"That" dream

Repeat after me: "Christmas is about feeding those you love, not ticking boxes" and keep repeating till Christmas Eve

I am so lucky! DH loves to cook so Xmas is a co-operative effort and only every two years as we go away to the Cotswolds for a pamper! But last Xmas DH said enough was enough and the younger members of the family could help a little ( they didn't even open a bottle) or we were going OUT!! I also bought some new tree decorations in the Garden Centre yesterday and am on the lookout for presents - a little at a time and Xmas can be relatively calm - except for the relatives!!!

My dreams are much more cunningly disguised. I'm driving a double decker bus through a narrow space, from the top deck! I'm trying to pack a house full of clothes, kitchen equipment, ornaments etc etc into one small suitcase. I'm rushing to catch a train or bus but never quite get there because of various interruptions.

Oh and LullyDully that not prepared for class dream also appears as well as the sitting looking at a blackboard full of gibberish that everyone appears to understand except me!

Give me that therapist's number somebody!!

Doh! Why didn't you tell us this before? the therapist will see you now......

Nooooo!!
I've had it again! Only this was the "presents" version.
In my dream DH had said he would wrap all the presents(huh!) but when he finished they were all identically wrapped in brown paper, unlabelled and the identical shape. Other than a Fozzy Bear (?) he had no recollection of anything specific for the DGC.

DD2 is getting married the Saturday before Christmas this year and after the weekend, apart from popping home for a couple of days to swap wedding gear for winter woollies we are off to spend Christmas in a house next door to DD1 and SIL's weekend/holiday house in Somerset where the happy couple will be joining us after a blessedly quiet (they hope) few days' honeymoon.
Could this be part of my nocturnal stress?

Of course who is around the table can be fraught these days with so many split , remixed and well travelled families.

We have the. Children 1 & 2 with DS2for lunch every other year. Santa is coming here so they leave on Christmas morning with XDiL who has remarried recently.

DS1 and Di l and GC3 coming Christmas Eve. Think I've got it.

As long as we see them all we can't be too precious about Christmas Day.

DS2 and I always cook together and we have fun. We made everything ourselves including stuffing, cranberry sauce.,ice cream, mini puddings last year.

The cranberry sauce not worth the bother sorry Auntie Berry.

Not worth getting stressed. Do what you can, delegate other jobs and what doesn't get done, well it just doesn't get done. It's who is around the table that matters not what is on the table.

if anyone complains then tell them to do it next time .

Oh, the Christmas Rainbow Bridge.... it's here! it demands to be crossed.

I think teachers have a related dream. You are facing a new class with no planning and every trouble maker in your class. I still get it and I retired 4 years ago.

Sorry to divert the topic. Just not crossing the Christmas bridge yet.

Are there such people as 'Christmas therapists'? I didn't know!! Now that's an idea...

Or..... Let It Snow, dee dah doh, then visitors will stay away.

....and that's the source of all the worry.It's media hype because they want to sell stuff, and the more early you do it, the happier they will be.We don't have to fall for it though.
No one will notice if you haven't polished btw.I haven't polished anything in the house for almost two weeks, the first week was just too busy and this week have been feeling ill with a lurgie, and you know what, even I can't tell the work hasn't been done.
I buy the presents in November, a whole month before Christmas Day.I write and post cards the first week in Dec.Then I buy Christmas food and a few extras the following week.The third week in Dec I put up the tree and any bits and bobs.worry will stop any enjoyment of the actual day, so see a Christmas therapist without delay! Ooh,that rhymes, that could go in our Christmas cards,
Worry will stop any enjoyment of the actual day,
So see a Christmas therapist without delay!

Mmmm, what's the worst that could happen? Good question. I suppose, if it were any other day and we a) ran short of food and/or b) people dropped by unexpectedly: nothing. We'd cope. The world wouldn't stop turning and I'd not die of embarrassment or be cast out of the family/friendly circle. But it's not an ordinary day, it's CHRISTMAS and the house has to shine, everything has to be perfect, the cupboards stocked for all eventualities and tastes and we all have to be smiley-faced and polished and in our best bib and tucker. And I have to make it all happen while keeping my cool... and why do I feel this way? Because the bl**dy media says so and has been saying so since September. Grrrrr

Having organised a day to go to a conference about DH's illness with DD I then had a very vivid dream about travelling to the venue, stopping for lunch and missing the entire thing! Woke up feeling totally stressed! Naturally come the day nothing went wrong at all

After all folks, what's the worst that could happen?..........

Never had a worry dream about Christmas, and hope they won't start now after reading this thread!

mollie.

I've never had that dream but Christmas is my waking nightmare. I hate it, probably for all the stress it causes me, whereas my OH loves it and of course he does b*gger-all towards it, just about remembers to buy me a present! I wish I could be relaxed and leave everything to the last minute like Scrooge does ... 'here boy, go buy the biggest goose in the shop'! A bag of nuts, some oranges and a goose. That's it. Christmas done! I wished...

Then, Luckygirl you are aptly named! . On the subject of the dream, I have it too, and it is probably the only one I ever remember vividly. We don't have a turkey or DH's favourite pork pie. I am hammering on the door of the pork butchers and all the pork pies have gone. Then I am rushing round to Asda (why, I don't know - I've never shopped there) and fighting my way through crowds in the loading bay! When I eventually get into the shop there are millions of turkeys, but they're all alive!! I haven't had it this year yet!

I never have that dream because I don't buy gifts and I take the family out for lunch so it is not really an issue. Anyway DH says I could feed the 5,000 out of the freezer

My dreams are much racier than that!

I bet men never have that dream

I thought I was the only one who had that dream!! I also dream that I have visitors and don't have enough food to feed them all - which usually means I buy far too much "just in case" and end up eating most of it myself!!

Oh I have that but it's Christmas morning and we haven't got any dinner or presents and I wake up with a start and my heart pounding. I think that dream is why I start getting Christmas ready early - also it help to pass the winter.