What is everyone doing at Christmas?

I live in the south but I don’t know what we will do at Christmas. It depends on whatever the rules are by then. Nonetheless even if we were in full lockdown I would not leave my elderly mother alone on Christmas Day. Mind you, we’re in a bubble with her so bubbles will still be allowed I think.

Home alone .

We're in tier 3 in Merseyside. DS, his wife and 2 young GC who live in Southampton usually visit for several days. It's a lovely family event that we obviously look forward to all year. We managed to fit in a quick visit in August between lockdowns, but other than that haven't seen them since last Christmas.
Of course, this year things are different and I'm expecting that it will just be the two of us. I am prepared to follow the rules, but am getting very annoyed by the number of people on social media saying that they have no intention of following the rules and plan to have a big family get-together regardless.

You will not be alone annie - we will be with you in spirit.

Usually go to DD, waiting to see if we come out of tier 2. We would be eleven if her sister in law and children plus her mother come as they usually do. If not able to go there it would be just DH and me as DS has moved to York and always works on Boxing day, the great British public always need more food then☹!

Someone on the radio suggested that as we are old we won’t have many christmases left so it is worth the risk.

But the point is it isn’t about us as individuals it is about the country as a whole community.

The risk isn’t just yours it is the NHSs or the person down the road who may die, it the person you stand next to on your travels etc. It is about controlling a real but unseen enemy.

That is what informs my decision, so I think I will stick to what I think is right for all and not just me.

Totally agree with you Whitewave. Unfortunately I think many people will do their own thing at Christmas and then there’ll be a spike a couple of weeks afterwards.

Who knows! We will be playing by ear. I have ordered a turkey from Ocado but can cancel at the last minute!

So I’ve ordered the Christmas tree this morning. We usually have a big Frazier or Nordmann but this year I’ve gone for a little Nordmann growing in a pot. It is about 3 ft in height, and I will put it out into the garden after Christmas, and nurture it for next year.

It will only be us. I did think I wouldn’t bother, then thought “for goodness sake get a grip woman”

So now I just have to buy little decorations as the ones we have got are too big. Things are naturally getting out of hand as usual, it will all cost me more than the usual tree. Hey ho.

I sent and took christmas parcels this week, big boxes of goodies, although I live in the SW and we are lowest on the graphs. I am staying home by myself, will not be getting physically close to my family, I have a responsibility. The children are 10 and 12 and the son in law is a head of year in a comp, besides my personal responsibility, dd and her husband have been through the wringer, she is a dentist and they all need their holiday break as a small family. They did ask me because they care but I re-assured them that I would be fine

So I am mentally prepared, a few new lovely porcelein tree ornaments that cost a lot but so be it, they will give me joy and will be heirlooms. More candles and lovely spiced hearts and stars to hang, more lights and I have already sorted my tree, which is a beautiful scandi wooden tree, packs small in a tidy long box. A few treats for me, a few presents for me, a whole second hand box set from amazon called northern exposure, cost me £42 and is now £84

I made myself a 6" cake that will be well fed with brandy, I have bought some mini bottles of wine and one of champagne and I have beautiful organic mincemeat in small jars for a mince pie or two. I have maintained my bicycles and am ready for a couple of hours out if the weather is decent

So there are a lot of the letter I here but it is down to me to make my own christmas nice and I will

On our own due to hubbie having severe health issues. Family have moved away and will not be able to travel for lots of reasons, and we have lost older family members so not many of us left now. A quiet Christmas but that’s fine as long as everyone is safe and well. That is the best Christmas present.

craftyone

I sent and took christmas parcels this week, big boxes of goodies, although I live in the SW and we are lowest on the graphs. I am staying home by myself, will not be getting physically close to my family, I have a responsibility. The children are 10 and 12 and the son in law is a head of year in a comp, besides my personal responsibility, dd and her husband have been through the wringer, she is a dentist and they all need their holiday break as a small family. They did ask me because they care but I re-assured them that I would be fine

So I am mentally prepared, a few new lovely porcelein tree ornaments that cost a lot but so be it, they will give me joy and will be heirlooms. More candles and lovely spiced hearts and stars to hang, more lights and I have already sorted my tree, which is a beautiful scandi wooden tree, packs small in a tidy long box. A few treats for me, a few presents for me, a whole second hand box set from amazon called northern exposure, cost me £42 and is now £84

I made myself a 6" cake that will be well fed with brandy, I have bought some mini bottles of wine and one of champagne and I have beautiful organic mincemeat in small jars for a mince pie or two. I have maintained my bicycles and am ready for a couple of hours out if the weather is decent

So there are a lot of the letter I here but it is down to me to make my own christmas nice and I will

Sounds delightful

I'm still pinning my hopes on being able to go to Southern Spain on a booked 2 weeks holiday. I'm trying not to think about any alternative. I booked it so that I would have somewhere to go and that my family wouldn't have to think about me and where I could go, especially with all the family living in different regions, different levels of restrictions and the problems that would cause.
If I can't go to Spain, then I will be on my own in Blackburn and making do with it. But I would like some sun and to be able to get away. The furthest I've been since March is around 10 miles to do some shopping. Oh I am going to the TRafford Centre tomorrow as I do need to get some presents bought.

craftyone you are to be admired. Christmas no doubt will be unlike any other but you are certainly making the best of it and I think your ideas are delightful. I’ll be copying some of them.
Let’s all spoil ourselves a little. ? ?

Craftyone what a lovely, cosy Christmas you have planned. It sounds wonderful, I'm sure you have given food for thought there. For us, we are 9 immediate family. If we were in Scotland we wouldn't be including our little ones who are 4, 2 and 5 months and would be able to have some semblance of Christmas lunch together.

Your Christmas sounds delightful Craftyone. ?
We will just be the two of us, as per normal. Calling round to nearby family in all likelihood will not happen this year, which we normally do before coming home to have our own meal, and certainly not to family further afield, but we can phone and text, etc. Not the same, but better than nothing. We have to make the best of it, don't we?

oh yes, we do have to make the best of it and it is about making that nest cosy and comforting, so that we can relax and perhaps get on with some slow and quiet hobbies, be dormant

I am using the two ceiling lights every day now, they are fitted with daylight biobulbs and have crystal clear round shades, purely for me to see my crafting properly and for my eyes to get enough light to keep my spirits buoyant. I want to add some hygge to the room and have ordered a good quality salt lamp 5-7kg, 26 cm tall and comes with a bulb plus a spare. My dd has one and it has added such cosiness to her living room. I won`t be keeping this for a christmas present,it is dark, windy and pouring down now and christmas colour can come early and stay for the whole winter in my house

Not a lot. DSs are either not living in UK or working, ditto DD and family, so we’re on our own as usual. I normally invite lonely or recently widowed people to join us, but that’s not going to happen.
Fortunately we had “Christmas “ with the two DS in July so won’t feel too bad.
Not going to church is a shame, but there we are!

Staying home with my family. Gonna enjoy every second of happiness with them. Plans for Christmas is to buy Xmas tree and dim lights from DealMeCoupon so to make it romantic and eye-catching.

We're bringing MIL here as she is on her own and we haven't been in contact with anyone with the exception of the odd shop ,I'll cook christmas dinner but we wont eat until late in the day as OH has signed up to go with food to the homeless and vulnerable in the area.He tries to fit a couple of hours in most years but there are a lot more people in need this Christmas so its going to be busy .

Who knows?
The daughters have promised that I will not be on my own (somehow) but it is still in the lap of the gods isn’t it?
I refuse to worry

craftyone

I sent and took christmas parcels this week, big boxes of goodies, although I live in the SW and we are lowest on the graphs. I am staying home by myself, will not be getting physically close to my family, I have a responsibility. The children are 10 and 12 and the son in law is a head of year in a comp, besides my personal responsibility, dd and her husband have been through the wringer, she is a dentist and they all need their holiday break as a small family. They did ask me because they care but I re-assured them that I would be fine

So I am mentally prepared, a few new lovely porcelein tree ornaments that cost a lot but so be it, they will give me joy and will be heirlooms. More candles and lovely spiced hearts and stars to hang, more lights and I have already sorted my tree, which is a beautiful scandi wooden tree, packs small in a tidy long box. A few treats for me, a few presents for me, a whole second hand box set from amazon called northern exposure, cost me £42 and is now £84

I made myself a 6" cake that will be well fed with brandy, I have bought some mini bottles of wine and one of champagne and I have beautiful organic mincemeat in small jars for a mince pie or two. I have maintained my bicycles and am ready for a couple of hours out if the weather is decent

So there are a lot of the letter I here but it is down to me to make my own christmas nice and I will

Good for you Craftyone - you are one together lady!

It does not bother me being on my own because I have for the last 8 years + so another year for me is no big deal but I do feel for those with a family who have never been on their own before. I also would not care if I had two boiled eggs- it is just another day.

I am not making any plans yet . If people can come then I will take it as a plus . Shops are open long hours around Xmas and I can freeze what I don't use or mix into meals. I have to stop worrying . As long as my family are safe and well I won't shed tears about who is missing.

Doesn’t bother me at all. I would rather everyone just stay where they are and be safe. It is just another day. Hope the oncologist doesn’t totally ruin things when he rings next week with husbands recent scan findings to say how active his cancer is.