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.

That sucks, @SoRainbowRhythms. Are you ok? Will you be able to spend some time with people you want to be with?

I booked a flight to go and see my family (other end of the country) from the 28th - 31st so that's something. They're all working but it will be good to get away. All my friends are away with their families. Have to see his family tonight which will be torture.

Fridge stocked, Radio Times marked up. I need beers so hitting Waitrose when I've had my coffee, then a tidy up and put some lights up then chill until the carol service from Kings.

I've now been informed my sister, her DP and his DD and her DP will all be going to the pub while I am cooking! I don't mind missing this as I grew out of going to the pub on Christmas Day about 30 years ago, but I've visions of them not being back on time for when it's ready.

I’ve bought my lunch for tomorrow - Memphis style ribs, macaroni cheese, and red cabbage slaw!

Sorry to hear that @SoRainbowRhythms
Hope you get through this ok.

We have a movie time now so did The Terminal and now are on Dictator.
Just taking a break from the laughs for DH to make bit of chicken liver pate to go with drinks and my open faced sandwiches later.
Dinner at 6 on a dot (old habits die hard!). Not doing any presents this year, so Baby Jesus can rest tonight😂 Instead spending money on nice lamb tenderloin for bbq

So you’re not non-parents then?

I’m spending Christmas with the cats this year, raided Waitrose for food for all 3 of us, going to open my presents & then walk round to Mass in the morning & watch It’s a Wonderful Life in the afternoon. It’s years since I’ve been to Mass & I’ve never visited my local Catholic church, & I’ve never seen It’s a Wonderful Life so lots of novel experiences.

Then various celebrations with friends & family over the break.

I'm posting so I can find this thread to read later.

For us, for various reasons we never had kids and don't see family at Christmas. However we both love Christmas, the festive food, cheesy films, the tree and lights, we do stockings for breakfast in bed with tea/coffee on christmas morning. This year and last we have a single friend staying who also doesn't have children. It's all really heartwarming and gently paced and delicious.

My DH and I were due to visit my sisters and her family for Christmas but having painful back spasms so we are now staying at home. I'm quite relieved as it will be a lot more relaxed here and also quieter just us two.

Tomorrow we'll have a lazy morning Pandoro for breakfast 😋 bits for lunch and plenty of treats. Cheese, pate etc in the evening. We'll watch some films, play some games and go for a walk on the beach at some point.
@SoRainbowRhythms I hope you are OK.
@EmpressaurusOfCats sounds lovely great to do new things 😀

Cheers @Fofftwenty21, I hope the back spasms go away soon.

A happy Christmas and I hope, a brighter New Year to you, @SoRainbowRhythms

Our Christmas has started now all the jobs are done, and we are sitting down with fairy lights and candles only, listening to carols while tucking in to the chocolate log. I love this quiet day we have together before entertaining each set of parents over the next couple of days.

Crumbs on floor I can't sweep so I wouldn't sweep luck away and forgot to take bin out last night so have 2 binbags now I can't take out until 25th to not take out luck!
Foegot coin unde our dinner plates. We shall be not rich next year. Dang. 🙈
Lovely dinner, DH made glorious liver pate as well so we are reconsidering the bbq tomorrow because we have much food anyway!
Did our calls with families, just chilling. Lovely relaxing day with sweets, nice food and plenty of beer

Can I resurrect this lovely thread for Christmas 2024?
We have put up a small real tree and have a few lights, candles dotted around. And I made a door wreath with friends in a homemade crafty afternoon.
Me and my partner will catch up with family and in laws over Christmas and it should be fairly chilled.
We're having a slow cooked beef pie on Christmas day!

I love your tree! The reindeer is my favourite though.

Working and therefore feeling a bit sorry for myself!

We’re catering for our parents. But I love doing all the cooking on Christmas Eve. Just me, the roast and some sherry.

Bloody furious when i noticed you mentioned on another thread your parent colleaugue who called in "sick" last year is off this Christmas AGAIN

Every second day is volunteering at Crisis at Christmas shelter, so from 23rd until some time in early Jan. I live in annex at my
parent’s place, they will be dog sitting when I’m on shift, and keeping me well fed at times I’m not.

My siblings and multiple dogs will all drop in / stay at some point although not yet sorted who when, but no kids between any of us so lots good food (my Da is a fabulous cook), wine (for the others, I rarely drink as also on call for SAR) and just hanging out, with hopefully some decent weather for shared dog walks.

we no longer do presents as no one ever knows what to buy anyone, we all have enough stuff, and most of my siblings can afford to but what they want when they want, so that’s one less stress in the run up

Just me and DH, hosting my DB’s black lab while they go to his ILs. He (the dog) will get spoilt rotten and cuddled to within an inch of his life!

Same as usual for us, hosting my DPs on one day and my ILs the other. I love planning all the food and getting the room and table ready for everyone.

Our schedule for 23rd until 26th December as we're both off - no particular order apart from tree decorating:

Bottle of wine and putting our tree up on the 23rd - we like it late.

If weather is dry, coffee in a thermos and potter about tidying up the garden.

Movie marathon, I think it'll be Star Wars.

PlayStation marathon, we pick a coopetative game and binge it in a single sitting.

Go out for brunch.

Local walk around the canal, locks, and nature reserve.

Eat lots of panettone.

I'm SoRainbowRhythms from last year, and exh did indeed leave a few days into the new year so he's out the picture. Going home to Scotland to see mt parents for a few days but that's it. He sort of ruined Xmas for me!

Edit - sorry for being depressing!

I’m going to my father’s from Christmas Eve evening to the morning of the 27th, & my sister & BIL who live nearby, are hosting us & BIL’s mum on the day.

Our equivalent of secret Santa is that each person does a stocking for someone else with a £30 budget, & one of the highlights is always watching their dog open his presents. (Yes, I do mean that - he’s 8, the whole family adore him & he’s learned over the years how to remove wrapping paper).

All the pets exchange presents in our extended family so I’m taking him a toy from my cat.

@CleanShirt, if it helps - I ended up dreading Christmas near the end of my relationship, but things gradually got better afterwards.