Number 9 speaks to me.... we had such a hectic Christmas and new year hosting, and I’ve gone back to work exhausted. We’re thinking of staying in a hotel next Christmas just us two, but I feel guilty about leaving my mum to be with my brothers who aren’t natural hosts. Also she’ll be 83 next year. I don’t even like roast dinners 🤣
My husband and I spoke this year about maybe staying somewhere next year too, or possibly even going somewhere warm abroad. Strangely, I'm in a similar-ish situation to you though, as my mum is older, but I don't have any siblings, so I feel guilty to go away when a lot of our family aren't local. I do love a roast dinner though!
Guilt is such a massive thing, I wish there was an easy way round it. Also it’s my mum’s birthday on 27th December so my family tends to dominate the whole week and I really feel my husband would enjoy a break from that next year. Isn’t it crazy how the “most magical time of year” actually for a lot of people seems to be a time of massive compromises and not doing what we would like to...! (Including in my case eating a huge pasta buffet or perhaps a Mexican or Thai feast 😂)
Having her birthday at that time of year too must make it even harder.
I hadn't considered which food I'd choose for an alternative Christmas dinner but a pasta buffet sounds great!! We were in Florida in December a few years ago (not actually at Christmas) and I wasn't sure how it would feel seeing decorations up and having the weather be so warm but it was actually really lovely and still felt very festive. We went to a cute little place that has a local reputation for amazing fried chicken, and now I think about it, I think I could definitely get onboard with that as a Christmas option.
Great post! So many of these things resonated with me, especially the one about success. I’ve been on my own journey last year and letting go of job titles and responsibility made me so much happier.
I just had a look at your Substack and read your piece on success - it's great! Very similar to my feelings recently and it's nice to know I'm not the only one.
I'm slightly envious of you getting to spend time living in Australia. I hope to do that one day too, even if it's just a short six month stint. I liked it there so much when I spent a month there with a previous job.
Thank you! You have to do it Erin, I loved living in my little studio apartment over looking the harbour. I look back now and can’t believe it lived there!
I really hope I get to. If nothing else, I at least want to get back there to visit and see more. The hotel room I had in Sydney overlooked the harbour too. It was incredible to wake up to that view every day, and a bit surreal too. I think I'd wanted to go for so long, I couldn't quite believe I was actually there, seeing that view for real. I really liked Melbourne too, that's where the office of the company I worked for was, so I spent two weeks there before heading to the Sunshine Coast to visit my cousin, and then on to Sydney.
Number 9 speaks to me.... we had such a hectic Christmas and new year hosting, and I’ve gone back to work exhausted. We’re thinking of staying in a hotel next Christmas just us two, but I feel guilty about leaving my mum to be with my brothers who aren’t natural hosts. Also she’ll be 83 next year. I don’t even like roast dinners 🤣
My husband and I spoke this year about maybe staying somewhere next year too, or possibly even going somewhere warm abroad. Strangely, I'm in a similar-ish situation to you though, as my mum is older, but I don't have any siblings, so I feel guilty to go away when a lot of our family aren't local. I do love a roast dinner though!
Guilt is such a massive thing, I wish there was an easy way round it. Also it’s my mum’s birthday on 27th December so my family tends to dominate the whole week and I really feel my husband would enjoy a break from that next year. Isn’t it crazy how the “most magical time of year” actually for a lot of people seems to be a time of massive compromises and not doing what we would like to...! (Including in my case eating a huge pasta buffet or perhaps a Mexican or Thai feast 😂)
Having her birthday at that time of year too must make it even harder.
I hadn't considered which food I'd choose for an alternative Christmas dinner but a pasta buffet sounds great!! We were in Florida in December a few years ago (not actually at Christmas) and I wasn't sure how it would feel seeing decorations up and having the weather be so warm but it was actually really lovely and still felt very festive. We went to a cute little place that has a local reputation for amazing fried chicken, and now I think about it, I think I could definitely get onboard with that as a Christmas option.
Yes I think Christmas food should be a bit like birthday food, i.e. your favourite stuff!
Great post! So many of these things resonated with me, especially the one about success. I’ve been on my own journey last year and letting go of job titles and responsibility made me so much happier.
I just had a look at your Substack and read your piece on success - it's great! Very similar to my feelings recently and it's nice to know I'm not the only one.
I'm slightly envious of you getting to spend time living in Australia. I hope to do that one day too, even if it's just a short six month stint. I liked it there so much when I spent a month there with a previous job.
Thank you! You have to do it Erin, I loved living in my little studio apartment over looking the harbour. I look back now and can’t believe it lived there!
I really hope I get to. If nothing else, I at least want to get back there to visit and see more. The hotel room I had in Sydney overlooked the harbour too. It was incredible to wake up to that view every day, and a bit surreal too. I think I'd wanted to go for so long, I couldn't quite believe I was actually there, seeing that view for real. I really liked Melbourne too, that's where the office of the company I worked for was, so I spent two weeks there before heading to the Sunshine Coast to visit my cousin, and then on to Sydney.