Normally I post a short Christmas greeting here on 25th December each year as we spend the day celebrating with any of the Offspring who have come home. This year will be very different though, as we all took the decision early that none of our family would travel over the Christmas period. In retrospect, I’m very glad we made that choice when we did, as it *has* avoided major disappointments.
So Mr. Kaggsy and I will be celebrating quietly at home, and spending time connecting with the family digitally. It *will* be odd, but we would rather this and all stay safe than take any risks. I hope that, wherever you are, you and your loved ones stay safe – and have as Merry a Christmas as you can! I will be back in a few days with gratuitous pictures of new books and an attempt to round up my best of the year’s reading – in the meantime, take care all!
Dec 25, 2020 @ 08:15:13
Mrs TD and are doing the same – first time in years we’re spending Christmas alone together. We got our first phone message pings at 6:25! At least we can FaceTime with family later. Same as you, we thought this was the most sensible thing to do. There’ll be another time for meeting again. Happy Christmas.
Dec 25, 2020 @ 14:31:33
Likewise here – we’ve always have a couple of the Offspring home, but at least we can Zoom. I would hate to risk any of us and I think this is the most sensible way. Happy Christmas to you and yours!
Dec 25, 2020 @ 11:09:45
merry christmas such a shame we were visiting family tomorrow but are not now no i am at work this afternoon so just having a quiet morning with amanda here
Dec 25, 2020 @ 14:30:40
Merry Christmas to you and Amanda Stu – it’s difficult not to see people but best all round I think. Stay safe and have a lovely day.
Dec 25, 2020 @ 11:19:43
Well, we in Melbourne could not celebrate Mother’s Day, or Father’s Day, or Cup Day, and birthdays everywhere went unremarked. It was hard, but it was worth it, because as you say, it is just not worth putting your loved ones at risk.
It will be over eventually, and then we will certainly party!!
Merry Christmas and thank you (and Simon and Stu) for all the entertaining posts which have helped to make the year bearable.
Dec 25, 2020 @ 14:29:55
No, we have been the same all year – every birthday and celebration day has been digital but keeping loved ones safe is the most important thing. Happy Christmas to you and yours, and let’s all hope for a better 2021!
Dec 25, 2020 @ 21:45:22
Thank goodness for digital. It must have been awful during the Spanish flu…
Dec 26, 2020 @ 08:42:13
I know. We *are* very fortunate!
Dec 25, 2020 @ 11:52:42
Merry Christmas to you! I hope it proves enjoyable if a little different.
Dec 25, 2020 @ 14:28:07
And to you! Different, but nice and chilled so far, and we have the technology to zoom the offspring!
Dec 25, 2020 @ 11:53:10
Hope it’s a good day nonetheless 🙂
Dec 25, 2020 @ 14:27:40
It’s been nice so far – Happy Christmas! 😀
Dec 25, 2020 @ 12:52:44
Merry Christmas! It’s a very different one for me too, but best to stay safe.
Dec 25, 2020 @ 14:27:21
It’s certainly the oddest one I’ve had, but I’d rather everyone was safe. Merry Christmas!
Dec 25, 2020 @ 13:11:10
Merry Christmas, Karen. It’s lucky you’ve decided early to make this a different Christmas as I saw some people were terribly disappointed by these last developments.
Have a lovely time. Hopefully it will bring many books and joy.
Dec 25, 2020 @ 14:26:50
Thanks Caroline and Merry Christmas to you. I’m very glad we decided when we did because I feel awful for those who’ve been disappointed. We are having several zooms with our children over the festive period and thing are very relaxed so far – plus there are books… ;D
Dec 25, 2020 @ 15:33:48
I got book vouchers. 😊
Dec 26, 2020 @ 08:49:56
Always wonderful! 😁😁
Dec 25, 2020 @ 14:33:07
Ditto the same to you with (Christmas) bells on, Karen! I’m glad to see so many bloggers with families on here doing the sensible thing and spending a quiet few days in lieu of the customary knees-up — all I can say is thank goodness for Zoom and facetime and the rest so that we can connect with loved ones. Nadolig Llawen, comme on dit au Pays de Galles!
Dec 25, 2020 @ 14:36:09
LOL! Yes, obvs we bookish types are sensible and shold be running the country… And in some ways, the quiet is rather nice (but don’t tell anyone). I do miss the Offspring but at least we have Zoom! Have a great festive season!
Dec 25, 2020 @ 14:36:08
Merry Christmas, dear Kaggsy! I’m glad (but not surprised) that you’re making the best of this awful situation. Your blog has provided me with much interest & enjoyment this year and I very much look forward to seeing the new books!
Dec 25, 2020 @ 14:37:04
Aw, thank you, and Happy Christmas to you too! One has to be positive, I always think and make the best of things. At least there are books… (and gratuitous images will follow in a day or so….!)
Dec 25, 2020 @ 15:54:47
Merry Christmas, dear Kaggsy, and many, many thanks for making this entire Scrooge-like year feel much merrier than it would have felt without your blog!
Dec 26, 2020 @ 08:49:33
Thank you Boris, and merry Christmas to you and yours too! It’s been a delight to encounter you and the poems you share with us this year – online contact has definitely kept us sane this year.
Dec 25, 2020 @ 18:29:30
Merry Christmas to you, Christmas day here has been very small and quiet, relaxing though.
Dec 26, 2020 @ 08:43:53
Thank you Ali. Quiet here and relaxing too!
Dec 25, 2020 @ 20:26:47
This was an unusual Christmas and I hope you had a nice day anyway.
We’ve all been thankful for technology this year.
Dec 26, 2020 @ 08:43:24
It was, but ended up being nice – and as you say, thank goodness for the technology which meant we could have some lovely virtual meetings with the Offspring!
Dec 26, 2020 @ 00:11:13
Merry Christmas Karen. It feels “normal” for me because for 20 years in the UK I had no family to celebrate with, it was always just T & I. Last year I was lucky to spend Xmas with my family in Melbourne, this year it’s back to the two of us again albeit in Western Australia! I hope you have a relaxing day, enjoy some good food and receive a book or two xx
Dec 26, 2020 @ 08:41:47
Thank you, and to you and yours too! It has been an unusual Christmas, but we’ve been able to contact via technology which was lovely. There was relaxing and food and books, so all was well! ☺️☺️
Dec 26, 2020 @ 02:34:59
Merry Christmas to you and your family! I have my family home with me and I know I am very lucky as many people are celebrating Christmas without their children. Thank God for technology and of course, books! We are never alone with books.
Dec 26, 2020 @ 08:40:27
Thank you, and to you and yours! We have missed the Offspring, but been blessed with having technology so we were able to have some lovely zooms!
Dec 26, 2020 @ 06:47:23
Merry Christmas, Karen! ✨🎄🥂☃️
Dec 26, 2020 @ 08:39:22
And to you Elisabeth! 😁
Dec 26, 2020 @ 08:25:15
God Jul!
Dec 26, 2020 @ 08:51:07
Thank you! 😁😁
Dec 27, 2020 @ 18:59:18
Happy Christmas from the Catch-up Queen, had a good sesh on the blogs today but still behind! We saw no one too apart from running friends outside and lots of Zooms.
Dec 27, 2020 @ 19:16:56
Thanks Liz! I think seeing no-one felt definitely like the safest option!
Dec 28, 2020 @ 22:51:08
Good to hear that you were set to enjoy your holidays, safely and wholly, and I hope you’re still enjoying what remains of them! It was a quiet year for us as well, and some ruffled feathers as not everyone is as committed to the public health guidelines as we are in our household, but enjoyable nonetheless! (And, more reading time than usual…for sure!)
Dec 29, 2020 @ 16:33:44
I’m just so glad we planned the festive break this way in advance – no disappointments as this is what we expected. The Offspring did haver a bit to start with. but we were firm and were right. Obvs not everyone is taking it as seriously as us, but ruffled feathers are better than illness!!