A Singularly Lonely Christmas

paulineb_2

A.Penny.Saved wrote: »

Why is everyone making such a fuss about being alone at Christmas? I find most people hypocritical celebrating Christmas when they never go to Church except for funerals, weddings etc. There are hundreds of thousands of people who are alone at Christmas, do we open threads for every one of them? Millions of elderly alone who are doing no better than the OP. Homeless people and people who have been forced to vacate their homes due to flooding. Count yourself lucky, it could be much much worse!

I have not seen or heard from anyone since I phoned my brother on Christmas eve. I have eaten no Turkey or Christmas dinner, no nuts, pies or anything else. Christmas day was like any other except there was no where open! I won't give a sob story because no one wants depressing but I don't open a thread saying woe, woe I'm all alone at Christmas. I suppose I should change my name to ebenezer. Bah, humbug! lol

OP I hope that you found something which made your life meaningful and fulfilled. Christmas is far too materialistic anyway, people hoping that the latest tech gadgets are going to make them happy, for 5 minutes. Happiness is about appreciating what you have, health, a place to live, food to eat and family/friends and not yearning for what you don't have!

I appreciate everything I have but sometimes Christmas can be a lonely time for people when it seems like everyone else is doing something.

I dont spend a fortune at christmas, cant afford to, just like being with my family

But if a thread like this gives people a boot up the backside to do other things with their life, all year round, then its totally worth it

Better than the my christmas is ruined because the shop ran out of turkey type threads.

calicocat

Glad you are alive after smoking oven....however a bit tedious you didn't need to ring for fire brigade.

Sounds like if you were to decide to volunteer again more excitement/things going on is needed.

Nothing funny happened at work, well that I can post anyway, other than having to eat a pickled cucumber that I didn't like but felt would have been rude not to as the person who gave it me was staring at me until I finished it....not sure if it was a test...lol.

I may have given out a load of food to people meant for today last night, but what the heck, the world will continue to go round.

By the time I got home I was about ready to boil my own head, however had a coffee and have managed to sleep some....so now ready for the next battle.


Asbo has abandoned me.....i didn't really get her anything for xmas other than a tub of cat grass as she has that much stuff floating about the floors are like an assault course.......however it appears she DOES have a present......the quilt. So I am not needed (other than for food) as she has a new best mate. I am invisible....and so is she as under it all the time. eventually I will have to lock her out of there again or there will be 43 toy mice in there too....the favourite one already is.

Today I have slept and am now having a ham sarnie in bed and peppermint tea....that's exciting isn't it.?..lol...and am watching Deck the Halls (again) then will have to get up.

It's early days LB, and this time of year is always worst I think. I too have spent a few xmases coming into an empty house at different points in my life, you get used to it...we have to, we learn to adapt as we need to. you have the 28th to look forward to.....i hope..!?!?...lol.

We are a bit of a crazy bunch sometimes and talk about all sorts of things when the mood takes us. Of course you may well think where the heck have I landed...either way it will be an experience.! i'm kidding, you will enjoy it, and the food is to die for.

I hope the pink fizz is doing the trick, and am envious of your smoking - beef lunch (but not the sprouts).

calicocat

A.Penny.Saved wrote: »

Why is everyone making such a fuss about being alone at Christmas? I find most people hypocritical celebrating Christmas when they never go to Church except for funerals, weddings etc. There are hundreds of thousands of people who are alone at Christmas, do we open threads for every one of them? Millions of elderly alone who are doing no better than the OP. Homeless people and people who have been forced to vacate their homes due to flooding. Count yourself lucky, it could be much much worse!

I have not seen or heard from anyone since I phoned my brother on Christmas eve. I have eaten no Turkey or Christmas dinner, no nuts, pies or anything else. Christmas day was like any other except there was no where open! I won't give a sob story because no one wants depressing but I don't open a thread saying woe, woe I'm all alone at Christmas. I suppose I should change my name to ebenezer. Bah, humbug! lol

OP I hope that you found something which made your life meaningful and fulfilled. Christmas is far too materialistic anyway, people hoping that the latest tech gadgets are going to make them happy, for 5 minutes. Happiness is about appreciating what you have, health, a place to live, food to eat and family/friends and not yearning for what you don't have!

Really.............



I get your point but find your post rather inappropriate. Of course the beauty of these threads is that if there is one that doesn't really appeal then you just don't bother opening it.





Happy xmas to you.

lostinrates

A.Penny.Saved wrote: »

Why is everyone making such a fuss about being alone at Christmas? I find most people hypocritical celebrating Christmas when they never go to Church except for funerals, weddings etc. There are hundreds of thousands of people who are alone at Christmas, do we open threads for every one of them? Millions of elderly alone who are doing no better than the OP. Homeless people and people who have been forced to vacate their homes due to flooding. Count yourself lucky, it could be much much worse!

I have not seen or heard from anyone since I phoned my brother on Christmas eve. I have eaten no Turkey or Christmas dinner, no nuts, pies or anything else. Christmas day was like any other except there was no where open! I won't give a sob story because no one wants depressing but I don't open a thread saying woe, woe I'm all alone at Christmas. I suppose I should change my name to ebenezer. Bah, humbug! lol

OP I hope that you found something which made your life meaningful and fulfilled. Christmas is far too materialistic anyway, people hoping that the latest tech gadgets are going to make them happy, for 5 minutes. Happiness is about appreciating what you have, health, a place to live, food to eat and family/friends and not yearning for what you don't have!

I don't think it matters whether people are Christian or not. A mid winter festival transcends faith boundaries, and a time when its almost universal to be with people who are near and dear to you cuts hard when you realise those people are gone, or unavailable for whatever reason.

I'm sorry that you have woe in your life. We all deal with that differently. I think lavenderbee's thread has helped others in her shoes.

DH and I have had a wonderful time alone, so rare for us, but I said to him last night, while this time alone is so rare and precious for us things like this have reminded me that the open door policy my parents held have helped many people and something I want to continue in the future, especially as we are childless so perhaps better placed to be more flexible than some others.

We're not sure how to reconcile this ATM with our deep seated need for quiet time alone, which is rare (one of my parents lives with us usually, and my husband works away Monday to Friday) but we have discussed an open door Christmas every second year perhaps.


The other problem is that our friends in need of someone to spend Christmas with are London based and we are not......so best to wait until we have spare bedrooms really .

So, this has been a valuable thread not just for single people, but for those who have been taking stock in how lucky they are and how most usefully to share that without damaging their own relationships too. . Surely those things exactly.....how to. Give, and how to live better, respectfully which ever position you are in, have been addressed in this thread and thus are very much in the spirit of Christmas and also Christian message?

I do hope your 2014 is better than this year has been a penny saved.

LavenderBees

calicocat wrote: »

Really.............



I get your point but find your post rather inappropriate. Of course the beauty of these threads is that if there is one that doesn't really appeal then you just don't bother opening it.




Happy xmas to you.

Indeed.....

calicocat

LavenderBees wrote: »

Indeed.....

It's boxing day....and they are clearly up for a fight.

Best ignored.

You are still awake then!...is it just me or is tv today rubbish. I only have free-view though.


Do you shop much in morpeth, and if so will there be any good sales ? I haven't been to morpeth for years, not sure what's there now, and don't think I can be bothered with Newcastle or the Metro.

lostinrates

LavenderBees wrote: »

Indeed.....

Funny stories.....

Hmm...will today do?


We've just been out trying to 'sow' mistletoe seeds in a lime tree. This involved DH sitting up in the goblet of one of our pollarded limes.


Its surprising ly busy on our rural road today and we were surprised so many people were out. Most locals are used to DH and I looking a little odd about the place I suppose, but today a couple and their children pulled over because the children thought we were elves.

The bases for this is that usually men doesn't sit up trees in orange jumpers, and women don't wear elf suits play with small white dogs dressed in jumpers '. (I am actually wearing a very warm purple jumper and red fleece pj bottoms. .....not stylish but very warm and washable, essential in gardening clothes I find). Its quite nice to be mistaken for an elf. The dog was in his jumper to leave some mud in it rather than him.....its more washable than he is.


The geese wouldn't talk to use this morning, we think they scent our betrayal on our breaths, but yesterday's roast goose was yummy. Our boys are safe though, and we are contemplating getting them a young wife each, but if they are going to be rude I'm not sure I'll bother, after all, it will make life very awkward having two boys with girls about.....pffft.


Hope today is brighter lavenderbees . Fwiw, remember its a bleak day for many with families too, its never lonelier than when you are with people and realising perhaps you don't want to be with those people, .

boddy

Hello everyone.

This thread is certainly not a woe is me thread. The fact that positivity, reflection, new friendships and support have come out of it. Also some sadness but its good that people feel they can share on here.

This time of year means different things to different people whatever religion or no religion. For me it's a time for friends and family but also time alone for reflection. Thinking about my mum who loved Xmas. Sometimes about what I might like to achive the coming year. I have lived alone a long time but can remember when I first did and how it felt.

Funny things LB? Well we had just finished lunch yesterday and we realised we had no stuffing. Last year I left the Yorkshire puddings in the oven. Then today we realised we had not done the roast parsnips.

Been to daughters ex in laws today to watch great grandchildren open their presents and have a buffet. Home now and pjs on.

lostinrates

Just wondering....

The dissenting post made a point that has made me think...' A day like any other except there was no where open'. We used to be used to that because it happened weekly. Something not being open for a day (or two as it might have been, I am afraid I don't remember ) wasn't such a huge deal......and people had coping strategies anyway.

Has our twenty four seven lifestyle made it harder not easier at times when the stimulation is gone?

dktreesea

OP, thanks for posting this thread. I went through a similar thing many years ago, where, as circumstances would have it, I found myself all alone over the festive season. I have thought about that period, from time to time over the years. I felt really lonely then but , unlike you, I didn't really do much to alleviate that loneliness. Reading the efforts you are making and thinking back to my time in that lonely place, I realise now there was so much more effort I could have made to brighten up my time.

If I had that period again, and knew about these people, I would have treated myself to a course instead!
http://www.golearnto.com/creative-courses/jewellery-making-courses

or gone on a holiday over Christmas;
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/hubs/christmastravelguide/8167254/Singles-travel-Go-solo-this-Christmas.html

In the past I have felt this was too luxurious/expensive to indulge in. Nowadays I pay for what I want and need first and then count the pennies.