Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. All the best for 2022

[Doolhof]

Hi Everyone,

Not sure if there is already a thread like this, if so my apologies for duplicating.

I know a lot of people don't celebrate Christmas, some people do, or maybe you celebrate something entirely different this time of year.

It would be interesting to know of different customs and festivities held this time of year.

Maybe you have some family traditions you might like to share regarding your celebrations.

For those of you who recognise Christmas, and New Year's I wish you all the best of peace, acceptance, care and comfort.

Season's greetings to you all from Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi Grandy,

Lovely to see you here. I have been away from the forums for too long. Need to spend a bit of time here to work out how to use this site properly or at least a little more effectively.

I wish you a Merry Christmas as well and hope you are able to enjoy the festive season. I attended a Christmas evening at a church held by a choir, I had hoped for more Christmas songs. The ones the audience sang along to were wonderful, sung with loud, joyful voices.

My mental health has been a huge challenge these last few months, triggered a lot by work and a dreadful bully. False complaints have seen me loose 3 days a week of work. 

I'm working Christmas Day. Did so for the last 3 years. It is such a hectic and crazy day with a lot of rude and abusive people generally! I'm trying not to stress and worry about it in advance. My request for help on the day has been declined.

We will be celebrating Christmas Eve with family, so when I am finished work Saturday we will drive 1 1/2 hours to family after I get home. I know a lot of people drive around and travel from here to there for Christmas. 

My husband will be with his family Christmas Day so at least he will not be home alone while I am working. If the beach was closer, I would take off to the beach after work Christmas Day.

Wishing you and everyone reading a safe and peaceful festive season and Merry Christmas to those of you who do like to celebrate Christmas. 

[Doolhof]

Hi All,

This thread does mention Christmas and 2022, so if anyone wishes to share here, you are more than welcome to do so. 

Once again, I know a lot of people struggle with Christmas and others enjoy celbrating in what ever fashion is appropriate to them.

One year we were very fortunate and were able to holiday in Eastern Europe for Christmas. It was wonderful to see the snow, the Christmas markets, all the different decorations and to see the festive season from a new perspective.

As a child Christmas morning we always attended Church then had a family lunch. Sometimes we would pack a picnic lunch and head to the beach or out into the bush. 

If you would like to share your thoughts here, you are more than welcome.

Season's greetings to you all from Dools

[white knight]

To Dools and all,

Merry xmas. I hope we can all be healthier next year.

TonyWK

[mmMekitty]

Merry Xmas, to TonyWK, & everyone!

Yeah, it's great to see that some people like putting up the lights & decorations, & people can come along & take a look at them.

Me, I enjoy the music more, so I've been happy to go to a couple places & sing along with other people.

I like the funny, not so traditional songs most. I particularly like the Aussie Christmas song sung to the tune of Jingle 'Bells'.

Hugzies to all

mmMekitty

[Ggrand]

Hello Sweet Dools,

Thats okay about being away from the forums for a while, your mental health takes presidencies over everything else….you are caring for you and that’s awesome, in saying that I’m so pleased to see your beautiful avatar here again…

I remember the last 2 Christmases you had to work and how rudely the visitors treated you…that is so not fair…and I’m really sorry that you have to work again this Christmas Day….my heart goes out to you precious friend…maybe during your lunch break (and you are entitled to one)…slip outside and find a nice peaceful place to sit down, have your lunch and destress a little if you can….I think a lot of the time that the visitors don’t really want to be there, so they are in a hurry to get there visit over with as quick as they can to get back to there other loved ones….sorry if I’m wrong about that…just my thoughts…

It would be more fairer if every Christmas Day someone different done that shift, like taking it in turns…it’s not fair that you are always working on that day…Is there a nice quite place you could go to after your shift finishes, so you can sit down, unwind a bit with nature before you go home?…

I’m m happy that you’re having Christmas Eve with family, even though it’s a long drive after work…maybe get a bit of sleep if you can on your way there….hmm only if your not driving😁..

Merry Christmas, Dools, Tony, mmMeKitty and to everyone reading this thread…Please try hard to remember to care for yourself on Christmas Day, and every other day of course  and that Beyond Blue will be open as well as our peaceful cafe…If your spending Christmas Day alone, pop into the cafe for some yummies, light chats and feel the love and care that we all have for each other…

Merry Christmas everyone, wishing you all a very peaceful and beautiful day and for the following year…

Grandy🌲🌲🌲🕊🕊🕊.

[mmMekitty]

Ditto, Grandy, I so agree with everything you are saying to Dools. I wonder if it is a matter of getting in early with your request to have Xmas Eve & Xmas Day off work? Some little-bitty bit of info in my head says you've a better chance if you make the request very early. It does seem very unfair that it's you again, who has to work.

Like Grandy has suggested, if you can get a break & go somewhere for lunch, maybe somewhere where Xmas music is playing, that could give you a break from the stress.

& when you are driving, do you have some relaxing music to play in your car?

Yeah, please everyone, feel free to come around to the BB Cafe, where we have lots of goodies, music on the juke box, lights all over the window frames, dangling from tree branches inside & outdoors, popcorn machines already popping! I just had to make a little room for the Xmas Tree... it's growing!

mmMekitty

[Doolhof]

Hi TonyWK and all reading,

I have just found these replies. Now I have to remember where and how I found them. Ha.Ha. I'm still confused with the settings here.

My Christmas Day was very busy at work, it went oaky. I was greatly appreciative when staff came to help in the hectic moments without me having to ask them. 

My husband was having Christmas with his family and brought home some food, so that was lovely, Christmas evening meal sorted!

Hope you had a good Christmas Tony WK Season's Greeting to you all. From Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi Grandy and All,

Thanks for your lovely message. Thankfully this year most people were filled with the Christmas spirit and cheer. I do understand Christmas is a hectic time for people going from here to there, trying to fit everything and everyone in. Some were quite rude so I was even more pleasant to them and that defused the situation a little.

I felt so sorry for one resident who had been sitting for some time waiting for family to pick her up. I called staff, we phoned her family and they were actually not visiting nor picking her up. The dear lady burst into tears. I felt so sorry for her.

It turned out quite hot so my idea of going to a park after work didn't eventuate. I had a chill out time with a cup of tea and enjoyed reading people's Christmas wishes and messages on Facebook. I really like all the pictures of cats in Christmas trees, they cheered me up.

Christmas Eve with family was lovely, thankfully my husband was refreshed and able to drive there and back.

I hope you had a lovely Christmas Grandy. Season's greetings to you all. From Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi mmMekitty,

I put in my request for leave on Christmas Day in early November, when I was told my request was declined, I then asked for assistance Christmas Day even if it was for just 2 hours during the morning rush. That was declined. 

I did have lunch with some of the residents and a staff member. It was too hot to go outside for lunch. I am not a fan of the heat!

I was very pleasantly surprised and thrilled to receive some kind comments for some of the visitors Christmas Day, it really made my effort worth it.

Season's greeting to you all, regards from Dools

[mmMekitty]

Hi Dools. I'm so pleased you found some enjoyment in the Cats in Christmas Trees pictures - did one perchance look a little like me? [LRC smiling sweetly]

It's it amazing what a difference a kind word can make? & it costs so little!

Yeah, that's really sad for the resident waiting for a visit that wasn't going to be. I rather hope they could be diverted into doing something else, & that they forget the disappointment. If not, I hope the staff or other residents could comfort & help them feel better.

I think it was a great idea, to be extra cheerful, & (I hope) let the rudeness & frustrations some people feel a need to take out on you, simply. be like water off a duck's back. You don't have to take on their unhappiness.

Hugzies

mmMekitty