A grown-up Christmas

[Moirarosesgarden]

We have no kids in our family (by choice) so it’s just me, DH and my parents. Oh and the dog of course! We all get on so have booked a house in Cornwall for Christmas week with by parents, but apart from daily bracing beach walks how else can we make the time fun?

Any ideas to bring a bit of festive spirit to a rented house?
Any mini decorations we can buy to make the house feel more Christmassy? Recommendations for games for four adults?
And anything to make gift giving more imaginative than a card with a voucher in it?

You need an itinerary!

I'd take a mixture of daft games and more involved games. Dobble is good for a daft game. Something like secret Hitler could be good for a more involved game.

I'd do a quiz night and cocktails one night.

Take a bag of tinsel. Throw it around.

Book one evening in a local restaurant or pub.

Check out of there's any attractions. Maybe a NT property that's all decked out for Christmas.

Have a Christmas jigsaw on the go
Make ‘fill your own’ crackers
Take a couple of Christmassy scented candles so at least it smells like Christmas

Let me just say, we're not a jigsaw family (me, DH, teenage sons.) We went for a weekend away and I accidentally bought a jigsaw game, thinking it was just a murder mystery game. We spent hours on the puzzle! Altogether and separately coming back to have a go, it was a lovely communal thing! We're going to see if there is a Christmas version from the same brand, (Goliath brand. Scene of the crime, the stolen necklace mystery, was what we had )

Exploding Kittens is a card game that can be over within 15mins for quick rounds. It's really fun using the cards as a fun quip to force the other person's hand to be the one to get the Exploding Kitten card.

Re: decor/Christmas feeling: plug in air freshener or maybe a small febreeze with a Christmas scent if plug ins are too strong. Spiced Apple or even cooking things like ready made cinnamon rolls etc, to naturally scent the room.

I'd take some lights, drape them or tape them somewhere, are you taking a Christmas tree? Argos has a cheap, small 3ft Tree also, is there anything that will be local to you once you're there, for foraging? Could you all collect a few branches/acorns etc and using florists wire, all make a small wreath for the door or garland for a particular area? I'm thinking something that doesn't need packed or taken back home with you, easy to dispose of after removing the wire... Christmas teatowels/mugs?

Christmas music playing while someone prepares breakfast is a nice thing in the morning. Low enough volume not to wake anyone but festive for anyone coming for a coffee. Doesn't need to be the more lively Christmas songs, I'm thinking of abit of Frank Sinatra, calm songs.
Perhaps make a surprise festive snack box/board. Stuffing sausage rolls with turkey, mayo, cranberry and stuffing sandwiches, Clementines etc. Will attach pic of fancy boards that look good.

Re: gift giving... If you are gifting vouchers, my first thought is to put a voucher in a bauble, the type that open and close. But depends if you a) have them and b) somewhere to put it. Cheap stockings? Anywhere you can hang them? Recreate the feeling of excitement by having a stocking full of mini gifts? Socks, Chocolate orange, mini alcohol bottle, the voucher inside a mini Christmas card, all individually wrapped to draw the process out longer?

Sorry, perhaps got on a bit of a tangent there!

Adult games like Something Fishy and Ransom Notes
Do you like baking? Or things like decorating a gingerbread house or men. Which I know is also child appropriate but its fun as adults

@CanIPutTheTreeUpYet thank you for the puzzle recommendation. We go away as a big group in the new year and this will be perfect to take along.

Some great suggestions aleady. I've made up my own crackers before, adding little gifts (like mascara) and a voucher or lottery ticket inside them.

The housenwill probably be decorated for Christmas? We've gone away a few times at Christmas time and there's always been a tree - maybe double check?

Where abouts in Cornwall are you going?

Book the Christmas light trail at heligan if near there if you're more the penzance end then check out the village lights Mousehole are particularly good

Great ideas so far thank you.

The house definitely isn’t decorated but I think I’ll take a mini tree and (dog-friendly) plug in! Also have Alexa for Christmas songs!

love the idea of a quiz night and will take a look at the board game ideas 😀

keep em coming!

will secret Santa work for four of us?! Thinking a joke present each or each buy a game/something to entertain us all with?!

I agree with the itinerary being the way to go.

I would go with a mix of the following:

Festive jigsaw on the go
Everyone take a book or three
Monopoly - the Cornish edition
Wine tasting night with tapas
Movie night
Make a wreath or table decoration from foraging

Check local events:
Strawberry Fields (Lifton I think) on the way into Cornwall is worth a stop and moments off the A30.
Truro has a Christmas market until Christmas Eve.
Mousehole do beautiful Christmas lights off the coast.

Things to take:
Blankets
Candles
Small potted tree (M&S, Sainsbury’s etc)
Crackers
Table cloth

Christmas Eve:
Matching pyjamas (we do tartan)
Secret Santa style stockings to wake up to on Christmas Day (£25 budget)

Fairy lights (and possibly hooks to hang them with)
I definitely second getting a puzzle
Films - will the house have Netflix/Disney/dvd player? Don't forget to have your log ins noted. You could also add some films to your watch list before you go

I think my family would appreciate a secret Santa for a proper present and a joke present.

Maybe insist everyone wears a Christmas jumper on Christmas Day?

Also look online for local events. We went to Scotland for Christmas a few years ago and there was a Boxing Day cold dip on the lock beach. Fun atmosphere and we got invited to a group meal at the local pub.

How about making some paper chains when you arrive? The strips won't take up much space and will double as a pre-Christmas activity.

A couple of Poinsettia would cheer the place up - take with if you have space or buy there if you are shopping when there. You can take one home each as they last for ages.

Jigsaw is a must!

A couple of my family cannot be doing with 'parlour games' but somehow manage to enjoy them at Christmas. eg Christmas themed charades, or the one where you stick the name of someone different on everyone's forehead and they have to guess who they are (ask questions which can only be answered yes/no. Keep asking til you get a 'no' then it moves to the next person).
I couldn't believe how much the adults enjoyed the good old 'Mars Bar' game when my children were little!
Putting an after eight on your forehead and trying to wiggle it down to your mouth without touching.
I always think Christmas is an opportunity to find your inner child!

You could pick names out of a hat and you make a stocking for that person. Set a budget & number of gifts. I'd do that soon to give people time to buy stuff. When we've done that we've made it clear that pre-owned is fine - charity shops benefit that way too. Friends of ours do 'charity shop only' stockings.

I'd love a cocktail party, maybe Christmas Eve or Boxing Day with canapés

You could do other themed nights eg Italian/Mexican/Greek with associated beer / wine / spirits .

I was recently introduced to cards against humanity - while it was at a party where mostly adults and plenty of alcohol around, the group playing included a late teen (who is quite innocent/sensitive) and it was something that I could see could be played very differently if she wasn't there (far more questionable moral suggestions) but we still had great fun making it nice so suitable for all players but still slightly rude at times.

Bring nice things for breakfasts (tin of croissants to roll and bake, or frozen pastries to bake for 1 day, full English or proper bacon butties another, spend 20 minutes 1 evening chopping mixed fruit for another etc).

Lots of nice snacks - mix of sweet and savoury. Nice biscuits and mince pies. Olives, dips, breadsticks. Crisps. Or to put out all together but mix it up on different days.

A good cheeseboard if you are cheese people - to formally open on 1st night with port, but include things to graze on or to add to other meals (nice hard block that melts for cheese toasties one afternoon after bracing walk, ball of mozzarella or feta to crumble into a different dinner etc), as well as to enjoy with crackers after dinner a few evenings.

Mix of nice drinks to relax with - mix of non alcoholic and alcoholic. But you may enjoy a hot port after the bracing walk some afternoons, or posh G&T with a. Twist, or making cocktails some night, or doing nice cordials made with sparkling water instead of wine some nights etc.

Try and decide if you can go out for a few meals - lazy brunches or nice sambo lunches even - to break the monotony of the house. And maybe share the cooking duties if possible - we like to do meals that are involved as a way to pass time enjoyably, making a few sides, plating it up like a restaurant etc. If DPs like a range of food, could you do a curry or Mexican night one night, a hearty stew/boeuf bourginonge (sp) another, fresh fish another, and have a proper Christmas feast of foods that you all like on 25th (which may be turkey or could be something else entirely - beef, guinea fowl, nice pizza on HM bases...)

Bring books, candles, rugs, and means to have a cosy fire to spend some time just quietly "being" together. Have music downloaded to iPad for background.

Make your own cocktails in pairs and serve to eachother

Christmas clue treasure hunt.

Assemble gingerbread house competition, again in pairs. Senior house member judges.

Make mince pies

Secret Santa lucky dip

Good board games
Rummikub
Splendor
Catan
Ticket to ride
Game of life
Draw something

If anyone is musical, some Christmas songs.

https://www.heligan.com/events/events-at-heligan/heligan-night-garden/

I forgot about the night garden - great if the weather plays ball.

Lidl usually sell potted table top Christmas trees & mini lights.
Paper chains you could spend a bit of time making & putting up.
Get gifts that will keep people busy eg paper engineering kits, embroidery, adult watercolour workbooks or paint by numbers. Board games - I buy a new one each Christmas - complex games can take an age or get a compendium of traditional games like ludo, draughts etc.
Setting a communal challenge to be completed over the time. Online escape room type challenges. Meals can be complex and take a lot of prep which I enjoy (planning, shopping and making elaborate recipes - I once spent a whole day making lasagne with an 8 year old, starting with making our own pasta) - and we once did a family "Come Dine With Me" over a week which was fun and kept us busy.

The board game chameleon is hilarious, get it. Also a family quiz you can never go wrong. Cocktail making would be fun as it's adults only. All choose a film each over Christmas to watch together. All make Christmas dinner together with festive music blaring. Pictionary is always fun or good old fashioned charades. Truth or dare! Enjoy whatever you all do, sounds lovely 🎄🎅

To get into the Christmas vibe-
Scented candles, some fairy lights and a mini tree
Agree to checking for NT places as they are usually decorated really festively. Similarly places with Christmas lights walks
A local carol concert at a church
Lots of pub visits, look for open fireplaces and mulled wine
Christmas films - real classics
Games - Azul is a lovely board game for four people. Maybe a few that a bit more silly to mix up the mood. Definitely a puzzle. You'll all do it even if you don't normally.

For Christmas itself-
A luxurious cheese board on Christmas Eve
I'd do a secret Santa stocking, with a budget. Lots of little gifts, some funny, some nice you know they'd like. Really fun to open as a group.
For Christmas dinner, make sure you will have all the kitchenware needed and/or go easy by getting m&s food
Find a walk plan for Xmas day, take flasks for tea/hot chocolate

Oooh sounds lush!

Like you said, wintery walks.

Take a few basic Xmas decs to put up like a mini tree and some tinsel.

Board game night.

Christmas film movie night.

Cheese board!

Christmas baking.

Do Secret Santa or White Elephant.

See if there's anything festive to do in a nearby village like Christmas light walk or a Christmas market.

Carols at local church...

Pub for mulled wine.

Can I come? 🤣

Genuine question, not being funny: what bring people without kids to Mumsnet?

take a look at the topics - a wealth of information on a wide range of subjects that aren't children related. Mine are all adults now and I still find MN really useful.
Mumsnet is referred to in press articles (that's how I stumbled across it when i did. have younger children), and people talk about it .

These escape room games are great. Expensive but beautifully made. We've bought them as an Xmas family treat for the past 3 years or so and have gone down well with adults and teens.

https://themysteryagency.com/

Firstly, thank you so much @CanIPutTheTreeUpYet
I've ordered it!

I love games
As well as those mentioned (and apologies if I'm repeating any)
Charades is fun
The really nasty horse-racing game is hilarious
Steal is a great game

I agree about having an itinerary

I hope you all have fun

You could take a little 2ft/3ft pre-lit xmas tree.
I would take board games. If you have a dvd player on site, take some xmas dvds, bake gingerbread men, make pop corn garlands to hang around the cottage and just have lots of fun and lots of relaxation 😊

I absolutely love the idea of going away like this with family for Christmas. Quite jealous!

Loads of fairy lights will be easy to pack and can be used all year.