Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

A cheerful Christmas thread. Anyone excited yet?

80 replies

ChristmasStartedAlready · 20/12/2020 08:14

I hope this isn't insensitive...I am very sorry for those whose plans have changed or are facing Christmas alone.

However I have a whole week off work with DC and despite the shit state of things in the outside world, excitement has kicked in.

We have been debating which tub of chocolates we get this week. Quality Street currently winning.

Anyone else feeling Christmassy?

OP posts:
WillYouDoTheFandango · 20/12/2020 10:06

There are so many threads about how upset people are/how Christmas is ruined The OP started a thread for those who are excited/making the best of it. I doesn’t understand why so many are here to shit all over that. I understand it’s disappointing, I get that it’s not what you had planned but that’s not what the OP’s thread is about.

I’m still in Tier 3 where I have been pretty much throughout but I’m focusing on what we can do - making a gingerbread house, nice walk in the local area, pick up our last minute bits - rather than dwelling on what we can’t. I’m excited for a slightly different kind of Christmas and hoping we can go back to normal next year.

timeforanewstart · 20/12/2020 10:11

No not anymore , just feeling more depressed by whole situation tbh
Happy for those who xmas will still be fun, but thinking about those who have had a lot taken away overnight

timeforanewstart · 20/12/2020 10:14

@Atalune your post post contradicts it self you say mixing was a bad idea but then go on to say you have your inlaws visiting

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

MrsPerfect12 · 20/12/2020 10:14

We're all excited. There's 6 of us so it's busy and fun. Ginger bread house, stockings to decorate and letters to be written this week so lots of planned,
Thank you for a positive thread. Merry Christmas

anothernamereally · 20/12/2020 10:35

I will miss seeing extended family but I'm already feeling less stressed than normal, I have 2 weeks off and plan to potter around the house and watch lots of Christmas films.
My dc are all still living at home though so I'm very lucky.

AliceMcK · 20/12/2020 11:26

[quote vinoelle]@ChristmasStartedAlready I’m with you. Don’t feel guilty that you will have a nice Christmas. It is of course a shame for others but you only get so many years when your kids are young. Enjoy it and make it special! You are allowed 😂[/quote]
Totally agree, yes it’s not going to be nice for some, but that is no reason you should not be happy and excited about your own Christmas with your children.

We are all very excited still, ok so we won’t be seeing family and friends like we normally do but Santa will still come, presents will be opened, crackers pulled, food eaten, games played, movies watched, dancing and laughing will be done.

AliceMcK · 20/12/2020 11:28

@WillYouDoTheFandango

There are so many threads about how upset people are/how Christmas is ruined The OP started a thread for those who are excited/making the best of it. I doesn’t understand why so many are here to shit all over that. I understand it’s disappointing, I get that it’s not what you had planned but that’s not what the OP’s thread is about.

I’m still in Tier 3 where I have been pretty much throughout but I’m focusing on what we can do - making a gingerbread house, nice walk in the local area, pick up our last minute bits - rather than dwelling on what we can’t. I’m excited for a slightly different kind of Christmas and hoping we can go back to normal next year.

👏👏👏👏👏 well said
xmasfairybuns · 20/12/2020 11:29

Yes! I'm at home on Xmas day which is not what I wanted or hoped for but there tree is going up today, I'm decorating the house and making a list of cheesy comedy highbrow films to watch in the day.

QuantumJump · 20/12/2020 11:33

We are excited here! It will just be the 5 of us after yesterday's announcement, but I have three DC, the youngest still believes in Santa (probably for the last year), DH and I both have nearly two weeks off work (as we have more annual leave leftover than normal after holiday cancelled earlier in the year) and we are all super excited! It's sad that the grandparents can't join us but we will have turkey with all the trimmings, presents, tree, board games, Christmas telly and DH and I are planning to open a bottle of fizz a bit earlier than we normally would!

Livpool · 20/12/2020 11:53

I am but mostly because DS finished finished school on Friday and has been hyper ever since. He is so excited so it has made me feel a bit more Christmassy.

He is 5 though so would be weird if he wasn't excited!

Acinonyx2 · 20/12/2020 12:22

@VaTeLaverLesMains I'm also mid-chemo and agree with you. Timing means I expect to be pretty poorly over Xmas week itself but I am preparing everything I can beforehand and looking forward to Xmas nonetheless. It will be just the 3 of us - but it will be Xmassy - decorations, treats, presents etc. Like you, the idea of the NHS being overwhelmed has real meaning that may be lost on many other people.

So yes OP, I'm feeling Xmassy and glad you are too.

VaTeLaverLesMains · 20/12/2020 12:38

Acinonyx hope you are as well as you can be on the day. It is scary that our treatment depends on what others choose to do.

But a big health scare is such a reminder to make the most of life whatever happens next.

Scottishskifun · 20/12/2020 12:46

I feel a lot more festive since going to get a tree and now decorating it this afternoon!

Even managed to get a tescos delivery slot (I think people must be cancelling orders) so I can avoid the supermarket as well!

Now a week of walks in the fresh air.
I was completely gutted yesterday (we have a family member who is struggling being a carer to 3 family members so we're due to help out over Christmas but with travel bans etc it became very difficult) but I am determined to do festive outdoor things! Going on a late afternoon walk for house lights tomorrow!

Aiglette · 20/12/2020 12:48

It's just DH and me, now that our grown up DS, DDIL and young DGCs can't visit. They live too far away to come just for the one day.

But I'm carrying on with Christmas plans regardless. I redid all the Christmas menus yesterday and the five days' worth of food will now stretch to 14 days for the two of us, plus the extra turkey and roast beef can be frozen for next time we meet.

Likewise, their presents from us are all wrapped up and in the bottom of the wardrobe, I bought things that can keep until we can meet safely next year, nothing perishable or seasonal. That was intentional, as DGS has had to isolate a couple of times this term, and there was always the chance it might happen in the last week of term too.

With that in mind, DS and DDIL had a plan B, so won't be short of food or Christmas treats. It's just the government rather than the virus that has put a halt to our plans.

We will try to make the best of the situation. It won't be the same. But there will be next year. We've had a couple of low key Christmases over the years, due to illness and bereavement, but we bounced back. And we'll look back on this year as a blip too.

mbosnz · 20/12/2020 14:00

I was as close to Team Grinch as I've ever been, this morning, but we've got the tree up and decorated, and the girls really got into it, and it was lovely.

We've been playing my favourite Christmas carols (after a nice therapeutic bit of Metallica, if the neighbours can hear the music at all, they must be wondering what the hell is going on), and we made the Best Evah gluten free mince pies, and popped some bubbles.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. . .

picklemewalnuts · 20/12/2020 14:27

I've just been in to church to decorate for a walk through, candle lit, nativity festival. Totally secure, doors open, three families at a time walk along a trail and out of a different door.

Tonight we have 'Carols on the doorstep', but are gathering with a PA in the village square. All distanced.

We have tried to bring some festivity in for people, we know everyone's disappointed. We've been tier 3 here as long as there have been tiers.

You have to find creative ways around it and find fun where you can. I've taken some home mad chocs to some local friends who have been a bit isolated since all this started. Someone popped a couple of chocolate Santa lollies through my door recently.

Christmas cards that I usually don't appreciate are extra special this year.

Christmases have been tricky the last few years after dad's terminal diagnosis, last Christmas, first Christmas without etc etc. Time is short. Find ways to make the best of it, that's all we can do.

This Christmas was never guaranteed we'd be able to celebrate as usual, with people self isolating or testing +ve. And in fact, we are never guaranteed a Christmas as we plan it. Mum was rushed in to hospital one year, and was surrounded by women similarly 'caught short' and fretting about whether family would find the turkey in the cool box in the garage.

Gooseygoosey12345 · 20/12/2020 14:33

I'm not feeling Christmassy at all as we've just been placed in tier 4 (thanks to our unfortunate placement over the border into the county with high cases, even though 0 cases locally. If we lived a mile up the road we'd be tier 2 Angry). I'm very disappointed as we'd isolated for 2 weeks so we could see family safely.

Having said that, I don't think these posts are insensitive. People should be allowed to share their joy and Christmas cheer. It might even make the rest of us feel a bit better! At least some of us can enjoy Christmas with our families. I need to get my bum in gear and make the best of it! We could be so much more worse off!

Sn0tnose · 20/12/2020 15:01

My children came back from their dads with presents for me and the youngest really wants to tell me what they are. I don't think he will last a week.. I absolutely love when they’re around the age where they try so hard to keep presents secret but are just bursting with excitement! 😁

A very different Christmas for us than the one we were planning. We were supposed to be in Wales where we’ve had two loved ones pass away and been unable to say goodbye or attend their funerals, we’ve got new babies to cuddle and new partners to meet. Instead we’re in Tier 4, we can’t see my mum except from standing in her front garden and it hasn’t been the best year.

BUT, on the plus side, I have the best time with my DH (who loves Christmas as much as I do) even when we’re just lazing about, I suspected things were going to go this way, so have already bought everything but fresh stuff and have ordered a lush turkey ready to collect on 23rd, so we have everything we like to eat and drink. We’ve already sent our gifts to Wales (again, I had an inkling) and there are some lovely looking gifts for me under the tree. We’ve dropped off everything my mum could want, along with her presents, this morning and we’ll plate her up a dinner and drive it round to her on the day so I won’t worry about her not bothering to cook for just her. Our tree is magnificent (even if I do say so myself) and there are few things better than watching It’s a Wonderful Life and The Bishop’s Wife with just the fairy lights on and a hot chocolate from the velvetiser. We’re warm & cosy, we’re happy together, we have a roof over our head and food in the cupboard. It’s not what we’d hoped for but we consider ourselves to be bloody lucky.

PerfectionistProcrastinator · 20/12/2020 15:15

Yes I’m looking forward to it despite being put into tier 4 last night and our plans have changed. I did my food shop last night and were pretty much ready.

Looking forward to having a more relaxing time and being able to actually watch a bit of Xmas tv this year!

Atalune · 20/12/2020 15:20

Seeing elderly relatives who live up the road for one day is really different to seeing/mixing with people for 5 days and if you can’t understand why then i feel like you’ve somewhat proved the point @MandosHatHair

Londoncatshed · 20/12/2020 15:23

@ChristmasStartedAlready just wanted to say, I hope you have lovely Christmas with your children. It sounds like you are appreciating what you have and making the best of Christmas.

lachy · 20/12/2020 15:39

We're in Tier 4, as is my DSIS and her family. Our parents are in Tier 2 and are deeply upset that they won't see us or the grandchildren for the foreseeable future,(aside from Zoom calls)

I suspect that we will be in T4 until at least mid January, but more likely to be the end. So as shit as it is, we are planning to have Christmas as planned, lots of fun, presents, food and games and in a strange way I am looking forward to it.

I am angry at the level of notice given, but I also feel relieved - struggling to work out why though.

Inextremis · 20/12/2020 15:44

I'm in Ireland, and DH and I will be spending Christmas with our bubblemate (1/2 a mile from home - he has a better kitchen, hence our move), his dog, and our two dogs. We're staying there for 5 days, planning walks on the beach - which is next to his house, a 5 day menu of indulgences, much alcohol, many cheeses, cheesey Christmas films on the telly, equally cheesey music playing non stop, a massive jigsaw for us to do, a couple of silly games to play, daft T-shirts to wear, and it's going to be fabulous.

Last year was a very muted celebration, my Dad had died that year, and the previous 8 Christmasses I'd spent back in the UK caring for him, away from home, DH and dogs. So too right am I going to have a great Christmas this year, in spite of the Covid restrictions. I'm ridiculously excited about it :)

Bloodybridget · 20/12/2020 15:49

@ChristmasStartedAlready I hope you and your family have a lovely time. Our Christmas will probably not be much fun, but I hope to enjoy some of it - King's College carol service, some films on television. I suppose the Christmas story is one of hope and fear, promises fulfilled, dangers looming.

islockdownoveryet · 20/12/2020 16:00

I've just been to see my gran who's in her 80a (SD on the doorstep) to give her a Christmas present and card . I FaceTime my dh so she could talk to him and my dc . She cried as she missed everyone.
It was so lovely to see her although brief luckily I only live 20 minutes away .
It's so awful for so many but I feel so good giving her a present and hope she'll love it .
I feel all Christmassy now I told my dd we will put our Christmas jumpers on Christmas Eve and have a lovely buffet tea .

Swipe left for the next trending thread