I know it is August but...

Judypark, I loved reading your post!

I don't understand what the problem is over for hating cooking for Christmas As M&S and their ilk make it so unbelievably easy to not cook but simply heat through. They do all the thinking for you.

I agreed with friends years ago that we would not exchange presents. I was getting stressed out looking for gifts they probably did not want and certainly did not need. I send one cheque to my sister in law by marriage and that is my lot.

I dine on my own and have exactly what I want. Lately I have been having the main meal on Christmas eve because the gas level was so low on Christmas day that it took forever to cook anything. It would be nice to dine with others or dine out but circumstances have changed and friends are well scattered.

I love Christmas- but not the USA/UK way- eg when it begins in ... October (and on GN in August...) - and I like it simple, with natural materials, real trees that are only in the house for 2 weeks max, candles, wood burners, home-made stuff and presents- and good food without going crazy and having unpteen courses.

Goin away for 3 week mid November- so Christmas preparations will begin when we get back.

In the meantime - bah humbug - it is SUMMER and then it will be AUTUMN - Winter will come after that and no sooner. cheers.

I love Christmas. Everything about it. I still get as excited as I did when I was a child, even though now I do all the work. However, I love cooking so maybe that has something to do with it.
DD still has "alternative Christmas", usually about February, with all her uni friends as they did in their uni house. They are now in their mid 30s and every year they have to find a bigger house to rent for the weekend due to husbands,partners and children. It always sounds like they have a wonderful time, although DD has to make Christmas pudding as they are quite hard to find in February apparently!?

The shoes are because they do a lot of walking, taking their message to everyone. It does keep them healthy, I must say - I know one who is in her 80s and she can walk me into the ground! I keep off certain subjects when talking to her, though, like having a common ancestor with all the other apes. We agree to differ.

Not miserable maggiemaybe, I am a realist.Elegran I don't need to go away( Poetic license in my lyrics, nor do I especially feel the need to join Jehova's Witnesses if for no other reason than that they all seem to wear dreadful shoes . We will just do our own thing in our own house.

The second link, further down suggests spring!

!
Well now I am well and truly behind!

www.ucg.org/the-good-news/biblical-evidence-shows-jesus-christ-wasnt-born-on-dec-25
Jesus's birthday could have been at the end of September, so best get a move on with all your preparations, everyone!

biblelight.net/xmas.htm

I like christmas, but for one reason and another it was going to be quieter this year. Which suited me this one time.
But now people are coming that I didnt think were. Oh well.
I will try and tame it down though, but there is someone in our group who really really really likes christmas. and we havent yet managed to calm the person down about it!

I like Christmas, but it would be nice for someone else to host....( how do we persuade them?) don't think about it till after DDs and 2 DGD's birthdays at the end of November .

I love Xmas, but try not to think about it before DD's birthday - late November. I also have an absolute rule - if things aren't finished by lunchtime Xmas Eve, s.d it!

Would love to forget all about Xmas and give it a miss, or even go abroad maybe, but not allowed to as did won't have it.

She doesn't want to cook dinner and neither do I, so we are at a sort of stalemate.

It's only because of g.son that I'm putting up with it.

Call me grumpy, but I'm bored of the whole thing long before Xmas.

Thanks for reminding me that's it's fairly imminent.

If it is that bad, forget it and book a holiday somewhere they don't celebrate Christmas - or join Jehovah's Witnesses, they say it is just an excuse for excess and people get into debt over-spending, and Dec 25th the wrong date for Jesus' birth anyway.

I must say mine have never been like that. Some full of activity, some quiet, but all provided a pleasant day with family and/or friends.

My earliest snapshot memory is at 2 years old and pushing my new toy pushchair with new dolly to my grandparents on Christmas morning. I was so excited. It was a magical day. Fast forward 25 years my 3 small children and I are decorating a Christmas tree, writing to Santa, calling up the chimney and leaving mince pies and sherry on the hearth in eager anticipation. OK, it was hard work but to see my children's faces on Christmas morning was worth ever minute. Let's fast forward again, 35 years this time, I am reliving the magic and wonder of that childhood with my lovely grandchildren. Amazingly they call up the same chimney that I did 61 years ago, and even more amazingly Santa is still coming down it every year. I would never deprive my grandchildren of this short- lived but wonderful time in their young world ever.

Good grief, Ilrina, and I thought Morrissey's lyrics were miserable!

gillybob
I'd recommend that you adopt a tradition which my grandmother started and I stick to even now......On Christmas day the women cook, the men clean up after dinner!

Here is the Poem for what it is worth.It was written in a half light hearted manner so let's not all get too serious about it Huh?

Christmas Re'past

Christmas comes but once a year
Amen to that, say I
Everyone full of forced good cheer
Another mince pie I shall die!

Every year it is the same
False Joi de vivre, hail fellow well met
With Christmas Cracker jokes, inane
Will anyone fall out this year? You bet!

The Christmas lights festoon the street
They give a jolly illusion
The tiny tots get sick and excited
And the drunks lie in total confusion

The tree dries out, it's needles drop
The cards have all fallen down
The paper and ribbons confined to the bin
We are bored, shall we go into town?

So off we set, for a Christmas walk
No snowflakes do fall, it is raining.
The shops are all closed, nothing to do
Another drunk throws up by the railings

Next year, I swear I am going away
Sun, sea and sand is a must
If anyone dares to mention mince pies
You will not see me for dust!

We didn't have Christmas the year my mum died, now I tend only to put her tree up and childhood decorations. No doubt I'll think differently in 2017 when our first grandchild arrives!

It is indeed too early for the C word, but I love it when it comes. I ignore the commercialism, Christmas is what you want to make of it.

My dc reckon no one does it as well as I do and they try and come home if they can. This year three of my four will be here.

All my work is done by the end of dinner on 25th. Others clear up afterwards and there's enough food in the house for people to snack on for days. If anyone wants a big meal, they can cook it themselves, they know where the kitchen is!

Ilrina, I look forward to the poem, Christmas is a few months off, but it never goes away. I really don't like Christmas but don't want to spoil it for others. I love having family together but that's all xx

Yes I made that many years ago, it was really nice. The

Love Christmas, best time of the year for me. Favourite month is December, however Christmas before 1st December is a no no for me. I treat it as a special time, but do not like to hear about it in the Summer.

Take it in turns with each child + gc but wherever I am I miss the others. Am I being silly ? I dread it. (One lives abroad so its not possible to all be together)