A Singularly Lonely Christmas

Pooky

It might be worth a call to your local hospital, maybe you could go arrange to go have a chat with an elderly patient or two who are feeling a bit lonely.

Check your local library notice board and see if there's any local ramblers groups, I know there's a few around here that have walks on Christmas day and Boxing day.

Alternatively embrace the fact that you have this time off and alone and get jobs done round the house, some redecoration or some of those niggly jobs?

Tiglath

Howabout meetup? There's probably a group near you with likeminded people:

http://uk.meetup.com/

parsniphead

Hello LavenderBees

Perhaps a long shot but do you have any elderly or single neighbours you could invite round for an evening with perhaps some nibbles.

So nice of you to volunteer. You will be making a difference to someone else's life.

LavenderBees

whitewing wrote: »

I love your user name.

If I am going through a time when I could get emotional, I try to have 1 day planned with an activity and the following day without and the next planned and the next without. Over-scheduling brings me down quicker than anything. It's also good to have some time when you can be spontaneous.

I also have a list of things I want to do at some point (to remind me as memory is the first to go when I'm stressed). Then I can go there if I feel like it.

Between Christmas and the New Year, I really love to spend a day or two decluttering or cleaning out the kitchen. It's almost an out with the old year and in with new promises, making space in my house and my mind for new possibilities.

We always burn a candle on Christmas eve to salute those family and friends who are no longer on this earth.

I like to pop into MSE over Christmastime too. There are generally some newbies in especial need of a dose of TLC as they grapple with a shock or a flickering lightbulb moment.

Are we twins? :rotfl: You've pretty much just described me! That's why I haven't volunteered for Boxing Day, too as I'll be cranky as all h3ll if I try to do too much. BD will be my PJ day, and all the more welcome for hopefully feeling good about Christmas Eve and Day activities helping others.

Great ideas! Thank you!

LavenderBees

Tiglath wrote: »

Howabout meetup? There's probably a group near you with likeminded people:

http://uk.meetup.com/

Inspired by the positive vibes on here, and starting to feel less pathetic by the minute, I have just this evening joined a Newcastle Meetup group. Hoping there will be something advertised between Christmas and New Year that I fancy meeting up with people to do. ::)

7_week_wonder

Ok, here's a bizarre one for you! Are there any local running, triathlon or other sports clubs that have an event on over the Christmas season? If so, I can guarantee you will be met by un-dying gratitude if you volunteer to help marshall at the event. You get out in the fresh air, get to cheer on some totally mad people and generally have a bit of fun! And no you don't need any experience, or to be sporty to volunteer!

LavenderBees

Pooky wrote: »

It might be worth a call to your local hospital, maybe you could go arrange to go have a chat with an elderly patient or two who are feeling a bit lonely.

Check your local library notice board and see if there's any local ramblers groups, I know there's a few around here that have walks on Christmas day and Boxing day.

Alternatively embrace the fact that you have this time off and alone and get jobs done round the house, some redecoration or some of those niggly jobs?

TBH, Pooky, I have spent far too many months in hospitals this year with both parents, (I feel I know most Newcastle hospital staff personally now :rotfl:). It would depress me to go back just now, but again, this suggestion may help someone else.

But I will schedule in time to clear out my understairs cupboard and back porch...thank you for suggesting clearing a niggly job...no money spent, and hopefully more room created...

LavenderBees

7_week_wonder wrote: »

Ok, here's a bizarre one for you! Are there any local running, triathlon or other sports clubs that have an event on over the Christmas season? If so, I can guarantee you will be met by un-dying gratitude if you volunteer to help marshall at the event. You get out in the fresh air, get to cheer on some totally mad people and generally have a bit of fun! And no you don't need any experience, or to be sporty to volunteer!

Gosh! For a second, I thought you were suggesting I get shorts on :rotfl: I've really no idea at all, but that's inspired me to at least look up any events that are happening in my general area, whether I volunteer or just tootle along to watch :T

LavenderBees

parsniphead wrote: »

Hello LavenderBees

Perhaps a long shot but do you have any elderly or single neighbours you could invite round for an evening with perhaps some nibbles.

So nice of you to volunteer. You will be making a difference to someone else's life.

Do you know...all my neighbours have invites...or family visiting....one, who I've had to my house one evening every Christmas since I moved here 9 years ago, told me recently that she had family visiting and would have invited me, but, well, Christmas is for families, isn't it?

Apparently so...



BUT that has made me think of a nice lady who lives on her own, who passed my lottie in the summer, and caught me sobbing into my potatoes...I think I'll drop her a wee note, and see if she fancies a lunch out at some point

LavenderBees

I'm working away this week, so hope to have time on the evenings to pull together my plan from all your fantastic suggestions. Thanks to each and every one of you for taking the time to be so constructive, and in the process, help me feel better, and so much more positive.

To end this evening on a good note, I've also just received an invite from my walking group (which I've only managed to join for a walk once this year!) for a reasonably priced meal out at a decent Italian restaurant on New Year's Eve.