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Original poster

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:
SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 27/12/2023 12:47

I am on day 3 of entertaining.
Tomorrow taking relatives home (3 hrs each way). Friday meeting a friend in the morning, then pub in the evening.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday I am doing feck all.

specialsauce · 27/12/2023 12:49

I am totally shattered after weeks of cooking and hosting and drinking!

So today I am lounging and pottering, tmrw I'll be lounging and Fri - starting the weekend frivolities again. My son is a tween so he's happily chatting to friends on the Xbox

@Curlewwoohoo it sounds like you have several converging tricky situations so just take it easy and perhaps just give your daughter a giant bag of toffees and pile of comics to keep her occupied for a few hours? or similar if you know what I mean.

853ax · 27/12/2023 12:49

Nothing outside house. playing with and using new toys/presents/games, reading books, washing TV.
No need to know time, no pressure of appointments. Eating leftovers.
This 'down time' is what Christmas is all about for me. So busy and scheduled all year I love the break.
Saying that my in laws will come for a day or two and want to walk, plan ... But we just leave them to it. Looking like weather will be very bad.

MercuryRising · 27/12/2023 12:51

Generally I am always on the go so I love this time when there is little to do. We have had a lazy morning... DS have been gaming, teen DD has gone sale shopping and I have been doing a jigsaw I got for Christmas, we have a friend popping by this afternoon. It has been bliss. I think we will go swimming tomorrow...but I'm just planning lots more relaxed days until the 2nd when I will have to click back into planning mode ready for the beginning of the new term on the 4th.

eurochick · 27/12/2023 12:53

I love this time of the year!

This morning was making up my photo book of 2023 and my daughter was playing with some of her Christmas stuff. Later, we are all going to have a go on an indoor climbing wall. My daughter is scared of heights so we have said we will try it with her.

SideshowAuntSallyx · 27/12/2023 12:56

I was going to go to the gym but apparently everybody else had the same idea and it's almost as busy as it is in the evenings (I usually take a late lunch if I'm working and go when it's quiet so afternoon is my usual time). Keep checking to see if it's quietening down but it doesn't seem to be.

NooNakedJacuzziness · 27/12/2023 12:58

If I'd known how crap the weather was going to be I wouldn't have booked as much leave. Working tomorrow and quite pleased about it. Went for an hours walk this morning even though it's peeing down and windy otherwise I start getting cabin fever.

muddyford · 27/12/2023 13:00

It's not dead. It's resting. Lovely to have time to do nothing or something.

Cattenberg · 27/12/2023 13:02

Seeing friends, going to a Christmas lights trail and possibly going on a day trip to a local city. We also have panto tickets, but that’s not till mid-January.

SideshowAuntSallyx · 27/12/2023 13:04

NooNakedJacuzziness · 27/12/2023 12:58

If I'd known how crap the weather was going to be I wouldn't have booked as much leave. Working tomorrow and quite pleased about it. Went for an hours walk this morning even though it's peeing down and windy otherwise I start getting cabin fever.

Me too, I'm desperate to get outside but its peeing down here and cabin fever is starting to set in. I'm tempted to cancel my remaining holiday and just catch up on work whilst it's quiet. I've already had a quick look at emails and know there's a couple I could answer.

Lampzade · 27/12/2023 13:09

I am doing absolutely nothing

HelpMeGetThrough · 27/12/2023 13:28

Tesco Woosh has just delivered posh crisps (and bin bags) and OH has declared wine and crisps this afternoon. To be honest, I only had two drinks Christmas Day and not a lot of food and nothing yesterday, so I'll have that this afternoon.

I'll go for a shower then.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 27/12/2023 13:33

I've been sooo looking forward to the 27th December! It's the only thing that's kept me going. I was so, so tired on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. It's so lovely to have nothing to do for a few days.

Decafflatteplease · 27/12/2023 13:44

I love this "twixmas" time!

We've got swimming (have an annual pass so want to make the most of it)

Haircuts and trip to town at same time to spend Christmas book vouchers.

Decluttering, taking things to charity shop.

Soft play.

Afternoon at grandparents house

Bookist · 27/12/2023 14:06

Around here there's very much that middle class trope of 'must do something worthwhile every day' whether they enjoy it or not. But really why? Letting yourself rest and reflect can only be a good thing. If our DDs want to sleep in until lunch that's absolutely fine, I don't believe in enforced family jollity - nothing good ever really comes from that. We'll enjoy a lazy, family lunch today but this afternoon I simply plan to do my jigsaw and drink several cups of tea and eat shortbread. I suspect our DDs will be cosy and chilling in their bedrooms and DH will watch the original Star Wars trilogy (long standing tradition).

Resting is good for the soul x

Shergill15 · 27/12/2023 14:11

We're having a few lovely chilled out days at home - snacking, watching films, DD playing with her Christmas presents. We're usually scheduled to the minute between work/school/activities etc so it's really nice to have a few days with nothing we have to do/ nowhere we have to be.

That said, I expect cabin fever will set in so we're meeting up with friends on Friday - walk and lunch if weather tolerable, take DC's trampolining or similar if it's not. Then think we'll see Wonka and have a look round the shops on Saturday, DD has Christmas money burning a hole in her pocket!

HelpMeGetThrough · 27/12/2023 14:12

@Bookist sounds ideal!!

Our two were showered before us today. Eldest has changed his bed and hoovered his room (Uni has been good for something) and the youngest has taken crackers and cheese with him to go and hit the Xbox.

Goatymum · 27/12/2023 14:22

Adult DCs are revising/doing assignments for uni & their own thing generally. Both have poor MH so need downtime.
dh is working and I’m lazing about!
When DCs were young we often went away in this period, either in uk or Europe.
if not we’d see family & friends.
I’m happy to chill today & get some paperwork done. I could see if any friends want to meet but I truly cba after two days of socialising.

Goatymum · 27/12/2023 14:28

PamelaParis · 27/12/2023 10:02

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

i do work, but took these 3 days off - mainly cos it’s so quiet in work at this time I’d be more bored than at home! I’m just feeling lazy today after 2-3 days of cooking & clearing up (and being social!).

girlfriend44 · 27/12/2023 14:30

Does anyone ever relax. Do you have to be out and about all the time. Watch a good film.

stargirl1701 · 27/12/2023 14:36

This is Christmas, OP.

Watch a film
Play a board game
Complete a jigsaw puzzle
Read
Listen to music
Walk the dog
Nap on the sofa
DC play with toys
Craft
Write thank you letters
Mindful colouring
Take a long bath
Go ski-ing
Go sledging
Go ice-skating
Listen to an audiobook
Eat
Drink
DC instrument practise

And, plan for Twelfth Night celebrations!

LumiB · 27/12/2023 14:38

Well its my bday so ill be making the most of my day 🤪

inamarina · 27/12/2023 14:44

Malarandras · 27/12/2023 08:54

Dead zone? I love the days between Christmas and New Year! I get to do what I want, when I want as there are no expectations of me at all. It’s to rain constantly all week here so we will be spending lots of time indoors. I use this time to rest and recharge after a busy year. Sheer bliss.

Same here. I‘ve always liked the period between Christmas and New Year.
If the weather is okay, we might go out for a walk/ drive out into the countryside or to a neighboring town.
We might see some friends. Maybe do some baking.
Most of all it’s about relaxing though.

EllaPaella · 27/12/2023 14:51

Cinema today to see Wonka
Had a very intense Nerf gun battle today 🤣
Tomorrow weather permitting we will take the dog for a long walk up in Northumberland somewhere (we live at the coast so fancy the countryside for a change)
I have to work from home on Friday so DC will have to chill and entertain themselves.

EllaPaella · 27/12/2023 14:52

Yesterday we went indoor skiing at the snozone. Saturday we are off to visit family and friends for the new year. It's next week I'm more worries about!