This is all a bit crap, isn't it? Or is it just me?!

[lookatgiraffenow]

I haven't seen my parents and family since last Christmas and, due to the various tiers and rules, I won't see them this year.

I'm lucky in that we have food in the fridge, presents for the kids and a comfortable house...but Christmas feels so flat this year. I've cried in bathroom twice today. Getting on with the prep for tomorrow and trying to be smiley for the kids but it's all shit and I can't wait to get back to work on 27th. If DH tells me to stop being grumpy one more time I will explode.

Bah frickin' humbug.

Yup. I'd not seen my Nana since about February and she died of Covid recently. I couldn't even say goodbye because my relative (in their infinite wisdom) decided not to tell most of the family that she was in hospital with an unrelated illness, but still allowed limited visitors, until she tested positive for Covid and was moved to isolation. This is the first year I will miss her funny Christmas story she used to tell me every year about my first Christmas.

It all feels a bit flat this year

[quote Butterfly3105]@lookatgiraffenow Not to sound like a cow just to put it into perspective for you, you have ALL your family around you this year when alot are separated, you have a healthy happy Husband and Children, that's more that what some people dream of for Christmas so stop sulking and appreciate what you have BE GREATFUL and the rest will follow i promise ;-)[/quote]
I can't tell if you are attempting a weak attempt at an ironic pisstake joke, or not If not, your attempts to not "sound like a cow" failed

Why can't people express sadness without someone setting the bar for happiness so fucking low and judging them by it?!

It's awful

Just wept at Carol's from Kings - fucking effects of Brexit on its way to come from
January plus the virus continuing

It’s a bit pants really. We are counting our blessings as we live just outside a village that partially flooded last night. We’re up a hill so are ok, but I went down with a flask of tea and a big pot of hot food and there were so many people ripping up their carpets and chucking out their sofas. Awful for them. But despite knowing how lucky we are, I’m still going to miss family terribly.

It doesn’t really feel like Christmas Eve, but i’m going through the motions for DD (2). Even though she doesn’t really understand, she’s starting to get it and I want to be able to show her the photos one day.

We are 400 miles from our families. Can feel every one of those miles today 😔

If it helps, I grew up with just my immediate family at Christmas and I never felt like I was missing anything. You are missing traditions and family, but your kids might actually end up loving a quiet christmas at home.

It's all fucking crap isn't it? Christmas I'm normally arguing with dh about when we go for a walk and to the pub, he always wants to go earlier than what I want as cooking/cleaning needs doing first etc. This year no argument but it feels really flat. Am lucky enough to be able to see dmum tomorrow for an hour in the morning as she's in a bubble with dsis so they having dinner together but won't be having big family nyd dinner which we havr had for last 10 years, no buffet with ndns tonight and nye, no meeting rest of siblings etc.

Wish I had told dmum and dsis to come here for dinner now but dnephew is a twatbag and it would have been too much with 2 hyper teens and 2 hyper 7 year olds, we tend to all do our own thing Christmas day anyway.

But fridge is full, kids are happy enough, having a beer. We lost fil at Easter, so a quiet Christmas seemed appropriate anyway.

Still shit tho.

I wonder what New Year will feel like this year. I always think New Year is when people who have had a shit year, comfort ourselves with the fact the year is coming to an end and the next one must be better - hard to think that at the moment.

Probably not helping here, am I I think I will tell myself that "this time next year" will be better and try not to think about the immediate future.

and to all.

Having a totally crap day today. Everything seems to be going wrong & all I see on Facebook is people posting magical, perfect pictures. We are also Tier 4 so can't see anybody either.

It could be worse- we have food, presents & our little 5 & our good health, but I feel like we are totally responsible for Christmas & failing miserably

It’s my Mum’s birthday tomorrow and it’ll be the first time ever that I won’t see her , she’s so lovely and said we’ll just do it all another day and we will for sure.
I’m determined to make the best of it, a friend has just been diagnosed with inoperable cancer and a family member is in hospital with life changing brain injury.
Those of us who are fit and well must count our blessings, it is shit there’s no doubt about it but try to find something to be happy about.
Now dry those eyes , have a drink and let’s hope for a better 2021 xx

I can't wait to get back to work on 27th
Spare a thought for me, I'm not back until the 29th! 😭😭

@Puddington I've read your story I think on the Scotsnet thread and feel sorry for you. Amongst all the age groups affected I think your's ( you know, just starting out ) is particularly hard. I hope things work out for you.

I've put my feet up now for the rest of the day. Will chill with bake off special (E4 right now) and a glass of port.

@Butterfly3105 You do sound like a cow. It's not a competition. People can be very well aware of their blessings yet still feel sad. It's absolutely fine, and actually pretty healthy to say you feel sad about something.

It is shit for so many people this year, here's hoping for a better 2021. 🙂

I feel grateful I have lots of nice food and presents for my immediate family but so sad because my Dad died three weeks ago.

@ SmallChrismas I’m so sorry

It's really crap.

I haven't seen my DM in nearly a year and have hardly seen the DC either (at uni). I have a fridge full of food but no one to share it with. The tier 4 announcement came after the deadline to cancel the order. DS is in a social bubble with my DM so he is cooking her lunch and taking it to her to eat it in the garden with her at 2 separate tables while I am on FaceTime. DD was at their DF's when the rules changed and she won't make it home either.

I'm glad DM has DS with her, rather than our original plan to FaceTime her but there have been tears nonetheless...

Just to rub salt in the wound, I ordered a small turkey and Ocado substituted it with one the size of an obese emu on steroids.

I properly cried yesterday (in the bathroom, tap running so kids couldn't hear) and this morning a little bit but I've pulled myself together now. This isn't the Christmas we planned but we will have epic fun dammit

And soon we'll have the vaccine and I can give my mum a hug again because I haven't hugged her since March.

I just want it over with. Can't spend it the way I usually would. I will be glad when it's the new year.

i'm just about holding it together for my 3 younger children at home, but missing my 21 year old son so much that once I start crying I will never stop!
He has the mind of a baby and in Care Home due to the high level of care he needs (my youngest is also severely disabled with a different unrelated disability). I'm a single mum.
I have no way of explaining to my eldest son why we can't see him. He has never understood Christmas. His childhood passed him by without him ever knowing who Santa was.
He is completely non verbal, and will view it that his Mum has just disappeared from his life. I can't even put into words how heartbroken I am.

I had a bit of a moment yesterday, and as a pp said, I feel like I could do with a 'big cry' had now 4 personal pieces of bad news in the last few days and I'm a bit like "Seriously, what else!" On top of everything else that everyone is feeling. Got a 14 hour shift tomorrow, I have a feeling the big cry might happen tomorrow night when I get in and I'm tired, on my own and having been jolly and happy all day for the residents when I don't feel like it, plus nursing two in their final days.
I'm off Boxing Day, so I may have a few snifters, a load of crap food and then a damned good cry. I would in normal years, have had a tantrum by now, at least once, you know the "That's it! I'm done! Christmas can fuck off!" Type tantrum when the combination of work, expectations and lack of time and money and sleep hits, weirdly I haven't had that this year. I don't know if that's because I'm coping or I've just given up.

Hope you all manage some enjoyment, in whatever way you can over the next couple of days.
🎅 Merry Christmas 🎄

@IAmAMalenkyBitPoogly

Not a weak joke i was just trying to put things in persepctive for the OP Also nothing wrong with expressing sadness at all i just think practicing gratitude helps me at times like these, i'm having a flat Christmas too so far but realising how lucky i am cheers me up and I don't see it as pushing the bar low

The tears have started now I've spoken about it!!!!!

I hear you op, I really do.
My dsis has had long Covid since April - she's still struggling daily and not seen her since last October.
My dbro is in Thailand - he's been stuck there for months and is worried that his job will end (teaching English) due to no pupils.
My dparents shielding and haven't seen them since January.
All of them only live an hour away but we still can't see them, as both dh and I are teachers working with teenagers every day.
Yes, we're v lucky and have pressies, food, warmth and shelter, but I must admit I'm feeling a bit down.
I'll keep cheerful for the kids of course and seeing them open their pressies will make it worthwhile.

I’m so miserable stuck in can’t go passed the fucking door as I had lost sense of smell. Took test on Monday still waiting to hear if it is positive. I’m not unwell but I’m fucking bored, only 6 days left or sooner if the test people would hurry up! Bah fucking humbug! I think I shall just get pissed as there is fuck all else to do! And watch TV with the kids.

@Emmylou292 that is heartbreaking. I really feel for you - I am not religious but I will light candles with my Christmas lunch and will think of you and your DC and hope you see each other soon.

for you (and for anyone else missing their loved ones for whatever reasons)