My parents went away for New Years for a couple of days and actually told me to have a party - so I'd stay at home with our dog rather than leave him at home on his own for a long time/having to put him into a kennel.

My 'rents are away at the moment, in Cyprus. It's just me, my brother and the dog. I do pretty much exactly the same as I do when my parents are here - except I do more housework/cooking than normal.