Christmas Alone - what will you be doing

Sistergold

Hello 
I am alone this Christmas and it will be my first Christmas alone. I am a single mom and since the separation then the divorce we alternate as to who will have the children. Two Christmases ago when I was to be alone for Christmas I travelled(out of the UK) to be with my Neice and nephews and I did enjoy that Christmas and so managed not to be alone. This year again the children are not going to be with me and the plan was for me to travel or for my Neice and nephew to travel to me but now this is not possible due to current COVID-19 and wanting to stay safe as this will involve flying. 

So for the first time I will truly be the only person in the house as children will be collected next weekend and will come back after new year! 

I just thought it will be nice and less lonely given the covid restrictions aswell to just be intouch with others who are also going to be on their own this festive period.

So please get in touch if you are alone this Christmas.
I would also welcome suggestions for how best to spend Christmas on my own. Anything fun I can do? Should I get maybe just a turkey leg or a small whole turkey for the Christmas roast or best just forget roast altogether? Do I do Christmas crackers on my own or forget about it? 

Can you say you can enjoy Christmas on your own? 

Please share experiences and what you wish you had done to enjoy Christmas alone? 

Sistergold

My plan so far is that I will just stay in and watch one movie after another on the day? This will be after a long lie in. Maybe I need to get some Christmas pyjamas or wanzie and stay in those all day? 

Oh will probably need a larger than normal supply of my favourite wine? 

Ofcause I was planning to do a roast so I can just eat that Christmas and Boxing Day without cooking again? 

Or do I just do nothing, let the day pass and be miserable and lonely as at the moment that’s how it feels? 

203846930

As someone who does not celebrate christmas and has lived alone for 40+ years, I don't even think about the fact that I am alone, I just get on with the day like it were any other.
I realise that it must be difficult if you are used to a full house and all the celebration that comes with this time of year but the more you think about it, the worse it will be.
I will be walking my dog as often as normal, watching TV if there is something to watch and surfing the net at least as much as normal (including MSE), no 'special' food, no booze as normal, no decorations, just another day in the life.

203846930

I will add that I have had a number of trips to America at this time of year but rather than trying to join in with anything there I get out and do some sightseeing and general touring about while most places were quiet.
Those days are behind me now, I have no money left to spend on holidays and I've been to just about everywhere that I wanted to visit.

Sistergold

duncanthedog said:

As someone who does not celebrate christmas and has lived alone for 40+ years, I don't even think about the fact that I am alone, I just get on with the day like it were any other.
I realise that it must be difficult if you are used to a full house and all the celebration that comes with this time of year but the more you think about it, the worse it will be.
I will be walking my dog as often as normal, watching TV if there is something to watch and surfing the net at least as much as normal (including MSE), no 'special' food, no booze as normal, no decorations, just another day in the life.

You are right the whole worry is from being used to having people around during this time of year. It was also a struggle during holidays when they go to their dads but I am used to being on my own no when this happens. I now have to get used to being on my own during Christmas. Travel is really best for me during Christmas if I am on my own but this year for the first time I have decided I should not travel until the pandemic settles leading to this dilemma. I will just relax I guess and enjoy the peace and quiet and appreciate that I don’t have to fuss or go through stressful rituals. 

Thank you for writing your own experiences

Spendless

Isn't there anyone who could add you to their support bubble so you could be with them at Christmas? I know a single parent with children can be added to one other household in England, not sure about the rest of U.K

Is the kids Dad part of a wider household? If he is, would he not swap a Christmas with you, just for this year so you don't have to be alone, even if it means in the future he also gets two consecutive Christmas-times? 

We are a household of 4 including a son at University. His housemates are 1 male and 1 female, who is now son's girlfriend. Neither housemate has anywhere to go at Christmas. Male housemate is estranged from his very small family and would be looking at his 2nd consecutive Christmas in student digs alone. Son's girlfriend can't return home due to medical treatment one of her parents is receiving, so both housemates with son are coming to us. 

If there's no alternative to being alone then I would do something different  to the traditional Christmas day, whether that's go for a long walk, see if there's a take away open and order from there, spend the day watching whatever trash on TV. Even spend the day tidying the house from top to bottom, taking advantage there's only you to mess it up, take a long bubble bath and have a  head to toe pamper session. . Usually I'd sugggest doing some volunteering, but I don't know what the situation is with volunteers this year and am aware not everyone feels comfortable being out. 

Sistergold

Spendless said:

Isn't there anyone who could add you to their support bubble so you could be with them at Christmas? I know a single parent with children can be added to one other household in England, not sure about the rest of U.K

Is the kids Dad part of a wider household? If he is, would he not swap a Christmas with you, just for this year so you don't have to be alone, even if it means in the future he also gets two consecutive Christmas-times? 

We are a household of 4 including a son at University. His housemates are 1 male and 1 female, who is now son's girlfriend. Neither housemate has anywhere to go at Christmas. Male housemate is estranged from his very small family and would be looking at his 2nd consecutive Christmas in student digs alone. Son's girlfriend can't return home due to medical treatment one of her parents is receiving, so both housemates with son are coming to us. 

If there's no alternative to being alone then I would do something different  to the traditional Christmas day, whether that's go for a long walk, see if there's a take away open and order from there, spend the day watching whatever trash on TV. Even spend the day tidying the house from top to bottom, taking advantage there's only you to mess it up, take a long bubble bath and have a  head to toe pamper session. . Usually I'd sugggest doing some volunteering, but I don't know what the situation is with volunteers this year and am aware not everyone feels comfortable being out. 

Thank you very much some really good suggestions! 

I think doing something that is not Christmasy sounds appealing!
Taking a long walk(if it’s not snowing) and watching whatever trash they have on tv is the likely scenario!  

Thanks 

berries

I'm single no children.  First year without my horse and my spaniel.  Normally on xmas day we would put tinsel on my horse and go for a nice early morning ride. This xmas is going to be super hard!! Miss both of my boy's!!

I'm planning on doing a xmas dinner love my food and watch films fire on eating a fair bit amount of junk food.  I'm not a big drinker alone.
I've picked up some new pjs that's a normal trandtion thing my mum used to do before she passed so will carry it on. 

Sistergold

I am sorry to hear about the loss of your two “boys”. It is hard when there is a change in Christmas routine for sure. Last time this happened I managed to go abroad to be with my Neice and nephew and I must say it was my first get away Christmas and I did enjoy it. 

Nee pyjamas do sound appealing as I might just do a roast and wear the pjs and lazy around! 

Thanks for stopping by. Nice to know I am not the only one alone this Christmas! 

Katiehound

Apart from lunch on Christmas day I shall be home alone with my 2 dogs. I would normally be away staying with a friend & her family but that's going from one tier to another and she will have folk from 3 families staying so- that idea is out! She has sent me a box of seasonal goodies so I shall not starve!

The dogs have a short walk everyday and then my 'dog runner' takes them better places. I guess she will do a short walk even then as she is working cooking the SA lunch.

I know quite a few people home alone this year so I have offered to email / phone them over the 4 days- even if the email is only a couple of sentences. No television here so hope there is some good radio or I shall play favourite CDs.

Apart from that it will be a 'normal' day'! like very many others this year. It's just a day after all with masses of consumer hype...... stay safe, stay home and stay sane!!

I see Good Morning Christmas is on 8am R2 with Rev Kate Bottley- her programmes are generally uplifting.

Torry_Quine

I'll be on my own. It will be the same as most other days.