General Chat

The woman in the Asda advert could have been me – rushing round trying to fulfil the mythical ‘perfect’ Christmas preparations. Can’t even relax over the meal as I’m thinking of the next course, or ‘is it done properly?’.

The weeks running up to it aren’t much better – who’s going to who and when? When can we fit in Christmas Mark 2 for those we didn’t entertain on the day?

OH’s idea of the perfect Christmas would be to hire a large house and have the extended family to stay. Even though they are fine, it would be my version of hell.

I've always volunteered too Stephen, and get great satisfaction from doing so, met all sorts of people, who lead a completely different lifestyle to me, but that makes life more interesting, some I liked, some I've disliked, and some I have loved with all my heart. I never feel ill at ease with anyone, whether they be a Lord of the manor or someone who lives in a hostel, it's not where they live or what they have, it's what they behave like as people that makes me like them, or not. I've met some peole who have spent most of there lives in prison, who I'd happily invite to my home, and I've met some who think they they are better than anyone else, who I wouldn't let past my door :-D

I like a bit of travel too though Island, my dad lived in Spain, and when he was ill I travelled there every other week, I just got used to it, mind you it was worth the travelling, it was hot :-D

Ann, I know exactly how you feel, my Mum loved the cards I brought her, so I miss looking to find her the right card with the right words. She died the Friday before Mothering Sunday, so she never got the cards I got her then (I would always buy her one for the words, then a funny one, so she would stop crying at the first one) But I still have them in my drawer, nearly 20 years after she died.

Your birthdays Christmas day the Robert :-D

Det, I really don't worry about food or who's coming for Christmas anymore, I'm sure there are loads of people who would like to say, don't buy me anything, don't worry about doing a big dinner, and just lets enjoy the day with friends and or family :-D

I used to get really stressed over Christmas Day, but now I just keep it as simple as possible. We visit the grandchildren in the morning, get the mayhem over, then come back for a quiet day with just my old Dad, plus the eldest grandson to stop him becoming too maudlin. Personally, I enjoy the time from the Solstice until Christmas Eve - then it just seems to fall flat

I celebrate Yule

Yes, Yule is a magical time of year, if you can forget all the commercial excesses, and go back to basics.

Ann like you, I find it very hard to get a card for Dad and not both Mum and Dad. Mum loved Christmas and Dad has never liked it. I think he must have gone along with it for us and mum because we only found out he had never liked xmas after mum died. Only last week he told me he never got anything for xmas when he was little. Bless him.

I'm not too keen on it - but arrange my annual leave to have as much time off for as little leave as possible :-D

My children (29 &32) love it, but it's difficult to convince them that I'm quite happy at home alone. I prefer the summer family get togethers.

Youngest is going to her dads for Christmas, and eldest is determined I go to hers. As I don't drive, it means either daughter or son in law can't drink, as I like to sleep in my own house.

I'm looking after my grandchildren tomorrow, so will get the ancient moth eaten fake tree & decorations down from the attic, so they can decorate it, then Ithe joy of taking it down on boxing day.

Gosh I sound like a right old Bah humbug - but we had good Christmases when the girls were young

:-D :-D

Joan......sounds like a lovely Xmas to me :-D

Sylvia.....How sad for your dad....it must have been upsetting as a child not to receive any gifts at all. You will have to spoil him this year!

Off to London to see a concert at Trafalgar Square, and to see the tree, am I excited?you bet, have a good day everyone :-D

I love Xmas, always have in both the northern and southern hemisphere.
We spend the day at the beach. The kids get up and check out there prezzies then we head out to the deck to see Santa as he whips around the settlement on a fire engine throwing sweets. We then have a big breakfast and head down to the beach to play with the new toys. And have a swim I am a bit nervous about our first year without dad But as you said Lynda he wouldn't want us up be sad so we will shed a few tears then raise a glass to him.
Only hope no one has a baby. Christmas babies may be amusing to there families but they are a bloody nuisance to midwives :-|

Morning Everyone.
I love every last Gawd damn last minute of it, and would be very miffed if I missed it, for whatever reason.
Long before December looms, I start making lists. Presents, food, who is going to who, what orders have to be put into butchers etc.
This year, I started making my presents in June, I have alot to get through, and sometimes have to have spells away from home, so I like to get a head start.
Then at the beggining of December, I start getting any presents I am not making, one at a time, to spread the cost.
By this time I have also decided on what we are having, and start menu planning, and making sure I have all those 'little bits' that go to make the whole. Baking starts, aswell as mincemeat making. Christmas cake feeding is also stepped up. I ask daughters if I can make anything for their households, as they are very busy people. And so it goes on.
For me Christmas is a 'magical' time, and I would not have it any other way. The first Christmas after my mother died was sad, but because of the young children in the family, we all 'rallied' and made it a happy time for them.
All in all, yes I love Christmas, every last minute of it, but, am aware of what it symbolises. But I do hate the commercialism of it. I honestly think the shopping conglomorates make more than enough profit during the year, and it is time they gave something back to their faithfull shoppers for their loyalty during the rest of the year, instead of milking them to the last, squeezing every last drop of money out of them, that thay can.

Julia in Derbyshire

I love it but OH hates it now the kids have grown up and gone and says not to make a fuss. :-( :-(

My ex & I always had our most spectacular rows over the Christmas period, starting when he bought me 4 egg cups & a magnifying mirror when we had been married for about 6 years.
I know we were hard up, but honestly :-( :-( :-(
I have always hated New Year & now Christmas just brings back bad memories, even though I go through the motions of a traditional day.
It´s just me & my hubby, who doesn´t celebrate Christmas but saves himself for 12th night, which means even less to me.

I remember my first married Xmas in 1979. We were absolutely broke, but made sure our daughter didn't go without (it was my second mariage).
I'd been feeling annoyed, as hubby had kept asking for small sums of money, for people's leaving do's etc., in the weeks prior to Xmas. We can do without that, I thought.
On Xmas morning, he presented me with a pile of presents - all bought with the money for the "leaving do's".
Bless him <3

i just LOVE christmas, everything about it is amazing, even the christmas fights over the lights, and buying to much, n all that stress and build up, eeek!!!

im going out to choose my tree tomorow and i cant wait!!!!

oh as for beliving well obviously i know santas real, but jesus n all that malarky, well its a nice story, but i feel thats all it is,

i used to love christmas when my children were small, that was many years ago. its not the same now, the magic has gone. will be glad when its over and done with to be honest...

I agree Jean.
Think I went off the idea when I realised that the "magic of Christmas" was just a myth.

I can confirm that the magic of Christmas is alive and well :-D

I watched the opera singing duo Jonathan & Charlotte and Centre for Young Musicians Choir, next to the tree in Trafalgar Square yesterday, that was magical, beautiful carols were sung, loved it.



:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

wisechild, i am so glad many people do still enjoy christmas like i used to do. but things in life change and its never the same. will put the tree up, i will be happy in my own little way....

My Mum loved Christmas with all her family round her, when she was unable to cater for it we took it in turn to do so, this will be the fifth one since see died.
There are now too many of us to gather together in any one of our homes, our children have families of their own, so our family is now celebrating Christmas in 5 locations many miles apart. Though those miles separate us we will all talk to each other via phone on Christmas morning.
I will be meeting up with my sisters & their partners for a pre Christmas meal next Saturday in the village where we were born, after which we will all go up to the churchyard to put flowers/holly wreaths on our family graves. This year there will be another member of our extended family there, as we bury the last of the older generation, our aunt, on Friday. As we all get older it is always on our minds that it could be the last time that we are all together round one table or able to gather at our parent’s grave.
There will be nonstop chatter as we look across the village green to the house where we shared many happy Christmases. Sometimes we are joined by childhood friends & remember the Christmases of our childhoods 60 years ago, school nativity plays & Carol singing round the village with the choir master, who would have a bag of victory V lozenges which he had broken into small pieces to pass round.
We have happy Christmas memories & have all attempted to make it a happy time for our children even on the hard years when money was tight; they in turn are doing the same for their children. Some of our partners do not have happy childhood memories of Christmas’s, but by sharing ours over the years now look on it as a happy time.
I believe that it is the past Christmas experiences that influence the way we look at this time of the year & can understand why they dread this time as it can be so very lonely without family & friends around you.
Our local Salvation Army, like all those around the country will be asking for volunteers to help prepare a hot meal for the homeless on Christmas Day & also for warm clothing/footwear to give as gifts. If you can help this good cause please do, it will cost you nothing but a little of your time.