you now you have a pre-lit one?

I keep thinking I'd throw a lot of stuff out if we move. Downsize the stuff too.

I’m going to take it. Trouble is I’ve got lots of baubles and tree ornaments built up over 40 years, memories involved, that I can’t bring myself to throw out. Next year, god willing, we will put the big tree up again and the little one too. We’ve had a busy weekend getting rid of lots of things on Freecycle which is quite busy in South London, where we are. DH is clearing out the garage, a marathon task in itself ?

We have a very small tree and decorations on shelves, reminding us of loved ones, and my sister bought me a poinsettia last week. Not many cards have arrived this year, but a couple of special ones look lovely. So, we do have decorations but aren’t planning a big special meal. It’s the whole pressure of cooking a special meal that tends to spoil Xmas day for us, with all the tension and worry.

In my area there were a lot of early decorations and lights last year. This year it’s much more muted. Is that the same where you are?

Just a small ready decorated table top tree brought down from the lost byMr B and a real one on a pit in the garden decorated with lights and food for the birds. That’s it. Chicken for Christmas dinner and a long day visiting our daughter. That’s it.

In my area there were a lot of early decorations and lights last year. This year it’s much more muted. Is that the same where you are?

No, neighbours have put up lights as usual and our outside lights went on today.

Same here with lights. The usual houses are lit up like Santa’s grotto as my DH says.

Forsythia

Calistemon

Forsythia
Will your old tree need to move house with you now you have a pre-lit one?

I keep thinking I'd throw a lot of stuff out if we move. Downsize the stuff too.

I’m going to take it. Trouble is I’ve got lots of baubles and tree ornaments built up over 40 years, memories involved, that I can’t bring myself to throw out. Next year, god willing, we will put the big tree up again and the little one too. We’ve had a busy weekend getting rid of lots of things on Freecycle which is quite busy in South London, where we are. DH is clearing out the garage, a marathon task in itself ?

We've been half-heartedly househunting for a long time, Forsythia and the thought becomes more daunting.
I hope DIL and the DD might like treasured tree ornaments etc.

Good luck!

The garage - I know what you mean ?

It took us 3 years of ups and downs to finally get the move sorted but I don’t want to derail this thread on that topic or DHs garage!

?

I felt exactly like that for ages.
My D and AG were coming today for 4 days but illness has put paid to that so I felt down and decided not to do anything although we do have an artificial tree up in the lounge.
However this morning I decided to buck my idears up.
My GD , who lives with me since my H died, rang a male friend and he has put outside lights up, not as many as usual, but still a display and we have covered a real tree with 300 lights in the conservatory.
We both feel so much better for doing it and have recovered a bit of festive spirit.
Go for it if you can.
Next Year may be another bleak one, do what you can with the remains of this year.