They've gone now

Well, you could have suggested a very long story, janer and had a little nap.

DD and I were up most of the night on Boxing Day because 16yr old DGD, not quite over a very nasty cold when they arrived, woke up with a hacking cough, earache and a nosebleed! She was as white as a sheet and running a temperature so DD did the ministering and I kept calm and made tea!!

I had a message today to say she has an ear infection and is now on anti-biotics.

Somebody is always ill at Christmas.

Mine are here until tomorrow night, I am exhausted, and DD is no help because, like me, she has a sprained ankle and a stinking cold! the males are being very good and so are the children, but tomorrow we are going to have to give in and take them out somewhere to let off steam before the long drive home. They will leave at bedtime so that they will sleep in the car.

It's been lovely, despite Elsa having joined Ariel, and minecraft having become a firm favourite to be played on MY computer... The place is a complete tip and it's quite dangerous to attempt to walk anywhere. Small breakable toys are everywhere, making a bid for freedom. Discarded toys and clothes, I'm still finding wrapping paper under cushions and there are half-eaten satsumas and lonely grapes everywhere.

I have had to promise to bake cakes in the morning with the DGCs. I don't think they want to eat them, they just like making a mess! I love them to bits but am not particularly sorry when they leave, because they are so energetic and really I would love a chance to put my sore ankle up and get over my cold! Instead of being hunted down to the loo and having a little voice say 'Grandma would you like me to read you a story while you are in there?'.

'aunt' singular. Not plural.

marmight some of our door handles are still floppy from when my girls used to chase each other round the house. The GSs are nothing like as bad as their mum and their aunts used to be.

..... and now the *ffing door handle has fallen off the sitting room door - visit to B&Q for replacement in the morning. Thanks for baby wipes tip kitty. I soaked up most of it with a towel (nobody else bothered) I do really love them, but it ain't like it used to be ! . Being so far away, it's all or nothing, but I know which I prefer, despite having to call in the decorator once they have gone!

Oh crumbs, nina, that's so sad.

I'm lucky enough to have my 2 DGS local. However I've never spent a Christmas day with them as they were either in Germany with OGP or DD's in laws were staying with DD.

I use the Alzheimers Society forum and an amazing gent on there writes very eloquently about living with AZ he posted today about the lovely Boxing Day he had with DC, DGC and DGGC. He lamented that soon he would not remember any of it. At least we will have the memories.

Mine arrived yesterday and are here until Sunday. The house is a tip, the noise level very high and DGD has already changed her clothes about a dozen times today. She is currently walking round in the Victorian style winceyette nightdress DD made her. DGS is wearing my huge dark brown dressing gown and his mother's grey scarf pretending that he is the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, in the Christmas Carol. The Muppet Christmas Carol with Michael Caine is part of our family Christmas.

I fell asleep this afternoon instead of going for the family walk, I was so tired - and I am enjoying every moment.

Well it is different if you live close, Roses rather than different about how you feel.
My nearest GCs live 300 miles away, so I'm lucky to see them once every 6 weeks, if that. My others live in the US, so it's more like once every 9 months.
The trouble is that when I do see them, it means staying with them and being a very close part of their lives, and that's what I find makes the partings difficult.

Ours are all fairly local (DD and 2DGC living here) and the ones that aren't came to stay. I've fed 14 on Christmas Day, 9 Boxing Day and the next two days and 18 today. Mum went into hospital on Christmas Day and it was touch and go for a while. She is out now and not doing so well. We have been fielding phone calls for a week now and visiting the Home and the hospital and I'm completely knackered worn out!

I'm doing nothing until January 5th!

Marmight baby wipes got felt off our stair wall! [Fellow feeling emoticon]

Spent Christmas Day with the 2 local DGC and other family, mad house of fun.
On Christmas night at home we had 50 minutes Skype with DS, DDIL and DGS (16 months) who are 6,000 miles away.
A phone call with DS who is 200 miles distant, across the Irish Sea in England.

It was a very bitter sweet holiday, I loved it but missed so much those not here.
I am very fortunate.
And as a pp mentioned, it used to be only snail mail.

The DS and DDIL in England are due their first baby in 2 weeks so today DH and I went to M & S Outlet and started a baby box to post over following baby's safe arrival. Got loads at about 75% discount.
It helped to move on from the 'missing you' during the holidays feeling.

xmas blues not kicked in yet. still haveDD from France staying till after new year.

I always thought I thought that Roses but then, after chatting to six year old DGD1 on the phone, she said "night, night Nanny" and I burst into tears!

that should read 'nice in small doses'.

I'm always glad when they have gone home, much as I love them.They are all local so we see them a lot anyway.Although I enjoyed bringing up our own children I don't feel the need to replicate it all over again via the grandchildren.It's nice in small doses.Shows how we are all different.

It is quiet when they go - even though they were not staying at my place, but at my DD's. We had two of them yesterday (3 and 12) while the rest of the family climbed a mountain in the lovey sunshine. It really stretched me to my limit at the moment, but we love to have them. Two boys, so vene with the age gap it was quite lively.

I am lucky that 4 of my GC are local so it only the 3 northern ones that have gone - and we hope they will be back soon for a birthday party at the end of January. I do hate it when they have gone - it leaves a hole.

You are right NotTooOld, and I am not complaining (just sighing a bit). The internet is a Godsend for long distance grandmas. I would really miss Facebook now!

One half of the family came back with me so I've still got a tip of a house.we all stayed in a big house in the Lakes but came here on Saturday. They leave on New Year's Day . DH is 70 the following day and it will be a bit[sad emoticon]as we decided to be on our own and not have a party having been so extravagant over Christmas. What I do find is that I'm no help with the children. As all the parents work and all the children are in after school care and holiday courses they are desperate to spend time with their parents not the old codgers and much as the parents want us to take over the children need their parents attention. Both children dived into bed with me this morning with their Christmas books and snuggled up to read

My grandaughter is 14. Her mum says she is a stroppy teenager but the minute she sees us she flings her arms around us, and makes extra fuss of her grandad now she knows he is poorly. That'll do for me.

My grandsons came here on Tuesday afternoon. The rest of Christmas they spend with the members of the family that don't help look after them for the rest of the year .

It could be worse, rockgran. Remember the days when we only had snail mail?

We got ten minutes FaceTime on Christmas Day - they are 8000 miles away. Still, at least the house is very tidy!

One of my teenage grandsons wouldn't let me kiss him when he was small but he would lean against me so I could kiss the top of his head. I would shout, 'Give us a lean' and he'd come running

I think this is a good thread because it's nice to share that empty feeling. DH said he left the living room door open after lunch so he could nod off to the gentle thrum of the washing machine....daft b****r.

Those of you with small DGCs, just wait until they are teenagers. Masses of (almost) grown up fun and half the work! The eldest was home from his first term at uni and my, how he's changed. A laugh a minute and oozing confidence.

I was very flat yesterday having left DD2s on Boxing day and probably wont see them now until Easter. Funny jings GS wont let me kiss him either - he says kisses spread germs - so I kiss him on his head whether he likes it or not. he is up for several cuddles though. Ah well best get on with our on lives until the next time we all meet.

Ooh Marmight I think I'd be a bit miffed too, however much I loved them
jingl I feel every single time I say goodbye to them. Not daft at all