Earlier this year, a good friend asked if I would like to rent a holiday home together for a few days over Christmas, and I said yes. I love Christmas, but how I spend it depends on various factors. Sometimes I spend it with my favourite sibling who lives in Sweden, sometimes with a friend/friends, and sometimes alone (which I like if I’ve had a busy year).
I said yes to my friend’s lovely invitation, and was really looking forward to it. She will bring her dog, and there will be a beach nearby for blustery Winter walks.
We’ve started planning in earnest over the last couple of weeks, and it’s becoming clear that my friend has very fixed ideas about food, films and how much time we will spend together. She really wants it to be four days of togetherness, eating her favourite foods, walking the dog and watching Carry On films.
I realise now that I’ve made the wrong decision. I don’t want to let her down, and so I’d like to make the best of it. Any suggestions as to how I can carve out time for myself during those few days? I’d really like to do some reading, meditating, and watch the odd rom-com or Scandi murder film, but she is intent on us having the best Christmas ever (including matching Christmas pyjamas for us and the doggo). I don’t want to spoil it for her.