What I will do differently next Christmas

I have already started my resolution - it is to start buying presents ready for next year. This year I spent a bit less on each person, so have some money left over to start buying again, instead of having a few things on my credit card and having to wait until it is paid off before I can start shopping again. I have used what little xmas money I was given, and have started up my xmas stash in order to take advantage of the online sales. It's not something I ever wanted to do, but needs must.

I had a nice Christmas Day; the meal preparation was undertaken in four different households, so definitely a time of sharing.

Boxing Day was pants though, I was on my own and only had a brief telephone conversation with a distant relative.

I like the YH volunteer idea!

We host the big family party the Sunday before Christmas - sisters and all our kids, grand kids etc. 40 this year, hard work and bedlam on the day but so, so worth it.
12 for Christmas dinner and another 5 in the evening. DH helps with the prep and it's all done the day before, turkey cooked and carved, gravy made, roast poatoes almost cooked then re-heated at the last minute (well it's good enough for Mary Berry) and the veg all prepped. It's wonderful to see how much the family enjoy it and are really grateful that we do this for them every year. I hope I can keep doing it for years to come, even though it does take it's toll a little more these days.
Oh and if you want a really good turkey that needs no messing about with I recommend Copac, they're expensive but free range and so tasty - and no I'm not a share holder!

I will leave home at the beginning of December and not come back until after New Year! But realistically....

Christmas day went rather well, although DD and sil were a little sleep deprived due to GS's early rising! After lunch GS, DH and i performed a little play i had written about a burglar who steals Santa's christmas present! We played games and no-one watched the tele! On Boxing Day, both my children and their significant others were here, but everyone seemed out of sorts. DS was full if cold, and diL, a radiographer, had just finished a shift at the hospital before they came to us and was very tired. I provided too much food and, unusually, no-one really felt like eating it. It was kind of a listless day.

So next year, if nothing else, cut right down on the food if DH can be persuaded that not having a groaning table for two days is letting the side down! I should lock him in a room and make him eat all the stuff that is left!

And we have 361 days to get sorted

Please can we all remind each other from early November onwards to BUY LESS FOOD? Off to Bournemouth tomorrow for New Year, if I can find anything to pack that still does up, so Happy New Year to all you delightful (even when you're grumpy) ladies.

We do have several unchristmases with various family groups ..so..roast dinner ..usually lamb and all the trimming ..games..grotty telly ..long walk on Sunday after bacon sandwiches ...and bubble and squeak before everyone goes on Sunday afternoon ..all share the expenses ..bring food and booze ..and then Christmas is free for them to to what they want and us too...unusual but works ..

Sorry, I couldn't read all of the posts; I find so many of them beyond depressing!
Yes, I realise that many people are having a difficult/stressy time but, hey you're not unique, we've all had absolute rubbish stuff in our lives! I may appear to be a little unfeeling but if it's really hard, family stuff, then I think that it should be sorted within the family and with those who are most affected. Communication, communication, right from the beginning, is the best way to go. All parties involved may not like, at times, what they're hearing, but keep at it, listen, not just hear, what others are trying to say, and remind others t listen to you! Baby steps! and make sure you're all trying for the same ending! If anyone has a 'me first' agenda then I'm afraid nothing will be resolved.

So many of them, JanT8 ? I have just counted and there were three, maybe four people who had family problems in about thirtysix posts - and it didn't sound as though any of them had a me-first agenda. If you want to see that there are other threads where your bracing advice might fit, though it would probably not be welcomed by the recidivists posting on them.

I've no doubt I will do it all again next year. Just couldn't not. I might not make a Christmas cake. Or just a very small one.

that's if I'm still here

You'll still be around, jings #tougholdbird

Fingers crossed. x

Better had be!

I won't make two large Christmas cakes.

Ps if I'm still here too

YNK so don't squabble with family!

My daughter and I have decided to have Christmas Day in our house next year for family, we went out this year for lunch and everyone was disappointed in the food they had (not to mention the cost) Probably because we have several excellent cooks in the family Will have between 12-18 adults and around 5 children if everyone can make it. Luckily I have two large steamers for veg and we will have two ovens (one in daughter's side of house and one in mine) plus two fridge/freezers so fingers crossed! Going for the easy option of a turkey crown, piece of ham and a piece of beef plus a nut roast for the vegetarians!

I'll do nothing different. Serenity Amadores in Gran Canaria was lovely, my sons and grandchildren did exactly what they wanted, and we'll meet up on New Year's day.

My husband gets heartburn if he eats my truffle torte. Very rich, loaded with double cream and chocolate. Will do some other pud next Christmas.

I won't buy chocolate or crisps. No one wanted them and then I'm left eating them. The worst part is, I've not really enjoyed them.

Last Christmas, I was due for a hip replacement on 17th December, so I had everything done by about 15th - cards written, presents wrapped etc. Some of you will remember that the operation was then cancelled. But oh, how nice it was then to sit back....this year was NOT as organised, despite my good fitness levels. So maybe next year I'll start early? (Huh!)

Next year I won't start shopping early. Despite spreading it over nearly two months, or perhaps because of, I have spent much more than usual, finished up with things I neither wanted nor needed, missed out on some great "week before Christmas" bargains, saw nicer cards than the ones I bought earlier, was done and dusted by 10 days before the big day and yet still felt totally stressed out.
Can't win, can you?

Christmas next year will be the same as this year (God willing)we always do the hosting,for any DC and DGC who want to come, there is Christmas lunch.Because Mr Roses helps out, it usually goes smoothly.I enjoy Christmas at home, wouldn't want to go away.We rarely have much if any food left over, the turkey makes three different meals, biscuits and chocs are eaten and enjoyed.

All else being well, the only thing I would do differently is buy fewer 'little extra' gifts. We don't have many to buy for, but despite keeping a list I have trouble resisting buying little extra gifts that I think someone will like. Not only does it add to the cost of Christmas (which is expensive enough), I often end up with too many things for one or two people and end up looking for things to balance it out again. Plus we're supposed to keep to a limit per person, so it's not on really to go too much over that limit.

Otherwise I hope nothing changes to make it necessary to do things differently.

We did the "away for Christmas" bit several years ago. After years of DH going on about wanting to go away and do something different at Christmas I relented. We gave all the family one full year's notice so they all knew they had to organise something else. We went to Rome. They tried very hard to give us an acceptable Christmas dinner - I wish they hadn't. We did see the Pope but apart from that Rome was basically closed. We didn't have a particularly good time .

Meanwhile, instead of getting on with their own thing DS and DD came home (as usual) and cooked for DMIL and DBIL with elder DD and DSIL arriving later (as usual). The only thing missing was us!