Really quite sad, ds is going to be alone for Christmas.

[OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow]

Ok, he's a grown up,but still. He moved away a few years ago, shared house with friends. Had to work last year, but so did his housemates. Got stiffed on the rota this year too, but everyone else is either going home or has moved elsewhere. He may be working Christmas Day, but def before and Boxing Day, so can't come home (we live about two hours away) we can't go there as dh is only off Christmas Day. I know it's only one day, and first world problem, but oh, I do feel sorry for him. ☹️(And we'll miss him)

Can you Skype or FaceTime on the day? Or send him something nice to open that will make him feel involved and not alone.
My brother often works Christmas Day and we always send him something to open that reminds him of Christmas when we were kids. Good memories can get you through working when everyone you know isn’t.

A 4 hour round trip isn't impossible if you or he wants to do it........

I'm sorry but why can't he come to you, or you go to him if he's only 2 hours away? Because there's no public transport? Or some other reason?

Why is two hours travelling a problem

Yes- why can’t you meet? You to him, or him to you? Or meet half way? Still enough time to plan something

4 hours travel in a day is perfectly doable

Have you checked if he is actually bothered? He may be happy enough having a quiet day to himself without the hassle of travelling.

A 2 hour trip when he finishes work is more than doable. The roads will probably be really quiet when he's travelling. I'd think nothing of driving that after a shift

Meet somewhere half way... surely that could be an option?

Eh? Plenty of people commute two hours to work every day. If he's not working Christmas Day why would he not go to yours for lunch and drive home in the evening?

I agree that if he’s not working Christmas Day, and he must be able to find out soon, that if you want to be together then do it. The roads will be clear and it’s not the other side of the country.

You can't be that sad, if you're letting 2 hours of travel be your excuse to not see him!

Has he got Xmas day off?

2 hours, right? Not 2 days??

I don't know OP's exact circumstance but a flying visit may not work. My DD for example is also working Christmas Day and Boxing Day 7:15am-8.15pm so there isn't much time around those hours to make a visit worth doing. Luckily she has partner's family nearby so will go to them late Christmas Day and at least get fed. She has a few days off after that and isn't working NYE as in her hospital you do one or the other which seems to be fair.

Also maybe OP has other family nearby to consider, as we do.

He doesn't drive (for a good reason before anyone asks) we have a tiny car that only seats 4 and his other adult siblings are here too, so someone will miss out. (No, the drivers amongst them have one day off, so driving four hours (it's actually more like 5)isn't what they want to do)
I know, we will Skype, we'll try and get before then, if he's working it will be better, he won't be alone.

I'd send him a parcel of lots of nice little things to open on the day.

4 hours is not impossible but a fair amount of time to spend on the road, especially if that's the only day off. A lot of people prefer to relax on Xmas Day, I get that. But would it not be an option to go to his?

My dc are only little but I think I'd probably be quite happy to drive to see them on Xmas Day if they let me!

Oh I see, sorry, you can't visit him.

I'd be sad too - it is such a special family day (for us, anyway). I've been away and alone on Xmas Day, when I was 23 and living in Japan and my friends who hadn't gone away were working. It was actually fine - a bit weird opening presents on my own, but I had gifts and cards from lots of people, spoke to my parents on the phone, and felt very loved. It really is only one day.

If my brother was going to be alone for Christmas I would happily drive down Christmas Eve and pick him up and drive back Xmas day . Sharing return with mt dad or other sibling. No way would we leave our brother alone Christmas Day for the sake of a 4 hr drive - 2 of which would be with him as company.

Well if he's working he won't be alone, alone will he? He'll see someone.

Nit sure why everyone is pointing out it's only 2 hrs away. Since we have no idea how long his shift is it may be pointless. I'd just want a drink and a sit down after working especially if I'm in Boxing Day too. I wouldn't want my parents necessarily.

Celebrate Christmas together, on a different day, as they do in several other countries!

ds is in Australia for the second Christmas in a row. Last year he was with relatives, but this year is dependent on whether his housemates will be around.

I'm parcelling up a crate of goodies and consoling myself with the fact that while we will miss him he more than likely will find someone to spend a day on the beach with, and probably won't miss us at all.

Oh and thanks for the empathy btw. I AM fucking sad, I love having family about at christmas, it just isn't possible for him to be with us, and it's a fact of modern life. It doesn't diminish how I feel.