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Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
I just pretend and get on with it. I am not a Christmassy person. I go for a bike ride. Wish people a merry Christmas if I see them and just do what others do. I didn't like it as a child on account of family. I have been known to go to church on Christmas eve or morning but didn't this year.
I think what really annoys me is that Christmas starts in about October now and by the time 'the big day' (that term really annoys me) arrives, I am bored to tears.
Anyway, Easter Eggs will be in the shops now. An excuse for more chocolate excess I guess.
Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
I'm going to sympathise with @tyred.
Being someone who spends his professional life outdoors, and rides to work, and does exercise classes I find the inactivity difficult to say the least.
This year we've chosen to stay at home, we invited a couple of friends for Christmas dinner, they stayed over so they could drink. We were very selfish really- we didn't go to Jo's parents as they like the inactive, heating on, windows shut, telly on lifestyle that absolutely kills me.
My mum is fairly inactive due to age. We could have had her here but that would have meant a day driving to get her, and a day driving her back, then it would have been the 8am-10pm full on 5* service that we give her.
So, we've suited ourselves. Christmas Day I was up and out on my bike at 7.30 for an hour, later on we went out on the tandem.
We were the winners, but I do feel guilty in making it all work to our advantage.
Being someone who spends his professional life outdoors, and rides to work, and does exercise classes I find the inactivity difficult to say the least.
This year we've chosen to stay at home, we invited a couple of friends for Christmas dinner, they stayed over so they could drink. We were very selfish really- we didn't go to Jo's parents as they like the inactive, heating on, windows shut, telly on lifestyle that absolutely kills me.
My mum is fairly inactive due to age. We could have had her here but that would have meant a day driving to get her, and a day driving her back, then it would have been the 8am-10pm full on 5* service that we give her.
So, we've suited ourselves. Christmas Day I was up and out on my bike at 7.30 for an hour, later on we went out on the tandem.
We were the winners, but I do feel guilty in making it all work to our advantage.
Tin Pot
Guru
I think you know what’s missing from your commentary on Christmas and the same thing is what’s missing that could give you the joy.
Gifting isn’t about giving people what objects they want or need, it’s about making them feel loved. When you are welcomed into someone’s home and they give you food, the joy is in that they gave, not what it is or how hard it was to come by.
We don’t have family together often, so it’s a chance to catch up and pass on advice and guidance to the younger members of the family too. Children are a big part of what Christmas is about.
Maybe you could ask at your church if there’s anything you can do to help out?
Welsh wheels
Lycra king
- Location
- South Wales
Put him in his own sackLet's ban the commercialisation of Xmas and sack Santa. It should be a purely religious festival for Christians... a bit like Whitsunday.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
@tyred
I understand exactly where you are coming from. It's easy to say "well just stay at home and do only what you want and bugger everyone else"
Of course that is the solution.
But most of us have families and we are to a lesser or greater extent social creatures and so by being the odd one out means you will always having to explain your actions.
I like Christmas, up to a point, but a get irritated by the pressure to conform to the stereotype of buying tat presents for various people I hardly ever see.
For me a simple plain card wishing them seasons greetings etc would suffice. Christmas day l received a box of chocolate almonds, a box of turkish delight, a massive box of liquorice allsorts and a tin of Roses chocolates. From people l hardly ever see. Its nice of them of course but while l do like the odd sweet or bit of chocolate l know I'm not going to eat any of it.
Such a pointless waste lMHO. And it isn't like I havent said to them "l dont l want any presents"
To family who come to stay I tell them
" I want your presence not your presents"
But still they offer a small gift and then it makes me feel like a curmudgeonly skinflint because I don't respond in kind.
I love and enjoy the family side of Christmas but thats because l share it with family l actually care about.
So anyone who is alone at Christmas and would like company and people who arent alone and would like to be have my sympathy.
Even so its only a few days and it passes quickly enough.
I understand exactly where you are coming from. It's easy to say "well just stay at home and do only what you want and bugger everyone else"
Of course that is the solution.
But most of us have families and we are to a lesser or greater extent social creatures and so by being the odd one out means you will always having to explain your actions.
I like Christmas, up to a point, but a get irritated by the pressure to conform to the stereotype of buying tat presents for various people I hardly ever see.
For me a simple plain card wishing them seasons greetings etc would suffice. Christmas day l received a box of chocolate almonds, a box of turkish delight, a massive box of liquorice allsorts and a tin of Roses chocolates. From people l hardly ever see. Its nice of them of course but while l do like the odd sweet or bit of chocolate l know I'm not going to eat any of it.
Such a pointless waste lMHO. And it isn't like I havent said to them "l dont l want any presents"
To family who come to stay I tell them
" I want your presence not your presents"
But still they offer a small gift and then it makes me feel like a curmudgeonly skinflint because I don't respond in kind.
I love and enjoy the family side of Christmas but thats because l share it with family l actually care about.
So anyone who is alone at Christmas and would like company and people who arent alone and would like to be have my sympathy.
Even so its only a few days and it passes quickly enough.
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@colly if you're not going to eat the sweets, keep what you might enjoy, and stick the rest unopened in the food bank box at the local supermarket. Probably not the best donation but I'm sure someone will enjoy them (even the liquorice allsorts)
Spot on reply, do not let them get out of date first though.
swee'pea99
Legendary Member
Santa? Is that you?
brucers
Guru
- Location
- Scunthorpe
If nothing else it protects the 2 bank holidays from the companies who would have us work 365 days a year. For many Boxing day is already lost.
potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
True.
My firm opened those days up this year as a 'one off' we shall see what happens next year.
As for the OP, I'm not a fan of Christmas and all the commercial crap that goes with it, I do the bare minimum for family only.
But you do seem to be seen as 'weird' if you don't enjoy it.
Thats very nice that is! Sack Santa, and just like that we have put him on the dole.Let's ban the commercialisation of Xmas and sack Santa. It should be a purely religious festival for Christians... a bit like Whitsunday.
Not very christian
wheresthetorch
Dreaming of Celeste
- Location
- West Sussex
vickster
Legendary Member
I think they prefer Kendal mint cake?
