Ideas for making a COVID winter bearable

[WearyandBleary]

I need some plans to make winter bearable with social distancing etc. I assume it will be much like now. I am dreading christmas without church and carol singing and family occasions.

I’ve been thinking about buying a whole load of festive lights and maybe some posh furry throws. It’s a bit desperate but I need ideas. Anyone got any plans or suggestions?

@BluebellsGreenbells

Father Christmas may well come online!

Don’t forget to post Christmas cards, it will make someone’s day.

I think gifts will be in short supply even general stuff you’d normally get. I think a lot of food items will be limited with businesses closing and supplies being low, manufactures not able to work at full capacity.

If there’s anything in particular it’s best to start getting it now.

I might start shopping now, hadn't thought of that side of things.

I’m seeing my mum no matter what

Jigsaws
Lego
Making mince pies
Walks to collect greenery and making decorations
I really hope we can have a few visitors.

I’m considering a hot tub for the garden. I can’t bear the thought of a whole winter of evenings sat in front of the TV, we need to do something a bit different.

I'm thinking of getting a patio heater so will be able to continue with outdoor meet ups for longer.

We went to Spain last Christmas and it was pretty chilly in the evening but everywhere had outdoor heaters and blankets so we were able to sit outside in the squares and soak up all the atmosphere .

I don't know how low a temperature they would keep you warm but it's worth considering .

I just cannot imagine the misery of standing out shops etc in winter time. It's doable in June/ July but in November onwards...!

Lovely idea OP, I'm already starting to buy Christmas presents (as the DC's birthdays are at the end of the year too) and need to go through the loft to work out what cards/ wrapping paper etc I could stock up on too.

Lapland UK are already selling tickets, I haven't been myself but have heard good things, and presumably would refund any payments if the events can't go ahead?

Lapland UK sounds like a amazing idea.

Winter is my favourite season too 😭 I love bonfire night, Christmas markets, Halloween etc.

We have booked a weekend by the sea in November to replace our normal Halloween trip.

We are going to drive to Bath for the market there and back in day so it's a no outlay plan. Maybe my home town Christmas market too. There is a small Christmas market in Kingston that is extremely small but you can sit outside drinking mulled wine, eating waffles till late. Lots of driving about with last minute low cost plans for me I think.

I'm also hoping to sort and massively declutter my life. I am going to start some Chrostmas present shopping as soon as I can. Then I can relax knowing whatever happens everyone will at least get something.

I always need something to look forward to. Its feeling bleak looking forward right now. I'm determined to enjoy whatever I can

I'm happy with the thought if tike at home being cosy but anxious at being seen as miserable because I don't want the usual big family gatherings but it will be expected

We don’t have DC, so slightly different focus here, but things I have done so far:

Bought some lovely cosy cardigans for WFH, and am keeping an eye on eBay for cheap cashmere
Started buying an extra here and there of things that were in low supply back in March - pasta, loo roll etc. Also tucking away nude bath stuff because I love a long hot bath on a cold day.
Bought a Lakeland heated throw for WFH, and snuggly nights on the sofa (cat loves it)
Definitely sending Christmas cards to absolutely everyone - I really like cards anyway
Have taken out a subscription to my favourite magazine, and also a monthly flower delivery so we have nice seasonal flowers in the house - this link gives £10 off if anyone is interested refer.bloomandwild.com/m/ol/zei-03a8ba1cc6
I do this every year, but I ordered new sheepskin insoles for all my footwear. I find that if my feet are cold, it’s hard to get warm, and I anticipate spending more time outside this year.
Making sure that things like dentist checkups, opticians etc are up to date if possible.

NICE bath stuff. Not nude.

@Legoandloldolls sorry to disappoint but the Bath Christmas market has been cancelled this year

You can buy velcro felt xmas trees from amazon/ebay so they can decorate their own
Save toilet rolls and paint to make a tree
Mine play for hours with a wooden advent calendar with individual boxes

[quote SophieGiroux]@Legoandloldolls sorry to disappoint but the Bath Christmas market has been cancelled this year [/quote]
Oh no! When did they cancel it? It was still on a few weeks ago as we was looking to book a room ( luckily decided it was too expensive)

Looks like I'm heading for a frugal Christmas this year. Maybe I can console myself with saving cash instead and treating myself to a trip in future years.

Maybe 2025?! 😂😭

It will only be as miserable as you allow it to be. Imho.
Just different. Unless of course you have lost people in the pandemic.....

Hopefully Santa will have got his PPE in .....

Oh I like this thread!
I'm going to spend the day thinking about nice things we can bring to make the winter a bit brighter.

Ds is medically vulnerable so its already crossed my mind to make sure we have ds's hospital passport up to date, his medications are in and emergency suitcase is ready to go....but that is all practical, but grim. If shielding is unpaused I'd like to be ready.

I think it's a nice chance to focus on the some of the nicer, simple things about winter.

Go foraging for sloes and blackberries, and steep them in gin/whiskey for the depths of winter.

Make your own christmas cane and pudding.

If you have an outdoor space, plant some winter interest plants and make a hedgehog shelter, and put up bird feeders so that it is a winter nature haven. And get a firepit and have winter campfires.

Get a lovely season perfume - I like smelling faintly if church Incense when it's cold.

Heated throws are the cosiest things ever.

Find an indoor activity that everyone in your household enjoys. DH is a bit of a geek and persuaded us all to play Dungeons and Dragons during lockdown, and I didn't expect to, but I love it, and the game is the highlight of our week in many ways.

Get really good warm/waterproof einter clothes for everyone so that you can enjoy the outdoors in bad weather.

Think about the lighting in your house - if you will be spending dark days inside, would you like more/different lamps, candles, fairy lights, mirrors to reflect light etc anywhere?

Also nice smells.

A good slow cooker or instant pot is lovely for winter stews.

I'm saving up for a rowing machine for cardio without leaving the house.

@Legoandloldolls it got cancelled last week...

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/bath-christmas-market-2020-cancelled-4355768.amp

As an introvert, I am quite looking forward to not having guests this year. (Is that terrible?)

I am going to sew my own presents this year too (have already started). Well, to be strictly accurate, I started last year and didn't finish, so I am going to continue with those, and I am going to add a few things I have been sewing under lockdown to the pile.

@VirginiaWolverine I like your post. :)

I’ve never ever made made Christmas candy cane: is that possible?! I have visions of melted strips of goo all over my tree...

Thank you.

I might start watching Kirstie's homemade Christmas now and go totally old school.

Haven't got as far as Christmas yet - but the organised bonfire night displays aren't happening here or nearby- so getting sparklers and quiet back yard friendly fireworks so pets aren't frigtened and hoping morssions do BBQ box still or better yet an Halloween/bonfire food box.

Halloween tends to be scary films and backing and making themed food.

At minute have disney + thinking might try Netflick next either rest of summer or over Christmas and plan lots of baking - though depends if we can get hold of things.

Board games - we have many of them already and are trying to play them a bit more.

Patio heaters and making sure outside has some sort of cover to keep rain off. That means you can have outdoor Christmassy events at home

Ooohhh yes to patio heaters. If anyone has a recommendation for a good one I’m interested.

Im thinking an event shelter, a heater, lots of twinkkly lights, mulled wine and jacket potatoes with chili. And some fake furr blankets as my elderly relatives get cold quickly and dont walk far.

I was also going to make sure we all had thermals and waterproofs. Im hoping lots of people put up christmas lights so we can walk round looking at them.