Well....if this doesn't trigger a flare.....I don't know what will!! As of today, I'm now in tier 4 which means my son and DIL will no longer be coming for Christmas. (They live 3hrs drive away) After having a pretty grot year health wise, it was something to keep me going and something to look forward to. I'd gone all out to make everything as festive and christmassy as possible.....fairy lights and candles, wreaths and garlands.....I'd even decorated their bedroom and put Christmas bedding on and fairy lights up there too. All the presents were wrapped and under the tree and I was about to do lots of Christmas baking and just enjoy a couple of days of respite from all the gloom and doom, with my family. Covid has had other ideas though! As I watched the government officials announce it on TV, I burst into tears and my husband had to break the news to my son as I was too upset.
I've been awake a lot of the night and had lots of time to think. This is only a disaster if I allow it to be!...... SO!!.....I'm going to do all my baking as planned, as I've already bought the ingredients, and I'm going to prep the tray bakes into small portions, gift wrap them in cellophane and ribbon, and distribute them on doorsteps around where I live. ... the same with the christmas ginger biscuits. Our neighbour can't collect her turkey as it's in a tier 2 area and we're not allowed to cross over into different tiers, so we'll give her half our turkey crown as we'll now have too much, and all the board games and fun we'd planned, I'll just enjoy with my husband. The presents will wait, and the least important thing anyway, so how exciting will it be when we finally do get together and all see each other again. The crucial point here is that we all stay well so that we're still here to share another Christmas together next year!
Yes, of course I'm bitterly disappointed, but I'm going to avoid another flare because I'm determined now to stay calm, happy and at peace with my lot, because how have I the right to be so upset when I can still eat a delicious Christmas dinner, enjoy a cosy Christmas in front of a roaring log fire in my lovely warm, dry home and have presents under the tree to open? I'd say that's pretty fortunate.....not a disaster at all. Christmas cancelled???........ I don't think so!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE 🎅
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Kendrew
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I've received so much love and support here, it's only right I try and give back when and where I can. My gratitude to all of you here can't be put into words. All I can say is thankyou. ❤
Nice..... you know the old saying “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Your friends and neighbours will all appreciate your kindness. Wishing you and yours a good Xmas. Jen
Our son and his family were driving up from Berkshire 140 miles for a 2hr visit socially distanced, them in our conservatory and us sitting in the dining room all with our masks on...feel hugely disappointed as we felt we had pared it down to the absolute minimum risk....Oh well it is what it is and as I'm not feeding them , other than tea and cake there request, I haven't got an overload of food but I think your generous and kind spirit is lovely.....enjoy your very different Christmas...Di
Thankyou. Yes....so many of us feeling a bit sad and disappointed at the demise of our planned Christmas, but we'll get through it and I wish you a happy Christmas in whatever form it now takes.
What infuriated ny nephew was they had only bought the food yesterday and now their 2 days of swapping houses for dinner with his parents and sister is made more complicated. It was obvious on Wednesday this would come - announcing that it was more than likely on Friday would have helped a lot to avoid food waste. Waiting didn't stop people making a mad dash yesterday evening - just as happened here with the first lockdown here in Italy as people from the plague-infested north headed home to the south, taking their virus with them.
I do wish I was a neighbour!! I did drag myself to the cellar and sorted out a way of hanging the balcony lights Still trying to be bothered to make brandy butter for me ... If I do it will be for pudding, with mincemeat sauce instead of pies ...
Don't bother wasting the brandy on butter. A brandy glass warming in your hands, beats anything else, however if no brandy glass a large 🍷 will do.
I don't eat Christmas Pud on the day, normally I let the others eat it and then on Boxing Day, large chunk, fried in butter and eaten with .........................🧀🧀. Now there is just me, I bought some individual ones ☕️.
Get off - I love brandy butter!!! I love the mix of butter and sugar - used to nick it out of the bowl when mum was making sponges!! Not that keen on brandy to be honest.
I have a few individual gluten-free ones in the cupboard - and icecream from my favourite icecream shop. Will use the brandy to make mincemeat sauce - instead of orange juice!!!
Well!......I've never heard of that before but it sounds a delicious alternative way to use mincemeat. I'm going to try the epicurious version. Thanks for link.
You hang in there Kendrew I cant see my daughter either as she works with special needs adults and has to work xmas day also thy have covid on there site so hole place locked in and I worry about her. Your a lovely lady for what your doing and you have a very MERRY XMAS. HARRY W.
So sorry Harry....I've only just picked up your message. You'll clearly miss your daughter on Christmas day, but you must feel so proud of her. She's doing an amazing thing.....and it must be a huge worry for you. We want to protect our children....always....even when theyre adults! I'll think of you on Christmas day and raise my glass to you. Take care. Happy Christmas.
Love that you have turned your frown upside down and your lucky neighbours will be so grateful for their home baked gifts. Bad news for lots of people but you have turned this into a positive. Well done you!!!
A Shakespearean play.... wth you as the heroine who eventually has her wishes come true. I wish you a happy, sparkly Christmas time and and a New Year that will bring a joyous reunion with your family.🎄🌈🎆
That’s the spirit sweetheart,! You could also film your wonderful decorations room by room on your phone along with loving messages to your son and dil.Have a magical stress free Christmas. Keep safe. Xxx
My brother and family did 2 birthday parties during the first lockdown: same decorations and same food in the two houses and FB messenger or Skype, not sure which. Will do the same on the 26th,
What a lovely reading and for someone who's only 6 weeks into this illness it makes me feel better already. So positive thinking is what I must have. Thank you for that and have a lovely time with all that cooking. Wished I lived next door.
Hi Cosmos22Marigold. You say you're 6wks in to PMR. It's certainly going to be a bit of a rollercoaster ride but lots of friendship, support and advice here and although it's not always easy....yes! a positive attitude definitely helps. Happy Christmas.
In our neighborhood, we started having twilight cocktails last spring, each on our front lawns or porches, and have kept it going except when it's storming out. Couples and families take turns walking by, some with their dogs, exchanging greetings from the roadside. It snowed earlier this week, so we had a hot chocolate party and snow man building competition that got pretty intense.
Last night we started caroling, each group bringing their own hot toddy, nog, hot chocolate or glug to sip and toast as they stop and perform along the way. Families who celebrate other winter holidays sing songs from their traditions. We have some pretty responsible older kids in the neighborhood serving as "choirmasters", making sure that unrelated group members keep an appropriate distance. We're having a pajama parade on Christmas Eve, everyone performing their chosen selections in their PJs.
No, we can't have our traditional Christmas Eve open house. We can't host our far flung family members for the holdiays. We have to skip it this year, so we'll all be together next year, if the fates allow.
In the before times, we lived in Manhattan during the week and came to the beach house on the weekends and for holidays. We love the city and our apartment, but had we stayed there we would have been prisoners of an apartment building. We left last February and haven't gone back. We have a lot more space here, both in the house and in the garden, not to mention one of the world's most beautiful beaches a mile away, and a very friendly small town with everything we need. Its looking like we'll be here all winter, spring and summer before we go back. I'm working remotely and the Professor is working on his book, so we have plenty to keep us occupied. But we do miss our city life, and wonder what it will be like when we do go back.
Thank you for your lovely uplifting post, I too feel so disappointed over this sudden lockdown & the much awaited family time now gone. I’ve resolved to keep positive, & there’s lots to be thankful for. Have the best Christmas you can & look forward to a better 2021 😋
Thankyou 123mossie. I'm sorry you're suffering the same fate. This whole awful pandemic has made so many of us really appreciate the basic human need to be with our loved ones, and to be able to embrace them and spend time with them. To have our hopes built up, and then dashed at the eleventh hour, was really hard, but in the grand scheme of things, this is one situation we can manage and work through. You have the best Christmas you can too and wishing you a healthy, happy 2021 when we can all look forward to some wonderful reunions with our families
What a lovely thing to say. Thankyou. There are lots of good, kind people out there....we only often hear about the ones that aren't, but I think this pandemic has helped show that there's actually a huge amount of goodwill and kindness around, manifested in not just the big gestures, but in the simple ones too. Haha!........I'm generous with my baking, but touch my Maltesers!!!!!😂😂😂
Merry Christmas to you and your husband! The festive lights and decorations you did were especially important given the shut down you were heading into. Imagine if you didn’t have the decorations up and you were headed into shutdown in gloom quarters. My daughter and her husband divided up their thanksgiving meal in November to share with neighbors, just as you intend. It was a rewarding experience for them and well appreciated. I live in Minnesota, USA and when I heard of your shutdown last night my heart went out to all of you in this forum.
We have all been told not to have Christmas with more than one household, and that being said every person is being encouraged to test before Christmas. This year has been crazy... people like you with such joy and optimism keep me going. Enjoy your cozy Christmas.. 🎄
I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you're not feeling too despondent and can find a way around whatever your 'disappointments' were. Wishing for a happy (if different) Christmas for you and a less stressful 2021 for all of us.
What a lovely and positive post! I usually bake and take a few mince pies round to three older villagers who are unable to bake or get out, haven't done it yet but intend to get cracking on Christmas eve. My Christmas spirit was dashed since Boris's announcement. My son who is single and on his own was going to spend the manic 5 days with us, but that has gone now and he can only come over on Christmas day. But at least he is in the same tier so allowed to do it. And we can meet outside on boxing day for a walk if we feel able and weather permitting, and I'm going to bake and cook extra so he can take food back to his house. It will be OK, and not half as bad as others' fate, an old lady up in Scotland on the news is going to be on her own now... My heart goes out to her and those like her. But thank you Kendrew again for your positivity, and have the best Christmas in spite of everything. Xx
Thankyou Lonsdalelass. I'm pleased that not all your plans have ended in total disarray and you've at least managed to salvage something. Have a lovely day with your son and all the best for 2021.
That was a lovely inspiring, positive post Kendrew. I’m sure your actions will brighten others this week. Wishing you a very happy Christmas and peaceful New Year and join you in looking forward to seeing some of the Tier 4 family later in the year. Xx💐
Haha! Oh dear! That's a bit unnecessary 😂😂 Not quite sure exactly what he means there!! He's either got a walk in freezer or he's very cross!!😂😂 Happy Christmas Louisa1840
Kendrew, you are such a good soul to be sharing the spirit of Christmas with your neighbors. You’re a brave soul too. Wishes for a happy Christmas and another to follow with your son and DIL when we return to normalcy—maybe a Christmas celebration in July or August?
That's very kind of you to say so, but there are people doing far more worthy and noble acts who really do deserve recognition. My friends daughter is a doctor who's been working on the front line in a London hospital. After 10mths without a day off (apart from when she was recovering from covid herself!) and working an average of 15hrs per day, she got Christmas off. She was going home to Yorkshire to see her family and of course she can't leave London now. So, what's she doing????....... going back to work to help her colleagues as she knows they're struggling with the increasing infections. Amazingly selfless person. I hope you have a lovely Christmas and all the best for 2021.
This post has given me some much needed cheer and every one of the replies. I cried to when I heard the news but looking for the positive is the only way to get through, brilliant ideas, will keep taking pred and carry on. Happy Christmas 🎄
What a positive approach you have and extending that to your neighbours is so kind snd thoughtful, thank you for sharing that. Your so right of course, we are so lucky so enjoy your baking and your lovely warm home, and spreading the spirit of xmas, I hope you have a special time. Merry xmas
We are remembering that there have been Christmas’s before where there’s just been the two of Us - Martin was travelling & James went to join him in Australia - the Christmas everyone in my Office went home & woke up the next day with the ‘flu......
So we’re going to Dress for Dinner, Black Tie 🤵🏻♂️👸🏻 on Christmas Eve & Posh Frocks on Christmas Day.....
We’ve made it this far, so let’s be positive & hope n pray things will be better next year 🙏🏼
Just a little tip if you're making ginger biscuits... I used a gingerbread man cutter and turned them upside down to make Christmas reindeer. My neighbours loved them. I used a bit of icing to stick red Smarties on their noses. (On the reindeer that is, not the neighbours) Merry Christmas x
I have taken inspiration from your post thank you.I am olso going into tier 4 grandkids and Daughter sil coming,nit anymore presents all wrapped ect ect.But they will wait until the day we can be as one again.Virtual hugs to everyone in similar positions.There will be other Christmases be safe take care.xxx
you are the embodiment of true Christmas spirit! Its winter solstice so light on its way. spring the vaccine and freedom on the horizon, we can be filled with hope. the sacrifices we may now, are saving lives. I am grateful to walk this path knowing beautiful souls like you share this journey with love and kindness. Bless you and thankyou for sharing... xmas hugs grandmother Polly x
Your story is similar to so many including my own but I love how you’ve thought it through and turned it into something positive. Christmas is just about family getting together and we have missed out on so much since March. I have organised a family summer party, used the online vaccination estimator and hope by May we can celebrate our health and make up for lost time.Happy Christmas, you sound like a lovely person and your post brought a tear to my eye this morning x
There's nothing more important than family and friends and not being able to see them is so hard, but it doesn't stop us from being kind if we can. Your summer party sounds lovely and is something to look forward to. Wishing you all the best for 2021.
That’s the way to do it!! It’s our 4th Christmas in medical lockdown, due to other ‘things’ I suffer from! It really is doable & you can still have fun! We are decorated to the hilt as it makes us both feel festive! Yes, we have a small chicken, no friends or relatives from 1 December each year, but it’s easier to cook & I've still got homemade bread sauce instead of packet, and a special stuffing instead of paxo! Then there’s zoom, phone, Skype to keep connected. We have our family Christmas meal the last week in November, swap presents them but save the opening until Christmas Day! Have fun, & happy baking, S x x
If people could only get their heads round the fact that we survived 8 years of war and years of rationing even after that, then perhaps, like you, they might count their blessings and think more positively. Many lost family completely, lost their homes or had family in war camps abroad with no communication. Some had no jobs and there was little or no food in the shops.As a child some of my toys often went 'missing' just before Christmas to be given to children who had lost their fathers and had no household income.
We have shops full of goods, we have warm homes, the government is reaching out with monetary support. We have telephones. computers, Facetime, Messaging, Facebook etc.
We are lucky....trouble is, most are used to having anything they want and doing everything they want!
People in the street who complain to tv reporters about the situation being “disgusting”really make me want to shout at them ....and not very politely at that!
If some people hadn’t been out having fun - we wouldn’t be in this situation! My 20yr old grandson works on a farm in Essex - hasn’t socialised for weeks - and now has prospect of spending Xmas alone in a static caravan - no family (me and uncle in Dorset, mum, dad & brother in NZ - not that he would have seen them anyway) - just because others wanted fun!
One of the apres-ski places here was open the last 2 weekends despite there being no ski to apres. Chaos the first weekend, bombed out with teens and 20s so the police went too this weekend. And in Italy they all went shopping on Saturday.Our numbers are still higher than they should be - heaven help us in the middle of January.
I feel the same. I would far rather be living through this than the two world wars. This is challenging but nothing compared to the horrors people faced then.
Happy Christmas to you all. I almost feel guilty reading all that as we have an almost normal Christmas here in New Zealand. Can't visit the grandchildren in Australia yet but absolutely no restrictions here in covid free nz and the sun is shining, middle of summer. You are all amazing to be coping so well not only work PMG but your Xmas lockdown and how you are turning around to be as positive as possible. Let's hope santa delivers enough vaccine to start seeing an end to this virus. Here's to a better new year. Xx
Don’t remind me..,should be there, but as we keep saying - next year.....Enjoy!
That's Christmas spirit!!When I read the teaser in my email I thought I was going to find a moany old post - was I surprised. you took the negatives and turned them into positives and made my heart swell. You're an inspiration to us all.
The power of positive thought! Well done. Enjoy your Christmas and be generous with that baking. People will be so grateful you have thought about them. Happy Christmas to you both xxx
Your are a philosopher Kendrew! Like Epictetus: 'don't wish for what you don't have. Be happy with what you DO have'. You are going to have the loveliest Christmas ever- full of sharing and lovely baking smells. Happy Christmas everybody!
You have definitely turned a negative into a positive. Loved your idea of sharing with neighbors. That’s truly the spirit of Christmas. My best. 🤗
I love your spirit here Kendrew and wish you and everyone on this forum the happiest Christmas you can manage in the circumstances. We had already cancelled our sons visiting (in their 20s and by their own admission not keeping closely to the restrictions). We too will be having a video call with them on the big day. They have both enjoyed doing lots of quizzes with their friends during previous lockdowns, so we have set one up for them on family history, which should be fun and nostalgic.
You have the right attitude ! My family members have decided that this year it is a small thing to stay apart to make sure we all stay well. There will be many other times to come when we will be together. The "spirit" of love and caring does not depend on any particular time.
Love your post and your attitude. Changing our thoughts and how we respond to things is key to keeping stress low and happiness. I am focusing on what I CAN do not what I can't.
That's the best way to think just now. We didn't make any plans for Xmas, my 2 daughters and 1 SIL live in Scotland 8hrs drive away, we haven't seen them for over a year. No 1 daughter slipped on ice 2 weeks ago and broke her wrist, had an OP to fix it 3 days later, she is off work until Jan 5th. Thankfully her sister lives next door and is able to help. It will just be me and hubby spending the day eating, drinking and watching TV. My sisters 85th birthday today, she has spent the day alone. Merry Xmas to all. xx
When I heard him announce that I thought of all my online friends who live in the UK. I live in the US and despite the fact that we are experiencing the worst number of cases and deaths per day our "president" (I use that term loosely) has locked himself in the White House and is not running our country. I know how very hard it must be to not see your family. I'm sure you'll get to see them soon.
I'll feel so much more at ease when I've had the vaccination, but its worrying to keep hearing on the news how many people are saying they're not going to have it!
Well, Kendrew, that post of yours not only touched my heart, it made it swell so much.
The way you’ve turned bitter disappointment into so much that’s positive is a true inspiration.
Well done, you!
There have been times in my life when I’ve had to face this or that stroke of bad luck, and I’ve drawn strength from saying to myself that I’d like to look back on whatever it was with some pride in how I handled it.
There’s no doubt at all that you’re going to look back on this Christmas with well-deserved pride.
Your post has brought much to so many here as it is. Your Christmas plans are going to touch many hearts, too.
Thankyou so much for your kind words. I had no idea when I posted that message, it would result in the response that it has, and I'm quite overwhelmed to be honest. I know that everyone on this forum faces daily challenges and disappointments of one kind or another, and reading your stories and listening to how you're all dealing with all those issues, is a huge inspiration to me. Having the bad days and the sad days......for whatever the reasons...... are inevitable and part of life. It's learning how to turn those situations around and try and experience something meaningful from them that's the key!!.....and I've learnt some of that from here! In the last 10yrs I've supported 7 friends/relatives through various cancers and lost my dear dad, my lovely cousin, a close friend & colleague and most recently, my oldest friend who I'd known since we became best friends at primary school. If that's taught me anything, it's that life is short so don't waste time on negativity...... have 'a moment' if you need one, and then get on with the job of 'living'!
Over the past 18mths, this community has held me up and made me realise that there is life after PMR.....all-be-it a different one......so there's definitely life after lockdown.....(all-be-it a different one.) Wishing you a peaceful and happy Christmas too......we all deserve it.❤
I think we all felt like you on hearing the news, but as we read your post, realised we can turn it into something positive....maybe not as industrious as you, but if each does a little kindness it makes us all a better person.
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Still trying to be bothered to make brandy butter for me ... If I do it will be for pudding, with mincemeat sauce instead of pies ...
Brain fog
Update on my PMR journey. 
Merry Christmas Everyone
PMR-new pain
