A Real Christmas

We've had the added stress of having a kitchen fitted which has spilled over into refitting the utility room - I've still not found the boxes with the crockery in nor have I tried cooking in the new oven or used the microwave and dishwasher. We're both working full time too so I'm just hoping that at some point everything will fall into place before the family arrive on Christmas day for their lunch! On top of that my cat isn't well today and I've still not wrapped the presents! I did buy a nice looking Yule log from the supermarket last week though Interestingly I watched The Factory last night which was all about factories producing their Christmas products - tinsel, wrapping paper, mince pies and Yule logs - they still hand roll them as no machines can get them as perfect!

Oh dear, your poor DH grandMattie (and poor you coping with it all).
We've both had the virus (him man-flu, mine I suppose was flu) and it has left me feeling wiped out.
The ingredients are there to make mince pies, sausage rolls etc but there is no will .....
M&S had some Yule logs (£6) but the sell-by date on them was not great and I prefer the ones with a little branch on the side as well.

I wonder if we're having lamb too? I haven't asked.

Nothing much goes in the bin here except perhaps over-ripe bananas

Lisa, why don't you buy a chocolate Swiss roll and decorate it? Then you will feel you have put something towards the log, without having actually made the cake!
Having said that, I'm struggling to find time to do all the church flowers, the mince pies, the wrapping of presents and house decorations, + DH who has man 'flu and is prostrate on the sofa [since Friday!]. I want to make chocolates as well as a fancy chocolate pudding for Christmas lunch - not the full Monty, that is in the evening... Do as I say, isn't it?

Christmas is what you want to make of it, if it's full on that's fine if you find over time you have cut back on food drink etc that's fine. I can't eat the food we ate at Christmas when we were younger and our children were too. As you get older your taste changes and more health wise now.

It's turkey with all the trimmings at our house. There will be nine of us, five adults and four children. I love making the dinner. I know it can be a chore, and quite stressful for some, but I revel in it. I don't make my own pudding though, I always buy one. I usually make a pavlova for those who don't like Christmas pud, well, when I say a pavlova,I usually make three. I'm not the best baker, and have never mastered the art of making a Christmas cake. This year I discovered Mary Berry's mincemeat cake, so at the moment, there are two in the oven. Watch this space!

I've spent a long time going through different posts on different subjects this morning on Gransnet, but what is really irritating me is the flickering adverts at the top of the screen for a store, which is flicking from one shot to another about the same store. It is really doing my head in, so I'm now going to stop reading them! I have so many problems with a constant daily headache and migraine that I don't need this awful irritation. I expect that anybody with epilepsy would not even be able to go on Gransnet at all. Hopefully they will soon put different adverts on that don't keep flashing.

Last year most of our family came to us for Christmas dinner it was lovely but very crowded. This year all the grown up grandchildren will be having lunch with their partners family so I will be with my daughter and her partner for lunch all her children will be elsewhere so just the four of us , I'll cook a turkey crown and take a Christmas pudding (left from last year) and some homemade mince pies with me, then in the evening we are all meeting at eldest grandsons house for our Secret Santa we will all take something to eat or drink.
So its been my most unstressed Christmas for a long long time, all I've made are lots and lots of mince pies and I'll cook a turkey crown the rest of the holidays it will probably be eating out or just me and OH at home . lovely.

Making a Yule Log is quick, but it is tricky as well.It's the rolling up bit in a clean tea towel, you have to get it just right.I make one every year.
I think we should all do what is right for us, and our circumstances, so make OR buy, or a bit of both.
The meal itself on Christmas Day is just a roast dinner really.

inishowen that's wonderful news all that matters is that those we love are well. It must be a big relief. Your new year with a new baby and a happy well daughter. Fab let us know how things go. A very very happy Christmas and new year

Sounds lovely. I'll think of your lamb when I'm brining the turkey Anya

What's a few more?

Anyone who prefers lamb welcome to join us, but you'll have to bring your own chair.

I haven't a mince pie or Christmas cake in the house because I'd just scoff the mince pies and have to get more and no one much likes Christmas cake. I do however have a lovely panettone and lots of alcohol of the sort I don't usually buy and a lovely piece of Salar smoked salmon from South Uist festering in the Royal Mail's so- called system for almost 10 days now

We are having lamb too, find turkey quite bland unless it's dark meat.

Echo the sentiments of Minniesmum, Happy Christmas one and all and for those who are sad or ill may you find peace.

I watched Mary Berry making a Yule log last night which looked utterly fabulous. I might have a go next year but too late now. Mince Pies from Waitrose and I am making a "Bakewell" tart - same ingredients and method but with mincemeat instead of raspberry jam. Chestnut and sausage suffing already done and in the freezer. I only need to ice the cake and do the crumbs for the bread sauce. Love Christmas dinner - we had steak and chips last year as I had just had a triple bypass and wasn't feeling very energetic but a toned down full works this year. No pigs in blankets, just stuffing and bread sauce. Lemon drizzle cake in the freezer as the grandchildren love it and hate Christmas cake. By the time they have had a big lunch plus chocolate rabbits etc, they just have jelly and cake for tea so we have the same.
Happy Christmas to you all even if you are not celebrating it. Plus a big hug for those who have been ill or lost someone they loved this year.

I've been looking after my pregnant daughter who's had Noro virus. This means I've neglected myself. No hairdressers appointment for me this year. All that matters is that my daughter had a scan yesterday and all is well with the baby. She was worried as she'd had five miscarriages. Christmas will slot into place as it always does.

I have reached the age of 70 without ever having made a Yule Log. TBH I have never bought or even tasted one. Your family will survive without one so unless you enjoy making it, just don't!

I feel a bit of stress is the exciting bit, we used to get the shopping on Christmas eve having put a few bits by at the butchers and bought a tin of biscuits when the kids went back to school in September. Everything is such a big production now.

Yule was about the moment when the sun started to return, the shortest day and longest night, we feasted and shared what we had with others, now its a free for all (but not free expensive) that primal celebration of things about to improve and helping family etc is all gone.

The Christian message has also been hijacked.

Simple pleasures are the thing and anything else that turns up is a bonus and a blessing.

After Christmas loads of stuff will be in the bin and people will be at Slimmers World or counselling or a treadmill of debt and worry. Lighten up, it is a celebration of the sun returning, let there be light...........lighten your own loads, save the money you waste wrapping something up only for someone to unwrap it, half the time they know all along what they are getting because Christmas now is list fulfillment. Gone are the surprises and the knowing that you had put a bit by and had some to share.

Luckily for me I am a terrible cook and will just buy what is needed for our family to get together after Christmas, fruit and cake and fry up breakfasts..........pub lunches but they have to walk there and back.

I am working on the charity Christmas lunch on the day itself, hoping to find that elusive eccentric millionaire, the good looking one, who likes fat girls. Well, I am entitled to a wish and its traditional I have been looking for him for years and years.

I too agree, we are our own worst enemies trying to be "Superwoman". I've had my years of preparing full Christmas Dinner (my DM & Step-F used to come & stay for 2 weeks), Boxing Day Buffet for about 16, I worked full-time but took Christmas Eve off & DH finished at Lunch-time for last minute bits. Worked half days between Christmas & New Year.

Over the years Christmas changed, Step-D started to do Boxing Day when DGS was about 2 so one less stress, family left home, Parents stopped travelling down (250 mile journey). When we "downsized" we had Christmas Lunch in a local Pub - expensive but well worth it, same following year.

1st Christmas after I was widowed I went to Devon to DD's & that is now my Christmas Day - go about 9.30, open presents with family, Lunch cooked for me, home by 3.30, evening at neighbours.

Visit to DM in Nov/Dec (she's still in Yorkshire, I'm now in Devon). Tree & decorations up early Dec, cards written & posted early. Presents bought when I see something but main shopping late Nov/early Dec. Presents wrapped as I go along from early Dec. Stocking for DGS full of chocolate coins & silly bits.

I ignore resist all the hype, spend what I can afford on presents, we usually ask for ideas so we get some-thing we want & DGS isn't interested if it's not football related

Hope every-one has a stress free Christmas

I love Christmas but I do admit I make it hard for myself. I cook everything myself- make all my own cards & most of the decorations including flower arrangements & wreath but I do it because I love doing it. DH always says why don't I buy sausage rolls, mince pies & desserts etc but I want to do it myself. I love cooking & making things so it is my choice. I don't moan or make a fuss about it- I just get on & do it.
Today I'm making the stuffings & bread sauce to go into freezer- I made 2 desserts yesterday - mince pies were done weeks ago & I have had a good time listening to drama on radio 4 on my ipad while I do it all. No-one forces me & my son is pretty much the same with cooking & his wife makes some of her decorations too.
I think we should all just celebrate the way we want to & if that means the tree goes up in September then that is their choice. Mine goes u about 10 days before the DAY.
Just do what makes you happy.

It will soon be over, and no doubt Easter eggs will be in the shops in a couple of weeks!!!

I want to go to Anya's too!

I no longer do Christmas lunch ... We go to my daughter's. I popped into M&S food yesterday to buy 4 bagels ...... And felt myself being mesmerised into browsing at the very attractive Christmas food!

I'm so proud that I only bought the bagels .... And the prettiest pack of mini mince tarts decorated with some sort of gold sparkly fairy dust.

Then I ran for the checkout!

This is my first year that I'm not working so I had grand designs back in September of making all sorts of things. Hey ho, life just got in the way and most of the designs are still just in my head. I have faffed about and made some cards & gift tags which I'm pleased about but that's been the limit. We have lamb too as no-one likes turkey except cold with mayo on sandwiches

Anya can I come to your house? I adore lamb but my lot are all traditionalists - turkey, turkey and more blinkin' turkey!

Love it Anya?✨??