A thread for those on their own

[Purplepuddle]

Hi Everyone 👋

I thought it'd be nice to have a thread for company for those, like me, on their own over Christmas.

A place with no patronising comments telling us to go for a nice bath or volunteer at a local soup kitchen, no-one saying they'd love some peace over Christmas (not quite the same when you're alone all year round).

Apologies if there are loads of these threads already, I've used Sarah Millicans twitter hashtag before and thought it was great to chat with some like minded people.

For me, I've had a nice December, enjoyed the Christmas markets, ice skating and a few meals out. No stress for tomorrow, no running around buying hundreds of pounds of food nobody Eil eat. I'm also lucky enough to have had a few invites tomorrow which does reduce the loneliness (I'm not going but it makes me feel a lot better knowing I've been thought of).

So hello to anyone on their own, whether you're struggling or quite happy it'd be lovely to hear from you xxx

(P.s as ppl seem to take offence to everything, I'm aware there will be those not alone but having a shit time. Not saying us loners have it worst)

I'm sorry to hear that @refuge123. Really hope things get sorted for you x

Hi everybody. My day has been alright. My neighbour invited me down for a drink so I decided to go and it was absolute chaos. Mounds of uneaten food and 2 rather ungrateful children 😂😂. It certainly helped rid that fear of missing out feeling! I stayed for about an hour, now back home with the cat.

I've been alone all day, had phone calls from the kids, texts from friends and watched Aladdin (fantastic if you haven't already seen it) and later Call The Midwife. I've been on a low cholesterol diet for what feels forever and have stuffed myself! Didn't actually enjoy the ice cream as much as I thought having dreamt of it for months.

I've decided to go away next Christmas. The best family Christmas we ever had was diving the reef in Australia in 2006. My late husband and the kids snorkelled and dived, I can't swim so I walked down under the water with weighted boots and an oxygen fed helmet. In December 2017 I took my young adult kids plus my son's girlfriend to volunteer at an elephant sanctuary, that was fantastic too.

I need to find an experience and go away next year, I'm not going to hide in the house again. We used to live in a remote house without neighbours but I'm now surrounded and people comment if my curtains open late. As my beloved dog died recently I still feel awkward going out for walk on my own. Big change needed for 2023.

Have a good Boxing Day!

@bloodywhitecat - wow, that’s an intriguingly good present for him with his limited sight - so pleased he loved it. Also, lovely to hear that he had some real Christmas dinner. You sound like an amazing mum and an amazing person. I obviously don’t know you, but sending you best wishes for the new year.

This has been a sad and lovely thread. Would be lovely if it continued for New Year’s Eve - I sometimes find that harder than Christmas.

@refuge123 - am so sorry you’re in this situation, cannot imagine the courage it takes to be there, so please know that you are strong even if you don’t feel it right now.

Am pretty sure that most people have taken comfort in chocolate at multiple points in their lives. I hope you ignored the toffee pennies, they’re an abomination!

Well we all survived.

Hope you all have a good new year, that jobs and permeant homes arrive. @bloodywhitecatSo glad your little one loves his present.

I hope this isn't too personal but are you considering sign language, not BSL but deaf/blind finger spelling? It's just you mentioned he is non verbal.

I'm using on-body signing for him alongside objects of reference at the moment at it definitely helps, he now understands when a top is coming over his head for example (I am signing 'ready' on his body) and it no longer makes him jump when I am dressing him.

Its boxing day, I've always had that boxing day melancholy. Back to the daily grind, no more festivity, people not as nice to each other once more. I find it generally bleak until around March then perk up with springtime. I get that many of you are glad we're past Christmas! Some posts on here are exhausting! People stressing out for weeks for a very underwhelming day, lots of disappointment yesterday for some.

Today will be spent watching TV with the cat and getting ready to go back to work tomorrow.

Thank you for answering.

I'm a BSL user and I'm quite passionate about sign languages, I know object of reference woks too.

One of my friends had a child who was non verbal but no reason for it, he wasn't deaf or developmentally delayed. The HV taught her a couple of signs as he was about the age to be toilet trained and the HV said you need to be able to communicate.

Once he had to ask for a drink in sign he decided it was easier to speak.

Communication is everything isn't it?