Oh, ptangptang, watch your diverticulitis! You can have your Brit sherry, I tried that once or twice but did not care for it. Maybe I'll do some sparkling wine.

I won't be alone but it will be a different Christmas this year I think; last year I got uninvited from the family's usual get-together (my stepsister's house) and I don't see that being reinstated, the family dynamics are changing faster as we all get older but I have my husband and a friend and I imagine somewhere in there there might be a get together with my husband's family. They all live further away though and I am sometimes not in the mood.

The biggest part about getting older that I don't like around Christmas is not being able to think of very good presents for my husband; we don't need more "stuff" but I like giving/getting/opening presents and that whole scene, but we haven't had a tree at all in this house, it's too small and our cats would not behave I'm sure.