Christmas plans

[JoM]

What is everyone doing over Christmas?

Christmas Eve we plan on popping around to the hotel bar down the lane, we don't stay long and only have a couple of drinks but it's nice as there are always some of our neighbours in there and the boys come with us too. Tom's working until 7.30pm so we'll wait for him before going.

Christmas Day, hopefully we'll be able to have a long walk with Billy in the morning before coming home to cook lunch. We've got my parents and my sister joining us this year. Unfortunately, Roger (Julie's other half) has to work He's a maintenance man at the hospital and is on an 8am-8pm shift on Christmas Day and he's also working Boxing Day. We'll miss him a lot, we all love Rog to bits and he's fantastic company

Not sure about Boxing Day, I think we're having dinner with my parents.

[Ally]

Christmas Eve Conor is taking Don and I out for a slap up lunch.

Christmas morning, after the present opening and a glass of bucks fizz I'll make us all bacon and eggs.

Don and I are then driving to Nerja and will be back tea time on the 27th.

Conor will leave at the same time as us as he and Lucia are going to their new apartment in la Cala for a few days. Exciting times for them.

We've got loads of things planned for between now and January 6th.

[JoM]

Oh, is Conor going to be moving there permanently or is it a holiday apartment that they've bought?

[saundra]

Ho exciting times ally
Much the same as last year then jo poor fella having to work
If no idea what is happening here
As Lilly's mum is working she doesn't want to go . With Lilly to her dad who lives in the sticks but hasn't yet told him
They then usually then come to me boxing day so that won't happen
As o I'm just leaving them all to it
J k and Scarlett are going to her aunty in Lincoln for the day like last year
I will see them later in the week
We all as a family live miles from each other and not good transport links

[Ally]

Oh, is Conor going to be moving there permanently or is it a holiday apartment that they've bought?

Lucia's parents bought the apartment a few years ago and as it overlooks the Med they used it as a holiday place. It has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms so a great size for them! It's on the East side of Malaga which is a great area.

Lucia's folks are doctors and they both have new consultant jobs the other side of Malaga.

The upshot is Conor & Lucia can move in there in the New year, there is no mortgage or rent to pay. Only utility bills and the monthly fee for the communal pool.

Lucia herself works with deaf, dumb and blind children and landed herself a smashing new job a few months ago. They could have moved in earlier this year but wanted to wait until she was settled with her work, which thankfully she is.

It's a wonderful opportunity for them and they'll be able to save lots of money up.

He's slowly been removing his bits and pieces and putting them in his new place so it won't be a shock when he eventually goes.

This just leaves Don and I with the question: do we want to stay in this massive house rattling around in it on our own.

[JoM]

That really is a fabulous opportunity!

I know what you mean about your house. I wouldn't want to move from ours as I love it and love the location but most of the time there's just the three of us and we manage to lose each other in here and while Joe's a way off moving out yet the day will come when it'll just be the two of us rattling around in our big house.

[saundra]

It's a bit upsetting to downsize when kids leave home but it gets exciting to a case of a new adventure
Just as long as you are not a boarder which I'm not

[Ally]

It's a bit upsetting to downsize when kids leave home but it gets exciting to a case of a new adventure
Just as long as you are not a boarder which I'm not

I'm not a hoarder one little bit Saundra but I can't say the same for Don. He'd keep the train tickets we've just used from Birmingham to Nottingham if I let him!

This house has been a dream home Jo - we love it so much. Also, having so much room makes it easier when we have visitors as we don't fall over each other. The pool is something I will not give up. If we do move (I'm quite fancying the idea of a 3 bed, 2/3 bathroomed apartment) but it must come with a pool.

We'll see....lots of time to see what happens. It won't be next year for sure. I'm not ready yet.

[Diflower]

Christmas day just the two of us as usual, as far as we know.

Still haven't been able to pin down the boys - well, the boy who drives Yeah, yeah, we'll be there he says - yes S, but when, and for how long??
They've usually come on Boxing day and stayed overnight, then Bb's mum and dad come the day after.
She's been on the phone wanting to know too so Bb's going to have to push it

Anyway, us neighbours have always had some kind of get-together over Christmas/New year. The last two years we've done it, but neighbour J has been round and this year it's a proper New Year's eve party at their house
I'm all excited, haven't been to a proper party like that for a long time, especially one I didn't throw myself
And we can get all dressed up and everything
And no driving

[Osc]

Christmas Eve we will go into town to see the lights and soak up atmosphere. We never plan, just have lunch wherever we can get in but otherwise go with the flow. We usually bump into Miss Osc and family and last year met up with some friends for a drink, totally unplanned. I suspect it will be super busy this year though, as it is a Saturday.

Christmas Day, we are having dinner here for ourselves and my sister. We'll visit Miss Osc etc. at some stage. Otherwise, it will all very relaxed, not even having turkey.

On the 30th we fly to Prague for three nights, really looking forward to the NYE buzz, plenty of fireworks, and some snow would be nice!