Alone at Christmas.

I did! But was actually worse than I expected. They were there one minute then gone for the next couple of days.. I had a bagel for Christmas dinner. Know I should have put in more effort - just couldn't be bothered once I knew I was going to be alone for a few days

Vanatic, it will come and go, if not our choice we have to just accept it and get through it , you will x

and you can do it! we face these fearful moments and freeze and then deal with it. There is always a way to get the best out of every situation - and this is one of them. You have unlocked so many peoples hopes and fears. thank you

Thanks for all the responses, seem to have hit a chord with a few! Wish I could afford to go away on a cruise or holiday.

Unfortunately I'm just going to have to accept it and get on with things

Dad (92) and Uncle (95) coming for lunch. Oldest son and his wife coming to cook the lunch.

Youngest (living here with his partner) and partner will do a continental breakfast for me and hubby then get off to her home town for late lunch with her family. She accepts that her partner/our youngest refuses to go to her home the night before. Its not the same without kids. If everyone had their way no one would share the day with anyone.

Hubby and I said when my dad is no longer with us we may just go away with a cousin who is on her own. She is off on a Christmas cruise.

A good friend came to see us yesterday. She was divorced years ago and lives alone. She will be on her own on christmas day and has planned the day in some detail.
She does have lots of friends but is really looking forward to her christmas day.
Hope you enjoy yours vanatic, and everyone else, be they alone or otherwise.

I absolutely loved the post! "I decorated the bedroom" im still chuckling now! Christmas is such a hype unless you follow a religious path, it litterally is just a day. Imagine if we told our loved ones "i shall be doing exactly what i want on Christmas day and it doesnt envolve any of you ". We would be condemned for the rest of the year! Its about time us Grans stood strong and just do exactly that. I hope your bedroom looked Fab x

Have a lovely day, pleasing yourself. It's very relaxing

Like Annsixty I will feel I am essentially alone. My OH is not exactly good company for a day when many others are actually having a good time. This is usual now for me.

My DD lives near her MIL 50 miles from me but she sees far less of her daughters children as they live abroad.
So I cannot really complain. I see far more of our shared DGCs than she does.

I am feeling decidedly fed up with myself lately as it is . All those other loners do look in to this thread .

Friday follow the same profession but English

My mum died this time last year. She loved Christmas, and so wanted to get out of hospital to be with "her girls". (Me and my daughter) feeling very maudlin..

My late mum always wanted Christmas Day on her own doing her own thing reflecting on the past. She used to say that after having ten of us and 38 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, “it’s lovely having a quiet day”. Although she spent most of the day talking to family on the phone.

Hello Nannymagic, welcome x

I am so sorry you have been widowed so recently, true Christmas cannot be the same again , but you have your son and he is part of your husband , nothing and no one can take away the time we spent with those we now grieve for.

I hope the day will be bearable for you, it is just one day . There are several of us who have to cope with grief this year . You can always come here if you need to.

Take care, God bless x

Dear VENUS, you have my deepest sympathy. I shall be alone, but its of my own choosing so all I can say is, get through the day as best you can, and remember we're all here if you need us. xxxxx

Lots of good advice here. I will be on my own for the 3rd year as DC and twin GC don't feel the need to acknowledge that I might be lonely. Put aside the idea that everyone is having a wonderful day, be kind to yourself and remember you are not alone. Do what you want and enjoy it!xx

If I were on my own I would definitely volunteer to the Salavation Army or Crisis. Really it is just another day to me so I would find plenty of things to catch up with which is what I normally do anyway....nothing more boring than sitting down after lunch and watching other people snore!

I prefer to have a relaxing day on my own...I can watch the Christmas prog I want to watch or a dvd. I can enjoy a glass of good wine plus the sparkling with my dinner and I can watch the Queen's speech. Christmas eve I will be driving in the dark out and back and on Christmas Day more driving...no time to relax. Sounds as if I am not grateful for invites but it is no different to any other day really. I don't get invited for meals at other times so why at Christmas....sighs

Anyway I digress. Have a relaxing pj day. Cook what you want drink what you want and watch what you want and enjoy xxx

I d just like to say my thoughts are with all those recently bereaved there’s nothing can make this any easier and Christmas is such a difficult one to get through
?

The outcome (disappointed, satisfied or happy) depends on your own expectation of what Christmas is supposed to 'look' like.

Change all those preconditioned expectations, brush yourself off so to speak and see what happens! The opportunities are endless.....If you want to start a new tradition, plan a special activity for yourself such as attending to a Christmas spectacle or a special church service. Prepare a gourmet meal, set a spectacular table. Perhaps you can even invite a similarly lonely neighbor.

Find out if volunteers are needed to wrap gifts for needy children or serve meals for the poor at Christmas. Think about all the things that could otherwise make you happy and indulge yourself...a new puppy perhaps or could it be a trip to a new destination? You may not have the power to change others, but you do have the power to change how you react.

Wishing you your best Christmas ever!!!

Hello I’m new here never posted before. Anniebach your words are what made me want to post. I’m so sorry about your daughter and that you’ve been without your husband for so long. I have lost all my family apart from my son thank goodness for him. They all died from cancer except from my husband died very suddenly in March this year at work. I’m lost without him and Christmas will never be the same. I am keeping you in my thoughts x

I shall have Christmas Dinner with DD & her family. I will get there about 10, we all open our presents, DGS1 will be on "double duty" as DGS2 is only 7 months old.

After a lovely meal I will leave about 3 get thrown out , drive home & relax. I am lucky that I have family around me but I am equally happy on my own.

DM will spend her day alone (she lives 300 miles away), she eats what she wants, her freezer is full of delicious food. We will all ring her on Christmas Day. I saw my DM in early November & bought her Christmas Present. DM is nearly 89, as long as she has contact with her family.

I think if I was on my own I would consider a cruise, I have heard everyone is friendly and welcoming. I think we are brainwashed by the media into expecting a certain type of Christmas. All those festive adverts which in actual fact were filmed in the middle of Summer with rent-a-family from central casting!

Good on you Galen

Any relation to Galen of Pergamon?

After dh died, darling daughter did try to spend Xmas with me but it became difficult as sil wanted to spend time with his family on the other side of the country.
I decided to go on a cruise instead and found it ideal!

I have been widowed for 6 years, no children, no family except in-laws in this country. I usually get up late, have a cooked breakfast, open my presents and then spend the day either reading or catching up on films I have been meaning to watch. I have a late lunch and, weather permitting, will go out for a walk. Boxing Day I usually visit in laws.

Being on your own is difficult at first but I now find myself thinking of all the great times we had together and smile at all the times he would make me laugh when I got stressed over Christmas.

In the past they have invited me to spend Christmas day with them but they live the other side of the city and have no spare room so I would be unable to enjoy a glass or two of wine with lunch as I would have to drive home.