Christmas Day for two

[MLMbotsgoaway]

So for the first time in my life ever, I think Christmas Day will just be me and DH.

I really love seeing my DPs and in-laws etc but for various (and obvious) reasons it’s just not going to happen this year.

I did look last week at going overseas but in light of what’s now happening tbis isn’t going to happen either.

I can’t quite bear the thought of doing Christmas “normally” but scaled down so thinking about how we could make it a totally different sort of day.

Aibu to ask for any bright ideas - whether it’s different food, a new routine etc.

[quote MLMbotsgoaway]@amusedbush can We join you as a bubble? Your food sounds wonderful![/quote]
Only if you don't mind watching me cook it in my pyjamas with a can of gin cocktail in my hand

Just us as well OP. We're throwing a fair wodge of cash at Waitrose and will dine like kings for the day. New dress for me and new shirt for DH, champagne, music, games, slowly getting sloshed and dancing.

@amusedbush I’ve already got my “special” Christmas loungewear lined up - I’ll bring some for you.

These suggestions are all making me feel a bit more excited so thanks everyone!

Indian takeaway from the day before is a great idea, don’t think I could get away with it here but it’s on the wish list.

I’ve booked a restaurant for two at lunch time (though obviously plans may have to change if they are shut). No cooking and more to the point, no cleaning up afterwards!

We lost MIL earlier this month and she always came fro Christmas - we were chaffing at the bit to do something different. The first Christmas me and OH had together we did chinese food and it was great, started about 11 and just kept doing a course when we felt hungry right up to around 8pm. He likes to hog the telly I am not bothered - rather be crafting, but we watched a film or two and then pottered around etc. This yr DD is 15 and likes the idea of chinese food from scratch (likes cooking) so I think we will probably have a ham roast on Christmas Eve and make some nice bread, potter about - have christmas eve boxes - we don't normally but like the idea of Books, bottle of something for us and Pjs, good hot chocolate etc. I would like to do a church service but not sure that will happen with things and its the carols I like, On the day itself we will likely have a "no alarm" day ie wake up when ready bucks fizz or OJ, coffee and croissant hot from oven, some gift opening and start food prep, lots of telly and eating and probably a game of scrabble at some point by a roaring log fire

We did this twice on in-between years before we had DCs. We still did church - but followed it with a walk along the seafront.

Once home, (and because we like proper turkey dinner) we cooked a small turkey and the trimmings we like. It was a very relaxed pace of cooking. We opened a bottle of wine and lit the fire, opening presents and having a carton of nice M&S party food as our starter while we lounged.

We had a nice dinner, proper cheeseboard with some port, and watched a movie later just curled up.

For us, that was bliss as our lives are always so hectic. (And when we see DPs/DPILs we have 2 turkey dinners on the day as neither DM respects the fact that it is supposed to be the turn of the other one this year...).

We usually have music going all day, turn on tv at some point for movie or light entertainment, also have the calls to make....so its a quieter but still nicely festive day.

This year we had been due to visit, but won’t now. So it will be just us 3 - DH, DD(14) and i. So it will be similar to above except for opening a stocking early in the morning and no church (as they won’t be doing mass even if they are open).

@RB68 so sorry to hear that. We lost MIL suddenly and unexpectedly (she was in her early sixties and fit as a fiddle) in December a few years ago now - that Christmas was absolutely horrendous.

Your planned day sounds lovely.

We get lots of lovely food in, still do a full Turkey dinner, have a selection of films we have been saving for Christmas, ready to watch and relax. For so many years I was running around, driving here there and everywhere and then in 2013 I took a step back and have thoroughly enjoyed a different, but relaxing Christmas since then. I think many people after this year , will change how they approach Christmas

I love Christmas Day, just DP and me. We did it last year as we just got sick of traipsing all the way around the country in 5 days, and for many reasons we were thinking the same again this year.

We'll get up late, coffee and a light breakfast. I might do a short jog so I've got a proper appetite for the feasting, then presents with a fizz. A zoom call with the family while we prep dinner - rolled turkey breast with apricot and chorizo stuffing, roast potatoes, savoy cabbage, maybe the dreaded brussels (he likes them, says it's not christmas without them ), nibble on a fridge full of M&S goodies, then maybe stick on a Christmas movie and wait for more food. Probably an evening chat to my sister later on after her little one has gone to bed. Leftovers, movies, baily's then bed.

This thread is making me feel really Christmassy!

I love it just the 2 of us as much as when all our children are with us. We share Xmas with our exes. I enjoy a hangover, huge breakfast, turkey dinner and reading and films all day. It's lovely

We are probably just going to extend what is our Christmas eve. Party food, movies, board games, card games, whatever we want to do really. I might bake some nice bread and cakes too if I can be bothered 🙂

We go for a car very on 23/24th then have sausage and mash on Christmas Day, it’s lovely and relaxed and we can play with the kids without stressing.

@Peachy1381 apricot and chorizo stuffing? Tell me more...

I’d love it to just be us. Mil always end up at ours (DH is an only child and she’s widowed, I despise the woman as there is a long back story but I wouldn’t see anyone alone). I have put my foot down that she isn’t staying over though.

@BashfulClam couldn’t you develop a “cough” a few days before

I'd do a long lie in, seafood platter with champagne for xmas dinner (possibly eaten while still wearing pyjamas), movie marathon and making proper cocktails in the evening while drunkenly playing board games.

Well, that's the plan for when the kids grow up!

Just embrace it as the Covid Christmas you never knew you wanted.

A simple lunch instead of battling for hours, treat yourself to M&S pre-prepared dishes. A lazier than normal day, pj’s until noon, a nice bath using new bubbles, lotions or whatever before you slide a few dishes into the oven.

Guilt free alcoholic drinks at breakfast, after all neither of you are driving. Obviously you wake up when you want, rather than having to get up and out for a set time.

Find a fun game for the two of you, clean up together, put your feet up and relax. FaceTime everyone then crack on with the Tia Maria in your morning coffee. Find joy in having no absolute plans but in taking things at your own pace.

That’s what DH and I planning. Our first every Christmas with just the two of us.

@MLMbotsgoaway that wouldn’t deter her. The back story and the fact she refuses to understand that covid is actually dangerously (out with her friends 4 times a week) means she’d just arrive anyway. She’ll miss that she has to wash her hands on arrival and before eating, that she will be told to cover her mouth if she coughs (has had a small cough for years -nothing wrong though), that
She isn’t staying over but going home at 10ish which means she misses nothing. Telling us she doesn’t eat much then eating a three course meal and wanting food an hour later, one year she just picked up the chocolates I had received from my friend and opened them 😮. She had the audacity to offer me one!

Love the ideas here! There will be 3 of us but keen to think about things that make it treaty rather than just another day at home together like the rest of lockdown.

There's going to be the 4 of us but there's usually 13. If we have to spend it alone, I'm showering and putting clean pjs on and spending the day in them.
Rather than a Turkey we'll have shellfish, scallops, lobsters, langoustines and some home made sushi.
I'll probably cry though and drown my sorrows with champagne or Prosecco 😁

Special Christmas lounge wear you say? Sounds good, where's it from? Do they do it in my size? 😂 Bloody hate getting dressed for xmas day

@ScouseQueen that’s the balance for me - more special than a usual weekend but not so much like my normal Christmas that I feel like crap.

It’s not that we do anything particularly ott usually it’s just that there are so many more of us. Also we visit family etc around it as well on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day etc.

DH and I did this for years.
Breakfast in bed.
Nice baths before a walk/pub if allowed.
We once even went for a drive down the beach, it was lovely.
Then we lit lots of candles, opened presents, drank lovely red wine and had fillets steaks for dinner.

@maddiemookins16mum a drive to the beach sounds lovely - might think about this for Boxing Day if allowed.