Christmas alone?

[shiningcuckoo]

Anyone else alone this Christmas? I've been distracting myself but now Christmas Eve is here starting to get a bit tearful. A friend asked me to hers for Christmas Day but I've just had a message saying that they'll expect me about 5. Which means I have a whole day and won't be able to have a drink. And the shops are closed now which means I won't be able to go and get anything nice to eat. Not that I feel like eating anything.

I am! In Tier 4 so cannot go over to the friends' who had invited me either.

There was some good advice on twitter from someone called Mittens D'Amour about spending Christmas alone which was basically about making it into your perfect Sunday but also having a plan for the day even if it was just: lie-in, morning bath and face mask, favourite things for breakfast, big walk, book on the sofa, binge-watching a favourite series, phone call with family, hot chocolate and bed.

That is oddly very close to what I am planning to do. But I was lucky that I could prep for it - so have been hoarding some books and a TV series so can watch them over the Christmas period. Plus got my candles in and will be in my favourite silk pyjamas all day.

Will dig out Twitter thread. I found it immensely helpful. There is also a #joinin chat on Twitter for those alone at Christmas or who need a break from whatever they are doing.

Here you go. It's a full thread so so scroll down.

mobile.twitter.com/MittenDAmour/status/1340601632141275136

Also someone was saying there might be a MN thread for those of us to chat on who are spending Christmas Day alone, which I think is a fab idea.

I dont understand your bit about shops not being open...even in tier 4 all the essential food shops are open...nip out today and pick up whatever you fancy.

@shiningcuckoo try not to get tearful

This year is one like no other. It's really super sensible not to risk getting covid for christmas!

Good advice from @Gah81 - aim for a nice Sunday

Pop to a local mini supermarket and buy up some treats for nibbling through the day. Make a little plan, eg bath, breakfast, walk, nice lunch, film, dress for evening.

You are not alone. Millions of people will be spending the day alone this year. They'll be the ones who aren't ill in the new year.

Different country. Shops all closed now.

How come they don't want you to go over till 5? Are you having dinner with them?

It’s not ideal and I am sorry -

But try have a lovely day for you. It may not be how you’d want to spend Christmas, but you can still have a nice day.

The food shops are open today so you can go get stuff

Good news- the shops are open today. Xmas Eve isn’t a bank holiday.
So have a drive or walk to the shop and get yourself some lovely treats.
Like PP said make a plan for the day.
Hope you can make it a nice day.

The shops aren't closed? You can still nip out and get some food. Do go, OP. You'll feel better by seeing a friend.

And nothing to do with COVID. No restrictions here. Kids with their Dad snd his girlfriend, parents dead, no siblings, no other family, no OH.

@shiningcuckoo

This year there must 10x the number of people alone. I am planning a pamper day. Can’t wait and will look super hot boxing day haha

Ah, cross post. That's a shame, OP. Takeaway tomorrow? Not sure if they're open Christmas Day or not, but some might be. At least you don't have to worry about seeing your friend either with no restrictions over there. Go! When DM and I had a rough Christmas back when I was young, a dear friend invited us there, and we had a lovely time.

I don't know why the invitation isn't til 5. And I don't know about dinner. The original invitation was at 2 but my friends mum had decided to join them at the last minute and I suspect it's a space issue.

Sarah Millican posts on Twitter every Christmas and encourages those on their own to join in and keep conversation going. twitter.com/sarahmillican75/status/1330841523940888577?s=21

Sarah Millican is so funny and so lovely.

I'm sorry that you are sad.

I would do something that you can't usually do when people are there. Like a jigsaw or baking. My house is hectic!

And small so it's the kind of thing I have to do when everyone is out.

I guess I am sad that I used to have a hectic house and before that big family Christmases. But now I have neither. And all the face masks and chocolate in the world can't replace what is gone. I have been away these past few days distracting myself. Anyway, there is a local group gearing up to feed some of our streeties tomorrow I've just said that I'll go and help with some prepping in the morning.