What to do between Christmas and New Year?

[redfacebigdisgrace]

We don’t have lots of extended family and I am always a bit lost about what to do from 26th onwards. Now are kids are teenagers we often go overseas to visit friends/family as I find the long winter difficult (Scotland). We’re at home this year and I’m already dreading it. I like the run up to Christmas but it’s the days after. It’s so dark and dreich.

So I’m looking for inspiration from Christmassy folk. Especially those with older teens.

I'm not much help as we're actually planning a trip abroad this year with 18 year old + pal.

Usually those days just disappear in a haze of eating/ drinking / reading / sleeping / watching Netflix/ hosting/ visiting

We meet up with friends and family, play board games, walk the dog, watch films, ice skate, eat leftovers, listen to carols, read Christmas books and poetry, do seasonal crafty projects, enjoy the fire and candles, drink Christmas gin, enjoy a long bath, go ski-ing if it snows, listen to Christmas audio books, attend Church, work on jigsaw puzzles and just relax.

It's my absolute favourite time of the year. I don't know if I can help you because all we do is loaf about at home eating whatever we want when we want. We watch a bit of telly, read, and go for a few nice long walks with the dogs and any friends that are about and fancy getting out of the house a bit. We have cocktail hour at about 4 daily. I bloody love it!!

Could have written OP's post. Absolutely hate that dead time of year when Christmas is done and the days drag. Usually crappy weather too and " going for a nice walk" bores me to death.
Always glad to get back to work in January

I love that time ! Heating on cosy blankets wearing new pjs lots xmas films together as a family puzzles games chilled family time ! X

We're going to Lisbon for 4 nights. I just wanted to get away.

Thanks! Unfortunately I don’t drink alcohol so can’t even drink my way through it 😆 I plan to book the cinema and a few outdoor things. Maybe a trip to the beach and a sausage sizzle. Also climb a mountain, if the conditions are ok. I’m a real outdoors person so struggle.

Geocaching - perhaps a bit silly, but it's an outdoor activity. You need one phone, good coverage and a pen/pencil. You read clues to locate a little waterproof box someone has hidden, open it and write your name, then register to say you've found it. A bit daft, bit it might mean you walk somewhere you haven't before. It can be competitive between your tens if they're reluctant to get out!

Otherwise: an ongoing jigsaw
invite friends round
non-alcoholic festive drinks can be nice
take turns cooking/baking
Play charades - always great! Or pictionary - just make up the categories.
Could you do an interactive pub quiz?

Other than that, donate your time to distribute food to homeless, take toys to hospitals, walk an elderly person's dog... RACKing: Random Acts of Christmas Kindness.

Beach is good if it's cold but not actually raining. I love North Berwick and then you can have fish and chips afterwards at the place on the corner.

We host a family dinner on 27 th that everyone is invited to so it's just one evening and not lots of different visits to people.
The rest of the time We watch movies,play games and get the fire pit going in the garden for toasting marshmallows and making s'mores with mulled wine .
We have a trip to the theatre usually but are doing a six cricket game this year instead and usually a walk in the woods with a stop off for a drink in the way home.

This thread is making me jealous. I have to go to work between Christmas and New year 😞

It's Definitely a struggle.

Very flat come down time.

I think we will try and go on walks and save money now to have a few meals out.

Lots of great ideas thanks! I like the random act of kindness too. I wonder if we could help at a food bank/soup kitchen.@dynastyfan what’s the cricket game? @rookiemere yes NB is always nice. Hoping for some sunny days.

Maybe I could start saving up some movie ideas now. It’s hard with older teens as we can easily end up all just sitting in different rooms…

I just embrace the down time generally but I do find by the 29th I start to feel cooped up!

Me too.

@redfacebigdisgrace it's called sixes cricket.com.
I can't link as I'm on my phone.
It's like a golf simulation game but for cricket with food and drinks available.
We have adult children and one late teen and things like this or junkyard golf are really popular with our lot and their partners.

We always have a raclette hot stone cooking meal or fondue too as a treat as I find that too time consuming normally.
Raclette machine was £30 on Amazon about 15 years ago

We take DC away for a couple of nights in a hotel somewhere costal in the UK and spend the time getting some fresh sea air and also taking them to shops for them to spend some Xmas money. It’s lovely x

This is my favourite time. No stress of Christmas Day but still festive. DH and I go out to a posh restaurant and have a lovely dinner that I don't have to cook or wash up after! And we hit the sales, and just enjoy not having anything we have to do!

That's a great idea 💡

We rent a cottage and have a family twixmas break for 9 of us it’s our wedding anniversary on 28th so have a nice dinner out , couple of day trips and cosy night in cottage playing board games

This is us .
We are so busy in the run up to Xmas the time after is precious.

I miss daylight so much. I’m trying to get outside early as I can each day, that helps me.

We have invited our neighbours for Christmas drinks in the evening in 29 December - should be fun! I love walks to see Christmas lights too. I changed jobs in January & this will be the first Christmas for 18 years that I've not had to compete for time off as my new workplace closes between Christmas Day & 2 January - happy days🎄