Cinnamon Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Ooooh....that is a shame Cinnamon. Is it too late to remind them that you were expecting them at your house? Tell them that you cancelled plans on the strength of this. Mind you if they then decide to come to you your brother will no doubt be upset. Happy Families eh? Done all that - they are under no illusions to how upset I am. Unfortunatly it seems that they have all made plans that cannot be changed now. And to be honest I am so hurt by this that if they DID come I am afraid it might feel awkward. I am off to look at last minute travel deals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 How rotten for you. A super hol would be the perfect anti-dote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 I love Christmas, for me its getting the family all together. For the last 18 years my family,( Mum, Dad, two sisters + OH's, nephew, neice - grown to 10 of us +2 dogs) have all spent a week in a cottage somewhere. We have been to the Lake District, Yorkshire, Herefords,Derbyshire - this year we are at Bourton on the Water. We eat less, get out more and can all fit in the house without being too squashed! Sometimes ther are minor hiccups, like the year my 7yr old neice was miffed at the Christmas tree provided, it was about 3ft tall and she said"How is Santa going to fit all our presents under that!" Fortunately the joys of having to get all the presents to the cottages without the kids seeing them are gone - that was a mission in itself! My husband was a little daunted by our rituals at first but now just For New Year we have his parents and brother and his family for a few days at our house so this weekend I will being starting the Grand Pre-Christmas Clear-up - last year the 3yr old nephews thought it was great fun using my paperweights as bowling balls Aahhh Christmas Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 We have always gone to my parents for Christmas - being an only child I feel I dont have much option and CTB has no family worth seeing! Last year , however, my Mum was in a really bad mood and had me in tears on Christmas eve so this year we are staying at home - just me, CTB and DS plus the cat and chickens and I cant wait! We are all choosing our own dinners and cooking what we like when we like and are planning on a nice relaxing day with NO visitors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 I think we will be at home too now, I was only fantasising about going away I am quite looking forward to it too - spending time with the 3 people I actually want to spend time with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 I think we will be at home too now, I was only fantasising about going away I am quite looking forward to it too - spending time with the 3 people I actually want to spend time with You never know it could turn out to be your best Christmas ever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 I think we will be at home too now, I was only fantasising about going away I am quite looking forward to it too - spending time with the 3 people I actually want to spend time with You never know it could turn out to be your best Christmas ever Definately - do what you want when you want, no having to dress up if you dont want to, dont have to be nice to people you dont want to be nice too, make your own Christmas traditions - not someone elses...shall I go on???? (probably gone on enough ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 I don't like Christmas at all - I never have and when I worked on the wards always volunteered to work. It's worse now as yesterday was the anniversary of my mum's death and 11th December is the anniversary of my dad's so I'm always very 'down' in December. We've been abroad the last 2 years for Christmas and New Year and it was fantastic - on the beach on Christmas Day and celebrating 'the bells' in Orange Square in Marbella with all the twinkly lights and the locals eating their 12 grapes - magical . We're staying at home this year as OH (quite rightly) wants to spend it with his mum and dad, but I'm not looking forward to it at all . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 This year it is OH's Mum's turn to do Christmas. OH has leave and i have leave on hold We were supposed to be driving up to Scotland on the 23rd and staying up until the 26th, but I only have the 24th/25th off If I manage to get an early shift on the 23rd then we will drive up then, if not, he will probably go without me and i will spend Christmas with the chickens!! If i get leave on the 23rd then i find out at 6pm on the 25th if i have leave on the 26th. If not, we will have to drive back down on Christmas day!!!!! (does this make sense to you all)??? Its such a shame as I love Christmas, the house all decked, Christmas carols playing, mulled wine on the hob!!!! I am soooo stressed about it all. Typical of work, always gets in the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 I just love having a hosueful and getting all Christmassy, but because I'm working on Christmas Eve, I tend not to get all seasonal until the last minute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 OMG it my dads birthday on the 10th too Well no, his birthday is actually on the 9th, we're just not allowed to make the house christmassy until the 10th! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 29, 2007 Author Share Posted November 29, 2007 Chicken inside a duck inside a turkey. Can't remember exactly how long it takes to cook but I think that it was only about 6 hours. There is no cavity as the stuffing is already placed inside by the butcher when he bones it all. As the meat is all boned (except legs and wings on the turkey) there is no waste. We tried it for the first time last year and everybody loved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 OMG it my dads birthday on the 10th too Well no, his birthday is actually on the 9th, we're just not allowed to make the house christmassy until the 10th! But it is MY birthday on the 10th! No one is allowed to mention Christmas until after that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Mine on the 1st of January - the tree and cards stay up until then and then I take them down. I had my first sighting of a christmas tree in my road at the weekend - far too early Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 I LOVE CHRISTMAS !! We don't put the tree up until the boys finish the last day of term at school. We've got 2 trees - one with red, orange and gold decorations for the sitting room and a smaller one which stands on a table in the corner of the dining room with pink, burgundy and copper baubles on. There's a wreath for the front door, sparkly icicle lights hanging up all round the conservatory and carols on the CD player. The boys decorate their rooms with old decorations that we don't use anymore - it's like walking into Santa's Grotto . We go to my parents house for Christmas Eve and have roast beef with all the trimmings before Mum, the boys and I head off to the Cathedral to sing carols in the afternoon - something I've done since I was very small and it doesn't feel like Christmas without it. We come home after that, prepare the vegetables and make sure everything's ready for Christmas Day. My parents and brother come over first thing in the morning for breakfast - a fry up then it's time to open all the presents!! Great fun in front of the fire! We don't have wrapping paper but put all the presents in pillowcases and delve in to see what we can find . Christmas dinner has been a lovely free range goose for the last few years but this year, we're having a free range cockerel from a local farm followed by a Mincemeat Streusel cake which I'll make a few days before Christmas and freeze for a stress free day!! We'll all veg out in front of a DVD to let our dinners settle then enjoy the rest of the day looking at or playing with our presents . All the decorations except for the wreath on the front door come down on New Years Day. The wreath comes down on Twelfth Night. I LOVE CHRISTMAS ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Did I hear I love Christmas Me too! BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Chicken inside a duck inside a turkey. Can't remember exactly how long it takes to cook but I think that it was only about 6 hours. There is no cavity as the stuffing is already placed inside by the butcher when he bones it all. As the meat is all boned (except legs and wings on the turkey) there is no waste. We tried it for the first time last year and everybody loved it. It sounds very festive and a bit medieaval....there should be a swan, a blackbird and a wren in there somewhere! I bet it looks fab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 30, 2007 Author Share Posted November 30, 2007 It is a bit special. Saw it advertised at the butchers and we had just watched the Hugh F-W prog about his far grander bird in a bird in a bird, etc. Gave it a go and it was amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Am feeling VERY festive now - chookiehubbie and I braved the shops yesterday, and filled the car with Christmas presents for everyone (apart from the things that Father Christmas will deliver obviously.....) and have a shiny new pot grown Christmas Tree sitting in the back garden, ready to be brought into the porch at a more appropriate time. It's Duncans birthday tomorrow, the advent candle is ready for it's first burning tomorrow, and there's minemeat pies baking in the oven just now.. Must go and make my signature a bit more festive..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Our Christmas lights switch-on has been cancelled as some of the lights fell down yesterday and injured someone. Horrible. The town has just invested in new lights and I don't think the old buildings can cope with them. I know the lady concerned won't think so, but better yesterday than tonight when the streets would be crowded with excited children. Sorry don't want to make this a negative thread, just very disappointed. Its traditionally the start of our Chirstmas build-up. Oh well, still going to get the tree tomorrow. Maybe I should give in and get external lights of some kind and have our own switch-on party. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 I feel a bit like people might groan when they see my name here, me being a total traditionalist! Christmas for me will start on the afternoon of 23rd December (still Advent 4 in the morning!) when we go to church for the Christmas Carol Service. We'll be back again on Christmas Eve for the Crib Service. This is our biggest service of the year and about 650 people crowd into the church. Barely room to breathe! But it's very Christmassy when everyone is holding a lighted candle, the church lights are out and we sing 'Silent Night' accompanied by a guitar. Then we'll be back in church for the Midnight service, again on Christmas morning - and then the Family Christmas can begin! Our tree will go up on 21st or 22nd December and the decorations will remain until 12th night on 5th January. Prior to that we will be enjoying Advent, for me almost better than Christmas. The Advent candle will be lit every tea-time, the calendar will be opened every morning and we will get more and more excited as Christmas approaches. My mother usually comes to us for dinner. My two brothers are both away. We will be enjoying one of Lesley's delicious turkeys - or her Nut Roast for the vegetarian. Presents are opened after dinner and the rest of the day is spent having fun. OH and I will probably fall asleep in the chair!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Ginette, we open our presents after dinner as well. The children get their stocking from santa in the morning, but family presents are exchanged one the last bit of Christmas pudding has been eaten, and the kettle has been put on for the coffee. This started when I was tiny, and my grandmother lived with us, and she would always give my mother something after Christmas dinner, as a 'thankyou' for all the hard work she had done over the festive season. It soon spread to a present to all the children, and by the time I was about 5, all family presents were kept till late on. It's such a lovely tradition, and a great way to keep the children on their best behaviour till after lunch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Not on my own then! I like it that way too. Especially when I hear about people being bored by Christmas afternoon! We have trouble fitting everything into one day and there are always presents left over for Boxing Day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 We do very similar to that Ginette, Carol Service is the 19th, Crib Service on Christmas Eve with Lauren and Jake and my sister and her two littlies, Midnight Service, collecting a friend on the way and taking her home again, then presents after lunch. - we always run out of time and it's even more difficult to fit everything in since we moved to the farm and have to feed animals while it is still light (and before Carl drinks too much! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 I can just see Carl weaving about in the dark with his headlight torch on! We never get bored! Loads of games to play - old photos to look at and chatting to the folks while my Dad sleeps by the fire. Phil is in charge of keeping the stove alight and the drinks, I do the cooking and Rosie lays the table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
