The dreaded Christmas thread
Discussion
So as usual this needs to be arranged as a family.
With bubble restrictions its a no from me we are just going to stay at home for the sake of one day ....i'm finding it a difficult decision this year but with a newborn arrived I just don't want hassle.
Missus has her family who haven't met my newborn yet and I have a brother so this "five days of freedom" has just created more of a pain in the ars than not having visits at all.
What is everyone else doing with extended families?
BTW I don't want this turning into an Anti Covid thread, we all have views/opinions on it, my view is it is a contributing factor, lets leave it at that.
With bubble restrictions its a no from me we are just going to stay at home for the sake of one day ....i'm finding it a difficult decision this year but with a newborn arrived I just don't want hassle.
Missus has her family who haven't met my newborn yet and I have a brother so this "five days of freedom" has just created more of a pain in the ars than not having visits at all.
What is everyone else doing with extended families?
BTW I don't want this turning into an Anti Covid thread, we all have views/opinions on it, my view is it is a contributing factor, lets leave it at that.
Blessing in disguise as far as I’m concerned this year.
We usually alternate between my parents and the in-laws. This year it was supposed to be the in-laws in Denmark and then drive to mink farm central in Jutland to stay with Aunties.
Was looking less and less likely and then Spain introducing PCR testing required on return put the final nail in the coffin as they were fully booked over December and would have also added £600 for 2 tests. Trip cancelled.
Likewise my own parents can’t make me feel guilty over Skype for not spending with them either.
So it’s just the two of us for the first time ever and at my house in Spain for the first time at Xmas. We will do a Danish Christmas on the 24th, complete with a proper Danish lunch and schnapps. 25th we shall head to the beach to join many others, the log burner, some food of choice and a film.
Can’t see us having this Christmas opportunity presented to us ever again frankly!
We usually alternate between my parents and the in-laws. This year it was supposed to be the in-laws in Denmark and then drive to mink farm central in Jutland to stay with Aunties.
Was looking less and less likely and then Spain introducing PCR testing required on return put the final nail in the coffin as they were fully booked over December and would have also added £600 for 2 tests. Trip cancelled.
Likewise my own parents can’t make me feel guilty over Skype for not spending with them either.
So it’s just the two of us for the first time ever and at my house in Spain for the first time at Xmas. We will do a Danish Christmas on the 24th, complete with a proper Danish lunch and schnapps. 25th we shall head to the beach to join many others, the log burner, some food of choice and a film.
Can’t see us having this Christmas opportunity presented to us ever again frankly!
Shnozz said:
Blessing in disguise as far as I’m concerned this year.
We usually alternate between my parents and the in-laws. This year it was supposed to be the in-laws in Denmark and then drive to mink farm central in Jutland to stay with Aunties.
Was looking less and less likely and then Spain introducing PCR testing required on return put the final nail in the coffin as they were fully booked over December and would have also added £600 for 2 tests. Trip cancelled.
Likewise my own parents can’t make me feel guilty over Skype for not spending with them either.
So it’s just the two of us for the first time ever and at my house in Spain for the first time at Xmas. We will do a Danish Christmas on the 24th, complete with a proper Danish lunch and schnapps. 25th we shall head to the beach to join many others, the log burner, some food of choice and a film.
Can’t see us having this Christmas opportunity presented to us ever again frankly!
That sort of cost is (Christmas) Nuts mate.We usually alternate between my parents and the in-laws. This year it was supposed to be the in-laws in Denmark and then drive to mink farm central in Jutland to stay with Aunties.
Was looking less and less likely and then Spain introducing PCR testing required on return put the final nail in the coffin as they were fully booked over December and would have also added £600 for 2 tests. Trip cancelled.
Likewise my own parents can’t make me feel guilty over Skype for not spending with them either.
So it’s just the two of us for the first time ever and at my house in Spain for the first time at Xmas. We will do a Danish Christmas on the 24th, complete with a proper Danish lunch and schnapps. 25th we shall head to the beach to join many others, the log burner, some food of choice and a film.
Can’t see us having this Christmas opportunity presented to us ever again frankly!
Guilt here is the biggest issue with this removed restriction. It is only one (very long) day...unfortunately i'm urging on sensibility and caution added with a mix of I've had enough this year and I really just want to relax.
Sounds like a good sort of xmas.
k everybody else.
We have cancelled Christmas this year, nothing to do with covid. We moved to Spain 2 weeks ago and have our villa to renovate. Builders start on the 14th, and should finish on the 23rd. So I will be working no the villa, to get rooms finished. My dad has booked us in a bar for Christmas Dinner, but I'm not interested in going, but the wife wants to go.
mart 63 said:
We have cancelled Christmas this year, nothing to do with covid. We moved to Spain 2 weeks ago and have our villa to renovate. Builders start on the 14th, and should finish on the 23rd. So I will be working no the villa, to get rooms finished. My dad has booked us in a bar for Christmas Dinner, but I'm not interested in going, but the wife wants to go.
So the wife will win as always, and christmas isnt cancelled and you'll have a great time at the bar. Keep pretending to grinch though 
We are very fortunate in that we aren't expected to see everyone at Christmas, both sets of parents understand that we have our own Iives and don't put pressure on us to see them. I hear of so many instances where people just spend Christmas driving all over the country just to please 2 sets of parents, getting guilt trips from parents etc.
Usually we have one of or both our mothers over, we did last year and also the eldest and the grandkids, plus my daughter who's still at home, in the evening my eldest's partner arrives (he's a chef so is always working at Christmas during the day) and a friend comes over with her son.
However as nice as that is, it's just so busy and the wife hates that I'm just stuck in the kitchen for most of the day.
This year the MIL is going to the wife's brother, my mum is going to my sister, my eldest's partner isn't working (first time since they've been together) so they are having lunch just the 4 of them so it'll just be me, the wife and the youngest, plus the dogs for lunch. Then over to the eldest's for the evening.
It'll be lovely and stress free, dinner won't take long to do and I might even be able to get the dogs out for a decent walk.
Usually we have one of or both our mothers over, we did last year and also the eldest and the grandkids, plus my daughter who's still at home, in the evening my eldest's partner arrives (he's a chef so is always working at Christmas during the day) and a friend comes over with her son.
However as nice as that is, it's just so busy and the wife hates that I'm just stuck in the kitchen for most of the day.
This year the MIL is going to the wife's brother, my mum is going to my sister, my eldest's partner isn't working (first time since they've been together) so they are having lunch just the 4 of them so it'll just be me, the wife and the youngest, plus the dogs for lunch. Then over to the eldest's for the evening.
It'll be lovely and stress free, dinner won't take long to do and I might even be able to get the dogs out for a decent walk.
fourstardan said:
So as usual this needs to be arranged as a family.
With bubble restrictions its a no from me we are just going to stay at home for the sake of one day ....i'm finding it a difficult decision this year but with a newborn arrived I just don't want hassle.
Missus has her family who haven't met my newborn yet and I have a brother so this "five days of freedom" has just created more of a pain in the ars than not having visits at all.
What is everyone else doing with extended families?
BTW I don't want this turning into an Anti Covid thread, we all have views/opinions on it, my view is it is a contributing factor, lets leave it at that.
It’s hard isn’t it. I really wanted to stay at home this year, having a baby a similar age as yours to ferry around in a car for hours just didn’t sound like fun to me. With bubble restrictions its a no from me we are just going to stay at home for the sake of one day ....i'm finding it a difficult decision this year but with a newborn arrived I just don't want hassle.
Missus has her family who haven't met my newborn yet and I have a brother so this "five days of freedom" has just created more of a pain in the ars than not having visits at all.
What is everyone else doing with extended families?
BTW I don't want this turning into an Anti Covid thread, we all have views/opinions on it, my view is it is a contributing factor, lets leave it at that.
Overruled by my wife
hotchy said:
mart 63 said:
We have cancelled Christmas this year, nothing to do with covid. We moved to Spain 2 weeks ago and have our villa to renovate. Builders start on the 14th, and should finish on the 23rd. So I will be working no the villa, to get rooms finished. My dad has booked us in a bar for Christmas Dinner, but I'm not interested in going, but the wife wants to go.
So the wife will win as always, and christmas isnt cancelled and you'll have a great time at the bar. Keep pretending to grinch though We are usually only a family of 4 at home, anyway. Living outside the UK, and more so with COVID and new year Brexit implications, we are definitely staying home in Lux this year!
This year will be a bit different as the eldest started Uni in September, and I for one really miss having her around. She'll be home on the 19th or 20th.
We don't know yet when / if restrictions will be lifted here... Currently until 15th. The PM said he'll announce more next week. At most we will have a couple of friends around at some point over Christmas, but really just a couple, as currently permitted.
This year will be a bit different as the eldest started Uni in September, and I for one really miss having her around. She'll be home on the 19th or 20th.
We don't know yet when / if restrictions will be lifted here... Currently until 15th. The PM said he'll announce more next week. At most we will have a couple of friends around at some point over Christmas, but really just a couple, as currently permitted.
Its traditional that we congregare at the MIL's xmas day evening, so she can lord it over the "riff raff"* but this year i have said no. Not under any circumstances will i attend and if the wife goes, then i will be sleeping on the sofa to avoid any potential risk**
* She is the epitome if rough council tenant yet thinks she is posher than the Queen
** Long term health issues mean comprimised immune system.
* She is the epitome if rough council tenant yet thinks she is posher than the Queen
** Long term health issues mean comprimised immune system.
mart 63 said:
No grinching here, living the dream. Instead of buying Christmas presents, I will be buying kitchen units, bathroom sanitary ware, tiles and doors.
Welcome down the road for a Danish schnapps or a beer over Christmas mate if you want an hour off work and in an hour by the fire 
or can jump in the car when we head down the beach in the morning if you fancy. Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff