Christmas for two adults who are not keen on Christmas

[Lottapianos]

It's just going to be me and DP for Christmas. Not visiting family this year which is an almighty relief. However, we were supposed to be in our new house by Christmas and for many reasons, that is not going to happen, so we're feeling very sad and a bit stuck

Please give us some suggestions for what to do. We live in East London and have a car. Nothing Christmassy like go and look at the lights or whatever because we're a real pair of Grinches We are taking time off between Christmas and New Year because we will be exhausted and need a break from work, just need some ideas for stuff to do, either at home or outdoors. Thanks!

A walk somewhere. You could take tea/coffee with you.

Get some nice food in, chill at home.

I think in your circumstances I might go abroad for a few days. Is that a possibility, or is all the money tied up in buying the new house?

A nice long, bracing walk along Southend seafront while it's still daylight. Then go home for a lovely non-Christmassy supper.

If you are going to be at home, though, I'd just forget about Christmas and treat it as a welcome break from work at what can be a very dark and dismal time of the year. Get some nice food and drink in, go to town on cooking if you want to, otherwise go for simple stuff that you can just heat up or graze on straight from the fridge, get takeaways, eat out, whatever you want and can afford. Read, sleep, listen to music, catch up with radio programmes, watch box sets on TV. Go to the cinema or the theatre. Weather permitting, go for a walk. Explore the City of London when it's quiet. London's parks are wonderful places to walk. Hampstead Heath is probably my favourite, closely followed by Greenwich Park. You could spend time in the art galleries and museums. Sir John Soane's House is marvellous. If the Geffrye Museum is open again, that can't be too far from you.

We would go abroad definitely.

'If you are going to be at home, though, I'd just forget about Christmas and treat it as a welcome break from work at what can be a very dark and dismal time of the year'

Yes, that's my kind of thinking.

We wouldn't go away, too late to book anything now anyway and are just about to pay solicitor £3,500 for a sale (and purchase) that has fallen through. That would have bought us a hell of a holiday!

What a bummer. I don't want to wish ill fortune on somebody who had a good reason for pulling out of the sale/purchase this late on (might be you, after all) but if it was capricious just say the word and I will think nasty thoughts about them.

Please go full steam ahead with the nasty thoughts Bittermints! There was no good reason, just a flimsy excuse that didn't even make sense. We were literally days from exchange. We reckon he just found somewhere else. He has already been called every name under the sun in this house , so please feel free to join in x

OK, full beam. I have a friend who's been trying to sell her house and move for well over a year now and she's been messed around a lot too. Dreadful behaviour.