Christmas Haters?

[byegad]

I'm glad you enjoy it Arch and I don't want to spoil your enjoyment.
But as a non-Xmas person I really get hacked off by those who do enjoy it wanting me to 'join in' or it will spoil their enjoyment. I don't expect all my friends to enjoy cycling and certainly wouldn't force them to ride with me. Yet somehow I'm the 'bad egg' for not getting all fuzzy over a mid-winter festival with whatever religious overtones you wish to add.

 

[beanzontoast]

Both Mrs B and I had experiences of some excellent and some awful times at Christmas when we were young, including more than one involving missing parents who had recently died. So, when our own children were small, Christmas was all about making the holiday a great time for them and we really enjoyed the planning, the build-up, and even the shopping every year.

Now that the family are all grown up, Christmas is very different. My wife finds Christmas more stressful nowadays; she tends to worry about fitting in seeing friends and relatives, what day and times the children will arrive, what they will eat, where they will sleep, how they will cope with us being in and out of the house (we both have jobs involving some working over the holiday) etc etc. These, to me, are inconsequential things. They are grown ups for goodness sake! They can make their own entertainment when we are at work! I try to get her to see that all that really matters is the family spending some time together.

 

[Maz]

(I hope that you'll appreciate the irony in that )

Careful... Or I'll set the missus on you.

 

[slowmotion]

I'm becoming a big fan again. Five years ago, it seemed to have become an obscene retail-fest, but suddenly internet shopping appeared. Oh Joyous News! No need to go to the High Street and listen to Noddy Holder....just a bit of keyboard action, and you are totally sorted. That removes a whole heap of pain. Avoiding the TV helps a lot as well.

I have also recently developed a huge respect for the happy crew who put bling lights on their houses. The start of the A3 south of the Robin Hood RA is a good stretch to prowl.

I love it, especially the freezing walk on Christmas morning somewhere remote.

 

[Globalti]

For me Christmas still has too many associations with family misery because my parents used to row even worse than usual. I have vivid memories of bitter Christmases when everybody was trying to put on a brave face, Mum was wandering around snivelling and playing the wronged woman and Dad was in a filthy temper. All this with the additional strain of other family members coming to stay and intense girly heart-to-heart chats going on at the kitchen table. Yeuch.

 

[CharlieB]

If I have to go into Sainsbury's and hear Andy Williams singing 'it's the most wonderful time of the year' for the zillionth time, I will sit in the middle of the aisle and throw an tantrum.

 

[Hilldodger]

Not so much hate it as let most of it pass me by. I don't believe in a God (That's a whole thread on it's own). I don't fall for the commercial stuff, not buying or receiving gifts. The endless naff songs and garlands of shiny tat speak of a false expectation that the whole thing is going to be better than it actually ever could be. Finally the pressure it puts on people to join in, branding them as Scrooge or miserable if they don't want to conform with the masses, who sheep like follow the same tired formula of food and family gatherings every single year.

Totally agree.

 

[Eurygnomes]

I'm doing a low-key Christmas this year, me and my bro (who's avoiding his wife's family) are gonna have some grub, drink some booze, and watch DVD box sets that i've been storing up for a few months now.

Nope, it's not very festive, but since we don't get to spend much time with each other, I'm REALLY looking forward to it. And since our parents are on the other side of the planet - and no one does Christmas quite like our mother - then this is the best nearest thing.

If there's enough grit on the roads, he's promised we'll go for a (motor)bike ride in teh afternoon (before the wine gets opened, naturally!). We just had this conversation,

"er, what about presents..."
"I haven't given it a moment's thought: what do you want?"
"nothing in particular, you?"
"nope"
"give it a miss?"
"great"

And we now neither have to worry about getting someone something they dont' really want nor need. Now, if he said, "would you like some dual pedals for your pushbike?" or I said, "how about some heated thingys for your motorbike?" then it could be different, but since we both like shopping for those things ourselves... what's the point.

Damn pragmatism.

Head down,
'Nomes

 

[snorri]

I've been blissfully unaware of any pre Christmas stress or anticipation so far, but today noticed the BBC are playing a few seasonal tunes.

 

[taxing]

Listen, have a nice Christmas folks - just remember not to get too stressed out about creating the 'perfect' one.

I like Christmas, and I love making decorations and baking mince pies and all of that malarky. I love faffing. But even I was freaked out when watching Phil and Kirstie's Perfect Christmas (okay, the clue was in the title...) when they emphasised how Christmas needs to be a perfect day. Nothing less will do! Perfect perfect perfect!

 

[potsy]

At least it means I can have this as my ringtone for a few weeks

Dominic the Donkey

 

[ColinJ]

But even I was freaked out when watching Phil and Kirstie's Perfect Christmas (okay, the clue was in the title...) when they emphasised how Christmas needs to be a perfect day. Nothing less will do! Perfect perfect perfect!

Aaargh!

I didn't watch the programme, but what freaks me out about those two is the way they flirt with each other as though they are partners, when they are really married to other people...

 

[taxing]

Aaargh!

I didn't watch the programme, but what freaks me out about those two is the way they flirt with each other as though they are partners, when they are really married to other people...

I wondered what the hell was going on! I've never seen them before, but Kirstie introduced him to a load of kids by saying "This is my partner. We're not married, we're married to other people." Er, what?

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Not so much hate it as let most of it pass me by. I don't believe in a God (That's a whole thread on it's own). I don't fall for the commercial stuff, not buying or receiving gifts. The endless naff songs and garlands of shiny tat speak of a false expectation that the whole thing is going to be better than it actually ever could be. Finally the pressure it puts on people to join in, branding them as Scrooge or miserable if they don't want to conform with the masses, who sheep like follow the same tired formula of food and family gatherings every single year.

Yep - that's about it for me too. Plus I have other problems at this time of year just getting through the day without anything extra like Xmas (I suffer with SAD).

It is nice tho' that my daughters will be around for a few days..........

 

[just jim]

"er, what about presents..."
"I haven't given it a moment's thought: what do you want?"
"nothing in particular, you?"
"nope"
"give it a miss?"
"great"

Result!