Christmas just me and DH - ideas for how to spend it

[WrongSwanson]

Children are with their dad. I have a big family and will see the ones who are local over Christmas. And I am doing lots of Christmassy things with the children when I have them, so I know I am very lucky really.

I've worked flat out all year alongside kids, volunteering , and not being particularly well, so I want the days that are just me and DH (23-26) to be a chance to relax also indulge/have fun. But I am a bit burnt out /low and all out of ideas!

I'd love some ideas /inspiration, I feel the need to get organised so I can look forward to the time and also make the most of it rather than missing the children

Ummm....the obvious? Pretty much stay in bed apart from nipping down for nice nibbly food. That would be my plan anyway 😉

Good board game, new jigsaw, a film you’ve been meaning to watch for a while, Christmas TV, a bubble bath, a wintry walk, curl up with a book….

Aye, mine as well

This!

AHH, I was hoping for ideas other than " the obvious". This is my time to relax and unwind and while that might form part of it I actually want to spend time doing lots of other things too.

If the weather's reasonable, I'd be planning some lovely crisp walks with pub lunches.

Can you afford to go away to a nice airbnb / cottage somewhere - probably Uber expensive. I would be off to the sunshine if I had no family about I reckon.

Clean the house, for the pleasure of it staying clean. A meal out for an unfamiliar style of cooking, maybe with vegetables and spices. Choral music, drinking at lunchtime. Walk-in the country. I’d also aim for a book a day.I am so dull.

When I was overseas we would pack up a luxury picnic and go hiking, do things where you won't miss people. I found the year I tried to do a "proper Christmas" worse because family weren't there. Best year we went snowshoeing and a lady with a wood cabin we were passing invited us in for hot chocolate, not planned but was a lovely thing for her to do

If budget allows, go to a fancy hotel and enjoy their Christmas package on offer.

Leisurely champagne breakfast and open presents. Outdoor stroll then quick drink in the local by the roaring log fire. Eat out or go home and eat a fabulous late lunch. Late afternoon / early evening retire to bed with a decent bottle of wine and each other. If still hungry binge on cheese board/ crisps/ chocolate/ trifle and then fall asleep watching a Christmas movie.

Get a hamper from here.. (they do custom ones so you can pick and choose exactly what you want) and go for a Christmas Eve picnic lunch somewhere nice
https://www.smoked-foods.co.uk/

Any Christmas markets you can visit ..set a token money limit with DH and see what crazy presents you can find for each others stockings then have vino and snacks and get a taxi home

Do you like cooking? Plan on a lovely new meal with trying some new cooking techniques that take much longer than you usually have (like making homemade ravioli etc). Put on fun music and dance around the kitchen while cooking together

Nailed it. You just forgot the big box of chocolates that you can eat without the kids diving into them!

I would enjoy:

a theatre trip
something at the cinema
lovely dinner out at a nice, treaty restaurant
a seafood platter
a beach walk if you live near enough
some new books
new series of Bridgerton
delicious breakfast in bed

Depends where you are OP. I'm in the sticks so it would be gorgeous walks and then snuggling.
If I still lived in London I'd be at the theatre every night it was open! Just catching up on what can't be seen when you have to pay for babysitters or multiple tickets.

Oooo or long bike rides. Best Boxing Day ever was when the children were tiny and we took the bikes into central London and rode near-deserted streets. Would be even better on Xmas day and without the children because you could go further.
Or any other city.

We are going for a beach walk in the morning

Then having a takeaway curry, lots of nibbles and alcohol.

Then will walk down to in-laws for more alcohol and games

We are having the whole Xmas day thing on Xmas eve before the kids go to their dads.

Beach walk and build a 🔥!!

Meals that you would only cook for two due to cost or faff factor?

Favourite films you both enjoy rather than whatever schleck is on tv.
Trip to the cinema, theatre, choral event?

My childfree friends seem to alternate Christmases with family and christmases where
they drink champagne for breakfast and have steak and a decent red for Christmas dinner. Or whatever your food/drink of choice is!