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Alone For Christmas

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Comments

  • krlyr wrote: »
    Get in touch now, get homechecked and chatting with the rescue, and they may well be able to arrange someone to transport the dog to/from you :)

    well, it was a bit hasty of me writing about fostering a dog when i have a cat that lives with me as well! if i didn't have my cat, then of course i'd be very happy taking in a dog or two.. but as it happens i can't, sadly.

    bet i don't stand a chance getting any jobs from ppl wanting their dogs walked and fussed for an hour or two a day is there if i put up an ad in the shops/gumtree? :o
  • Hi OP
    Sorry to hear you'll be on your own during the festive season.
    I have two suggestions - both of which I tried when I first separated from my ex and didn't want to be with family at that time.

    1) - Do you have any DIY that needs doing in the house? Is there a room you'd like to re-decorate? It's a good time to get those jobs done whilst your doggies and OH are not about in the house. You can leave the paint and it won't get knocked over for one!

    - Not for the faint hearted and those (like me) who get distracted by the TV - my 'one week' decorating the hall and landing ended up taking about three weeks!:o

    2) Collect some of the films / TV series you've wanted to see for ages (borrow from friends or buy cheap from ebay) and save them up for that week. Watch them all with a box of choocies / glass of wine or similar treat

    Heaven!

    Hope all goes well - look on that weeks as some ' you' time - albeit enforced - and make the most of it!

    S_J
    Penny: I'm a little low on cash.
    Leonard: How much you got?
    Penny: Nothing!
    Leonard: How can you walk around with no money?
    Penny: I'm cute, I get by.
  • PasturesNew
    PasturesNew Posts: 70,698 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I'd rather have Xmas on my own, than accept an invite from somebody I barely knew then have to get over to theirs and back and not be able to veg out in PJs and feeling I had to make small talk and having to suffer the cr4p they want on the telly rather than my own choice of cr4p.

    Make sure you make your bed with fresh sheets before you go out. Make sure the place is 100% tidy the night before. Make sure you've got enough nibbles and scoffs to tuck into .... then come home from work to a clean house, loads of nibbles, remote control and knowing you've fresh sheets to look forward to.

    At least you've got your own home to enjoy!
  • sock-knitter
    sock-knitter Posts: 1,630 Forumite
    this year is going to be the first xmas that i have spent on my own. my two sons moved out last year, and one of them met up with me for xmas dinner, but this year he lives further away, and there are no buses, and he wants to spend xmas eve drinking with his mates, so he wont come here the day before either. the other lad hasnt really bothered with family since he left home,
    i tried to make an effort to see him, but he prefers to be with his girlfriend and her mates, so no chance of seeing him on xmas either.
    i am disable and unable to work, otherwise i would be volunteering to help out somewhere
    loves to knit and crochet for others
  • duchy
    duchy Posts: 19,511 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Xmas Saver!
    Move Christmas day !

    Seriously instead of having a "not the real thing" on Christmas day-Have your own Christmas day the week before with your OH. All your usual traditions -and then make the 25th an indulgence day for you. You'll have had your Christmas already so won't feel you've missed out but then after work will have an evening of treating yourself
    I Would Rather Climb A Mountain Than Crawl Into A Hole

    MSE Florida wedding .....no problem
  • podperson
    podperson Posts: 3,125 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts
    OP - as others have said, it doesn't have to be a bad day just because it's not going to be the usual schedule. I used to work in pubs round Christmas and it was quite nice to see everyone having a good time and feeling Christmassy so hopefully you'll have an ok shift. When you get home think about what you'd like to do with your night - take advantage of the fact you have the house to yourself. Have a drink, have a pamper session, watch the tv shows your OH would normally complain about having on.

    It's only a day. If you're missing your usual plans then try and arrange to do them on different date, maybe both book a weekend off beforehand or take some time in Jan and have your own Christmas (me and OH used to do this when we had to spend some Christmases apart - we would go nuts buying loads of Christmas stuff cheap in the sales so we had a bargin Christmas the week after!)

    It is a shame, but it's only for one year so try and see as just a one-off change and try to enjoy it a bit x
  • krlyr
    krlyr Posts: 5,993 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 8 October 2012 at 11:30AM
    bet i don't stand a chance getting any jobs from ppl wanting their dogs walked and fussed for an hour or two a day is there if i put up an ad in the shops/gumtree? :o

    You may but you have to consider the implications - e.g. it potentially being taxable income you'd need to declare, having public liability cover incase any of the dogs were to bite someone or damage property in your care, transport to get the dog to a vet if it became ill or got injured, etc. - dog walkers charge the money they charge for a reason, it's not as easy as picking up a lead and heading around the block!

    Another option could be to see if anyone nearby does walking at a rescue and see if they'd give you a lift over the Christmas period. Didn't suggest it to OP since they're working all day, but I volunteered at a rescue and Christmas was the time when they especially needed their walkers to pitch in, because the kennel went into minimal staffing mode and lots of the volunteers were busy with family stuff. Those that could spare some time to get in and give the dogs a break from their kennels were very appreciated - especially when it was really snowy, as the walk allowed the dogs to move around a bit more to get warm, and dog coats and bedding could be topped up and swapped for fresh ones to keep them snug. Someone may be passing by you and willing to spare room in the car if you were flexible time-wise!
  • Faith177
    Faith177 Posts: 2,927 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    edited 8 October 2012 at 2:22PM
    Thank you all for your kind words and ideas.

    A few of them will work ie food after work

    Unfortunately the people I work for are "by the book" people. It is ok for them to sit there and have a drink but we have our work and their work to do too. Prime example they had me swiping the car park of ciggy buts at 9:30 pm on Sat night while they shared a drink with friends. I'm dreading it as I know what they are like and there will be no fun and laughs for staff just the customers. Especially as most of the people coming in for their meals are the managers "friends" we will just have to get on with it.

    I would suggest food but we are not allowed to eat in the kitchen and we don't have a staff room so that's a no go.

    I have been given my shift times now :( 5pm-1.30am Xmas Eve 9/10am-close Xmas Day (looks like close will be about 6pm ish & then 11:30am-close Boxing Day. So looks like sleeping will be a strong possiblity lol

    I think I'm just going to buy a bunch of cheap dvd's get a mac & cheese ready meal in and just veg.

    Doing it on a different day will also be an issue as OH isn't allowed holiday from the 1st December - 14th Jan and as I do 2 jobs I work 7 days a week so even on a day off i'll be at work. Anything later than this I just consider a complete waste of time and just doesn't appeal to me plus OH hates Christmas so he isn't bothered.

    As for other family I have no family at all near me mum is in Inverness, Brother & SIL are normally in Glasgow but will be with my mum. One set of Grandparents are in Nottingham the others in Lincs. As I don't drive and with the shifts I've been given I can't go anywhere :(
    First Date 08/11/2008, Moved In Together 01/06/2009, Engaged 01/01/10, Wedding Day 27/04/2013, Baby Moshie due 29/06/2019 :T
  • marisco_2
    marisco_2 Posts: 4,261 Forumite
    edited 8 October 2012 at 4:30PM
    This Xmas it is just going to be my young sons and I. So though I will have their company I wont have any adult interaction over Xmas Day or Boxing Day. At first the thought of it really bothered me but now I am coming round to the idea.

    I have a huge, dysfunctional family with more siblings and step brothers and sisters than I have fingers to count them on. Last year half of us were camped out at my dads snug bungalow and though it was kinda fun the noise, chaos and having to fit in with other peoples house rules and routines got on my wick. The kids and I were first out the door making our way home on the 27th.

    This year my dad and stepmum are up at my step-sisters house as it is her first xmas in her new home with a new baby. Good luck to them being in a house with a 4 month old baby. He doesn't sleep at all well!

    It will be nice to wake up in my own bed and not have to drive anywhere. We can eat what we like, when we like. I can have a relaxing soak in the bath whilst the boys play with their new presents. We can watch whatever we want to on TV and totally please ourselves without having to take other peoples views or feelings into account.

    I will be seeing family on the days before and after Xmas as my eldests birthday is on 23rd Dec. I think at such a hectic time of year it is lovely to have a couple of days alone and suit yourself.
    The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own, no apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.
  • Fire_Fox
    Fire_Fox Posts: 26,026 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Faith177 wrote: »
    I have been given my shift times now :( 5pm-1.30am Xmas Eve 9/10am-close Xmas Day (looks like close will be about 6pm ish & then 11:30am-close Boxing Day. So looks like sleeping will be a strong possiblity lol

    Isn't that illegal or has the law changed? It always used to be eleven hours between shifts.
    Declutterbug-in-progress.⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
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