[Misc] Anyone else having Christmas dinner/day on their own ?

[juliant]

For the 1st time in 46 years this year its just me and the dog. She's a psycho rescue dog whose banned from our families homes.

Im not looking for sympathy just curious if anyone else is in the same boat.

In a way I'm kind of looking forward to not having the whole xmas big day thing but I'm sure on the day I may not be as cheery. I am having Turkey etc and hopefully visiting some friends in the evening and facetime is always there so I can talk to my daughter

Anyone else?

 

[Since1982]

Not quite, but for the first time it will be just me and my wife. Lots of reasons but we are quite looking forward to not having to feed and clear up after everyone and a chance to cook what we fancy. I hope you have a lovely day - your dog is fortunate to have such a dedicated owner.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Wouldn't have it any other way. Yo ho hum

 

[Notters]

Not sure I'd mind too much having it on my own, but wouldn't want to subject myself to turkey.

 

[Weststander]

Also a different-ish story.

It was a weight off our shoulders when we stopped having parents round (they’re well looked after at siblings, so all’s good). It’s a day or two for us 4, we love that. Dealing with a parent with depression and endless negative/medical stories, interrupting conversations, made it stressful for me, whilst I was meant to be preparing lunch. Also avoiding having to camp out at the in-laws, to work hard to be at their booze created joviality levels.

I hope you have good day @juliant.

For any lonely souls just now, I hope 2023 is a better time for you.

 

[juliant]

Not quite, but for the first time it will be just me and my wife. Lots of reasons but we are quite looking forward to not having to feed and clear up after everyone and a chance to cook what we fancy. I hope you have a lovely day - your dog is fortunate to have such a dedicated owner.

Thanks the wife doesn't quite have the same view about the dog

 

[rippleman]

I will move heaven and earth to be on my own (with my vicious psychotic cat)

 

[Justice]

Second this think I would rather have a decent cut of steak. Turkey is tuppence all year round apart from Christmas when it’s hiked 500%

 

[juliant]

Second this think I would rather have a decent cut of steak. Turkey is tuppence all year round apart from Christmas when it’s hiked 500%

I have a 500g centre cut piece of fillet for Christmas eve on my own, maybe the dog if shes good. Thats a tradition in our house but I love Turkey on the day as its normally only at this time of year we would have it. I can eat leftovers for days but only bought a small piece of breast wrapped in bacon.

Thanks for the replies interesting to see im not alone

 

[Justice]

I have a 500g centre cut piece of fillet for Christmas eve on my own, maybe the dog if shes good. Thats a tradition in our house but I love Turkey on the day as its normally only at this time of year we would have it. I can eat leftovers for days but only bought a small piece of breast wrapped in bacon.

Thanks for the replies interesting to see im not alone

A 17 oz fillet very nice.

 

[Zeberdi]

I’m not one for pity parties and never have been - you have to make the most of what you’ve got in this life - so if Christmas is spent alone, I’ll make do.

Whether I’m alone or not depends on whether I’m well enough to travel - have a load of hospital appointments in the next few weeks so we’ll see. I’ve only lived here for 6 years so family and long lasting friends all in Brighton or London and my dog and cat died some years ago.

Not bothered tbh if I don’t dwell on it - I’d rather stay home and rest than be in pain and wiped out all over Christmas with family celebrations going on all around me (and pissing on everyone’s fireworks coz I’m crashed out in an upstairs room too exhausted to get down the stairs!)

I’m completely comfortable with my own company anyway and no doubt will do some binging on Netflix/Prime, watch football and cook a roast!

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I won't be having a Christmas at all. Wife has early onset dementia and doesn't know what day it is let alone the date. Her conversation is a bit random and unrelated to reality. Family live at the other end of the country, so it will be just me and her.

She is also increasingly night incontinent which rather spoils the rest of the day.

It isn't a very happy time of year.

Ever onwards...... if not upwards.

 

[The Clamp]

For the 1st time in 46 years this year its just me and the dog. She's a psycho rescue dog whose banned from our families homes.

Im not looking for sympathy just curious if anyone else is in the same boat.

In a way I'm kind of looking forward to not having the whole xmas big day thing but I'm sure on the day I may not be as cheery. I am having Turkey etc and hopefully visiting some friends in the evening and facetime is always there so I can talk to my daughter

Anyone else?

Sounds like a perfect day. Genuinely.

I’ll be seeing family and friends around Christmas but not the actual day. That’ll be spent sleeping. I quite like Christmas. I enjoy it if I’m off work but I have worked 4 out of the last 5 and am working this one. I’m fine with that. Christmas Eve and Day. Night shift. Luckily this year I will be working with a friend so we’ll have something to eat together when we get to work before he goes off to his assignment. Day shift leave us a Christmas dinner usually.

If work is quiet, it’ll be 15 hours of eating treats and watching telly at double time

I really don’t think you’ll miss the day too much. It’s just another day. Nice if it’s celebrated, no biggy if not.

 

[The Clamp]

I won't be having a Christmas at all. Wife has early onset dementia and doesn't know what day it is let alone the date. Her conversation is a bit random and unrelated to reality. Family live at the other end of the country, so it will be just me and her.

She is also increasingly night incontinent which rather spoils the rest of the day.

It isn't a very happy time of year.

Ever onwards...... if not upwards.

Sorry to hear that. I hope you find some Christmas joy amongst the trying times.

 

[juliant]

I won't be having a Christmas at all. Wife has early onset dementia and doesn't know what day it is let alone the date. Her conversation is a bit random and unrelated to reality. Family live at the other end of the country, so it will be just me and her.

She is also increasingly night incontinent which rather spoils the rest of the day.

It isn't a very happy time of year.

Ever onwards...... if not upwards.

I'm sorry to hear this makes my day alone seem insignificant.

Feel free to PM if you need to on the day if you need some support or a shoulder to cry on

 

[dazzer6666]

Second this think I would rather have a decent cut of steak. Turkey is tuppence all year round apart from Christmas when it’s hiked 500%

bone-in forerib of beef (our joint of choice for Xmas) is also massively hiked

 

[Bombardier]

I'm sorry to hear this makes my day alone seem insignificant.

Feel free to PM if you need to on the day if you need some support or a shoulder to cry on

This got to me. A lot of us take Xmas for granted yet it can be the loneliest time of year. I hope that Christmas for those on their own know that there will be a few of us out there who care and can be contacted for a few caring words….if you want too. Fair play Juliant for reaching out to CC.

Cheshire, I am also around for a chat if you need to reach out.

 

[Winker]

Second this think I would rather have a decent cut of steak. Turkey is tuppence all year round apart from Christmas when it’s hiked 500%

Wow - tenpence, that's nearly a shilling! Outrageous!

 

[Whitechapel]

Sorry in advance for the probably very long woe is me post but I’ve always wanted an excuse to get my Christmas feelings off my chest.

Christmas has always been a pretty weird time for me. My mum lost both her brother and sister in December before I was old enough to remember them but it obviously had an effect on the mood of the house throughout the festive period.

When I was a teenager me and my dad had a very fractured relationship, which actually lead us to physical altercations on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in separate years so again, not a lot of good memories. He’s from an Irish family and his dad; who I never met, wouldn’t really spend family time with his kids on Christmas and it became a habit that was passed along.

Most of my most cherished Christmas memories come from Christmas evenings. My dad snoring on the sofa or in bed early, whilst me, my younger brothers, my mum and her parents played card games around the dining room table. 7’s with 20p fines if you couldn’t play a card sticking out the most vividly.

Then my Nan passed away one November and a couple of years later my Granddad passed away on the 23rd of December to put the final nail in any Christmas spirit. He was my father figure growing up, and along with my mum is the main reason I support Brighton. It kind of killed most of the magic I had left for Christmas.

There was a few awkward years when I turned 18, going out and getting plastered on Christmas Eve and struggling all Christmas Day when my mum probably needed me to be on form. There was at least one Christmas I accidentally ruined after making a pretty shitty joke after I woke up still drunk.

Since I moved out and my mum moved away I’ve spent almost every Christmas on my own. I always have 3/4 invites for Christmas Dinner but I’ve grown to like my solo Christmas traditions.

On the 23rd I have a whisky for my Granddad. I can’t stand the stuff but it’s what he drunk so I always sink one for him.

The 24th is always a big piss up and catching up with people I haven’t seen in years in Shoreham. My friend Will; who I’m sure some on here will know or at least have heard of, had his birthday on Christmas Eve. He passed away a few years ago, way before his time so now Christmas Eve doubles up as a celebration of his life.

On the 25th I go down my local and see my best mates and some of their family. We have a drink and then when the pub closes I go home, order myself a massive curry and have a beer whilst watching some TV. If my dad and his partner are local I might pop in to theres for the evening. If not then I just have an early night.

A lot of my mates don’t really get it, and a lot of their parents make it very clear I’m welcome round but I quite like my quiet evenings on my own now. My mum invites me to hers too but that means missing the Christmas Eve drinks which I cherish for now.

Christmas can be a stressful time, there’s a lot of pressure on playing Happy Family’s and feeling amazing. Maybe one day I’ll look at my current Christmas plans and hate them, but for now Christmas alone feels so much more inviting than spending it with others. No pressure. Nothing to ruin. I’m content.

 

[stewardxxx]

A few years after my mum died in December depression hit me and I ended up not wanting to go to the in-laws on Xmas day to be reminded of what I was missing and so I had an Xmas on my own. I dropped the wife and daughter over there and then came home, had some beer, cooked a curry and sat in my pants watching the Godfather and drinking until I passed out.

I got some help (counselling and CBT) shortly after that and I saw that I was unfairly making the 2 people that mattered most to me feel the way I was which I really didn't want. I began making an effort at Xmas and this was made easier by the arrival of our second daughter but for the last 9 years or so we have done our own thing on Xmas day which I love. Last year on Xmas day my 11 year old and I went in the sea to raise money for Macmillan and then we set about enjoying the day which really wouldn't have been possible if we had to do the rounds or cook for a load of people. I look back on that solo year with mixed feelings because it was absolutely what I needed at the time but was not what everyone else needed.

To those of you spending Xmas alone whether through choice or circumstance I wish you all the best day that you can possibly have before watching us (hopefully) smash Southampton on Boxing Day!!