Christmas 2023 #4

[Bizziebody]

Opened. Messages sent about other random crap. So yeah, not amused.

No presents for 2024. I stopped buying for any ungrateful brats with no manners this year.

 

[Tanne1999]

After speaking to another colleague, it’s clear she’s massively jealous. Moaning that we make the same wage and she doesn’t understand how I can afford my lifestyle. Well we don’t earn the same… I work another 0hr part time job plus agency work for extra spending money. Everything I have, I’ve busted my ass for.

Thanks for all the love. I’m super excited to go (it’s not until next September ), and am so proud I managed to work hard enough to be able to gift something like this.
Hoping next year is much less eventful!!

 

[Geranium]

Maybe it's just me but I don't think that it is unreasonable to ask you to pay £25.00 towards the meal. I obviously don't know the specifics of yours or your brothers situation but I know £25.00 doesn't really go that far when buying the Christmas meal and your brothers situation may not be as rosy as you believe as working couples are being squeezed by cost of living as much as everyone else.

I assume your getting a traditional 3 course meal with starter mains and desert and possible turkey rolls and snacks plus drinks (soft for you) and maybe a table present or chocolate. If you were to go out for just a three course Christmas dinner but that would likely cost you double or even triple that.

If it is really unaffordable for you speak to your brother and be honest offer to buy items or as others have suggested do your own dinner and go over later although I don't see you making dinner for less money than that myself.

I just can’t get my head around asking family to pay cash for Christmas dinner. If you can’t afford to host don’t offer. It’s reasonable to accept contributions like wine or puddings or sides or even the turkey but asking for the cash seems cold.

 

[Hastaggifted]

We were meant to get our Christmas tree when my husband got home last night but there was a crash on the motorway and he was late so it was closed. It is absolutely pouring down now and is going to be all weekend, I don't fancy dragging a wet tree into my house!
Damn him for having pneumonia so we couldn't get it last week

Chosen by the children ! She's been up for a few hours drying out. Will decorate this evening with a Christmas film and a Chinese .
When packing away the decorations we always put £30 in the box for the next year's Chinese. My favourite tradition

 

[missymunch]

New to thread but tree up and with suitable new decoration purchased. I buy a new one every year. Hubby made me a snowball too

 

[Tanne1999]

Fuming. Ordered a present for my grandparents mid November. Been told by customer service several times it’s been posted and I can’t cancel the order because it’s been posted.

Cut to today - December 22nd - just had an email saying my orders been cancelled as they won’t be able to produce it and get it to me in time! (It’s a customised item).

I’d understand if I’d ordered in the last 48hrs but I ordered over a month ago! Furious isn’t the word. Now I have to trek into town to try and find something

 

[Silverback]

Not having a great Xmas here. Hubby has a bad stomach, neither of us slept well, I’m shattered. Trying to make it all lovely for the kids but struggling. This is the problem with Xmas, there’s a huge build up to one day and if it’s not perfect or great then it feels rubbish. Not sure what’s going on in other peoples houses but I feel like we should be dancing around all jolly but instead the atmos is very quiet and boring.

 

[Bizziebody]

It’s now Christmas Day here & my mum is 91 today.🧑‍

 

[InkHeart]

Well, I've got everything for today and tomorrow, with 77p left over! I have chicken and vegetables, gravy and stuffing for tomorrow's dinner - WITH apple sauce and cranberry sauce! Then 2 meruingue nests with strawberries and cream for pudding. Hot chocolate and mince pies for snacks and a whole load of oranges! Couldn't afford booze or biscuits/chocolate this year, but that's ok, I prioritised buying what I did. Barring accidents, I should get through tomorrow unscathed.

I just need to tidy the house a bit so that this evening and tomorrow are a bit more relaxing. Mmm, getting into fresh sheets on a Christmas Eve is so luxurious...

I'll make the rest of my mince pies tonight, from the dough I have in the fridge. Then maybe I'll scrub up - sometimes I like to be dressed to the nines on Christmas Day alone, floating around the house with a martini glass like a mad person, but other years I like to stay in my comfies all day and enjoy the no-pressure feeling of not having to impress anyone.

I don't want to discuss religion because I don't want to be divisive and spoil it for people celebrating who are of other/no faith, but I am struggling this year with whether to go to church, or even think about Christianity at all. I don't know how I feel.

Gonna give the cat a pig in blanket tomorrow!

 

[Meg78]

I will probably regret this post tomorrow but…. I miss Christmas with my ex.

Well…. I DONT miss my ex. I miss his big family.

Christmas just doesn’t hit the same when it’s quiet and lacklustre, today with my in laws hosting there was no hats, no games, no Christmas pud, it’s just any other Sunday roast. I miss playing charades, I miss lighting the pudding up and everyone oohing, I miss the constant chatter and the laughter and the chaos. The happiest Christmasses I’ve ever had were with that big family and I really really miss it. I want it for my kids but we have no aunts or uncles or cousins to spend the day with, and all of our friends have their own families to visit… it’s quite lonely.

If someone wants a quiet Christmas then power to them, but I want a big family Christmas when I have the smallest family possible, and it makes me really sad

 

[kelly123]

We were going to get the tree this weekend (we get a real one) but my husband decided to get pneumonia instead . So we are having to wait until next weekend if he's hopefully feeling better.
We've never had our tree up that late before!

Drag him out still. It’s what Jesus would have wanted.

 

[coconochanel]

Happy 1st of December everyone

 

[CinnamonSwirl]

I’ve organised our work Christmas lunch next week and I can’t wait. Others didn’t want to as it can be hard getting everyone together but I love it All but one of our team can make it, nearly had everyone but you can’t win them all

I’ve made a Christmas themed quiz with chocolate Santas for the winners, I’ve got everyone a mini Lindt bear including the person that can’t make it so no one is left out and I’m making Biscoff brownies and bought little individual cake boxes so they can each take one home. Over the top probably but I love Christmas and I love seeing other people happy

 

[ChubClubThug]

If I was being charged for Xmas Dinner by anyone, I'd be asking to see the menu up front

 

[mozzarellagirl]

both yesterday and today were really hard for me. burst into tears at the table in front of everyone, after trying to hide away and suppress it all. i feel exhausted and don't feel energised or inspired for the new year at all

 

[watermelon sugar]

Merry Christmas everyone! I’ve just ate the winter berry Mr Kipling we’ve left out for Santa, we don’t do mince pies in this family My 3.5 year old has gone to bed in his cute M&S pj’s and I’m feeling quite emotional as this will be the last Christmas just the 3 of us as I’m pregnant with a baby girl! So next year will be even crazier But excited all the same!!

 

[coconochanel]

Time for a new thread, shell we do it, shell we do a 'Christmas 2024' thread on Jan 3rd?

 

[Lalla]

I delivered my Christmas in a box to a local family today. They were ever so grateful which gave me a warm glow but also made me a bit sad that some people have such a tough time in life. It's also made me want to do more in the community next year. It's also made me appreciate what I have, even though it's just me and my sons on Christmas, we have plenty of food*, and a comfortable and secure home. Too many people can't say that

On a brighter note, * although I say we have plenty of food, we actually don't as yet because I've still not bought any of our fresh Christmas food I like to get it on Christmas Eve so it's as fresh as possible, and also because on Christmas Eve 3 years ago I got my best ever bargain, a £36 joint of meat reduced to £9...I live in hope of getting that again!

 

[CinnamonSwirl]

Biscoff brownies for my work Christmas meal tomorrow

 

[Lalla]

I've realised that on Sunday it will only be 3 weeks to Christmas and now I think I need to lie down. I do this every year, spend Nov telling myself Christmas is ages away and then have a panic once December starts!