Christmas is going to be a difficult time for many of us

[chloe40]

Hi everyone,

I hope you're well<3

Have you thought how you might manage it? perhaps you've been invited out already.

Chloe <3

[chloe40 Administrator]

Thank goodness you have a reprieve, you can now look forward to this years festivities in peace.

Chloe

[Sandradsn]

I'm trying not to think about it too much as it seems to get earlier each year.The Christmas music always brings a tear to my eye.My Mum loved Christmas so I try to enjoy it for her.I'm more bah humbug really.We will go and see some family and a carol service .It's been a tough year so I'm looking forward to a new one now!

[chloe40 Administrator]

Hi Sandra,

Yes I agree, it really does seem to get earlier and earlier and the Christmas ads really do and it doesn't help.

I understand that, you want to try to enjoy it but deep down it's the last thing you want to do.

I'm also looking forward to a new year but I'm also looking forward to Christmas too, in my case its because I never thought I'd see it and now that I can, I want to have a happy time. x

Chloe

[Caza]

Oh Chloe that brought a tear to my eye. I knew that you’d been ill but didn’t realise that it was life threatening. Yes it would make you rethink things. I so hope that you have a lovely Christmas no more than you deserve.

I was at Heathrow the other day & it full of Christmas. Carols as well. Really it’s November 😡

I use to love Christmas. Everyone came to us as we had the bigger house. It’d be full of fun & laughter the whole of Christmas week. There was one year when my nephews friends from Tenerife joined us on Xmas day. They had booked a hotel that they thought was all inclusive, it wasn’t. Christmas dinner in London no chance. They came to us, there were 22 of us. They didn’t speak English & we didn’t speak Spanish & yet we played games & had such fun. They still remember it with fondness. Happy memories. Now that my sister is longer with us & our daughters gone Christmas just isn’t the same. My eldest & grandchildren are going abroad. So they’ll just be the three of us. Last year we had covid so this year I’m looking forward to tasting all the food & drink!! It won’t be turkey & it won’t really be the Christmas that I remember & loved (at least I’ve got them, the happy memories)but I will enjoy the break as in different, eat as much as you like & have a drink when you fancy one. Not wait until wine O’Clock! It’ll be “enjoyed” but in a very different way to how I imagined it would be all those years ago.

[chloe40 Administrator]

That'e okay @Caza <3

Memories are so good yet somehow they have that ability to make us morose with our present situation. You must have so many memories both good and sad, I find myself remembering the wonderful Christmases As a child, it was exciting, new frocks (my that's an old fashioned word) parties, music and relatives, where did they go.....

Love Chloe <3

[Caza in reply to chloe40]

yes new frocks & for some reason new PJs I came from a big family lots of aunts & uncles. It was definitely party time. Mine weren’t quite like that!!

[chloe40 Administrator]

Nor mine !

[gracy225]

Since many loved ones are gone, some tragically, it's not my favorite season. I was thinking the other day when I was young with a husband and child it seemed overwhelming and frankly a big pain in the behind visiting everyone on both sides. I would, back then, think to myself "just once I would love a quiet Christmas. Fast forward to today. I would give ANYTHING to visit my family! Be careful what you wish for. I prepare by telling myself this is how it is. I can either make it a great Christmas or I can not. Up to me. It does seem to help a bit. What IS heart wrenching is observing my now 32 year old son. These tragedies hit him at the worst possible times in his life and I can see in his eyes the look of wanting "what was".

[chloe40 Administrator]

You're absolutely right of course gracy225

It definitely is up to ourselves, to be honest, I hadn't really faced that up until now, so thank you!

We can't change what is!

Very sad to watch our child suffering x

Chloe

[gracy225 in reply to chloe40]

So good to "hear" back from you, Chloe!

[chloe40 Administrator]

Aww,thank you gracy225

I do hope all is well with you. 😘