Christmas

I am dreading Xmas this year as I have separated from my husband, and have a chronic illness which has me bedbound so it will very much be another day. I feel sad as I had enjoyed a better phase of health last year and really was able to enjoy being with my daughter and grandchildren. This year that won’t be possible. I have managed to decorate my bedroom though and have a small tree up. I think I will be glad when it’s over to be honest and that’s sad. So to all the fellow people on your own, we have each other. To everyone else have a wonderful Xmas and enjoy it.

If you love Christmas - great. Personally I think it’s over-hyped and a pain. TV adverts of happy families sitting round tables of wonderful looking food. Not true for so so many people.
Perhaps having a birthday so close to Christmas doesn’t help!

Finally got round to making a start of the dreaded Christmas cards today doing the overseas ones first, which is probably too late anyway. OH trotted off to the Post Office to get them weighed only to be told "Canadian Post Office are on strike and not accepting anymore cards" oh well it's an email then! We'll hang on to these for next year, hopefully the strike may have finished by then

I do sympathise with the above two posts, Christmas is over hyped and for those, for whatever reason, having a miserable time, well Christmas with its forced bonhomie and rampant consumerism just highlights all of that.

It’s never been my favourite time of year but DH absolutely loved it. Nothing was ever too much, from the decorations to the presents and the Christmas food and drink. It was just a case of wind him up and let him go!😊 Now I can hardly be bothered, but have just finished putting up and dressing the tree. It brings him a little bit closer for all of us.

Oooh the little weep. I can sympathise with that. Just had a little weep over some silver cutlery of my DM. I akways had to clean it before Christmas with Duraglit..horrid smelly stuff. And I am still cleaning it with John Lewis stuff 30 years after she died. I have decided to use the soup spoons every day not just at Christmas and had a little weep today when I got them out of the drawer. I am going to put the stainless steel cutlery away and only use the silver from now on.
My DM loved it and so do I as it is quite a plain design. And the JL cleaner is quick to use.
I wish Mum and Dad were spending Cnristmas with us one last time. Oh dear here come the tears again.

We are having Christmas Day on our own this year. First time ever. A combination of ACs working over Christmas and distance. So we are having whatever we feel like for lunch. Doing whatever we want. A walk if it’s nice, a film or book if it isn’t. A lovely relaxing day. Off to DDs for turkey etc on Boxing Day. Perfect

I do love seeing Christmas Lights in the town and houses where people are able to decorate inside or out.
I live alone now, and am not able to put up decorations. My few remaining relatives are busy with their own lives/children and grandchildren (I have no children of my own). I will visit my younger sister and exchange presents before Christmas and a younger cousin just after. Sometimes, I resent being the one who has to travel, despite being the eldest and in poor health - but I enjoy the visit when I get there!
I’ll attend as many services as I can at Church, provided that my Powerchair can get me through any bad weather.
I’ll be eating Christmas Dinner alone, but will have a good day just the same. I wish everyone an enjoyable Christmas Season and a very Happy New Year!

While I love Christmas day, I get a bit stressed about gift giving. While some people are natural gift givers, always knowing what to get people, I really struggle with it. That and making sure it is all equal in dollar amount. I find it exhausting.

We have a postal strike in Canada this year, so no cards are being sent, and no parcels. The couriers are just too expensive compared to the postal service. So for my DD and family, I am ordering items, and having them delivered to her house, but then she has to wrap them. I've promised her some wrapping paper and a bottle of wine when I next visit!

But the lights, the tree, wreaths, carols... I love all that!

Apart from my children I no longer have any blood relatives living in the UK but I have been totally adopted into my husband's family and nearly always stay with my SIL, enjoying the company of her children and grandchildren. BIL and his family usually arrive on Boxing Day (which is my birthday) so I have family to celebrate both Christmas and my birthday. Our daughter will always come with us for part of the holiday depending on her hospital shifts. There are four dogs, so a bit hectic and a requirement to keep the kitchen door closed but we walk on the beach, catch up on family news, eat far too much and play games in the evening. We rarely have the TV on but I like to read by the log fire with a dog on my lap. It is all very relaxed. Christmas is the excuse to get together as a family as we all live in different parts of the country.

Sadly no longer it is not the same when your loved ones have died and you are alone. Lots of friends but it can never be the same. They have their own families and friends and even if they shared their time with me during Christmas it would never be magic again. Sad but life goes on. I keep busy bv volunteering and get through it by helping others. That is a different type of magic.

Yes, I love our family Christmases.

Nope.
Christmas is lovely when you’re a child ( obviously not always the case ) or when your own children are small and still believe in Father Christmas. I absolutely loved it.
But now it’s actually boring.
Everyone pretending to be enjoying themselves when really they just want to scroll through their phones.

Roll on New Year - let’s get Christmas over please. It’s an intrusion in my life - long queues in the supermarket, crazy traffic, ghastly ads on tv and constant spend spend spend . Other half talked me into having a drinks party!!! I thought he was kidding until I saw the invitation emails he sent out - my worst nightmare - a couple of stiff drinks pre party should help. Didn’t have a great experience as a child either - my family always managed to have a good row at some point.

Oh you too CBBL 👋
I haven’t noticed you posting in a while - but perhaps we’ve just been on different threads!
Anyway I’m wishing you a very ‘Happy Christmas’ from me.
x

Greyduster Season’s greetings to you too. Your late husband would be proud of you for making the effort - even though you didn’t really feel like it. x

To everyone else have a wonderful Xmas and enjoy

Oh you too CD62 as best you can anyway. It’s difficult for some indeed - but well done you for trying at a tough time in your life. I bet your bedroom looks cosy at night and I hope it sparks (some) joy. “Happy Christmas”. x

Oh heck - apologies 62dg. 😮

Cateq and TanaMa 💐
Oh ladies, it will never be ‘the same’ for either of you. But you’ll treasure those very happy memories of past times.
“Merry Christmas” to you both from me. x

AuntieE I so admire your fortitude. I remember your posts this time last year and I’m wishing you “All the Best” for Christmas this year. You are doing a very generous thing. x

I hope so too GrammarGrandma for you. Your Christmas sounds cosy and comforting. “Merry Christmas” from me. x

Films that do not involve McAuley Culkin!!

That made me laugh Nanny27!

Oh Romola and knspol your posts were so poignant. 💐
I hope for you both that Christmas will bring some cheer. Memories are precious. x

Dempsie special celebrations must be hard for you to bear. You can only do your best to cope with the jollity which surrounds you. Wishing you Peace and Comfort this Christmastide. x

I’m another recent widow for whom this Christmas will never be the same. DH died 6 months ago and I’m struggling tbh. I’ll do my best for the family especially the young grandchildren. Love to all in the same situation

I used love Christmas when my husband was alive but lost my brother in a road accident, my husband suddenly in his early fifties and my dad almost two years to the day after my husband. So much sadness in a short space of time. This will be the first Christmas I will spend with my son, dil and two little ones (they have spent previous Christmases with dil's family) and I must admit I feel very mixed emotions about it. It will be lovely to share the joy with with the toddler who is a poppet but I think I will struggle to be with my emotions ( may need to pop out to feed the horse or walk their dog just for a few minutes on my own). Sending hugs to all those who are missing loved ones.