Anybody else up yet?

Whoooo back and 10mins to spare.

marcella I do the same every time, usually Dh mentioning after the order that he needs a certain item that is paramount to complete Christmas lunch (which he always cooks and very nice it is too).
Just gone back to Tesco for Christmas delivery I have had a few years break after they only turned up with half the order a couple of Christmas ago, so I am hoping its all there today as I can not do another trip to the supermarket.

OGM "I used to believe I was indecisive, but now I'm not so sure"

Glass - why is it that we go to the trouble of an online grocery order then end up in the supermarket anyway for all the things we forgot to put on?! Every time. My New Year's resolution is to crack this one

My very kind DD has arranged for me to drop off GC at 12 to other Grandma so I can get my last minute bits sorted then proceeded to give me jobs to do for her.
So I have 3 hours how much do you think I can fit in!!

I need to go for groceries that I have forgotten to put on Tesco delivery, call to collect photos that DD put in the 1hr service then forgot to collect, call at the bank to put in 2 cheques for DD, Then I can sort out the few presents that I still need but have no idea what to buy.then get back here for the Tesco delivery!

Can I do it dont know but here goes.

The queues in our local supermarket are terrifying. Just couldn't face them. So I sincerely hoping my online Tesco order turns up this afternoon otherwise for Christmas dinner we may be forced to have porridge oats with ryvita washed down with some slightly out of date spearmint and chamomile tea

DH is getting huge red spot on his nose. All you need now darling is the antlers...

Hello everyone!
Bimbling again! (me, that is)... been up since 5.30 but, at least have made some decisions (Christmas and procrastination go hand in hand for me!). Decision 1: bit of cleaning, bit of decorating ( mixing the creative with the humdrum!)
Decision 2:..... OH dear, I haven't decided yet!

Good for you Jess. If you can deal with a staff disciplinary (been there!), you can cope with most things. Wish you had more empathic ILs, but you seem to know what makes them tick. Best of luck.

Well done, ariadne. I haven't been in to M&S near xmas for 33 years because the last time I did, in Sheffield, when I went in and went up the escalator I looked down on a sea of heads, was overcome with "crowd terror", thought: This ship is packed to the gunwales! Argh! and promptly jumped overboard – so to speak. I left.

Good luck, jess. DD1 and partner are going to his family for xmas and although they'll enjoy some of it, they're dreading the hyper-excitement that will be encouraged in the five children who will be present, helped along by a lovely but very large and bouncy dog, not to mention grandpa and five other adults! So they've already decided that from next year they'll be having quiet christmasses by themselves and arranging visits to or from family to suit themselves. DD says: I've done three of these now. I reckon I've done my duty.

My side of the family is perfectly calm of course !

All done! It's nice shopping centre, not too big, and was just comfortable at 7.30. Even though M&S was open, I didn't go in, so am proud of myself. Nice cup of coffee now.

Thanks Annobel. Having a momentary wobble now but on the whole, am coping well. I so don't want to spend the weekend with the ILs but once it starts will get through ok. Stay sober and in control, don't start any topics of conversation that I would find interesting (trivia only please), fixed grin during exchange of excessive amount of present opening, ignore the fact that none of SILs will even register that I have a family of my own that I might be missing. Eat a not v nice dinner and help with the cleaning up. It requires a performance. In the same way as chairing a staff disciplinary appeal does ! A different performance obviously. Hope it will be fine and we can get out for walks. And we will have a hotel room to retreat to.
Love, honour and join in with your family's xmas is the name of the game. Ok I have cheered myself up now. Thanks for listening.

Have a great time in London Butter; off you go, Ariadne - fight your way through Sainsbury's. I take Omeprazole plus Gaviscon Advance plus Ranitidine on prescription. This combination has helped to alleviate the chronic laryngitis caused by laryngo-pharyngeal reflux. I am quite embarrassed when I pick up my prescriptions from the chemist. I share your misgivings about cruciate veg.
JessM, it's a poignant time for you but I am sure you'll get through it and come out the other side. Skype should help.
Well. I've almost finished packing. Now, what have I forgotten? merry Christmas one and all.

Bon voyage Butternut.
Cruciate veg can have interesting effects on ones gut bacteria. Instant party time.
still not feeling even 1% christmassy. But not suffering from December glooms or even prechristmas angst particularly. Just disengaged. I think this counts as a result!
GN has helped. Prepared to grin my way through Sunday with the IL tribe. But i have absolutely no prexmas food to bother about. So it is a case of just getting on with normal life until Saturday. Good luck to all of you who have shopping to do.

Thanks, Annobel, but I'm on Lanzoprazole and you can't, apparently, mix it with other stuff.

It was my own fault; my vegetarian order had been missed, so I had lots of very nice veg. AND roast potatoes (having checked the cooking fat!) Cruciate veg. and I do not get along very well!

Off to Sainsburys in a minute. (Said that on another thread about 5 minutes ago, and still haven't got off my bum! I blame GN)

Safe journey, butty, and have a ball!

Up early, picnic packed, thermos steaming. Off to London for Christmas!
Hope the channel is a mill pond and the M25 at least reasonably fluid.

I would just like to thank you all for being here on Gransnet. You've made such a difference. I wish you contentment and joy in the coming week, wherever you are, and with whatever you're doing.

First action of the day, flip switch of kettle beside my bed. Trouble is I find I get so engrossed in Gransnet my tea goes cold! I am always astonished that in these discussions about insomnia no one mentions the World Service. It works brilliantly for DH and me. If you don't like the feeling of an earphone in your ear Roberts make a marvellous little gadget called Pillow Talk. Plug it into your radio and pop the PT under your pillow. If it does not send you back to sleep at least you will have learned something new. I have lost count of how many I have given to friends and family, all gratefully received. They used to be a tenner, but no doubt have gone up like everything else. I have had so many great ideas for Christmas presents from other Gransnetters, so here is my contribution. Sleep Well!

Oxon70 those green chewy Remegels are better tasting than Gaviscon and very effective.

Yes, I agree about children getting themselves in debt for Christmas - all they are doing is giving their own kids a message about being materialistic at any cost. I am very uncomfortable when I see the amount that is spent on presents, and would welcome a movement for only children to be the recipients of moderately priced Christmas presents. I would much prefer to make gifts of fudge and biscuits, knitted hats and scarves, or a compilation disk of favourite songs, for adults - shows you have thought about them as creatively as you can.

My rule this year is not to buy any (outrageously expensive) computer games, and the grandchildren have got Lego, puppets, baby musical toys, chess set and suchlike, with panto and cinema treats to enjoy from now into the New Year.

Hope you have a better day today Oxon70

Yes, I'm depressed.....
Just found myself making coffee instead of tea, trying subconsciously to wake myself up?
Yes, I am angry.....seeing my daughter putting herself in debt to make the perfect Christmas - just what those women on TV were on about!

Turning off all the adverts for presents, presents, presents, food, food, food....
- if you are religious (I'm not, just been ranting about that on another thread) - what is Christmas about? So much consumerism........

Not being able to take part in preparations much this year - I usually have done all the veg peeling, but since I broke my wrist (LAST Christmas Day) my hand won't do things like that very much.

Thinking about the last year, when I feel my health has gone downhill because of my wrist and feeling the frustration of not being able to do things - or not without pain!

I tried Gaviscon once - tastes like Germolene. Yuk.

Great to wake up today after a frantic day yesterday delivering and passing on presents. I have my spare bedroom back! Everything now sorted. I went to the supermarket for store cupboard provisions late evening and found it surprisingly empty of shoppers. Raced round in half an hour and just dumped a few bags in the kitchen, fridge and freezer, then went to bed. Just fresh turkey, veg, fruit to get now and I can avoid those shops. Love Christmas as soon as Christmas Eve arrives and there is nothing at all I can do except enjoy the moment.

Ariadne - one word: Gaviscon!
Oxon, You've got the pre-Christmas blues by the sound of it. I hope it's a better day in Oxford than it is here - traipsing around the shops, trying to manage an umbrella is no fun. I also hope it's good weather there tomorrow because I am coming your way for Christmas at Didcot with the family.
Was drowsing peacefully when the phone went at 7.25 - sisters, resident and visiting calling from NZ. Good chat, once I'd come to and then I gave them the answers to the last few clues in their crossword! Now .

There is a school of thought that some depression is a result of unexpressed anger. I think having a good old rant is far healthier than slipping into the greys of depression. Just think how 'ranting' energises the body...

Hope you are feeling better by now, Ariadne.

I woke early because I have to go to Oxford and trail around doing Christmas stuff, including dragging a TV which I have been keeping into the car and delivering it to my daughter.
Bonus, I get to see her before Sunday....but I really don't want to do today.
- I'm tired! Don't want to do Xmas actually.

This week I have been sitting around...listening to it raining...after making the effort to send off some things by post which are for New Year anyway.
A bright spot - I have been contacted by another distant cousin I didn't know about, via a family history forum....should lead to more info about my family.

I just heard this woman on TV saying that Xmas time she alternates between elation and a wild rage!
Rage is better than being depressed.

Morning all! Ate and drank a little too much last night (party) and am now regretting it. More indigestion than hangover, though....

It took me two years to read Middlemarch.

Must do it again some time.