Christmas 2024 : A Year in Review

Loughc

A thread for us to look back on our memories of Christmas 2024… what went well, what didn't go well and what we can do differently in 2025.

I'll kick off;

Christmas 2024 was a mixed one for me in all reality, as many of ye know my Mam passed away in 2024 so Christmas was always going to be strange without her. Ray Foley signed off his radio show on Christmas Even perfectly by saying for people who lose someone even if it's not at Christmas time, Christmas time can be difficult as more often than not the person who passed was the person who made Christmas what it is today for you. And for me that is it exactly, my Mam loved Christmas and she definitely made Christmas so magical for me.

To honor her I put all my energy into passing that magic onto my two boys and I focused making Christmas magical for them, my eldest is 3 so he really understood alot this year and really enjoyed the madness.

We visited my Mam's grave just before Christmas day and between Christmas, elf numbers 2's birthday and New Years and back to work I never even got time to sit and realise the gravity of the loss at Christmas until yesterday, my walk gave me great time to reflect and I had a lump in my throat the whole time while walking around. While visiting the grave is never easy the Christmas visit broke me, knowing I was going home to celebrate Christmas and she couldn't just killed me. But I know her well enough to know she would not want my boys to experience anything less than I did so the show went on and I felt her there with us throughout.

Sorry bit of a downer but sadly that's life some years.

Overall the day went well with presents and the dinner was perfect, I'm still not sure on the BIG SHOP and when to conquer that, it's definitely busier than ever these years regardless how late I do it. I remember taking my time enjoying the big shop years ago but recently it felt more like a battle.

It was still lovely to get time as a family and have those moments together, my favourite thing about Christmas is finding peace amongst the madness.

For 2025 I want more time off work and more multicoloured lights out the back garden, to which I will avail of any free advice and tips on best way to execute that.

Loughc

Oh and I got flu which kicked in about a hour after the Christmas dinner on Christmas Day, that left me feeling worse for wear for the rest of the time off!

BK5

Lost my own Mother at the end of March so know exactly what you are going through. 20 of us gathered at her grave on Christmas Eve which a real gut wrencher, it really does take months for things like these to sink in.

Overall had a good Christmas, the dinners turned out very well, got some nice presents and had a few nights out. I went into work 4 mornings over the holiday though and I'm def not doing so many again, so need to learn to say no sometimes.

Hope everyone on here had a brilliant Christmas 2024. 🎄

DvB

I'll answer this properly tomorrow but for now all ill say is that I'm glad you two managed to maintain the magic to some extent, even if it was for others primarily.

Sincere condolences for both your losses.

BK5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123030847#Comment_123030847

Thanks very much DvB, really appreciate it.

A cup of te

Lovely posts and puts things into perspective. I was so stressed after a customer late in the evening ripping me a new one. Then I read your posts and I realise I'm not experiencing anything like what you are.

I can't even begin to imagine. I'm thinking of a CS Lewis quote, "her absence is like the sky, spread over everything". Like DvB said, I am glad you both managed to have Christmas and got some time to reflect also. It's really important. My sincere condolences to you both.

And do learn to say no, BK5. I need to take my own advice there too. Look after you.

And LoughC I concur on the multicoloured lights all the way!

My Christmas in review. I had my first one in my new house. Hosted Christmas Day for 7 people and had people every single day from 21st to 31st in addition to having people over on the 14th and then on the 5th too so it was busy but loved it. It was such a contrast to 2023 when I was so stressed at work and even logged on on St Stephen's night to get a headstart on the next day. This year I will just buy less/no tubs and less junk. I make so much homemade stuff that I don't need it. And finally I just need to buy more outside decorations.

DvB

Christmas 2024 for us was a mixed bag really. As I've mentioned on here previously my FIL is in St. Francis hospice with terminal cancer & he had been the primary carer for my MIL who has dementia. My wife & my BIL (to a lesser extent) had taken over the carer role for the couple of months before Christmas and the cracks were starting to show due to the stress levels involved. She is very difficult to deal with & can do very little for herself anymore.

Anyway, my MIL stayed with us from Christmas eve to the 27th when my SIL came home from the UK for a few days. All went well whilst she stayed with us and Christmas eve was nice, as was Christmas day where after calling up to visit my FIL & dinner we called over to my sisters house (who had been hosting my mum & dad & other sister) so we were all together for a couple of hours, that in hindsight was the start of my MIL's set back though as she was clearly out of her comfort zone & through not having seen my family in a while basically had forgotten them all. This took her out of her routine & created confusion for her.

Stephens day was v.quiet with us visiting my FIL & then preparing another 'Christmas' dinner & relaxing. We then had a couple of days to ourselves as my MIL was back in her own house where my SIL & her family where staying whilst over from the UK. We used the time to unwind & watch some TV etc. as we hadn't had much time for ourselves up until that point. We also visited my FIL pretty much daily.

After my SIL returned to the UK & we resumed looking after my MIL we were dismayed by the change in her though, she's now gotten far more forgetful, is very cranky, starting to get quite aggressive and is far more difficult to engage with, so the day to day stuff has gotten harder & longer to achieve. In all honesty I suspect she'll be needing full time care soon as she's clearly incapable of looking after herself, despite protesting vigorously that there's nothing wrong with her & can still cook/clean/shop etc. none of which has been the case for nearly 2 years now. We know its all textbook part of the condition but its very difficult to manage daily.

A couple of nights ago on a walk with my wife we discussed the christmas holidays & year ahead & agreed that this was likely the last one where all her family would be with us (her dad has been given 2-3 months max) & at the rate her mum is declining is most likely to be in care by Christmas also, this understandably got her quite upset but she did say that despite the stress's in dealing with the situation she had been determined to make Christmas as magical as possible for the kids and through doing that had gotten enjoyment from it herself, which she hadn't expected to at all.

So as I had mentioned on another post a few days ago, Christmas was better than expected but other than it being the last with all my in-laws is unlikely to be remembered too fondly. We're facing into a difficult year and humble apologies for being so downbeat but that's our reality & on that note suspect I'll be popping in here for some Christmas cheering up throughout the year!!

BK5

Two brilliant posts cup of te and DvB, having this place to come and write something down with all you decent, like minded people is a real tonic. Helps a lot, big love.

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123032043#Comment_123032043

Completely echo this, this place is a great resource to get things off your chest and everyone is so lovely it's a joy to talk to everyone here. We're all at similar stages in life as well so it really helps to feel it's ok to feel shíte and that we are not alone in feeling this way.

A cup of te

Wishing you all the best, DvB. That's a lot going on. Strikes me in all of the posts that you're all determined to keep the magic going for others and that is commendable particularly for children. Who can forget the magic and excitement of being a child at Christmas. Makes me think again about that idea of nostalgia and the potential link between Christmas and nostalgia.

I agree re this being a great place to come in general but particularly when you're going through tough times. My first year here was when my mam had cancer and there's something comforting about the posts here. You can almost feel the warmth like the warm glow of lights and sparkle of tinsel. Love reading about people meeting up with family and friends too. And it really helps me with the post Christmas blues!

BK5

As we always say, the spirit of Christmas is here all year round.

Posy

Amongst other things, I'm not doing parsnips next year- they always end in disaster, I'm giving up on them! Plus, I thought I was being very smart this (last?!) year by getting those ready to oven cook roast spuds, and they were not nice at all. I'll just do proper real goose fat ones next (this?!) year instead of taking the easy way out!

You were both in my thoughts on Christmas Day, @Loughc and @BK5. xx