Our Christmas tree is a pre-lit snowy twig thing. It looks so pretty in the hall that I would hate to not have it. Also love dressing the huge mantle shelf above the log burner with lots of fresh greenery and fairy lights. That and a few candles is the sum total of our decorations but they give a nice cosy feeling to the house. I do it even if we're going to be away on the day. Only takes a (long) afternoon to set up.
We've had many Christmasses when it was just the 2 of us and a few when it was just me when OH was working away. I've never wanted to do big family celebrations. This year will definitely be a quieter one due to sad family events - but I still want my fairy lights and a box of turkish delight🙂
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
This winter will feel long and hard and many of us will be missing family and friends this year for reasons ranging from distance, illness, death, covid restrictions, working in essential services, restricted finances..... I think we have to get thru it all as best we can, be kind to each other and celebrate whatever we can whenever we can and however we can whether that's a good meal, a toast with whatever takes our fancy or chocolates.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I always think when someone dies over Christmas - “that’s Christmas ruined forever for that family”. The first Christmas after somebody passes away is always extra difficult too. Everyone copes so differently. I hope anyone who is having their first Christmas without a loved one can find a way through. I remember thinking that I miss them every single day, so it’s just another day. I found comfort that they weren’t ill and in pain any more, which was the only positive I could think to start with. Since then, I feel comfort in feeling that I keep traditions going in stead of, and in memory of, them. One is opening a tin of sweets and one present on Christmas Eve, another one is smoked salmon breakfast.
Am so sorry to hear your news Pansy. That poor cat looks disgruntled. We have the opposite problem, 2 long haired dogs, how the devil does all that dog hair get underneath the sofas!!!
I think we will be putting up a tree earlier than usual. We always used to put it up on the 9th, after Dads birthday. He died 6 hours before his 85th, in hospital. We think he thought he had had his Birthday, as my sister had taken his Birthday slippers in to him. He always said he wanted to get to 85.
Our next door neighbour found his mum dead on the kitchen floor when he went round for xmas dinner last year. I guess he is not going to have a good xmas this year. Last year was dreadful for him.
The hardest thing is that everyone else is being jolly.
Indeed. Which is why I have difficulty with the 3 ring circus it's become. Not everyone sees it as the be all and end all. It can be a hellish time for many people.
However, I will buy a cut tree this year again, despite having a live one I bought a couple of years ago. It's a vital part of our economy, as they're a crop here.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I am a Christmas humbug too - but I do like the ginger tea, fairy lights and evergreen side. I am not doing anything inside but our community group will go town in our local streets - decorating the street trees, hedges and some trees in our local park.
My current dillema is whether to organise some local carol singing through December.
My plan is to spend the 25th in bed with home roast duck, a bottle of Baileys and a box set of the Sopranos. Hurrah!
Singing with a mask? Studies have shown that singing causes expiration of potential virus carrying aerosols to a much greater degree than just breathing or speaking.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
We probably won't have a tree... sometimes we do and sometimes we don't ... if we do have one it'll be a real one ... but the likelihood is that we'll decorate the big fireplace with lights and greenery and the carved wood and painted tinplate figures, musical glass globes and other seasonal things we've collected over the years, and we'll have the candle bridge in the window. It always looks so festive and pretty and we like it that way. We enjoy a quiet Christmas, reading, listening to music, eating some special treats and otherwise doing as we normally do ... spending time in the studio painting and making things. If son can get here for the day he will, but otherwise it'll be just we two, and that's fine and dandy by us
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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We've had many Christmasses when it was just the 2 of us and a few when it was just me when OH was working away. I've never wanted to do big family celebrations. This year will definitely be a quieter one due to sad family events - but I still want my fairy lights and a box of turkish delight🙂
Everyone copes so differently. I hope anyone who is having their first Christmas without a loved one can find a way through. I remember thinking that I miss them every single day, so it’s just another day. I found comfort that they weren’t ill and in pain any more, which was the only positive I could think to start with. Since then, I feel comfort in feeling that I keep traditions going in stead of, and in memory of, them. One is opening a tin of sweets and one present on Christmas Eve, another one is smoked salmon breakfast.
However, I will buy a cut tree this year again, despite having a live one I bought a couple of years ago. It's a vital part of our economy, as they're a crop here.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.