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Should we celebrate Christmas differently this year?.

Posted on 1st December, 2023

I used to look forward to Christmas, and the decorations always were up on the first and down on the thirtieth. I loved all the shopping for the little things to go in stocking even when we were not doing so well financially. Then the children grew up and left home but they still came back to us so everything remained more or less the same. Then there were grandchildren to spoil but I no longer see two of them, they are now adults anyway, or my daughter, so they don’t feature in my Christmas planning.

However, since my beloved Dusty died almost 3 years ago – Boxing Day – everything has changed. I decorated because my youngest grandson was still little but now he’s ten he’s more interested in gaming than Santa. I gave all my large outside decorations to a charity +2 large boxes of smaller decorations so things are less stressful and more low-key this year. I don’t do Christmas Day or Boxing Day anymore as my daughter-in-law prefers to have it at her home so my grandson can play with his presents. I do have a small party the week before – which my son won’t come to because it’s six women plus my grandson– and that’s more than enough for me.

I also find it troubling that whilst I’m incredibly lucky not to have to worry about the cost of living rises in the UK others are not so fortunate. I do a lot for the local food bank and also for the appalling amount of homeless people in the town near where I live. I also donate to four international charities every month. But it seems wrong somehow to be extravagant, eating too much, spending too much when others are in such need. On top of that there’s the horrendous situation in Gaza and also in the Ukraine. I wonder if everybody cut back and  then donated what they saved  to help those who need it, it would make a big difference..

I still have long Covid after nine months but like most things you learn to adjust to it. I’m hoping that over the next few months it will finally depart and as long as I don’t catch Covid for the third time I’ll be tickety-boo.

Loki and I wish you a happy holiday and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Best wishes

Fenella J Miller