hmmmm, being a bloke, I'm usually resistant to any types of feelings unless there is a V8 in it. But as it's our first Christmas here, it's got my brain in overload.....

whats the cure for the impoverished ?

Emigrate to the UK

impoverished

Save your family visits to the UK for the Summer months when the traveling is easier - better weather, less crowds, cheaper prices.
Stay at home here in Canada at Christmas, curled up by the fireplace with the OH / dog / cat and just get plastered and feel sorry for all the other suckers who had to travel back, especially as the UK is now more or less closed down because of the snow.

Hmmmm.....buy a PS3?

I treated myself to one yesterday and it certainly helps.

Or build a snowman

No snow in NS

Have toys too :-)

But seriously, the family thing is harder than I expected. Hopefully it's just the time of year making me feel like this.

Booze helps.

With most things.

I find Christmas undoubtedly the hardest on the homesickness front. We had our first Christmas in Calgary in 2007 and it was really weird. Since being together my husband and I have shared the christmas's between our respective parents, and then the new year with the other set of parents. We made the effort to do webcams on Christmas day so that our parents (actually just my in laws as my parents webcam wouldn't work ) could watch the grandchildren open presents and generally go wild.

The following Christmas we went back to the UK for 2 weeks. Whilst it was fantastic to be with everyone, we spent most of our time traveling (actually that should read 'sat in traffic on the M6'). We were totally knackered when we got back and so I am more than happy to stay at home at Christmas. Webcams will be in use again and just so long as we've got the usual Christmas Goodies, can get out and go for a skate/walk/sled, and perhaps meet up with some friends, we'll be happy.

Hope you find a way to enjoy your Christmas.

thanks for that....I'm sure we'll enjoy Christmas and my mum has booked the webcam already :-)

Booze...

As a family, volunteer to help at a local homeless shelter over the holidays. Cooking, serving meals, washing up, whatever. It might help you gain a perspective of how fortunate you really are.

Or that.... (I'd go for the booze)...

sounds like there'll be a lot of pished up expats this Christmas LOL