Christmas planning

Oldernotwiser

Newly_retired wrote: »

(But I am struggling already with the isolation and missing them all!)

Won't it just be lovely to spend time with with your husband as he's been working so hard leading up to Christmas - I can't see how you can feel isolated if he's there.

As you're retired and he's working long hours, why not go and do the extended family thing in the days leading up to Christmas and then relax over the actual holiday?

Newly_retired

In the days before Christmas we have many church and choir events, concerts, Christingle etc. but the diary is empty after that till 3 Jan

Oldernotwiser

Newly_retired wrote: »

In the days before Christmas we have many church and choir events, concerts, Christingle etc. but the diary is empty after that till 3 Jan

So why can't you have a quiet Christmas together and do all the extended family stuff later?

thorsoak

This will definitely be a different Christmas for me - my first without my dear OH, who died in January. We knew that last Christmas would be our last one together, and we did have a lovely quiet day - just the two of us - the very first Christmas on our own in 50 years - but with DSs 1, 2 & 3 and families coming in to see us on Boxing Day - including newest baby DGD whom OH met for the first time (3 weeks old).

I'm going to USA on 14th December and will stay with our DD and her family for Christmas - and it will be the first time that we've spent Christmas in her home - and I'm not coming back to the UK until 28th January - so will be away from the sad memories/dreary weather that would bring last January back to me so vividly. I'll be returning on the anniversary of his funeral, so I shall go up to the woodland cemetry where we laid him (and where, three months later, we sneaked the ashes of his beloved dog) and tell him all about my American Christmas.

And I've just realised that I no longer need to buy all the "how to do this year's Christmas Dinner" magazines .....I've probably cooked my last enormous turkey - don't really know whether I feel glad or sad about that!

Errata

Have a lovely peaceful family time with your DD, and I think it's fair to feel a bit sad and a bit glad about the turkey. It will make the turkey happy, anyway.

Newly_retired

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

So why can't you have a quiet Christmas together and do all the extended family stuff later?

This is probably what we will do and go off to our families on Boxing Day.

Savvy_Sue

thorsoak wrote: »

I've probably cooked my last enormous turkey - don't really know whether I feel glad or sad about that!

Well I'm having a quiet sniffle on your behalf, if that's OK.

I can't decide about Christmas Dinner this year either, or what to do about going to see my Mum. 2 years ago I took the boys to see her on Christmas Eve, which would have been their 60th wedding anniversary had Dad not died earlier that month. Absolutely horrific conditions underfoot when we arrived, I'm amazed we got Mum in and out of the car safely (I'm amazed we got ME in and out of the car safely too!)

Last year that was out of the question because I'd got one arm tied to my body following unexpected shoulder surgery (close encounter with the recycling bin and a concrete floor, not recommended!), and I really couldn't face the thought of trying to 'organise' the boys into doing the Full Turkey Thing, so we went to a local 'all you can eat' pan-Asian place, which wasn't a bad price.

So this year do I do the 'visit to Mum' / 'all you can eat' combo, or one or the other, or neither?

Decisions, decisions ...

seven-day-weekend

I have not spent Christmas with any of my family, including my son, for eight years as we have been living in Spain and it is too expensive for visits at that time of the year. We see them all at other times.

To the OP, I would say don't get rushing around, enjoy your Christmas and see everyone as and when you can, whether or not it is Christmas - and don't forget Christmas lasts over a week, you can see them during that week.
.

missile

Go visit before and/or after christmas?

Newly_retired

I suppose my feeling of missing my grandchildren is paramount for me, whereas concern for his 93 yr old mum on her own is paramount for DH and we will both have our hearts elsewhere. Not helped by the fact that locally - neighbours, church, etc, almost everyone has their family living close by and do make thoughtless remarks.
Just hoping our post-Christmas plans fall into place now.