Under Construction - MHWA Retreat

Well...this year I am off to Egypt with my Dad for a week 10th - 17th December - the 2 weeks before Xmas are a great time to go on holiday because you can get some really good deals since most people are focusing on spending their money on all the traditional Xmas stuff rather than holidays! It's quieter in the resorts, and Christmas in hot countries is never as tacky and commercialised....

Then when I get back my friend is coming to visit for the weekend for a weekend of partying, probably go to the ice rink, maybe the spa (I live in Bath which is a spa city so it has its own natural hot spa going on). Work Xmas eve, go for a few drinks after work then go to my Mum's where we will drink champagne, some nice wine, probably play some chess, listen to music. We are vegan so we don't eat any "traditional" Xmas food anyway, but I love to cook and my Mum is a willing audience for my recipes so I will do some cooking. Then I'm working the rest of the week - holding the fort since pretty much everyone else is on leave - - - I love my job so I'm cool with that, and weirdly......people don't stop being homeless at Christmas hmmmmmm..... (I am a Housing Advisor)

I don't always see my parents at Christmas, I get on really well with them luckily and I enjoy spending time with them so I am happy to spend my "Winter bank holiday" with my Mum or Dad

Some years I've been abroad, some I've worked, some I just got really wasted going out on Christmas Eve and slept most of the day he he.....

If I'm with my Mum, then we usually stay up late Xmas eve and sleep in til midday. I'll make my Mum some coffee and toast in bed and we'll sit around chatting. She might go for a walk and I'll join her if it isn't raining! Maybe feed the ducks and squirrels in the local park - they'll eat peanuts right out of your hand, well, the squirrels that is not the ducks . Although that would be cool.

The point is, I don't have to do any of it. We don't do decorations, presents, cards, the Queens Speech, being with people we don't care for, the excessive commercialism. We'll spend the day together because we want to. And if I listen to a Christmas song, it will be because I feel like it.......I could just as easily be listening to Radiohead......