Alis girls Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 It is hard when the TV pushes happy families down your throats - i tell myself its for 1 day only and make the best of it for my kids as I want them to have happy memories. We spend more time with friends now over festive season as many families have ill health and troubles and it does make it more bearable when you can spend time with people you want to be with and not those you really just do because its a duty. In my opinion I dont think there is such a thing as a really happy family - theres always something or somebody pushing the wrong buttons - me a Scrooge - bring it on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 So nice to know I am not alone in being a bit if a misery guts !!! Yes, the boys (7 and nearly 4) love it all but keep asking when its Christmas..............just shows that it all starts too soon. I wish I had an unshakable faith but I don't and am far more likely to mark the solstice/turn of the year which makes much more sense to me ! Having said that, its nice to have special time as a family but its so commercial that it almost hurts......luckilly my boys have asked for a set of headphones and a bedside light respectivley so no major outlay there tho its been fun finding the right light/shade and comfy headphones for a little one! I have had quite enough of cards tho....most of the ones that we have had have been bearers of bad tidings of one sort or another and we have just heard of a freind's death, another two's diagnosis with the big C....proof that life is not all the bed of roses that the adverts would have you believe at Christmas . Looking forward to seeing two excited little faces on the day but, apart from that, just feeling that Christmas as a whole experience is somewhat over rated ! Thanks for bearing with me...just off to open another packet of humbugs......................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Thank goodness for ecards - I have less than half the usual number of cards this year - most of them have been electronic. Still, the cards tend to hide the dust until I get round to cleaning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Have to say modern technology has left me behind somewhat - no doubt I will discover E cards when everyone has moved on to summat different. My OH who also finds Christmas too commercial nagged me to put up tree etc for the boys otherwise it still wouldnt be up. I just want my kids to have good memories - the sad thing is I am crossing more and more people out of the address book - breaks my heart - its important to try and stay positive - so Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 As I get older, the business of Christmas correspondence seems to get less straight forward and I too seem to be crossing more and more people out of the address book. But I still love real cards and getting messages from people who have moved to distant shores but who still want to remember old times. E-this and e-that just doesn't do it for me. I do believe that where presents and cards are concerned it is, indeed, the thought that counts and that equals effort and time rather than money. e-Cards to me, like circulars, just say 'I don't care about you enough to give you the time of day'. To me they belong to work colleagues, not friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 Believe me, I'd much rather give proper cards CC, but time and money constraints (sadly) don't allow it. 6 days to go... I am working up until the last minute as usual as I can't take any leave - not got nearly all the resents that I need to, only just written the 'proper cards' and still have to get sorted for 10 people on Christmas day. What I could do with is either not working, a partner to help out, or a house slave.... now there's a though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 I'm sure there are many in that boat and real friends would understand. Better late than never that's what I say . . . short of getting those chooks trained to do a feather duster act and the dogs trained to do the hoovering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Afraid I've gone down with some sort of virus - so off sick. Cold symtons gripey tum - feel sick but wasnt. Were work sympathetic - like hell they weren't . I had a long day to work feeling like pooh - good old NHS - cant treat their workers with a bit of support. Expect I'll drag myself in tommorrow for my last day - I think in New Year must get new job. Bah humbug - you bet a jarful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 This bugs me - people who put up (or leave up all year but don't switch on) Christmas lights over fascias which need painting. We have planted a varigated holly hedge with red berries around the front of the house. We have nurtured this hedge from one foot babies, watering and feeding it. Gardeners here will know how slow holly is to grow. A couple of Christmases ago, some one cut our hedge from five foot to three foot - presumably for decorations. This seriously upset me. What annoys me are neighbours who say oh, you don't put up lights, but even today, our David Austin "Molineux" roses sing - better than any Christmas lights. And the two trees we have planted on the front - Prunus Serrula - glow all year! They can stick their tinsel - I think I'd better stop now .... rant over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 A couple of Christmases ago, some one cut our hedge from five foot to three foot - presumably for decorations. This seriously upset me. That would have really upset me too I don't put up outside lights - I just don't like them. Next door more than make up; their lights are up on December the 1st. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 I put up a few white non flashing lights in my porch, strewn over my Orange,lemon & Olive trees. Not keen on coloured lights,flashing lights or worse of all the mix of warm white or old white lights & bluey white LED's...I think that looks truly awful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Some house owners have gone crazy with outside lights and to be honest just look a mess. I don't mind seeing a few pretty lights. I don't put any outside lights up because I try not to bring my house to anyone's attention. I prefer to be the grey man of the street. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Today I received 3 Christmas cards with cash inside for DS and DD with messages to buy something for them. Two of the senders even told me what they would like me to buy this makes me so mad. I have taken the effort to choose a gift for their children, wrap them and post them off. We have to post all our gifts as all the family are spread over the UK. I have sent cash to my Nephew as I do every year, it is inside a Christmas card but still I made the effort to wrap the card in Christmas paper and put on a gift tag so he has a gift to open on Christmas day from us. He puts the money towards the road tax for his van which he uses for work and he has told us he appreciates the money as a gift. No way am I going to shop for more presents so close to Christmas. The cash will be put in envelopes, gift wrapped, tagged and put under the tree. DS and DD can then spend the money after Christmas on gifts of their choice. I may have to re think gift buying next Christmas and send money to arrive 3 days before the big day May even send Scottish notes which are so hard to spend down South Rant over, thank you for reading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Today I received 3 Christmas cards with cash inside for DS and DD with messages to buy something for them. Two of the senders even told me what they would like me to buy this makes me so mad. I have taken the effort to choose a gift for their children, wrap them and post them off. We have to post all our gifts as all the family are spread over the UK. I have sent cash to my Nephew as I do every year, it is inside a Christmas card but still I made the effort to wrap the card in Christmas paper and put on a gift tag so he has a gift to open on Christmas day from us. He puts the money towards the road tax for his van which he uses for work and he has told us he appreciates the money as a gift. No way am I going to shop for more presents so close to Christmas. The cash will be put in envelopes, gift wrapped, tagged and put under the tree. DS and DD can then spend the money after Christmas on gifts of their choice. I may have to re think gift buying next Christmas and send money to arrive 3 days before the big day May even send Scottish notes which are so hard to spend down South Rant over, thank you for reading Ali, that would really annoy me as well so I'd definately go with the Scottish notes or a cheque next year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 The house opposite me is so lit up that we nickname it 'Las Vegas'. Nothing even matches or is tasteful; it goes flash flash flash all night. I need blackout blinds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 I love Christmas lights - not on my house, I don't have the time or ability to scale ladders, and to be honest I'm not sure I'd want them anyway, but I absolutely love being out in the car and seeing houses and trees all lit up, just for these few weeks. There are some cracking ones near me, including a house with a whole herd of illuminated reindeer in the front garden! A friend and I sometimes go out for a drive at this time of year, just to enjoy them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sage Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Fed up with the whole thing, got 6 coming Xmas day lunch & tea 6 boxing day lunch & tea. In-law visiting Friday, way behind on baking. I had the 24 hour vomiting bug at the begining of the week and now I think I have bronchitis again. Going to the Doc's in the morning. Sage sorry for the maon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 May even send Scottish notes which are so hard to spend down South If you want, you can have some Manx money which is even harder to spend, they'd have to exchange it in a bank. If ever relations don't know what to buy for our boys then they arrange to send money well in advance or put it in a special envelope for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
