The family stress has started.....

[Arch]

Anyone who feels they need to keep "everyone happy" should "grow a pair" (as the saying goes) - man up, be honest, stop ****ing about.

Anyway, Christmas is supposed to be fun, only your own misery gets in the way of this.

I am completely looking forward to the post-3pm Christmas Eve food shopping, and I'm sure my family will be waiting my return to find out what bargains I have pisked up for their Christmas meal - I am hoping that there'll only be Shipham's crab paste and piccallilli left on the shelves

Suddenly I'm reminded of the chapter in Wind in the Willows, where Mole finds his old house, and diverts Ratty to see it, and then is terribly ashamed of it looking shabby and having no nice food in, and Ratty is very cheerful and says he's happy with a tin of sardines and some bread, and then the field mice turn up carolling and he sends one of them off to the shops to buy a feast and they have a party.

 

[EltonFrog]

- I am hoping that there'll only be Shipham's crab paste and piccallilli left on the shelves

Cor! That's jogged a memory! And made me smile.

 

[addictfreak]

I kind of put up with Christmas as a necessary evil.

I like the Christmas idea, but the reality does not impress me one bit. It's far too commercial from start to finish, the amount of waste in terms of money and food really astounds me. I certainly don't begrudge those who like the festive period enjoying it. But it's that attitude that if you don't like, then there's something wrong with you.

 

[Milo]

The only bit I enjoy is the food frankly. Just me the lady and the babe this year so should be nice.

 

[coffeejo]

I've been a dediicated humbug since I were a young thing - I'll put up and shut up if there's good food on offer but to me it really is just another day albeit one where nothing's open, and life, routine, appointments etc get thrown completely out of whack.

It doesn't help that I worked in retail for far too long. You don't know the true meaning of Christmas til you've been yelled and sworn at by an irate customer because you've run out of mince pies, potatoes and crackers by 6pm on Christmas Eve. Or been told that you have - and I quote - "ruined" so-and-so's Christmas because the latest, must-have product they bought didn't work properly and you are unable to provide an immediate exchange at lunchtime on Boxing Day.

 

[TVC]

I've been a dediicated humbug since I were a young thing - I'll put up and shut up if there's good food on offer but to me it really is just another day albeit one where nothing's open, and life, routine, appointments etc get thrown completely out of whack.

The is a great line from a song by Everything But The Girl:

"Every day's like Christmas Day without you, it's cold and there's nothing to do".

 

[postman]

We have the in laws come to us now.It's an accomodation problem,since Aunty Tess passed away we have no place to sleep.So for the past two xmas's they have come to us.
And it's great,i feel like i am giving back because for years we stayed with them and they both worked their socks off.She would not let us lift a finger,saying you both work and have the girls aswell.So take it easy.
So just joy and happiness here.

 

[Andrew_P]

I dislike Christmas, mainly due to pre Christmas pressure to pack 4 weeks of work in to 3 weeks to try and cover the overheads. If anyone wants to know what stress is ask someone who retails over the internet. The parcel carriers and RM go in to melt down. You get some real cracking emails, people are so horrible behind a keyboard and have such high expectations of when their critical item that they must have before Christmas will arrive and yet leave to the very last minute to order, and they want it with "free" delivery and cheap.

My two local delivery depots were running 5-7k parcels behind on Thursday. One of them suspended next day delivery until the 28th on Thursday, nothing sent on Friday will get there before Christmas.. This Christmas has been worse than when it snows. Don't envy any of the drivers either!

 

[Moon bunny]

If I went back to visit my mother it would mean being in the same town as my father which I do not think I could stand, so she is coming across to visit my brother and me. That means father will be on his own except for his equally miserable cronies which frankly is far better than he deserves.

 

[DiddlyDodds]

My wife and I agreed when we got together that we would not share Christmas day with either family at home. It's worked pretty well so far.

Over excited spoilt kids, full of expectation of what they're going to get, parents stressed out about what they have spent, and what they should spend.

What the hell did you do the poor little buggers to get a slating of their own parents ....next you will be saying you send em up chimneys for 50 shillings to keep them grounded ..

 

[DiddlyDodds]

You get some real cracking emails, people are so horrible behind a keyboard

Just send them a reply email saying "thank you for your remarks , just remember i have your money, and i know where you live, so be patient" , stick some skull and crossbones on and send it back and think "sod em"

 

[EltonFrog]

What the hell did you do the poor little buggers to get a slating of their own parents ....next you will be saying you send em up chimneys for 50 shillings to keep them grounded ..

Your point is?

 

[DiddlyDodds]

Your point is?

My point is , why are you calling your own kids "Over excited & Spoilt" ,,

 

[EltonFrog]

My point is , why are you calling your own kids "Over excited & Spoilt" ,,

I'm not, I don't have any kids.

 

[fossyant]

No problems in the fossy Ouse. A few last bits and ingredients were bought today. Got the in-laws round Xmas Eve for a short while, they don't stay long as my missus mum is disabled after a stroke, and can't get to our loo easily, although I have re-hung the door so it opens allowing her to get to the loo easier.

Then off again Xmas day to in-laws to swap presents with my wife's side, then off to my brothers for Xmas meal and all my family will be there. Staying over too. Boxing Day will be quiet, then we have friends round next Saturday, missing a family party on my side, but we are then round at friends again on new year.

Fairly lucky we all get on well.