This Christmas is going to be a strange one. For years, we have been round at my brother’s house, together with mum and dad, and my sister-in-law’s parents. Even when dad was in a nursing home, we would manage to get him to my brother’s for Christmas dinner – on a couple of years, mum and I even had two Christmas dinners – an early one at 12 at the nursing home, and then a late one, mid-afternoon at my brother’s.
When my dad died, it was very early in the year, so even though he was missed, we had a full year to get used to the idea of Christmas without him.
However, in the last few months, we have lost both mum and my sister-in-law’s father, and when we came to discuss Christmas plans, none of us had the heart for a “family” Christmas without them. As a result, I will be spending Christmas at home for the first time since I moved here.
It doesn’t bother me too much, as even if I end up spending Christmas day on my own, then there will be plenty of opportunities to see various folk over the holiday period. However, I’m making sure I have enough food so that if I end up with last minute visitors (which is quite possible), we aren’t going to starve!
In case you fancy a change of scenery, we’ll be having Christmas here, with Mich and possibly another couple of boardgamey-type friends over for food and games from early afternoon onwards. If that sounds appealing, you’re more than welcome to join us for all or part of the proceedings!
Thanks, that’s a lovely invitation, although for the moment, I think I will stick to my original plan of cooking a proper Christmas dinner here – whether or not it ends up as being just for me, or for others as well, time will tell. Although it is feasible to cook the meal and come down to see you, that would be rushing things, which is not the point of Christmas Day!
I realise that I am being slightly illogical in this; if, as is the case, I simply want to cook a Christmas dinner because I haven’t done so for so long, there is no reason why I couldn’t do that any other time – Christmas Eve or Boxing Day – and free myself up on the day itself.
However, having planned to do it, it seems not “proper” to do it other than on Christmas Day.
Still, thanks for the invite, and if I change my mind over the next week, I’ll let you know.
An update. A board gaming friend whose partner had commitments on Christmas Day is now joining me for lunch; and I won’t be too surprised if numbers don’t increase between now and then.