Will you be sharing Christmas with family members or will you be alone this year?

[chloe40]

Me, I'm desperately hoping to be able to share with family this year. The past 3 years I haven't been able to, but that will depends on everyone being free from illness, what's the chances?

What about you?

[Hidden]

I hope you’re able to have the family Christmas you want

. I used to have all the family at mine, about 14 of us but that was before my husband died 11 years ago, since then it’s been my daughter then her and her husband and then grandson too but for the last 2 years I went to my parents and cooked for them at theirs as dad was bedbound. As said in previous posts, he died in October and so this year all the family members left are at mine. I’m so glad I spent the last 2 with him and mum.

I’m not a Christmas person but actually looking forward to family gathering at mine. It won’t so much be a big Christmas feast but a comforting gathering of family. We’ll raise a glass to our absent loved ones, probably more than just one glass to be honest. Well….thats the plan. All family dogs invited too so got 5 mad mutts coming too. Having said all that, I’m happy with the thought that this time next month it will all be over!

Take care 🦊x

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Hello Hidden 🤗

I've been thinking about you, so really pleased to hear from you.

That's totally understandable, it's been a difficult year for you too.

I'm really pleased that you are having family and dogs

It will be an intimate gathering, well I say that, if the dogs get on, but lovely to be together regardless I'm sure, a few tears too, but that's expected.

Take good care of yourself.

x

[Hidden in reply to chloe40]

Thank you 🦊x

[Caza in reply to Hidden]

That sounds lovely apart from the dogs!!

[Hidden in reply to Caza]

lol. I reckon the foxes will agree with you too! Take care 🦊x

[Hilomom]

I'll have our son and daughter-in-law with me for Christmas. Today was Thanksgiving and it was very hard and I expect the next month to be equally hard. My husband made Christmas magical for us all. He decorated (since I was at work) and he made gifts in his workshop. Christmas was so special and sacred because of him and I can't begin to imagine it without him.

[Caza in reply to Hilomom]

Happy memories for you. Your husband will be sorely missed. He sounds like he was good fun. Maybe do things differently if you can.

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Hilomom]

Hi Hilomom how are you coping right now?

I'm sure it was really for you all yesterday and

Christmas will be very different and equally difficult but you'll be together and

that means so much.

Perhaps you can do something in honour of your dear husband this year?

Sending love

Chloe x

[Caza]

For me Christmas used to be a big magical time full of family friends fun & laughter. We always hosted Christmas & there’d always be over 20 at the table. We always spent the whole week with family & friends at ours. I loved it I loved the cooking & buying entertaining. We never had the tv on on Xmas day we played games. Happy memories. This year there’ll just be the two of us. Family going abroad. I had booked a hotel but it became clear that my husband didn’t want to go so cancelled it 😞. So I plan to ignore the day as such & take the day off. No cooking just loads of films books & red wine. We’re meeting up with the family a couple of times before they go so that’ll be Christmas for me.

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Caza]

You've had a very tough year again Caza

I'm sorry your husband didn't want to go abroad, it would have been an opportunity to get away from the recent difficult Christmas'

So if you're at home, I think your plans sound fine to me, whatever you are comfortable wtih.

x

[Caza in reply to chloe40]

It wasn’t even abroad Chloe. It was just an hours drive away. I was telling him about a special dinner & 60s disco the hotel was putting on Xmas eve. Nope it’ll be too busy noisy 😡. I said about the spa nope you won’t get me swimming sauna etc.. well we could have a long walk by the sea. Nope it’ll be too cold 🤬 so I cancelled hence why I’m going on strike 😂 & as he can’t cook…….

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Caza]

Aah, that’s a real shame Caza

I’m so sorry, you could probably have both benefited from doing something completely different and no stress travelling.

Maybe he’ll think differently over the weekend, if not get stocked up on things you want to eat and drink and a good read too!

x

[Caza in reply to chloe40]

Drinks books films are sorted ✔️. Will be cooking up a casserole for the three days, so will just need heating up perfect for me & him indoors can eat it or leave 😤!!

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Caza]

Oh bless x

[Turnipgirl in reply to Caza]

Today I decided on a day off cooking after cooking loads of pasta and sauce with veg lunched all week and I have really enjoyed it!

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Turnipgirl]

You deserve it !

[Caza in reply to Turnipgirl]

Yep it’s always good to have a day off which I rarely do. Not what I would choose at Christmas but it’ll be ok maybe even nice.

[Turnipgirl in reply to Caza]

It's nice to try out different things!

Good news as I went out yesterday evening to the panto at the village hall and had supper in the pub across the road as well and I really enjoyed myself!

At swimming I said how I had worked extremely hard to build up my confidence after I was evicted 18 months ago and how I had started small and then worked up to where I am today reinstating the evening dos like with the Halloween disco and the male voice choir and the panto last night and how its nice to be going to dinner at 5.30pm again in order to go out in the evenings and I made it clear that in no way do I let those that make me angry run my life and dictate what I can and can't do as they're not G*d and the widowed lady said she wishes she had my attitude and I said start small and work up and how I have found the challenges extremely rewarding and good news I can tick the fears of the morning buses off the list as done which is excellent!

[Caza]

I hope you get to spend it with your family this year Chloe x

[Sandradsn]

We will be spending time with one son and daughter,which is the first time in 10 years.They've both been through difficult times this year so hoping Christmas will be happy.I say it every year,Christmas stirs up so many thoughts and memories.

I hope your plans go ahead Chloe.x

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Sandradsn]

Oh, I do hope Christmas is a happier time for you all Sandradsn

10years is a long time, so something to celebrate.

Yes, Christmas certainly stirs up a lot of difficult memories.

Every year I can't wait for it to be over, but I'm hoping this year will be different, fingers crossed.

x

[Turnipgirl in reply to chloe40]

Yesterday at swimming a lady who goes there had cried about having Christmas on her own as she is widowed and I said about how I had found Christmas last year difficult after having been evicted back in the May and how I had found it a struggle getting my confidence back after that happened but I have found the passing of time has helped.

[Turnipgirl]

Here it will be a couple of days off with family and elderly Baby the cat who will be 21 in April due to being spoilt!

We decided not to go out on Christmas day and don't feel we will be missing out on anything as places on Christmas day like to rip you off but we will be going out on Boxing day instead to the pub which I think is a fair deal!

[chloe40 Administrator]

Absolutely, and you’ll have a lovely time too!

x

[Turnipgirl in reply to chloe40]

Good news as I have booked to go out on the Friday before Christmas week in the evening at the pub across from the village hall for a late supper and to see live music at 9pm there which is something nice to look forward to!

Thursday this week it's the Newport Christmas funfair in the evening which I am looking forward to!

Onwards and upwards!

Like I said at swimming one thing is definite is that I'm not letting those who make me angry run my life!