I just treatedmyself to to going to the local churches crib service. Candlelight, church packed, kids dressed as all the usual nativity characters and animals complete with ninja turtle and an elephant lol. Ropey singing and a vicar in gold cowboy boots.
Childlike innocence and wonder restored, if only for an hour.
When I got sober i hated my first Christmas. I sat at home feeling miserable. Then, by my second one I'd realised that, like most things in life, we get out of Christmas what we put into it. Most of the very Christmassy things at Christmas are free. They get us out into our community and away from this old drinking connections and habits. I've found it beat sitting at home nursing my self pity like in the first year, even if people who'd know the cynical old me thought I'd lost the plot at first.
Candlelit carols at midnight anyone?
BB