Alone at Christmas... How do I make it fun?

[AverageGayLadAtChristmas]

I'm going to be alone at Christmas, uni student so not much money, just me in my flat

How do I make this fun???

I can't drink so can't even get sloshed

I'm already stocking up on Christmas Yankee Candles!

Sign up to a care agency and work a couple of shifts? They're sometimes desperate for staff over Christmas and new year. Could be nursing homes or people living at home who need someone 24/7 'just in case' so not heavy work.

I do this over new year so I've got an excuse ready - I hate crowds and parties.

I know I don't need to send anything but I would like to. Every-one deserves to receive a gift regardless of circumstances.
Any-way have a think about it and drop me a pm if you feel comfortable enough.

Unfortunately diamonds, gold and opals have all run out , none left at all in Australia.

AGL, sorry to hear this. I very much enjoy your smart and funny posts. Now if you wish to drive, ride, fly your sleigh to the US you are welcome to join my neurotic, confused part Jewish, part Christian, somewhat Wiccan family for our family celebration. There are guaranteed to be tears and perhaps a fist fight. Ps..I will point out anyone who I suspect might have voted for Trump.

Bath At this rate I'll have to do a world tour! and thankyou, I didn't think many people saw my posts

All of these suggestions for xmas day alone sound blissful. I'll be at MILs with 15 other adults and 5 children under 4 in a tiny house so no one has room to sit down

Posted too soon! I'd love the day to myself mooching around eating crap all day and watching what I want instead of Nick Jr. On constant repeat

Itsallabout

Damn. Lamingtons? Don't tell me Oz has run out of lamingtons.

I was alone last Christmas as I have no kids, DP went to his mum's and my family was away.

I had a great day.

I went mountain biking at a local trail centre which I had completely to myself, then came back, had a long soak in the tub and ate Milk Tray and watched French films in my pyjamas.

So nothing particularly Christmassy but who cares? I enjoyed it!

Moving out to be alone next Friday!

Average. Get yourself a lovely big tin of Quality Street or Roses to look forward to with Dr Who. I also second the recommendation about volunteering at at homeless shelter. There is always a brilliant atmosphere and you will really enjoy it I promise.

Also could you try your Students Union to put you in contact with other students spending Christmas alone?

lol i remember one Christmas my sister was away for Christmas at a university in boston america.She could not come home so my mother sent me her teenage sister at the time to spend Christmas with her.Maybe theres a relative that could travel up to see you

Students union seems really intimidating I will try though!

Where/with whom do you usually spend Christmas with Average?

The children's home that I move out of on Friday

Ah don't think of the SU as intimidating they are there to help and advise (I work in HE). Can you get in touch with your welfare officer tomorrow? Or perhaps speak to someone in clubs and societies?

Average if I were you, I'd stock up on all those little things that make you feel good at Christmas. Make a list and work towards it. Start forming some traditions for yourself.

Personally, I love putting up my tree and decorating the house at the beginning of December. It makes me feel so happy and I've spent many an hour just sitting and staring at all the twinkly lights with a mug of hot chocolate. It sounds silly, but it gives me the warm fuzzies every year.

Are there any Christmas markets or a town light switch on happening near you? You don't have to go with anyone if you don't want to, just get yourself wrapped up and go soak up the atmosphere. I usually abandon DD to the rides and enjoy an hour snooping around all the stalls by myself - always loads of good food available.

I spend the whole of December listening to Christmas songs and watching Christmas movies. On Christmas day I scoff about 1000 pigs in blankets and on Christmas Eve I treat myself to new jammies and fluffy bed socks - I wrap them up...to myself...every year But these are the daft wee things that make Christmas enjoyable to me, so I keep doing them

Are you at all religious? I'm not particularly, but Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve can be wonderful. Is there a local charity you could get involved with that would mean collecting/sorting/delivering toys for disadvantaged children? We bought and then donated some toys to one of our local churches last year - some went to children spending time in the local hospital over the festive period, and the rest went out to children in the community whose families were struggling financially. DD and I spent hours painstakingly wrapping everything up with the biggest, most ridiculous sized bows we could find for the wee ones

Vino I was thinking of giving myself £50 to spend in M&S

I don't know if there's a light switch but I'd certainly go :)

I always listen to Christmas songs all through the year December!

Get a book and a box set that you really want and then save them until Christmas. Download all 27 episodes of Cabin Pressure (a hilarious Radio 4 comedy programme written by John Finnemore and with a fab cast) and start listening to them on Christmas morning while you prepare food. Buy tiny treats for yourself over the next three months and make yourself a Christmas stocking for the morning - always the best bit of Christmas!

to cook
Duck. Not a breast but a whole duck. The most ham-fisted moron can cook it well.
Get a frozen one from Lidl/Aldi for £6 and you just can't go wrong. Let it thaw for a couple of days in the fridge, remove the giblets and discard, then take kitchen towel and press the skin firmly all over to get all the moisture out of it. Then take plenty of salt (table salt, not the big fancy crystals - coverage is the important thing) and rub it into the skin and cook the bugger at about 150 to 160C for three or so hours. If the worst comes to the worst it will go crispy, which is no bad thing. Don't fanny about with kitchen foil - there's no need as long as you keep the heat low. Make sure you have a deep dish to catch the fat or you may have to drain a couple of times.

Do this at about 11am then go out walking. Walking on Christmas morning is brilliant. There are very few people about - so avoiding your anxiety issues - and those that are are invariably friendly. It's also great fun sneaking around while everyone else is busy and you can look in at lots of windows to see how they are getting on!

Get back at 1pm and make yourself a salad to go with the duck. Try to make your own dressing - that's something to experiment with between now and then. It's very satisfying. When the bird is ready, cut it into quarters using kitchen scissors - after three plus hours, the bones will be soft enough - and have a tasty and healthy meal with a glass of Shloer.

Christmas Day by yourself is brilliant. You can do exactly as you please, do nothing for no-one, go to bed early with a book or a magazine when you want.

I loved the one christmas I've ever had alone (I'm from a big family) - I had pate and smoked salmon and melba toasts, and fizzy wine, and I watched whatever I wanted.

It was FANTASTIC.

It wasn't alone, but with husband. But my favourite Christmas so far was the one just before first child was born. I was so fat and family all overseas that we said we weren't travelling and so stayed home just us two. I ate a whole box of mince pies in bed and waddled around Hyde park which was arranging empty.

I'm very tempted to do it again this year. Except I now have two children who will no doubt eat half the mince pies and leave a bazillion crumbs in the bed!!

• strangely empty

I have crippling social anxiety too and have spent Christmas alone. Only once though. I helped serve dinner at the local care home and stayed for a few hours. I then read, idled, mooched and ate mince pies. I sat beside my twinkly tree and watched Dr Who in glorious peace.

My DH will be in Afghanistan this Christmas so just me and the children. I'll likely be on MN so we can have a virtual Christmas. After Dr Who though. No chatter during that.

Nobody may talk during Doctor Who.