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

Filling the dead zone between Christmas and New Year?

139 replies

Curlewwoohoo · 27/12/2023 08:42

How are you filling the dead zone between Christmas and New Year? We have no plans and no ideas... Weather forecast looks dire. Kids are 6 & 9. Today will be board games. I might book a swim later in the week if the pool is open. And then....?

OP posts:
christmaspawpaws · 27/12/2023 11:33

Working. We can only have 1 person off anyway and I used up all my leave on hospital appointments and blood tests etc annoyingly

Curlewwoohoo · 27/12/2023 11:34

My work is closed. I've done some tidying. Dd is crying about nothing. I'm about to walk to the vets in the rain to pick up cat drugs, so she'll have to come out in the rain!

OP posts:
Bippitybobbityboing · 27/12/2023 11:36

I think ds needs to rest.
We have a friend visiting today.
Touristy-type day out on NYE but nothing planned for the 3 days in between.
We have:
Swimming, climbing, inflatable place, gym, park, cinema, baking, brunch/lunch out, board games, crafts and homework to choose from if he gets board but I'm going to leave those 3 days unstructured until I actually hear those words.

margotrose · 27/12/2023 11:39

As little as possible! I saw friends on Christmas Eve, then Christmas Day was just DH and I - we had a dog walk, cooked dinner and watched Christmas films, then I went to see my parents for our annual Boxing Day lunch yesterday while DH saw his folks.

We had a lie in this morning, followed by bacon sandwiches and now we're just enjoying the peace and downtime and the lack of expectations. If the weather improves at the weekend I'll meet a friend with the dogs before going back to work on Tuesday.

TwigTheWonderKid · 27/12/2023 11:39

I love this time of year. Hunkering down with cheese and a good book and no pressure to go anywhere or do anything.

Abidingailurophile · 27/12/2023 11:39

Chilling chilling and more chilling.

Curlewwoohoo · 27/12/2023 11:43

I've hurt my back and the dog is ill (as well as the cat) so usual runs and walks are off the menu unfortunately.

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 27/12/2023 11:47

My two are 6 and 3. They're full of physical energy and the weather is awful so we've taken them to a bouncy castle place today, it's huge and great for them to burn off energy.

Tomorrow we're seeing family and will have more time in the car.

Over the long weekend we'll probably go out to parks when the weather's OK, might take them swimming one day. Oh and we're taking them to a Christmas show (not panto) on the 31st in the afternoon.

We do try and take them out to do something physical every day but they also need down time at home and so do we!

Hibernatalie · 27/12/2023 11:51

We're going ice skating on NYE. Probably a walk and lunch out with my parents on NYD. Maybe shopping centre on one of the days as the kids have a bit of Christmas money. Possibly cinema? Kids are going to grandparents for the day on Friday so we can put our wreck of a house back together!

Malbecfan · 27/12/2023 11:55

Not sure if it's your thing but Big Jet TV is streaming live from Heathrow - he went viral during Storm Eunice. Just seen a very dodgy landing from an American B777 (scroll back to 11:40)

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wck8FbYmD_w

Nissenasse · 27/12/2023 12:03

Today we’re going to Homebase to buy paint sample pots to decorate DS4’s dolls house and some plants for my outdoor flower basket which has seen better days. So we’ll be spending the afternoon doing that mostly.

KnickerlessParsons · 27/12/2023 12:05

This made me laugh

Filling the dead zone between Christmas and New Year?
blackheartsgirl · 27/12/2023 12:10

Christmasconcerts · 27/12/2023 10:35

What a nasty, needlessly acerbic response.

I have a thing called a job too. Our shutdown is over Christmas and I’m going to bloody enjoy it!
I don’t go back until the 3rd Jan.

Bookist · 27/12/2023 12:11

I love the days of Twixmas when you're not entirely sure what day it is. It's a time of long lie ins because you stayed up very late reading or watching films. I'm enjoying using all my new lotions and potions and finishing off all the delicious food and snacks. Today our DDs have popped into town to browse the sales and we're meeting them later for a lazy lunch. Tomorrow we're meeting our oldest friends for dinner while our DDs are out with friends.

I love that we get to live life at a slower pace during Twixmas, I really see it as a time to properly rest and look after yourself.

Tinseltomato · 27/12/2023 12:14

blackheartsgirl · 27/12/2023 12:10

I have a thing called a job too. Our shutdown is over Christmas and I’m going to bloody enjoy it!
I don’t go back until the 3rd Jan.

Yeah I reckon a lot of us have those. I'd say lots of people take leave at this time of year as they have kids, work closes down or is quite or (like me) just can't get motivated for a few days between Christmas and new year.

But I also reckon the original arsey poster knows this and just wanted to get one in.

lapsedbookworm · 27/12/2023 12:18

Baking - we are making mince pies today and will make gingerbread houses later in the week. But a cheap and easy activity is to buy plain biscuits from the shop and decorate them

Colouring /painting etc

Board games /escape room games . I always buy a new one for Christmas for this reason

Tidying

Watching films /reading books

We do also have a trip to the panto and am ice skating trip planned, to break it up a bit

bloatedbobby · 27/12/2023 12:18

I love that we get to live life at a slower pace during Twixmas, I really see it as a time to properly rest and look after yourself.

yes it’s acceptable to lounge & slow down at this time.

OwlWeiwei · 27/12/2023 12:21

Family visits
Friends coming over
Reading
Watching films
Walks when the rain holds off.

If DC were young it would also be: playing with new toys, panto etc

lapsedbookworm · 27/12/2023 12:26

PamelaParis · 27/12/2023 10:02

I have this thing called a job, it's marvellous for filling time on those long, empty weekdays.

My children have a thing called school holidays. Strangely that means I need to take time off work at this point in the year

blackheartsgirl · 27/12/2023 12:27

Tinseltomato · 27/12/2023 12:14

Yeah I reckon a lot of us have those. I'd say lots of people take leave at this time of year as they have kids, work closes down or is quite or (like me) just can't get motivated for a few days between Christmas and new year.

But I also reckon the original arsey poster knows this and just wanted to get one in.

I did mean to quote the original poster.

I hated the tone of that post, so nasty.

i buried my mum just before Christmas, I’m a lone parent, Christmas has been hell and I’ve also been ill. I’m looking forward to just sleeping and chilling

ForTonightGodisaDJ · 27/12/2023 12:35

You mean the best time of year?

HelpMeGetThrough · 27/12/2023 12:36

But I also reckon the original arsey poster knows this and just wanted to get one in.

Generally someone who has "such a big important job" they can't ever take one second of leave, as the world will end.

Dianalouise · 27/12/2023 12:37

My kids have been keeping themselves entertained doing their Christmas Lego kits and reading their new books. I’ve got classic fm on the background, constant tea refills and reading a book I got for Christmas. It’s miserable outside and I don’t need to be anywhere or do anything. This is my favourite time of the year!

Goldenphoenix · 27/12/2023 12:42

We'll be doing as little as possible! Love this time of year when we just lay about in PJ's watching films, eating loads, reading, playing board games. My kids are 11 and nearly 8 and love a pj day broken up with same baking and board games, was much harder when they were younger.

Will do a family dog walk to woods, cinema to see Wonka and maybe swimming if and when we get bored!

NearlyMonday · 27/12/2023 12:44

Curlewwoohoo · 27/12/2023 11:34

My work is closed. I've done some tidying. Dd is crying about nothing. I'm about to walk to the vets in the rain to pick up cat drugs, so she'll have to come out in the rain!

Edited

You are walking your cat to the vets?? Are you sure she’s not a dog?!