If you're not doing Christmas, tell me what you're doing

[HangingOver]

For those of us who, by choice or not, aren't really doing Xmas this year...what will you do on the day itself? I need a company thread with other who are not doing anything special.

I will take my dogs to the beach same as every year, chat to the many other people who are there, and enjoy the fact there is nowhere else I need to be.
Home to eat goodies from M&S and watch a film.
In the evening I will drink a cocktail in the bath with the new bath products I've treated myself to, while listening to an audiobook.

It will be a rare, completely self indulgent day and I can't wait.

That sounds really nice. What sort of dogs?

In years gone by I've used the fact that the rest of the family who do celebrate Christmas are elsewhere, and used the opportunity of an empty house to paint, decorate or do DIY

I'm not sure what I'm doing. I'll be by myself. I normally struggle on Christmas day. I want to try and go for a run then maybe a long walk later on. I'm even going out on Christmas eve to buy walking boots so I force myself out of bed.
What is your plan @HangingOver ?

I choose not to do it and my DS.DiL are working this year.
I like to have a nice long walk on a beach, I have a few to choose from within half an hours drive, then back home in my PJs, watch tv, eat what I want and cuddle the cats, will chat to my siblings on the phone and DS/DiL when they get home.
I love it.

hanging over

Two elderly but very lively Shih Tzus

Well ... I know this probably sounds a bit rubbish but I was actually thinking of going to the gym! I never get to spend very long in the gym because I work so much and I've been injured so haven't been in ages. Then maybe me and DP will make enormous sandwiches and go and park in the beach carpark and eat them watching the waves.

Little bump for any other low key Christmasers x

I'm not going to be able to join you this year but can I just say all of your plans sound absolutely delightful.
I'm tired of the stress and drama each year. I'd love nothing other than to walk a dog on a beach, cuddle the cats, keep my fancy snacks to myself and pamper myself.

I hope you all have a wonderful day x

Is the gym not shut?

A picnic in someone's house

I hate Christmas and have done for decades.

This year, we moved to France so are already quite spent up, so our present to ourselves is a smashing new all singing all dancing mower.

So we will mow. Normal breakfast, cheese toasties for lunch and a veggie roast for dinner. Gardening in the day.

I used to prune the hawthorn at the allotment on Christmas day when nobody was around, so I'll prune back some trees and bushes.

There isn't the madness over here that you get back in the UK. Very subtle town decorations. No lights or blow up santas. No queues in supermarkets. No aisles of tat. It's lovely.

My OH is isolating anyway as he had to come back to the UK last week and so we are trying not to go out anyway. So I'll go out maybe Monday to refresh the milk. Apart from that we won't leave the house.

Is the gym not shut?

Nope. It's part of a fancy hotel near me so it's open every day.

I've just turned a cubic meter of compost OP if that helps. It's worn me out so sitting down for the afternoon now.

Actually I'm enjoying myself. DF gives me a £200 JL voucher each year so yesterday spent a hefty portion of it on fancy snacks I could never usually afford!

We are isolating so not much happening. Woke up at 11.30am (have teens so easy to sleep late!), had shower and opened presents. Made smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for a 1pm breakfast and we are all now watching Die Hard. Pretty good day really

Neonatal unit with my premature daughter

I've rediscovered th joy of pineapple and cream cheese sandwiches and thankfully there's no one here to judge me

I’ve come for a long walk to a little place that is open and selling hot chocolate. Christmas Day solo is a skill I have developed over the years. I do now saviour the calm rather than interpreting it as boring. I feel a sense of strength that I can feel the value in what I have rather than yearn for what should be.

@Shedmistress - that is an enlightening observation of manner Christmas is observed. Tempted to move there too.

Is that pineapple and cream cheese together in a sandwich????

I guess you can get cottage cheese with pineapple in it can’t you, that’s a thing.

We live in rural France, very peaceful. I am cooking a turkey breast but that's about it .We dont exchange gifts , have spoken to our sons who live in the uk .Tomorrow is a regular Sunday here so will go for a walk around the lake and a cafe creme in a local bar

@HangingOver

I've rediscovered th joy of pineapple and cream cheese sandwiches and thankfully there's no one here to judge me

Oh good lord lol enjoy x

I am just hanging out in bed. DH and I went to a pub last night and had the 'festive menu'; neither of us like turkey so I had the salmon and he had a burger. We are so stuffed from that that all I could manage today was some cheese balls, cereal and a Bailey's hot chocolate while DH had some egg on bread. We watched about half of love actually. We exchanged presents last night.

It's a lot easier to eat out on Christmas Eve because arranging public transport/Uber is a lot easier! We should do this every year in future..I always have the fantasy of doing the new York Jewish thing of eating Chinese food on Christmas (as we are Jewish) but sadly we don't really have any good Chinese restaurants within walking distance (am also Chinese so not very partial to the British version of Chinese food). Apparently in new York, the Jews and Chinese lived in the same neighborhoods!

Your quiet times all sound lovely!

We do Yuletide rather than Christmas (we’re Pagans). We have a nice lunch, exchange small gifts and generally chill.

i’m torn this year between staying home for christmas eating and watching tv and drinking lots
of going away for 3 days over christmas to a sea side location ! 🤷🏻‍♀️