Christmas 2024 #4

[g321]

Not how I expected my Christmas Eve eve to go, in the doctors getting a breast clinic referral after finding a lump at the beginning of the weekend. I told my mam about it when I found it but she’s not mentioned it since so I don’t want to mention it anymore if she’s forgotten and spare her worrying over the next couple of weeks so I’ll just keep it to myself and have this moan instead! Ate my body weight in celebrations today, I’ve lost almost 5 and a half stone since April but I’m sure I’ve just put it all back on in celebrations alone

 

[Pinklobster]

I buy myself gifts, I wrap them and put under tree and everything so far I have slippers, Charlotte Tilbury make up set, pyjamas, chocolate, new book, and a bracelet

 

[under the ivy]

Homemade caramelised onion chutney & cheddar sausage rolls, really pleased how they turned out Going to freeze some for Christmas Eve and give the rest to family (there’s another batch cooking with leftover pastry )

 

[calmyourritas]

HAPPY FIRST DECEMBER

 

[Jemimah]

Really excited for Christmas this year. Spent the 6 previous Christmas Days working 12-18 hour shifts and I quit that particular job a few months ago so this is the first Christmas in 6 years I can concentrate fully on my kids and family

 

[under the ivy]

Tree is up featuring my cat that won’t leave it alone and my boyfriend’s Liverpool stocking

 

[InkHeart]

I'm ready for tomorrow... got my cranberry sauce simmering, my jelly in the fridge, and I'm half a bottle of mulled wine into the evening

Just watching the comfort films, alone.

My awful neighbour who I've talked about in the rant threads, has gone out and left her 1 year old cane cors alone, in a crate in the flat above me. He is howling and will continue to howl until she gets back, which I strongly suspect will be Boxing Day. The noise is very loud and very sad. I've complained a lot to the council, but they say they can only treat it as noise nuisance, not as animal cruelty. The RSPCA said I could ring them back if he's left alone for 24 hours. I'm hoping they will really DO something at that point, rather than write her another letter she will ignore.

I'm still sad about my mum, but I just have to plough through.

Under the cut is some potentially triggering stuff around body image and eating disorders, but I want to share it somewhere because it's a big deal...

Spoiler: Warning for eating disorder and body image

My mum who I mentioned upthread was a narcissistic abuser who I had to tell off yesterday, was very critical of my body all my life. I've been diagnosed with an eating disorder since I was about 12. No one helped me with it, everyone around me just had the attitude that thinner is better (it was the 2000s).

Part of my recovery was not speaking to my mother for ten years, which is why being away from her opinions is crucial to me.

This will sound so weird to anyone who has never had an eating disorder, but I've literally just glanced in the mirror and thought I've put on a little bit... and I feel so completely OK. I don't feel like hurting myself, or obsessing over everything I eat, or like I can't go outside because I'm hideous. I had a panicky thought like "My friend was over earlier, what must she have thought?!?!" But my next thought was "Who cares what she thought? If my weight changed, it's none of anyone's business."

I've never in my whole life felt like this. I've got tears in my eyes. I can't tell anyone, because people who haven't had an ED will say something triggering like "Yes, I'm going to start dieting on Boxing Day", whereas I'm just experiencing for the first time, this feeling of everything being ok, and other people's opinions not mattering. It's probably the biggest recovery milestone I can remember having, ever. I think I feel unaffected by my body for the first time ever. Just crying to myself into my mulled wine

 

[Spanor511]

My decs wont be coming down until 6th Jan. I love this time of year when we don’t know what day or time it is, everyone stays up late and sleeps long in the morning. Eating all the lovely food, seeing family and friends, watching all the soaps, my boys going to football games, all the sport on TV, no worries about school or work. Currently sitting with only the tree lighting up my living room, about to watch Gavin and Stacey again, have a bottle of wine and will order a takeaway later. I feel sorry for people that take their decs down and ‘get back to normal’ on Boxing Day. I even seen someone on TikTok take their tree down on 6pm Christmas Day.

 

[g321]

If I’m not sat on that sofa by 6pm on Christmas Day ready for Wallace and gromit, the soaps and then gavin and Stacey, with chocolate in one hand and a drink in the other, pjs on, bra off, and the rest of the family haven’t left by then I’ll be fuming x

 

[chapterthree]

I don’t take my tree or decorations down until 6th January. Been up from roughly 6th November. I absolutely love them and wish they could stay up all year

I think the reason why people feel so sad at the moment is because people don’t realise that a Christmas lasts until the 6th January. I find it odd that the radios stop playing Christmas songs and music after Boxing Day. We are all so fast paced we forget to truly enjoy the season and slow down. Keep the decs up (if it works for you and your family), continue watching and singing Christmas songs and films, eat the festive food, for heavens sake, EAT, DRINK and CONTINUE TO BE MERRY PEOPLE!

 

[Halliestar]

Anyone else feeling a bit sad that the day is very near and it will be all over and done with. I definitely prefer the build up to the day

 

[Starlight_100]

Santa's Grotto closed this evening so my Elf duties at my local garden centre are over. It's been great fun. One of the last little girl's we had in wanted to stay with Santa tonight and we told her that Santa has to go because he's about to take a very long journey around the world to deliver presents to all the little boys and girls. Her eyes lit up and she had the biggest smile on her face and then said "Let's go home now mummy. Santa's got to get ready!" a great end to the job.

 

[heretoreaditall2019]

Sorry to be a cat amongst pigeons but pls pls pls for anyone who’s endured a shit Christmas because of other ppl I implore you to start considering/researching going no contact!! Life really is too short to be made to feel like shit by anyone, if you wouldn’t do it to someone else why should you put up with it? I know no/low contact is very taboo but if you’re waiting for a sign that you’re “allowed” to step away please take this message as it! I’ve done it in and life is infinitely better with the loving family of my creation, yes obvs it took years to “get there” but a peaceful journey > a hellish destination.

Sending love and light but most importantly fuck those hateful gremlins!!!

 

[Merida91]

Update: Granny is still positive for Covid so we've all agreed to try again on New year's day. I feel bad but to say I'm relieved is an understatement...

 

[Catfan2]

I usually put on a few pounds over Christmas, but this year I’m being organised and have gained weight before the day even arrives . This is thanks to me buying all the snacks early (and eating them so having to replace)

 

[Ziggzaggz]

I am also ready for next year lol, just biught new Xmas trees, wrapping paper , and crackers for next year in House of Fraser sale ( wanted a new xmas tree this year but couldn't justify £90 odd quid, just paid £12.50 instead of £89 in the sale)

 

[ATV2021]

I booked a coach trip to go to the Bath xmas markets on Sunday, way back in like June

Looks like its going to be cancelled thanks to the stupid storm and I'm really upset

 

[CinnamonSwirl]

I have literally been having this internal (and external) battle with myself the last month or so because I’ve put weight on but got too in my head about it. I know I’m not technically overweight but I just don’t like my weight as it is. But today I’m like, duck it. It’s Christmas, I’m happy and I just want to enjoy the festivities, sod what other people might think. I have plenty of time to get back in shape after Christmas when all the boring food is back on the shelves.

Also, it’s my Birthday Christmas Day so I have literally been treating myself to so many things and I don’t even feel guilty I’ve got nails, hair and a massage coming up, bought myself some new clothes to suit and flatter my more “full” figure instead of trying to squeeze in to old ones and feeling sad and bought myself a Nintendo switch and some games

I hope this doesn’t come across in anyway boastful because I don’t mean it that way, I always put others before myself and it’s my turn now Also, it’s all on buy now, pay later

 

[CinnamonSwirl]

Last year me and my husband spent Christmas Day together just us, as we live quite far away from family. We normally travel to see them but last year was so relaxed and enjoyable, we’re doing the same again this year (with our puppy this year too - FYI, he has been well and truly spoilt ) We have party food and Buck’s Fizz all day and just play games and watch films. Then Boxing Day we’re travelling up to see family and have a nice Airbnb booked so we have our own space and can actually enjoy going to see all our families without feeling like we’re staying in someone’s space and not rushing around, can’t wait

I also love New Years, we’ve had a tradition for years where we get a pizza and have a few drinks and (I try to) stay up til midnight and watch the fireworks, I normally need a power nap before then as I am an old woman

I get what people are saying about being sad when the run up is over but let’s try and just make loads of things to look forward to throughout the year to make us happy. Maybe we should start a new thread about exciting things we have to look forward to each month Before we know it we’ll be back again here next year!!

Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year!!

 

[under the ivy]

Happy Crimbo Camembert!