Apart from our son, his wife and their child. The only other people who come into our house are the neighbours. Coffee shop visits are enjoyed outside and there is lots of doorstep visits. If we go to see anyone else, we maintain social distancing and don't hug. We also LFT regularly.
Last year I spent Christmas on my own in a hotel on the beach in Dubai after Saudi closed it's borders 6 days earlier, preventing anyone going in or getting out. It feels most strange to be doing a food shop after 7 years of Christmas lunch in a hotel in Dubai. It all sounds glamorous until you realise there is a big difference between going to Dubai for a holiday and actually living there. I am missing Dubai at this time of year, mainly for the warm weather and all the Christmas displays, lights and fireworks. But this year we get to spend it with one of our Grandchildren which is even better.
352 Up early for a coffee then I walked Bob home while Peter did the food shop. I spent the afternoon making a play kitchen, finishing wrapping the last of the presents, made some waterproof cushions to add to the 2yo's play fort next door. All the washing was done and I went round the neighbours in the evening.
353 A late start and a walk into town with Bob for coffee and to buy the last of Peter's Christmas presents which are food related. It won't spoil the surprise as he doesn't read my blog. I finished the play kitchen, made some bunting for the neighbours fort, watched Die Hard (the only Christmas Movie) blogged and watched TV.
The inflatables are relegated to the conservatory, ready to pull Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve.
354 Down to Bristol to visit SIL and MIL and drop off Christmas gifts. Our Great Nephew who is 9 months old was there. We stopped off at Child 1's care home to drop off her presents. We took her for a short walk around the block. In the evening I painted pebbles with Christmas designs and attempted to make a decoration for next doors baby.
355 Down to the flat in Monmouth to do some more work on the tiling. I left Peter there and took my mum food shopping as the next delivery slot I could get was January 5th. It's about a 90 minute drive from us, but not far from where our grandchild lives and 20 minutes from Monmouth. I did our Christmas food shop at the same time, everything was short dated, either the supermarkets haven't ordered enough stock or are just pushing the short dates. A lot of bread was out of date and most fresh stuff, including meat, was only good till Christmas Day, this means I'll have to food shop again before the New Year. The staff weren't interested.
Finished my pebbles.
356 Peter went back to the flat, dropping me at the retail park to get my nails done and to have a coffee and I walked home. Neighbour and friend came round for tea and Christmas cake. Afternoon spent tidying up the garden, shed and washing the dog bed after the cat decided to use it as her toilet. In the evening we assembled next doors wooden play kitchen for the 2yo, that his mum and dad bought,
Pah! Hubby informed me he'd been reading my blog this week, typical, he never shows much interest in it unless I read something I'm writing to him because it involves one of our kids and I want to make sure I haven't written anything that may cause upset to anyone.
357 Peter went back to the flat whilst I got on with the cleaning and organising Christmas Day. I went out for lunch with the neighbour and her children to visit Santa, we took Bob with us.
We had to wait an hour to see Santa in a wet, muddy field, almost 2 yo lost the will to live and we all returned home muddy.
358 Prepped tomorrows lunch for the fridge, carried the kitchen round to the neighbours to hide it in their conservatory overnight. I stayed for a couple of hours to entertain the kids while they wrapped gifts and got ready for Christmas, then home to await Child 2, his wife and grandchild for the night.
The inflatables were allowed in the lounge much to Peter's annoyance.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas however you choose to celebrate.
