Is anyone out there feeling remotely Christmassy?

[newlabelwriter]

Because I’m not at all, not even bah humbug, just nothing. Tree up, presents bought, films watched but just feels like going through the motions because of you know what. Even DC don’t seem that into it this year. All plans we had feel like they need to be or will be cancelled and feeling a bit doom and gloom. So, if you have managed to feel festive despite all of this would love to hear how. And yes I’m aware this should probably be in another section but I’m putting it here

I am really worried about covid, it is clearly going to be a shitshow and I am depressed that the government is too weak to do anything about it. Johnson has been appalling right thorugh and is even worse now.

On the Christmas front though - yes, quite Christmassy. I do love Christmas, we are all ready and I put up the decorations yesterday. I am going to hibernate for a fortnight and we will see where we are by New Year.

I just want to say to all who are finding it tough this year - I hear you

I’m not feeling it either. It’s not that I’ve over hyped or started too early (Covid outbreak at my school in November saw off any plans to get organised in advance).
Lights are up but haven’t finished last few inside decs and can’t find the motivation. Haven’t planned the veggie option for DH. Just not feeling it.
Watched our Infant nativity yesterday though and it was the first thing that ‘got me’.

I think once I’m off work that might help, DC are officially off from tomorrow (DS been home schooled this week due to lack of teachers) so I think that might help a bit. Finished wrapping now so that’s done. Meant to be having family this weekend but we’ll have to see on that one.

Genuinely feels nice to hear some of you are still able to enjoy things this year though 😊🎄

Noticed last night that our usually well decorated street has no Christmas lights this year.

Blimey, if you weren’t depressed before about Christmas I’m probably doing a good job of making you 😂

Also sorry to hear some of you are having a tough time. It’s utter bollocks isn’t it.

I usually love Christmas, but I'm not feeling it this year. I'm moving house tomorrow, so have no decorations up and everything feels stressful.
I'm a teacher, so this term is usually really Christmassy, but we're all so stressed and exhausted, each Christmas thing is just another task. It took me nights and nights to edit the bloody Christmas video that we're doing instead of a play. I have long covid, so I keep getting sick easily and now I have a chest infection. I'm just not in the mood at all.

I know this is not a cheerful thread but it has been a comforting thread as it reminds me that feeling a bit gloomy or worried is just a normal human reaction to where we are.

It inspired me to send some thank you emails to school and I am going to try to be extra nice to all my colleagues today, because I know some of them are feeling rubbish too.

I’m at about 2% on the festive charge bar. I feel like I need plugging in.

I’ve had thing after thing cancelled this week, and the general ‘tone’ around covid etc is just overwhelming and shit. A friend of mine has it at the moment; he’s not particularly ill but he’s fretting about it and not helping himself recover I think.

I’ve got a little baby nephew I’ve never actually met because of ‘restrictions’ and his mum’s wariness around things generally, and I’m not going to get to see him for Christmas now. Or possibly ever, it feels like.

On the upside — little wins — a client has bought me a bottle of 40-year-old port. An unexpected and really thoughtful, lovely and generous gift. At some point I’m going to enjoy a glass or two of that with an entire van load of cheese!

I wasn't feeling at all Christmassy (it's been a horrible year for many reasons) but I had the day off yesterday so took my 4 yo DC to a garden centre with a fantastic Christmas light show. The singing Santa had them rapt for around 20 minutes. We then chose a new Christmas tree decoration each and had some Christmas-themed fairy cakes and gingerbread.

After that, we made and decorated Christmas cards for family which we then posted. I didn't have the heart to tell DC that, based on last year's Royal Mail performance, it will be mid-Feb before they are received. DC is so excited about everything to do with Christmas - their advent calendar, Santa, our Christmas tree, the 'baby Jesus who got lost in the hay but the donkey found him' - and a little bit of it is wearing off on me.

Usually the last week of school is exciting and Christmassy but this year feels like a chore and everyone can't wait for school to finish. The threat of what is to come is ruining the festive feeling. Have felt quite low the last few days which isn't like me. Don't think the weather helps dark and gloomy, a bright sunny crisp day would be nice !!

No, I’m just not feeling it, been an incredible busy year, alongside a recent close family bereavement. Decs are up, tree etc, all presents bought and wrapped. But it just doesn’t feel like Christmas to me, just looking forward to the break to re-charge. I think the bereavement is the reason I feel so flat this year, and of course the constant and ongoing COVID news isn’t helping either.

No, it’s not. We all had bloody covid last year and was so looking forward to this year too.

Anyway I’m going to start trying to celebrate the small things and see if that helps. Now, where to start on that one…🤨

@Roselilly36

No, I’m just not feeling it, been an incredible busy year, alongside a recent close family bereavement. Decs are up, tree etc, all presents bought and wrapped. But it just doesn’t feel like Christmas to me, just looking forward to the break to re-charge. I think the bereavement is the reason I feel so flat this year, and of course the constant and ongoing COVID news isn’t helping either.

Sorry for your loss. 💐

Not feeling it either. Tree is up, presents mostly wrapped, have done some food shopping (although still have a fair bit to do). Christmas Day just feels like work and stress - spend most of it cooking and clearing up and trying to fit in family visits. Feels a bit pointless in the light of what's coming. Got booster on 23rd so might feel ill but obviously the booster is a priority.

7 hours until my school breaks up, which means about 10 hours until I finish work. Love the 2% charge concept @NightmareSlashDelightful describes exactly how I’m feeling.

Hang in there everyone, it may not be the Christmas we were planning, it may not have been the run-up we hoped for, but it is a tiny light shining in what feels like a very dark month. As Sir Terry Pratchett (RIP) once said; ‘Sometimes it is better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness’. Fake it til you make it!

Wales hasn’t cancelled Christmas visitors, so our family Christmas is on I’d be feeling very Christmassy if I’d had any sleep.

I’m on a 2% Christmas charge too.

Went into local town yesterday afternoon to discover there was free parking for a few hours in the car parks… Did a quick food shop, then headed home via the one way system.

Couldn’t understand why there were buskers and singers on most of the empty streets and pavements. It was most peculiar. Then realised it was the pre Christmas shopping event, and in normal circumstances the town and pavements would be heaving.

I've got that flat feeling that I had through the spring/ early summer before the restrictions eased in July.

School has been better for the DCs, but parents have played no part in it, so that's a lot of build up gone. No party at a relative's care home. Couldn't get a babysitter for DH's party. Some usual meet-ups just never occurred due to life.

We're short on weekends with the way advent fell into November and we have a birthday this weekend so that cuts out a chunk of time to plan festive things.

I have mask issues, so that cuts any joy out of carol services, santa's grottos or going into town so I'm avoiding. I'm having a break from my youth group after trying and failing to go to their off-site event and leaving very early on in a state of distress.

There's that uncertain feeling incase the children are off for 10 days constraining my life and thwarting all plans.

I've got my trees and decorations up and my neighbourhood looks lovely having gone for an early light-up approach. All houses on our road are lit, and the green looks delightful. But otherwise it's all the wife-work chores left and little fun. Plus not having had Christmas since 2019, it's hard to remember what I need now. I can't call December 2020 Christmas, it was devoid of everything that is meaningful and special- other than the DCs having presents.

In good news we've got some family catch ups after Christmas Day, a big improvement on last year where it was just another tedious day of lockdown with added tinsel, but that's still feeling rather remote.

I do hope your (and mine) Christmas plans work out. 🤞