Childfree Christmas plans

[LoobyDop]

Please note that this is a thread on the Childfree board, for non-parents to discuss their lives. It is a not an invitation for parents to provide judgment, or tell us about your family Christmas plans- you have the rest of the site for that.

So I’d love to hear about your beautiful and carefully themed decorations, plans for parties from sophisticated to messy, your own personal shopping wishlist, and itinerary for time off work that doesn’t need to involve end of life care or intercontinental travel.

Undecided here. My partner always has to work the morning of Christmas Day, last year we just did a quiet cosy one together. This year I’m considering a nature retreat in Costa Rica just before Christmas, then either going on to visit a single friend in the US and spending Christmas there, or coming back to volunteer at Crisis on Christmas Day if my application to do so is accepted. The only full day I’ll get to spend with my partner is Boxing Day as his job means the whole period is very busy for him. But we’re both very chilled and independent so it suits us!

The only full day I’ll get to spend with my partner is Boxing Day as his job means the whole period is very busy for him.

@TedMullins Is your DP Father Christmas?

Ok, @TheBoxontopofthewardrobe

Bit unnecessary.

Even now at 50, i still just go to my parents for xmas! (but now also take my partner).

We did xmas on our own once, it was weird. We went to cinema on xmas day (joys of London living) and had a meal out the next day.

And then we all had the Xmas of 2020 in lockdown but then everyone was on their own and we watched the tv with james Martin and Susannah and Piers and felt we were all in it (at home) together.

Sister with wife and nephew comes to parents every other year.

i like the company. Xmas just 2 of us feels no different to the rest of the year.

😂😂

@TedMullins Have you been to Costa Rica before? A nature retreat sounds amazing. We're hoping to go next year if you have any recommendations?

I want this to be true so, so badly,

Hahahaha! Rumbled. He is.

I haven’t no, it would be my first time there. I’d love to see some sloths

We (me and DH) go away every other year, usually somewhere freezing, and spend Christmas Day doing something random. Last year we spent the day on a boat whale watching, few years before that it was walking around central park and having a Chinese meal for lunch.
Started doing this when both our sisters started having dc and we were being pressured to focus our entire Christmas around travelling to see everyone.

This year we're at home and I think we're hosting my dm and my auntie as they would both be alone otherwise. Plus this year has been a tough one for my family so I'm looking forward to spending some time enjoying my decorated house and relaxing.

Pretty sure we'll see ILs Christmas Eve or Boxing Day.
Christmas Day we'll have a relaxed breakfast, DH will cook lunch and I'll lay the table. We'll host lunch then go and see my sister and her dc in the evening before home for a film, cheese board and whisky.
I'm really looking forward to it

Ooh someone else who has pork pie for Christmas breakfast! One of my favourite traditions!

I will be spending Christmas with the family but we're all adults. Plans are slightly up in the air as my sister doesn't know if she will be working or not.

I'll be up early and going with DH and grown up nephew to sort out the horses.

DH will have Christmas lunch with his parents, I will eat with mine and my sister, BiL and nephew. We'll meet up later for Christmas evening drinks.

One thing I've done in past years is place a few orders on Amazon, ebay, Etsy and the like, then chuck the unopened packages into a box. By the time Christmas rolls round, I've largely forgotten what's in there.

It makes for something to open. Books, spa products, craft supplies, little gadgets, maybe a scarf or jewelry, etc., vintage items, candles, stationery, printed T shirts, frames for photos, the possibilities go on.

Helps to be absent-minded and fun to get a few treats.

Commiserations.

I was invited to my friend's house last year and really felt I had to go since she'd been nice enough to invite me. She usually goes to her sister in law but last year she hosted instead.

This year I'm hoping to spend it on my own with the cats. I don't like Christmas anyway. I might go out for a curry which is what I did the year before last.

In the past few years I've volunteered, and been to Amsterdam a couple of times.

I love this idea!

Yes we love Christmas here. This year we are doing it slightly differently. DM is coming to us on Christmas Eve for pork pie, presents and Carols from King’s. Then we are all going to PIL on Christmas Day, after which we will drop DM home. The day will be spent eating FIL’s Christmas Dinner (the only meal he cooks all year) and playing games.

Boxing Day we have at home alone. We make a ham and roast potatoes and lie around watching films. Bliss.

I love that idea!

DM is coming to us on Christmas Eve for pork pie, presents and Carols from King’s.

I love Carols from Kings. Everything prepped and ready, flat clean, sherry (or a whisky) and a mince pie to hand and singing (well, talking to music) along.

Yes! That’s our marker for everything starting, too. Carols from Kings and a mince pie is the perfect kick off.

I am impressed by the number of others who have a pork pie time, too. I always buy ours intending to have it on Christmas Day evening, but it rarely makes it as far as Christmas Eve 😳

Not really. You completely ignored the premise of the thread, which was pretty clear. If loads of people did that, it would be ruined for the people it was created for.

I am always v v grateful that neither of us work in a place open over Christmas so the leave allocation isn't a 'thing'. We alternate travelling to see family with staying at home so this year we're off on our travels. My parents are getting a bit frail now so it'll be the 4 of us for Christmas lunch, followed by a walk (for us) and a snooze (for them), watching the King and then local cousins come round for daft games and a buffet dinner in the evening, which is fun. We see DH's side en route on Christmas Eve. We then see my DB & family on Boxing Day and head back after that.

When we're at home we start the day with a walk on the beach with the dog, and then back home to hot chocolate & Christmas baps (smoked salmon & mushrooms fried in butter and then piled into a white bap. Lush.). Then we do traditional turkey lunch early afternoon and then pick at posh food treats for the rest of the day while relaxing. Boxing Day I do a ham and the 6 day spiced beef with baked potatoes, so it's a bit meat-tastic, but I love cooking so don't mind. I also stock up on naice cheese, wine and other food treats and we graze around the main meals.

Like others, Christmas for me starts with Carols from Kings on Christmas Eve. I have all the lights off other than the tree lights, and DH lights the open fire. Those first few notes of 'Once in Royal David's City' coming through the radio, with the fire crackling and the lights twinkling really make it Christmas IMO.

I'm intrigued by pork pie breakfast. Is this a regional thing? I've never heard of it. I love a pork pie though and could definitely get behind the idea. Scrambled egg and smoked salmon for brekkie here.

Last Christmas I treated myself to the M&S beauty advent calendar and saved it for Christmas morning so I had lots of little treats to unbox for myself. Not keen on the contents in this year's one so looking for something else along those lines

LoobyDop · Today 17:51

MrsSkylerWhite · Today 12:25

Ok, @TheBoxontopofthewardrobe

Bit unnecessary.
**
Not really. You completely ignored the premise of the thread, which was pretty clear. If loads of people did that, it would be ruined for the people it was created for.”

Sorry. I read another poster saying they had adult children so thought it would be ok to post what my husband and I planned to do when we were “child free” next year, to go on a Northern Lights cruise, the two of us. Something we’ve wanted to do for over 30 years.

Apparently not, so I’ll butt out. (Still think the other poster was unnecessarily rude, though)

Have a wonderful Christmas, everyone 😃

You know, there really should be an 'order yourself surprise gifts' service. You could choose the general type of gift, set a budget and get sent surprises. Even if they were disappointing, at least you'd have the fun of opening them.

@musixa

I actually have pondered starting such a service! Do you think it would be viable?