When there’s a financial bonus for doing so I can see it might be very appealing, for many, say in the NHS there may be little choice to work or not and there’ll be few if any financial incentives.
I know we could argue people in vocational/public service work might have expected this sort of thing when they decided on their career paths, but I suspect for some the reality might not have dawned until they completed their training and actually started work ‘proper’ rather than being students - such considerations can be rather distant when you’re young. Add police, fire service, military, those supporting essential utility infracstructures, and staff in the leisure industry running hotels/catering over the festive period, as well as I suspect many others including the self-employed who may still need to attend to facets of their businesses there will be a heck of a lot who don’t have a 2 week break at Christmas.
Not trying to sound grouchy! Must re-read stuff before posting to avoid repetition!
The last few years, probably 3 or 4, we’ve spent Christmas day visiting elderly parents and it looks like this Christmas won’t be any different. We used to invite them around for ‘the day’ - well we have twice - but that’s a pain because I have to run around picking them up and dropping off again which means no drink and a bit of a trauma with the cooking: SWMBO is a bit crap when it comes to planning the cooking so I like to do it… the Christmas spreadsheet Anyway Christmas day usually ends up as a no-no. In fact, last year, we ended up having our Christmas day on the day after boxing day - is there a name for that day?
Yes, and it moving towards us. Parts of Sydneys western suburbs expected to reach 43c + with no rain in sight. I’m unlucky enough to live along the coast which will be a bit cooler.
Even before my parents were too unwell to leave the house my father rarely wanted a family get together.
He’d drive up with mum to watch the kids opening presents but he’d stay no longer than necessary - I knew his Christmas routine involved a trip to the club/pub, sometimes with mum in tow, to socialise with his friends and have a few festive drinks. Before we had kids I enjoyed going with him for some drinks, something we both enjoyed. I suspect this sort of activity would be frowned upon by youngsters these days especially when some of the clubs involved were male dominated, but I think it was ultimately harmless and a good bit of cameraderie.
Yep, try Western Canada. Almost guaranteed snow from November through February.
We’re in the UK this year but other years we have enjoyed White Christmases in Vernon BC and Canmore AB. Just about the same distance from your place to UK or BC. I know which way I’d go !
Well, there you go. One of the Rocky Mountaineer train routes is Banff/Kamloops/Vancouver.
The other in-laws live in Canmore (just outside Banff) and we live about 100 south-east of Kamloops, near Vernon. That whole area gets good snow every winter. You might also consider Whistler about 100 miles north of Vancouver
@BruceW : it’s what the caravan (“trailer” in Canada) industry call a slide out. It contains the dining area and increases the amount of interior space when parked. Push button operation - very neat actually.
And yes, driving off with it extended is definitely not advisable …
I’m so glad I put that little word “almost” into that sentence !
And we too would be disappointed if there wasn’t a good layer of snow over Xmas. Looks like you were unlucky, but I don’t think Vancouver itself is renouned for its snow.
We live on Predator Ridge and it usually snows over Xmas, but family and friends live up at Silver Star and I don’t recall a Xmas without snow up there. The other in-laws live in Canmore and for sure there will be snow at Banff, Lake Louise and Sunshine over Xmas. (famous last words !)
Anyway Christmas day usually ends up as a no-no. In fact, last year, we ended up having our Christmas day on the day after boxing day - is there a name for that day?
