Christmas??

[Deleted User]

We have spent every christmas with our family for the last 37 years, since we married. Mostly I end up doing it all and somehow everything magically appears. This year I really would like to try christmas away from home, on holiday, just the two of us. Somewhere warm but not madly expensive

Do any of you have experience of being away for christmas?

missile

The problem with traditions, they can become a chore. We have done christmas away, but it is not the same as being surrounded by family and friends. Perhaps an alternative is to take a step back and let someone else to take a turn, but after 37 years it will be hard.

margaretclare

kittie wrote: »

We have spent every christmas with our family for the last 37 years, since we married. Mostly I end up doing it all and somehow everything magically appears. This year I really would like to try christmas away from home, on holiday, just the two of us. Somewhere warm but not madly expensive

Do any of you have experience of being away for christmas?

Last year we went on a Rhine cruise, away from home for 5 days, 3 on the Rhine, 2 days spent on looooong coach journeys. For various reasons, I would NOT recommend it, and we shan't repeat the experience!

The previous Christmas I was quite immobile, still on crutches after major hip surgery. We took pity on a friend of DH from the computer club who was going to be on her own, and that wasn't a great success either. Just because we invited her for Christmas lunch she thought that meant the whole day, and she brought her dog, which piddled...

This year, all things being equal, we are looking at somewhere like a nice old-fashioned country-house hotel in maybe the West Country. We fancy somewhere that's close to a village church we can go to, log fires, warmth, comfort, peace and quiet. We've looked at a few. Some are very 'organised', murdery mystery evenings, black tie dinners, that sort of thing. Not what we have in mind. We'll find it eventually.

Doing the same thing for 37 years - no, that would NOT appeal.

Margaret

EdInvestor

I once had an excellent Christmas in Devon, featuring Midnight mass with choir and carols at Buckfast Abbey:

http://www.buckfast.org.uk/site.php?use=home

mountainofdebt

I must admit we went away for Christmas,admittedly in this country, a few years ago and it was soooooooooo relaxing it was unbelieveable......was in the pool when normally the Queen's speech is on and had an uncoentional Christmas dinner at 6pm!

The only words of advice I would offer is that if you have grandchildren, you need to think how you would feel if you didn't see them on Christmas Day and if you do decide to go away then let people know as early as possible.

margaretclare

mountainofdebt wrote: »

I must admit we went away for Christmas,admittedly in this country, a few years ago and it was soooooooooo relaxing it was unbelievable......was in the pool when normally the Queen's speech is on and had an unconventional Christmas dinner at 6pm!

Whereabouts was it? Sounds as if it's just the kind of thing we'd like. Haven't seen the Queen's speech for years, but we did look at a few, Saga in particular, which made a point of saying that her speech was in the timetable. We binned those along with the murder mystery and the black tie dinners.

The only words of advice I would offer is that if you have grandchildren, you need to think how you would feel if you didn't see them on Christmas Day and if you do decide to go away then let people know as early as possible.

I agree. It doesn't bother us, haven't seen any grandchild on Christmas Day for donkey's years, but it's a big issue for some people.

Margaret

Errata

I had a lot of away from home Christmas's when I was married. Absolutely terrific and I'd recommend trying it. We used to go to the Lake District and often found it mild and dry enough on Christmas or Boxing day to have a picnic at lunchtime. Not sure about this year though, weather's very weird.

Jake'sGran

We have always talked about since I stopped doing the big Christmas dinner but not yet got around to booking anything. I dislike Christmas very much. It always makes me feel sad. I have a wonderful daughter and family and we now go to their house for Christmas dinner. She decorates her house beautifully. The thing I hated most was trying to think what to buy everybody but now it is all solved because they all like being given money and as there is no chance of us spending it now (bad health) I give more each year. We come home in the evening and that is the end of Christmas. I think it is because we no longer have lots of visitors (moved away, died etc) that makes me sad but I can't wait until Jan 3rd when its back to normal.

margaretclare

I found this: http://www.royalsevenstars.co.uk/

I thought this looked really nice.

What we like is not to be 'organised' out of existence. We stayed at the Three Swans, Market Harborough, on our 5th anniversary in January. On the Sunday morning we just walked across the street to the Parish Church, where we were welcomed warmly.

We'd just like to do something similar.

Jake's Gran, we don't like a lot of the hype, the build-up, the 'must spend' etc to do with Christmas. A lot of good people are not here any more. We don't want to be 'entertained', do competitions, have Santa Claus etc etc. We just like to go somewhere nice, go to a normal church service - I'm always fast asleep long before Midnight Mass, and mulled wine and mince pies afterwards would not appeal - I'd be asleep!

Margaret

mountainofdebt

margaretclare wrote: »

Whereabouts was it? Sounds as if it's just the kind of thing we'd like. Haven't seen the Queen's speech for years, but we did look at a few, Saga in particular, which made a point of saying that her speech was in the timetable. We binned those along with the murder mystery and the black tie dinners.

Margaret

It was at Centreparcs....I did enjoy it but it was expensive for what it was

margaretclare

Hi

I'm almost deciding on the hotel I posted the link to above - Totnes, Devon. £99 per room per night B&B, standard double room, double bed, walk-in shower, first floor. Here's the parish church, not far away: http://www.stmarystotnes.org.uk/

For anyone who wants somewhere warm and abroad, here's a hotel in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus (well, it used to be called Kyrenia, it's something else now). http://www.hotelsempati.com/

Margaret