Ideas Required for Christmas 2010

[John]

Hello,

Well, my parents are going away on a big holiday at the end of this year in celebration of:

1. Their joint 50th birthdays (September and December)
2. Their 30th Wedding Anniversary (October)

I forget what 30 signifies, probably hatred? Arguments? Blandness? Anyway, it's a pretty big year for them, and they're going to be away from December 3rd-30th.

So that means Christmas is pretty much off limits in the Johnny Household. With this in mind I'm going to start compiling a list of ideas about what I could fill my Christmas with.

I'm tempted to just go on holiday for a week around Christmas time, 22nd-29th or something, I haven't looked at dates or even thought about where I would go but it's definitely an option.

But part of me thinks that going away is a bit selfish. In my parents' case, they lay on a proper sit down meal every single year for their parents (my grandparents), so I understand and completely agree that they should go away and celebrate this year. But as they're away, I'm thinking I should probably spend Christmas with my grandparents, or at least spend part of it with them.

I know it's only March, and I knew Christmas wasn't going to happen as-per-usual this year from roughly Christmas 2009 time, but now it's a reality and it's got me thinking about what I'll be doing in 8 month's time. 8 months to the day, in fact, as I write this! It'll feel strange, for sure, and I'll probably get slightly depressed about it so give me your wildest and deepest suggestions on a postcard and I'll start to draw up a definitive list.

New year's resolution for 2011: Be more rock and roll. :lickme

[mathare]

I know it's only March, and I knew Christmas wasn't going to happen as-per-usual this year from roughly Christmas 2009 time, but now it's a reality and it's got me thinking about what I'll be doing in 8 month's time. 8 months to the day, in fact, as I write this!On November 25th?!?:doh Are you using Vegy's calendar? :laugh

Got any other family? Siblings etc? What are your grandparents (likely to be)doing?

Personally, I hate family but I am inclined to say that Christmas is one of those times you should spend with family. If you go on holiday, unless you go with someone (and who else can you convince to ditch their folks for christmas) you're likely to have a miserable time on your own. You'll be a spare part around families and couples in my opinion.

[John]

On November 25th?!?:doh Are you using Vegy's calendar? :laugh

:splapme Whoops! Got my Maffs muddled! I'm not normally thinking about Christmas until November 25th at the earliest. :doh


Got any other family? Siblings etc? What are your grandparents (likely to be)doing?I've a sister, who also lives in London, though as our parents won't be around I've no idea what she'll be doing... I might mention it to her when I speak to her this weekend. My grandparents could likely go to my uncle's (my mum's brother's) for dinner; that's an option for them. My other set of grandparents will probably go to my auntie's (my dad's sister's).


Personally, I hate family but I am inclined to say that Christmas is one of those times you should spend with family. If you go on holiday, unless you go with someone (and who else can you convince to ditch their folks for christmas) you're likely to have a miserable time on your own. You'll be a spare part around families and couples in my opinion.If I turned a holiday into a photography trip for myself, I'd have a great time! Otherwise as you say it's likely not to be very exciting - unless I go somewhere Asian or Middle Eastern where they don't celebrate Christmas?! Now that's an idea - boycott the entire fiasco for a year! Bliss.

Why do you hate spending time with your family Matty? Do you not get on with them?

[mathare]

If I turned a holiday into a photography trip for myself, I'd have a great time!I'm thinking about the evenings and mealtimes, having no real company. If you're good with that though then fair play to you.


Why do you hate spending time with your family Matty? Do you not get on with them?Just not a family person. It's not about getting on with them, it's about having little, other than genetics, in common. Family are like friends you didn't choose but still have to spend time with. If you don't get on with someone or don't have much in common you don't hang out with them but with family you're expected to want to spend time with them, phone them to see how they are, buy them birthday presents and so on.

[John]

I'm thinking about the evenings and mealtimes, having no real company. If you're good with that though then fair play to you.

I'm pretty good with my own company I guess, yeah, but not always. I think it worked in Copenhagen because nearly everyone wanted a conversation, a chat, complete strangers sitting within 6 feet would talk to me. Though I realise not everyone is like me in bantering with people, or that not everywhere is as friendly as CPH. :)


Family are like friends you didn't choose but still have to spend time with. If you don't get on with someone or don't have much in common you don't hang out with them but with family you're expected to want to spend time with them, phone them to see how they are, buy them birthday presents and so on.Never a truer word spoken.