When should Christmas start?

[Quizzical Bob]

For my wife Christmas starts as soon as the shops sell off their unsold Christmas stock, she will often go out to get milk and bread and come back with bags full of cut price stuff that she puts away for Christmas.

I am a bit of a humbug regarding Christmas but I suppose that is partly due to the fact that I was often on call out duty over the Christmas season so would have to stay sober just in case the phone rang.

Over in France the villages and towns are already trimmed up and the shops are selling Christmas fare so it is not just a British thing, the children of France usually open their gifts at lunchtime on Christmas Eve which is when french families have their big feast that lasts for 6/8 hours. Christmas day is more like our Boxing day where families just chill out with the remains of the previous days food and drink.

The grand kids usually bully me into putting up the Crimble tree and they take great pride in dressing it with the help of Cheryl but I take great pride in demolishing it and stashing it away in the loft after Christmas ( perhaps that's why they call me Ebeneezer).

Humbug

Ideed they do in France, but they are all back to work on Boxing Day. None of this three week shutdown nonsense.

[qbman1]

We are in the same boat as you and Tony Gill, our son and daughter both have new homes and want to do their own thing so Cheryl and I would be "Home Alone" at Christmas so we might decide to go away for a few days.

What you need is a Christmas Cruise !!

We have one booked for next Christmas qbman E625, but nothing for this year.

We're on Oriana next Christmas - where's Oceana off to ?

[Manoverboard]

Christmas is a magical time for small children, their parents obviously share that pleasure with them but those without any children of their own can often be selfish and sad individuals who simply do not know perhaps how to join in with the Festive merriment.

Yes of course it is far too commercialised but anybody with half a brain cell can switch off to that aspect of it and then engage with the religious side of things if needs be.

Boxing Day is my favourite and especially so if the Footy is on

[suespud]

For my wife Christmas starts as soon as the shops sell off their unsold Christmas stock, she will often go out to get milk and bread and come back with bags full of cut price stuff that she puts away for Christmas.

I am a bit of a humbug regarding Christmas but I suppose that is partly due to the fact that I was often on call out duty over the Christmas season so would have to stay sober just in case the phone rang.

Over in France the villages and towns are already trimmed up and the shops are selling Christmas fare so it is not just a British thing, the children of France usually open their gifts at lunchtime on Christmas Eve which is when french families have their big feast that lasts for 6/8 hours. Christmas day is more like our Boxing day where families just chill out with the remains of the previous days food and drink.

The grand kids usually bully me into putting up the Crimble tree and they take great pride in dressing it with the help of Cheryl but I take great pride in demolishing it and stashing it away in the loft after Christmas ( perhaps that's why they call me Ebeneezer).

Humbug

Ideed they do in France, but they are all back to work on Boxing Day. None of this three week shutdown nonsense.

Tell me who is off for 3 weeks

My DIL is working Christmas Eve and Boxing Day...she is a nurse.
My son has a wedding on Boxing Day, he is a photographer.
Most of our family and friends are working at some point over the Christmas period, thats why our get togethers go on for about 2 weeks...
My OH works in Leeds, his factory isnt shutting down over the hols..lines running on Christmas Eve..off for 3 days then back on monday.

I think some of you just like moaning for the sake of it

[suespud]

Christmas is a magical time for small children, their parents obviously share that pleasure with them but those without any children of their own can often be selfish and sad individuals who simply do not know perhaps how to join in with the Festive merriment.

Yes of course it is far too commercialised but anybody with half a brain cell can switch off to that aspect of it and then engage with the religious side of things if needs be.

Boxing Day is my favourite and especially so if the Footy is on

Great post Moby....
even the footy bit....

[qbman1]

Moby's right - put me down as selfish and sad! I'm not even bothered about the football !!

[Dark Knight]

Or not selfish and sad but grown up enough to know when they are being manipulated by the media, supermarkets and greeting card companies
All this touchy feely Xmas dross , its sad when people need something as fake as Xmas as the only reason to get together
Next thing the Xmas elves on here will be cebrating Ramadan, as an excuse to do the things normal people do a yr round

[qbman1]

Who are you calling normal ?!

[Raybosailor]

For my wife Christmas starts as soon as the shops sell off their unsold Christmas stock, she will often go out to get milk and bread and come back with bags full of cut price stuff that she puts away for Christmas.

I am a bit of a humbug regarding Christmas but I suppose that is partly due to the fact that I was often on call out duty over the Christmas season so would have to stay sober just in case the phone rang.

Over in France the villages and towns are already trimmed up and the shops are selling Christmas fare so it is not just a British thing, the children of France usually open their gifts at lunchtime on Christmas Eve which is when french families have their big feast that lasts for 6/8 hours. Christmas day is more like our Boxing day where families just chill out with the remains of the previous days food and drink.

The grand kids usually bully me into putting up the Crimble tree and they take great pride in dressing it with the help of Cheryl but I take great pride in demolishing it and stashing it away in the loft after Christmas ( perhaps that's why they call me Ebeneezer).

Humbug

Ideed they do in France, but they are all back to work on Boxing Day. None of this three week shutdown nonsense.

Tell me who is off for 3 weeks

My DIL is working Christmas Eve and Boxing Day...she is a nurse.
My son has a wedding on Boxing Day, he is a photographer.
Most of our family and friends are working at some point over the Christmas period, thats why our get togethers go on for about 2 weeks...
My OH works in Leeds, his factory isnt shutting down over the hols..lines running on Christmas Eve..off for 3 days then back on monday.

I think some of you just like moaning for the sake of it

Who's moaning Sue ?, I went thirteen years on the trot without Christmas Day as an uninterrupted holiday but that was the nature of my job, all I was suggesting was that I couldn't get in to the spirit of things due to 24/7 call out.

[Raybosailor]

We are in the same boat as you and Tony Gill, our son and daughter both have new homes and want to do their own thing so Cheryl and I would be "Home Alone" at Christmas so we might decide to go away for a few days.

What you need is a Christmas Cruise !!

We have one booked for next Christmas qbman E625, but nothing for this year.

We're on Oriana next Christmas - where's Oceana off to ?

The Canaries and overnight in Madeira on New Years Eve.

[Raybosailor]

Or not selfish and sad but grown up enough to know when they are being manipulated by the media, supermarkets and greeting card companies
All this touchy feely Xmas dross , its sad when people need something as fake as Xmas as the only reason to get together
Next thing the Xmas elves on here will be cebrating Ramadan, as an excuse to do the things normal people do a yr round

Count me out on the Ramadan celebrations DK I like my food too much.

[qbman1]

What you need is a Christmas Cruise !!

We have one booked for next Christmas qbman E625, but nothing for this year.

We're on Oriana next Christmas - where's Oceana off to ?

The Canaries and overnight in Madeira on New Years Eve.

Great - we've been in Madeira for the fireworks for the past 2 years. Certainly something to look forward to.

Oriana is doing the Canaries too but for some strange reason, we call at Madeira on the way out and are then at sea on New Years Eve.

[qbman1]

Or not selfish and sad but grown up enough to know when they are being manipulated by the media, supermarkets and greeting card companies
All this touchy feely Xmas dross , its sad when people need something as fake as Xmas as the only reason to get together
Next thing the Xmas elves on here will be cebrating Ramadan, as an excuse to do the things normal people do a yr round

I don't know many "normal" people who want to give up eating for a month !!

[suespud]

For my wife Christmas starts as soon as the shops sell off their unsold Christmas stock, she will often go out to get milk and bread and come back with bags full of cut price stuff that she puts away for Christmas.

I am a bit of a humbug regarding Christmas but I suppose that is partly due to the fact that I was often on call out duty over the Christmas season so would have to stay sober just in case the phone rang.

Over in France the villages and towns are already trimmed up and the shops are selling Christmas fare so it is not just a British thing, the children of France usually open their gifts at lunchtime on Christmas Eve which is when french families have their big feast that lasts for 6/8 hours. Christmas day is more like our Boxing day where families just chill out with the remains of the previous days food and drink.

The grand kids usually bully me into putting up the Crimble tree and they take great pride in dressing it with the help of Cheryl but I take great pride in demolishing it and stashing it away in the loft after Christmas ( perhaps that's why they call me Ebeneezer).

Humbug

Ideed they do in France, but they are all back to work on Boxing Day. None of this three week shutdown nonsense.

Tell me who is off for 3 weeks

My DIL is working Christmas Eve and Boxing Day...she is a nurse.
My son has a wedding on Boxing Day, he is a photographer.
Most of our family and friends are working at some point over the Christmas period, thats why our get togethers go on for about 2 weeks...
My OH works in Leeds, his factory isnt shutting down over the hols..lines running on Christmas Eve..off for 3 days then back on monday.

I think some of you just like moaning for the sake of it

Who's moaning Sue ?, I went thirteen years on the trot without Christmas Day as an uninterrupted holiday but that was the nature of my job, all I was suggesting was that I couldn't get in to the spirit of things due to 24/7 call out.

Didnt mean you Ray, sorry.

[suespud]

Or not selfish and sad but grown up enough to know when they are being manipulated by the media, supermarkets and greeting card companies
All this touchy feely Xmas dross , its sad when people need something as fake as Xmas as the only reason to get together
Next thing the Xmas elves on here will be cebrating Ramadan, as an excuse to do the things normal people do a yr round

Well we dont just do it at Christmas
We have lots of family and friends parties, get togethers, bbq's etc. nothing fake about any of our Christmas stuff..its all very real feeling...we dont pretend..we like seeing family and friends and being touchy feely.....people need people contact.

Ohhh and as for the elves....we have naughty elves all over the house at Christmas, the kids love looking for them every day in december.....another family tradition you will probably turn your nose up at and ridicule...

[GillD46]

As a family we spent precious few weekends together, a busy GP, and Medical Director of the local Hospice, my husband was on-call at LEAST alternate nights and weekends - including Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year etc etc etc and so when we had the opportunity to be together, we took it and ran with it.

Although he has now retired, our children are far and wide and so again, we like to make a big deal of our time together. I make absolutely no apologies for that! And it takes some planning to make it special - which in turn means, it takes time!

[Quizzical Bob]

Christmas is a magical time for small children, their parents obviously share that pleasure with them but those without any children of their own can often be selfish and sad individuals who simply do not know perhaps how to join in with the Festive merriment.

Yes of course it is far too commercialised but anybody with half a brain cell can switch off to that aspect of it and then engage with the religious side of things if needs be.

Boxing Day is my favourite and especially so if the Footy is on

Our home match against Arsenal has been moved to 7:45 on Boxing day evening. What's so great about that?

[Quizzical Bob]

I don't know many "normal" people who want to give up eating for a month !!

They don't. It's only during daylight hours.

[qbman1]

I know. That's really normal then !

[Raybosailor]

Well we dont just do it at Christmas
We have lots of family and friends parties, get togethers, bbq's etc. nothing fake about any of our Christmas stuff..its all very real feeling...we dont pretend..we like seeing family and friends and being touchy feely.....people need people contact.

Ohhh and as for the elves....we have naughty elves all over the house at Christmas, the kids love looking for them every day in december.....another family tradition you will probably turn your nose up at and ridicule...[/quote]

We used to have family parties and family get togethers all year round like you Sue but all the family have gradually broken up into small fragments with siblings moving with their jobs and all the young ones either married off or at uni so the gatherings are few and far apart now.

Family barbies were usually at ours because I built an undercover bbq with two fire pits and an undercover eating area so we could always stage a barbie regardless of the weather. Now we only use it a few times a year to its full potential.
Enjoy your family get togethers while you can Sue.

[suespud]

I know how easily families get disjointed..thats why we make the effort for our get togethers..and I know it wont go on forever, as the grandchildren grow up..but Ray, we are loving it now and we will enjoy it for as long as can.
Sue.

[suespud]

As a family we spent precious few weekends together, a busy GP, and Medical Director of the local Hospice, my husband was on-call at LEAST alternate nights and weekends - including Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year etc etc etc and so when we had the opportunity to be together, we took it and ran with it.

Although he has now retired, our children are far and wide and so again, we like to make a big deal of our time together. I make absolutely no apologies for that! And it takes some planning to make it special - which in turn means, it takes time!

Gill, we do the big deal too and no apologies from us either !!!!

I agree it takes planning, time and effort to make things special..maybe thats the key...
Some people cant be bothered to do that for others...

Enjoy !!!
Sue
x

[qbman1]

You've inspired me, Spuddy, and I've done all my Christmas shopping this afternoon. Just waiting for Mr Amazon to call round now !!

[suespud]

You've inspired me, Spuddy, and I've done all my Christmas shopping this afternoon. Just waiting for Mr Amazon to call round now !!

Mr Amazon..aka Santa...
lolol

Hope you got lovely wrapping paper....too.
Debenhams have some good offers on...lol

[Manoverboard]

Our home match against Arsenal has been moved to 7:45 on Boxing day evening. What's so great about that?

You'll be able to have a sleep during the afternoon ?