To ask what you’re missing about Christmas this year?

[TrialOfStyle]

I’ve really missed going into the city, seeing the lights, the Christmas market, grabbing a spot next to a space heater drinking mulled wine - and being with friends.

What about you?

Seeing family and the usual sense of Christmas excitement and peace.

It feels jumbled, absent, fearful and odd.

I really don't feel festive.

Seeing friends for pre-Christmas drinks/meals etc. Panto.

Could have managed all that but then a tier 4 Christmas arrived, the huge sense of disappointment on Saturday, and not spending time with my family (parents, sister etc). With the added joy of the last three months' in a school and not knowing what January will bring.

Not seeing friends and family.
No xmas parties.
No school parties and concerts.
No pub on xmas eve afternoon.
No bacon butties xmas morn with my lot.
No pantomimes.
No santa visit.
No winter weekend away with family.
Feels like next year isn't looking too great at the mo either.
Realising how much I have come to dislike my job and knowing changes have to happen asap.

Nothing. We always celebrate as a family of 4. It's been a nice excuse not to see people I'm meh about.

I miss taking DD to see the lights at the local National Trust property, taking her to see santa, DH and I going away for the weekend to do our shopping, seeing our family and friends.

I miss meeting my friends for a coffee that turns out to be a bottle of wine and a curry.

2020 blows.

My dad. He died in June.

Christmas markets
MIL being here (she was due to arrive yesterday for 5 nights, but was a flight away and can't come into Scotland from NI now).
Going out for a meal on our anniversary (29th). Thankful it's not last year as it was our 25th and we had a short foreign break that won't be happening this year!).

We do usually have Christmas as a nuclear family but we were going to spend Christmas with my mum - my dad died unexpectedly a couple of weeks ago and it was a shock. Due to covid we haven't have a service yet and it will be very small and subdued anyway

Sorry for rambling, my point was although technically not "missing" as it's not our norm, I am gutted that I won't be with my mum this Christmas, even though it's a relief to avoid any sibling drama.

And of course, I will be missing my dad.

Family, markets, light, Christmas choirs, school play/ nativity, shopping on the high street

Forgot to add the reason we've rearranged in case it's not obvious is because we are in the SE and tier 4. No way am I risking my mum getting ill.

Church cafe Christmas lunch.
Carol service.
Christmas eve at my brothers house and then a mad dash to catch the bus so I'm home in time for midnight Mass.
Christmas morning church.

Mainly Church!

My family. They all live abroad. It's shit. In normal years my mum would come and stay with us. Even if we wanted to risk it this year all flights in and out to their country from the UK are banned now.

My Mum and Dad.

Me mam

My mum.. she passed away in June 😢

Seeing my family is the key one. Would normally spend Boxing Day with my parents, sister, bil, little nephew, brother and his partner. This year - none of them as too far for a day trip.

Today should be my Nana's 93rd birthday. She died this summer. We would normally have been visiting her today to drop gifts off. It's a huge family and they'd be lots of us dropping in and out throughout the day.

Tomorrow I'd normally be visiting my other nana and grandad to drop gifts off, but my nana died in May (and grandad died last summer) so not doing that either.

We will have MIL for the duration, from tonight til about the 27th I think. My FIL died in April so it's her first Christmas without him. But we make it a good and a happy one regardless.

After family, then seeing friends:

Dinner out with friends on Christmas Day - we all normally go out for a curry, having dropped having a traditional lunch a few years back.
Dropping gifts off with other friends, maybe having the odd Christmas topple with them.

People are who I'm missing. The rest I'm not so bothered about.

I miss seeing my brother who is living in a tier 4 area so can't come.

Christmas in school with plays and carol concerts
Christingles
Not being able to phone my dad at midnight on Xmas eve

Taking my son to festive activities, Parties, seeing friends, going to pubs, seeing family, meals out, Xmas markets, shopping done in person without a mask, not worrying about new announcements, having less anxiety in general, feeling festive, I could go on 😞

Hugs

Panto, Christmas lights and being able to do my own shopping in store. My delivery had several items missing and I’m too scared to go hunting around the shops for replacements.

Big Christmas dinner and knees up with friends the week before.

My family (I'm in England, they're in Scotland)

Christmas eve in the pub.

The last Christmas with DHs much loved mum. ( I won’t refer to her as MIL as that goves off all sorts of bad vibes on here).

We had isolated for 14 days to have a few hours with her on xmas day and now even that cannot happen...

My DC.

They’re unable to travel down due to restrictions. Obviously I’m very glad that students are able to travel to their family homes, but really feel for my own young adult DC, and others, who will be celebrating in grotty flat shares without their loved ones.

Fingers crossed for a quick vaccine role out in the new year - I haven’t seen the DC since summer and miss them dreadfully.

My PILS coming for Xmas
Going round to friends for xmas drinks
Carol services
Listening to dd2 singing in the choir
Feeling happy without a permanent nagging sense of dread