topic NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE? in BB Social Zone

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

blondguy — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 10:59:06 GMT

Hi Everyone!

How will you be spending your time this Christmas and/or New Years Eve?
With family...friends..relatives....partner?
If you are spending this festive season alone...your thoughts are just as valued and appreciated!
Readers of the forums can post too! Joining the Beyond Blue forums is easy and your thoughts are very welcome 🙂

my kindest wishes for the season

Paul

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

blondguy — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 08:44:02 GMT

Hi everyone

My mum is 89 and frail...so I will be spending Christmas with her. Otherwise I am going to order a seafood platter and enjoy it 🙂

Just thinking about what to give my rescue dog for Christmas lunch! (Chow Chow/German Shep cross)

What is everyone else doing?

(and if you dont like Christmas...you are welcome to post too!)

my kind thoughts

Paul

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

Katyonthehamsterwheel — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 10:10:53 GMT

Hi Paul

Seafood platter sounds yum! My staffy loves a pigs ear for a treat, so might wrap one up for her 🙂

My adult son will be coming home for Xmas. I don't see him much, so that will be really nice. I'm still dealing with some stuff, so hoping that won't impact too much. But I did read a good Buzzfeed article (can I mention that here?) about prepping for the holiday season when you're "not ok", and I found that helpful.

Best wishes to you, Mum and pooch - Katy

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

blondguy — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 12:22:07 GMT

Hey Katy

Good on you for thinking about your Staffy at Christmas 🙂 It would be nice to see your son of course...There are many people on the forums that are also dealing with issues at Christmas too Katy.....me included!

Yes you can mention the Buzzfeed article of course..What is the exact name of the article?

Love your profile pic Katy!

Great post and thankyou heaps

Paul

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

Quercus — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 06:28:39 GMT

Hi Paul, Katy and everyone reading,

I was quietly hoping you would begin a Christmas thread Paul, I find it has always been a comfort and something I look forward to at a time of year I feel lost. So thank you.

Last year BeyondBlue published an article I really found helpful and if it's ok I'd like to share the link here...

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/personal-best/pillar/supporting-yourself/coping-with-christmas

One thing that always stands out to me at this time of year is how guilty I feel. Guilty for dreading Christmas. Guilty for wanting to be alone. Above all guilty for wanting to enjoy Christmas and do what I want not just rush about trying to cater for and please everyone else.

Somehow I think we forget we are allowed to have wants and needs of our own. It is ok to do what makes us feel good and to say no.

This year will be my first ever Christmas I am staying home and doing what I want to. Our kids are 4 and 6 and we've never had a Christmas where we haven't travelled from one family to another. So this year is OURS.

We will go to carols in the park, are marinating pork and doing a webber BBQ and kebabs. Are asking both lots of parents to visit if they want to and whoever comes can come. And we're going to spend lots of time at the beach over the holidays.

As for presents we've got stuff all money so I've been slowly making gifts with the kids. Lolly wreaths and potted plants and I'm sewing some dresses. Nothing fancy.

In a nutshell I miss enjoying Christmas. Usually the stress is self inflicted. So for once I'm letting go of trying to please others. I want to just relax and enjoy being with my husband and kids.

Hope you all have a peaceful Christmas exactly how YOU want to. ❤

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

blondguy — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 10:25:24 GMT

Hi All! Everyone's thoughts about Christmas are welcome...New members too 🙂

Hey Quercus ....Thankyou for your kind and heartfelt post Nat ! I do hope you have been traveling okay 🙂

Quercus mentioned "This year will be my first ever Christmas I am staying home and doing what I want to. Our kids are 4 and 6 and we've never had a Christmas where we haven't travelled from one family to another. So this year is OURS" This is wonderful Quercus and good on you 🙂

Christmas can be a difficult time for sure. Your well being (and your childrens) come first....all other considerations are secondary Nat. You are an amazing person that deserves a decent Christmas...Nice1 x

Hugs and my kindest

Paul

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

romantic_thi3f — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 00:52:47 GMT

Hi,

Thanks for starting this article Paul - you've got a knack for thinking of topics right when people need them the most!

Personally - no plans yet! Unfortunately even though I need plans everything is always left to the last minute. Nobody ever knows what they are doing! Our NYE is usually very exciting in that we watch a little bit of the fireworks on tv and try to stay awake until midnight haha.

One of the things I really like about NYE though is the idea of a new year - not so much the NY resolutions or anything, but just that little sense of how 'things could be different this year', like we get to start again, even though technically it's just another day! I get a bit excited finding diaries too!

Paul and Katyonthehamsterwheel it's so sweet that you're thinking about what to get your rescue dog for lunch! Mine just likes leftovers! Also Katyonthehamsterwheel, I did try and find the article but I think we need the name of the article since Buzzfeed has posted lots related to Christmas!!

Quercus, please don't be hard on yourself. I know that's so much easier said than done but I think that there's so much pressure from society to feel a certain way and act a certain way. Maybe if you can think about it as 'society and consumerisms fault' rather than yours it might take away some of the burden! I know that Christmas is so hard for lots of people and that's okay too.

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

Katyonthehamsterwheel — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 05:03:50 GMT

Hi all 🙂

Quercus - sorry you feel guilty at Xmas, I bet a lot of people do! I'm glad you're going to please yourself this year, it sounds lovely.

Hey rt - I always hate new year's, so thanks for sharing a different perspective on it. I like the focus on the possibility of a new year, rather than on looking back (yuk!).

Paul - thanks again for this thread, and for always being so welcoming and uplifting here on the forums x

The buzzfeed article I came across is called:
37 Holiday Self-Care Tips For Anyone Who Is Kind Of Not OK RN

Kind wishes, Katy

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

blondguy — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 12:15:50 GMT

Hi everyone....Whether members like or dislike Christmas....all posts are welcome 🙂

Hey Romantic....Thankyou for your wonderful caring post! I find it difficult to have any high expectations at this time of year...Great to have your thoughts on New Years Eve too! Good1 🙂 Always a bonus to read your posts!

Hey Katy.....I have posted this thread in 2016 + 2017....and it was always huge. After my mum has been ill this year my time on the forums has been limited...You are more than welcome to reply to others on this thread ...(only if you wish to and if convenient of course!)

Katy mentioned the article from Buzzfeed for everyone's information....the google search is below

Google.....37 Holiday Self-Care Tips For Anyone Who Is Kind Of Not OK RN

May the Santa be with you 😉

my kindest always

Paul

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

CMF — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 12:27:53 GMT

Hi all,

for us it is dinner xmas eve with my partners family, lunch with mine and nye at my partners again. If it is hot we an swim in his pool. I haven't really been in the mood but my spirits are lifting i think.

cmf x

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

blondguy — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 12:42:47 GMT

Hi Country Music Festival

I know that you have been super flat out yet I wish I had your Christmas plans....Christmas Eve dinner with your partners family...Christmas lunch with your family....and your partner has a pool? I wish!!! 😉

I hope your spirits lift cmf.....me thinks you deserve a peaceful festive season..please be gentle to yourself

you are always welcome to post and great to see you 'on the air' x

Paul

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

Hanna3 — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 22:18:55 GMT

Hi I'm new don't know how you put a picture up etc - anybody else spending Christmas alone? How do you find it? I've had to do it years ago and found it pretty miserable and embarrassed if people knew I was home alone that day... looks like with no friends in the new town I've moved to it's just me and my dog. I'd love to hear from others who will be alone, maybe we can chat on this forum a bit Christmas Day?

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

Katyonthehamsterwheel — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 04:14:27 GMT

Hi Hanna - welcome! If you go to the top right of the screen you will see "my account", if you click that it will ask you to log in and you can update your profile from there 🙂

I've spent one Xmas alone, but that was my choice, so a little different perhaps. I just went to the beach for a bit, came home and ate food I'd bought for myself and hung out with my pets. Stress free, which was why I chose to do so. I'm sorry you don't have anyone to spend it with. I wonder if you could put some things in place to make it nice for yourself? Glad you've got your dog. My staffy is my best mate. Most days I don't see anyone and it's just us. What kind of dog do you have?

Katy

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

Hanna3 — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 04:35:48 GMT

Hi Katy, my dog is an 8 year old Shitzu-Maltese cross named Sam and he is the sweetest natured dog! He's also my best mate - dogs are wonderful companions aren't they.

I haven't really planned anything for Christmas - I will go to the Christmas Eve service at the local church to make it "Christmassy" and I thought I'd let myself have pavlova (my favourite dessert) on Christmas Dau and depending on how hot it is, just take Sam for a stroll in the park in the morning and/or late afternoon and chill out in front of a movie for a while during the day. I guess it goes by pretty fast and is stress-free as you say. I'll give Sam a treat of some kind too!

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

Katyonthehamsterwheel — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 05:15:33 GMT

Hanna, absolutely! Don't know what I'd do without my buddy 🙂

The church service sounds like a lovely idea. I just read your other post and I see your house gets pretty hot, so you're probably not going to be wanting to roast up a turkey leg for yourself and Sam to share lol.

Anyway, I'm sure there will be people to chat to on the forums. Alone or otherwise, Xmas can be a hard time for many and a bit of friendly banter in a safe space is always nice 🙂

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

calmseeker — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 05:45:07 GMT

For Christmas I am hoping for a card containing one free ticket for a day of guaranteed peace and calm and happiness. Thanks in advance Santa x

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

CMF — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 07:38:18 GMT

Hi all,

Calm seeker, i hope you get your wish. What do you think you could do for guaranteed peace, calm and happiness? Any ideas?

Hanna3, I'm sure you will find people here on the forums. In the past i have spemd xmas night or new years eve here. One year we had a 'party' in the bb cafe. It really brought a smile to my face.

Speaking of the BB cafe, it is another great place to mingle on here, there is always someone about.

cmf x

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

Quercus — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 07:38:47 GMT

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

Calmseeker I like that idea. Think Santa has an extra ticket?

Hopefully seeing as school finishes today for my kids it will quiet down but I'm getting more worked up and tired every day.

Doesn't help that it's only the start of summer and we've had days of horrible weather and a bush Fire already. 42 degrees is too hot for me especially at work outdoors. tomorrow is hotter.

Hmm changed my mind. Perhaps Santa will bring us an air conditioner. Or a pool. Yeah I'm with you Paul a pool sounds like bliss.

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

eight — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 09:02:41 GMT

lmao when i was in like. year 5 year 6 my class was taught how to play the recorder. only my class i guess we were the special kids and we'd learn these christmas carols on recorder in term 4 so every december we could go down to the bunnings across the road and play our christmas carols on those lousy plastic ten dollar recorders.

i still have my recorder. i havent touched it since i was twelve. i never even liked playing it id sing out those carols with my too loud too shaky voice. i can only imagine the twelve year olds of our day are still playing carols at that bunnings. yes this is On My Mind bc december 11 rolled around again which means mum gets that memory of my year 6 class playing on her fb feed

i forget every year it comes up on her memories there is one boy in the front playing the ocarina, a woodwind instrument which if you knew that before i explained it you are a legend of zelda fan. why was ocarina boy playing that instead of a recorder? maybe year 6 eight knew. i certainly don't. ocarina boy confuses me so much i need to share my perplexed frustration

by the way the best christmas carol is feliz navidad and i will not elaborate. the best christmas song is 12 days of christmas by the straight no chasers because my brain at all times is a confused choir trying to sing the 12 days of christmas to the tune of africa

NEW YEARS EVE..ARE YOU HAVING A QUIET OR BUSY ONE?

Moonstruck — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 10:48:35 GMT

Hello everyone...well I'm obviously the odd one out here...so I'd better stick to my own Christmas thread started in November...called Christmas with Anxiety/Depression.......enjoy whatever you all do....x