Sacking off Christmas

[Cameroptera]

I don't think IABU to consider this, but maybe.
For the last few years I have joined in Christmas with extended family, I have no close family of my own. I have one adult son who I don't see at Christmas as he lives abroad, he usually visits after Christmas as the flights are cheaper.
This year I am just not arsed with the driving, the socialising and the whole shebang.
I'm considering doing Christmas on my own, and I'm planning my day already.
Get up late maybe after a cup of tea in bed with the cat.
Have a lovely indulgent brunch - fantastic coffee, eggs florentine or scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. Go for a peaceful walk in the woods with my wellies on with next doors dog borrowed for the purpose.
Back early afternoon as the daylight is waning, light the wood stove. Have a candle lit bath and change into new pyjamas.
Then downstairs to a cosy evening of buffet/ tapas nibbles, a few baileys or g&t and a select film or two and a spot of knitting if I feel like it. Add in a call with my son and a couple of family, a gift or two and that will be my day done.
I work really hard in a demanding job and I just fancy a cosy chill at Christmas to be honest, but maybe I'm being weird and antisocial?

Definitely leaning towards doing it now! Am just browsing for new pjs for my cosy Christmas

Sounds fabulous! So many people would live to do this, but don't have the guts to tell their family to F off. Sadly.

That sounds fabulous, enjoy it and have a lovely day! Could you buy yourself a couple of treats (maybe on Black Friday) and save them to use at Christmas? That's exactly what I would do except I'd probably wrap them up as well 😂

I have to admit I'm a teensy bit jealous!

Sounds heavenly - wishing you a Christmas Day that is perfect for you x

I've done this for the past 10 years. It started when I was supposed to be going to a big family thing but due to a falling out with another guest I decided not to go as I didn't want there to be an atmosphere for anyone.

It was lovely and peaceful and relaxing.

So I do it every year now. I'm an unsociable git all year round mind.

The hardest part of it is people are utterly horrified if you tell them so sometimes I lie and say Oh and I'm going to my sisters or something made up.

If I had kids I would make a big fuss for them but I don't so I think why put yourself through a bunch of stress for nothing. It's one bloody day and so commercial now anyway. When you step back from it all you can see so clearly how shops etc big it up just to get more money from us buying stuff that nobody needs.

Bah humbug.

Agree with pp that they will be envious!

Can I come!! Sounds class 🎅🎉

I would lie and say you are with friends, then you don't have to deal with fake sympathy or people pressuring you to join them.

I think people generally, are horrified if/when you tell them you are spending Christmas alone.
It flies in the face of all the commercialism and hype that surrounds us at this time of year.
In reality, it's just another day so, if you live alone usually, what's so horrific about spending a certain date on your own? - perfectly normal for many of us.
Enjoy your day OP.

I always loved Christmas when my son was a child, we'd do all the usual stuff and see the relatives and it was fun. As he got older we did some different Christmases, sometimes staying in holiday cottages and doing long walks, one year went to India which was a massive adventure. I do miss him at Christmas but he's visiting in January so I'm happy about that and really have no problem with being solitary at Christmas.
The whole commercialism and pressure around Christmas I find really distasteful.

@Silvertulips I didn't know these were a thing. All my grandchildren will be here for Christmas - I have just ordered some to make Christmas Eve special.. Thanks.

@Cameroptera hope you have the perfect Christmas Day and enjoy the January visit.

That's not sacking off Christmas, that's having the Christmas you want to have.

It's saddening when people feel they can't have the Christmas they want and feel obliged to do and buy a load of stuff they're not really interested in and don't have the energy or money for.

I've got two full weeks off work and if I get my way, I'm going to have at least 10 days like that.

A daily walk, crap TV, relaxed food, maybe a few quick looks in the shops first thing in the morning when it's quiet, to see if there are any food bargains to be had (last year I got quite a few things at 75-90% off, the kind of stuff that you see before Christmas and think 'that's nice but how fucking much' M&S seafood platters, that sort of thing).

I'll see friends and family for maybe 2/3 days and we might end up cooking a Christmas lunch for my lovely MIL (who's recovering from surgery, loves Christmas so will make herself ill trying to do it herself if no-one else like her useless DH steps up) which I'm happy to do, but apart from that, very little going on.

OP, i have 20 close family round for xmas dinner at mine, its sheer chaos and i love it.

BUT, your day sounds absolutely perfect and i wish you the best xmas day x

Why wouldn't you!⭐

Will the weather spoil your plans if it's raining for instance?

i dont do xmas not done it in years i go on holiday instead coming back in new year when its all over.
TBH i fucking hate xmas its all about who can out do who.

Sounds wonderful. One day, when the kids have grown up and left home. I want that image in reality.

Why would it? I don't think OP is going to dissolve if it rains.

You can lie to them. Say you’re having Xmas with your cousin Deb and her family. Then they’ll say “oh that’s nice” and you can move on.

@RhiWrites

For goodness sake - why on earth would she need to lie?

OP is having the sort of Christmas that she has chosen to have and that she knows will make her happy. There is nothing to "move on" from, and nothing to lie about.

My god, your Christmas Day sounds amazing, do it! Why wouldn't you?

So that people don’t bother her with well intended commiserations or suggestions that she could come to them for a drink.

Oooh I love a big loud family Christmas but this really does sound absolutely divine. You simply must do it op!

Experience tells me that some people won't let it go, and a quick lie saves you all the mind numbingly and endless tedious explanations as to why you will be fine and a Christmas on your own does not mean you are all alone for ever and ever.

OP that sounds like a lovely Christmas. I also use the red felt tip/RadioTimes combo.

And it doesn't seem so extravagant to spend a little extra on food for one so buy all those treats!

"I'm having Christmas by myself this year because that is what I would prefer to do" also covers it without needing to make up a lie.

"Would you like to come to us for a drink?"
"That's very kind, but no thank you - I prefer my own company at Christmas"

Again, perfectly polite and no lying involved.

Sorry if I sounded snippy at you specifically @RhiWrites , but making up lies seems to be the default response on a lot of threads when there is just no need for it.