Christmas is fast approaching? - Lung Conditions C...

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Christmas is fast approaching?

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12 years ago•13 Replies

I am wondering how many of us will be able to enjoy Christmas in the traditional way, bearing in mind that a lot of us have health problems, and that it is not necessarily the happiest time. For some it can be lonely and for others, the prelude to the new year. Some have immediate family and others are on their on.

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13 Replies

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Jo_BLFHelplineBritish Lung Foundation12 years ago

Christmas is advertised as always being lovely,festive, full of family and friends and lots of presents and good times.

Christmas can also be a very difficult time - a lot of organisations acknowledge this issue, I also think it is a time when people think they need to be happy so as not to disappoint others around them and to 'fit' in so as not be a 'Bah Humbug'.

Samaritans do have a christmas campaign to advertise they are there over the christmas period as usual.

samaritans.org/becky#read-more

08457 90 90 90.

Best Wishes

• in reply toJo_BLFHelpline12 years ago

I feel that for a lot of people in this forum that they should feel free to have a natter if Christmas gets "too much" for them. A weird time of the year for some.

elian12 years ago

I grow more and more disillusioned with the commercialisation of the festivities as the years pass. We are bombarded on all sides to spend, spend, spend.

Several years ago I agreed with the rest of my family that it was ridiculous to spend x amount per person, only for that person to spend x amount on a gift for me, so now we don't bother and I restrict myself to buying presents for my two grand-daughters who will both be 3 years old in 2013.

This year, as a gift to myself (and also in memory of my lovely Yorkshire Terror (!) Charlie), I have sponsored the training of a Guide Dog.

• in reply toelian12 years ago

After my father died 4 years ago we changed all our "family traditions". Now hubby, mum, aunt and I give each other 3 presents but the total per person must not exceed £20.

sassy59• in reply to12 years ago

Pete and I like to spend £10 on each other and it is quite a challenge to get some nice bits together for that amount. xxxx

sassy59• in reply toelian12 years ago

What a wonderful thing to do elian and hope you enjoy yourself and enjoy spending some money on your lovely granddaughters. Animals are an amazing addition to a family and I am sure Charlie would approve of your gift to yourself. xxxxx

12 years ago

Yes, Christmas has certainly changed over the years. My earliest memories were of wartime Christmases, very simple but there was magic in the air. Presents were basic and the simplest present was exciting. I knew that my mother had recently recovered from a thoracoplasty (TB lungs). I dont think antibiotics were around.. Sad to hear about Charlie. We love our pets.

ciss12 years ago

Christmas is without a doubt a time for children. That said, some adults enjoy it too strangely enough!

I find it puts our married children on the spot trying to decide where they'll spend this meal and that meal between respective parents.

Personally I really can't be bothered with the ritual this year and so have booked a holiday in the sunshine over the 'festive period'.

We'll take a Christmas pudding with us and that will be our total contribution to our Christmas cheer.

We are also giving money instead of presents to our children and Grandchildren.

Merry Christmas!

sassy5912 years ago

We tend to have a traditional Christmas but then we are lucky to have each other and three grown up children plus one amazing grandson now and this will be his first Christmas. He does have a cold at the moment, and has done for several weeks but hopefully all will be fine for the big day. I get a bit paranoid with Pete being in contact with colds as he can be so ill if he gets one but fingers crossed everyone will be able to join in the fun. Pete's mum has onset dementia but will be included as always. I do always feel for those alone or those who don't feel festive for other reasons and I like the true meaning of Christmas to be remembered rather than just the commercial side. It is a time for children and adults alike and Merry Christmas to one and all. xxxxxx

bustermolly12 years ago

I totally agree with it being awkward which parents to spent xmas with, me and my fiance have this every year to the point that until last year we didnt see eachother on christmas day so he could spend it with his parents and I with mine. This year's a bit different because we've moved far away from his parents, but we've decided we're going to midnight mass down his parent's way, staying over and driving back up christmas luncthime to have a traditional meal with my family. This year's also very different as we're not able to spend much on gifts as we're getting married between xmas and new year so the focus has been more on that. I hope you all have a lovely time whatever you're doing though and I cant help but feel a bit excited about it we're decorating our tree next weekend - our first christmas tree as a couple

12 years ago

We have problems regarding a united family Christmas I have a son and a daughter. - two grandchildren each. We cant have a happy Christmas together. The big ongoing trouble is that my daughter-in-law has big issues with my husband and I, and doesn't like my son-in-law. She had a very unsettled childhood in the extreme, being abandoned by her mother as a baby. Maybe I made mistakes when I first met her over 20 years ago, not handling the situation very well. Where can I find a forum that can help and where I can unload. The BLF isn't appropriate.

FatBoyNotSoSlim12 years ago

My wife and I are the biggest kids when it comes to Christmas. We're lucky that our 3 teenagers (17, 16 & 15) love Christmas and all our family traditions as much as we do. They even write Dear Santa letters to humour us, they have advent calendars and we still put out a sherry and a mince pie for Santa . This year we will have 3 extra around the dinner table as we have invited people who would otherwise be on their own. We have bought everybody stocking presents but they have all come from Poundland so we haven't broken the bank. My wife and I love to give ............... and not just presents .............. we love to give our hospitality, our time, our company and our love and friendship ........... and we hope that those who spend Christmas with us feel richer for receiving those "gifts".

12 years ago

What a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas with your family around you. We will be going

to Lymington with our grandchildren. I have so many different Christmases during my life, but feel sorry for those on their own. So have a Very Happy Christmas from me xx

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