To ask you about your quiet Christmasses....

[freshstartfor2024]

If you haven't got a big family, friends, unable to easily socialise or get to gatherings, what lovely cosy things have you got planned over the festive period to look after yourself?

Arts, crafts, films, walks, favourite foods, special hobbies you haven't had time for...

I'm hoping we can start a threat to keep each other inspired and comforted.

(p.s. sorry my phone won't let me take the poll away)

I'll start....I want to buy some special little mini oval cream cheeses with herbs on which you only get at Christmas and enjoy them. They're usually in a green or red package if you know what I'm talking about with. They were my favourite as a child. I might even get some capers to enjoy with them.

We are just two and always have been. We love to hunkerdown with lovely food and drink and a movie. We are already off so it's been Christmas movies everyday. Tomorrow I am off to my last Christmas Party and then that will be it until Jan 6th. Just ordered us fresh pyjamas for Christmas Day. We don't do presents it's just snuggling up together that is so lovely

Ah that sounds so wonderful :) I hope you get many cosy days this festive period :)

I'm tempted to get some Christmas PJ's now for the week...

Our (likely to be incredibly stressful and expensive) week away for Christmas was cancelled, thank goodness - so after some present distributing across the family this weekend, we have the entire holiday to ourselves.

We plan on lazy mornings, long dog walks, lovely food and Christmas movies in front of the fire; a few drives out to visit parts of the local AONB that we've never seen and have coffee, and I've just started teaching myself needle felting so I might start a new project.

DH will probably tinker in his garage with hobby car and motorbike and do man-stuff.

Can't wait, I love a quiet Christmas.

We’re having “all” the food (for 2 not a turkey in sight) on 23rd and 24th and driving to the beach with croissants and a flask of hot chocolate on 25th ,weather permitting. Just us and lots of leftovers for lunch and dinner, no timings, no pressure but lots of nice wine 😊

Just us 2 and the dogs, 2 weeks off work. Will meet up with family once or twice, but mostly will be on our own. Christmas Day will be a dog walk, home and into PJs, watch films and TV all day. Get a bit pissed. Eat our dinner when we feel like it. Lots of sleeping planned after a busy couple of months. Can't wait to be anti social and stay indoors.

I get myself a jigsaw each year and spend the day completing it, while DH cooks dinner.
DCs are adults, and work in hospitality and theatre so usually can't get any time off over Christmas, so we celebrate as a family a bit before or after.

Are you anywhere near a beach? Love a bracing winter beach walk. Mu ideal would be holed to at home with all the books I have tried to read all year.

My DH and I are having a quiet, chill Christmas Day, loads of tasty food and loads of films and tv series to watch. Just bought a Hotel Chocolat Velvitiser and the drinks are gorgeous, we have a few selections to try and will enjoy them in front of the fire. Nothing will entice us out, can't wait. Have a lovely Christmas yourself.

We live (sometimes, holidays periods mainly) in Norway as DH is from there, so Christmas Eve will be the big family day. The week in between we just absolutely relax.

Presents Christmas morning, pj day aside from walking the dogs. Buffet for dinner, really relaxed with boardgames and playing with toys. Slow and steady, no telly. DCs pass out early usually, then me and DH open the wine and snuggle down to chat and always save one special present to open when the kids are in bed. Make a cheeseboard and have a dance together.

In the meantime (and before, really) lots of crafts; making decorations, collages, calenders for the New Year. Baking, cooking, Christmas music. We visit the markets quite a bit and go for long walks with flasks of tea (have been known to maybe carry a mulled wine on occasion...). We might find a nice cafe or a quiet pub for the odd meal out, but nothing extravagant. Decorate for NYE! Choose some nice clothes and plan the menu.

3 for 2 at Tesco x

Following for lovely ideas!

I think the food you can't remember the name of is appeteasers OP :)

What a lovely thread!

Ahhh these are lovely everyone. I love the thought of collaging before Christmas, ready for the new year.

Norway must be one of the cosiest places to be at Christmas!

Ahhh yes I just googled and they ARE called Appeteasers!

Might have to grab some next time I'm in Tesco, but they'll be eaten in an afternoon 😂

Haven't done anything very cosy yet, as been rushing around trying to tidy up and avoiding finishing off some flat pack furniture, but hoping to do some crafting or something nice this week.

We are just two & have booked a cottage by the sea for Christmas week. It will be lots of bracing walks & pub lunches. Evenings will be board games & films. We’ll mostly eat out or get takeaways apart from Christmas Day & Boxing Day when we’ll cook. I can’t wait & just hope the rain stays away.

Normally we have some family to stat for christmas but this year it is just DH and I plus 3 teens age 14-18.
The boys and DH are delighted, me and DD not so much - we like having people over and the social aspect of it.

We will do a relaxed morning of present opening once everyone gets up and I will cook the xmas lunch inbetween glasses of something.

We will then play some boardgames, watch some xmas specials on TV etc. Boxing day will be a big cheeseboard with more board games, xmas films and lots of chocolate and baileys!