Christmas stress

We saw my son and daughter a day or two before Christmas. So Christmas’s day it was not really like I just the two of us and we didn’t upset each other. Decided never to buy turkey again as it’s such a waste. Only upset was daughter didn’t get her essential medication delivered in time and spent Christmas Day with her carer driving her many miles to get an emergency supple. She was then so tired she just had a bowl of cereal instead of going out and went to bed. Thank goodness for her wonderful carers.

BlueBelle duxelles is mushrooms, grated or slivered fine, sauteed slow and long on low in butter. Dux on toast is a waste of effort. Dh uses dux instead of pate on beef wellington. Delicious, just foolish.

We didn't fall out because I bit my tongue. DH doesn't like to have anyone else here or go any where else on Christmas Day so just us and our 17 year old son who was cooking the Xmas dinner. DS did really well until just before dinner was due to be served whereupon he disappeared to his bedroom. Instead of calling him back, DH served it all up with a great hurumph before downing Stella, a bottle of wine and half a bottle of rum. This caused him to be cutting about my DM and DD as DM had informed me that she was very upset that DD wasn't coming to the Boxing Day Bash because DD was the only reason she joined us. DH was incensed on my behalf at my DM's sensitivity but became insensitive by keeping on and on about it. We tried to distract him by playing board games but eventually gave up when he became 'overtired'. I comfort ate too much chocolate, sulked when we had to watch Skyfall for the hundredth time before falling to sleep. DS found it all tedious so went to sit back on his computer for which I don't blame him. It wasn't my idea of a fun Christmas either!
Boxing Day was glorious though with the world and his wife joining us. DH apologised for Xmas day and paced himself with the booze. He even managed to be pleasant to DM and DD

Just wondering....have any of you ladies who are on second marriages, with 2 sets of children/grandchildren ever gone separately to spend Christmas Days with your 'own' family? Can that work?

Oh dear, keep taking the pills.

I wonder what most people would have said or done with a husband who had no previous idea of what would be happening on Christmas Day - he dislikes Christmas so we don't usually discuss it (ie avoid discussing it). He usually visits all his 4 children in the morning. This year after the first visit I said I was hungry then we went home for a snack. The intention was for us to have our Christmas dinner later in the day. Then we went to second daughter who has a chocolate devouring 5 yr old. Ate some roast potatoes and christmas pudding. Then of course we didn't want our Christmas Dinner. I feel cheated of this now. It's not the same having Christmas Dinner on Boxing Day with your man at all.

Christmas day was great but on Christmas Eve the (10 foot) Christmas tree fell down, breaking so many beautiful hand blown glass ornaments I have collected over the years, that have so many memories, it made me cry. Both my adult children who still live at home complained if I had not insisted on such an enormous tree it would not have fallen over. Apparently the cast iron stand is not meant for such a large tree. A pity none of them told me this before I bought it. My husband did not say anything but gave me a I told you so look.

Our 6 year old GS, always a bit of a showman, decided to stand up about 10 minutes into the Christmas Dinner to say Grace which was in fact his lines from the school nativity. Then whilst we ate he asked us all the cracker jokes, plus a few ‘why did the chicken’ jokes. Surprisingly he didn’t do his magic act.

His great grandfather was a comedian and entertainer in the Music Hall, so it’s in his blood.

We all thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment, except for his younger brother who had seen it all before and knew he would see it all again. ?

After several days of baking and prepping for the Christmas family get together, my day of family madness and mayhem has just ended:
1 year old DGS is teething and wailed and grizzled all day.
5 year old DGD surreptitiously ate too much chocolate and threw up on the rug.
Ex H announced, immediately upon arrival, that he couldn't stay long but then stayed for 6 hours, drank like a fish, grew maudlin and left in tears.
Elderly relative, who has mild dementia, couldn't remember where he, or the bathroom, was. He wet himself.
My pavlova was a car crash - absolutely abysmal. It got eaten though.
I stood, with bare feet, on a lego brick and cursed loudly. DGD & DS heard me and I got told off by both.
I'm told it went well and everyone had a lovely time and they're looking forward to the next one.

Had a lovely day with DD and her family, Sils mum,her daughter and gcs and my DS. Despite DH and Sil having colds it was all great. However nice to have a quiet day today

While I was watching the Queen's speech one of my daughters decided to prepare a totally unneccesary and non traditional vegetable dish which meant that Xmas dinner was delayed by 45 mins so everything was either overcooked or cold. I know I shouldn't have been annoyed, but it wouldn't really have been a traditional Xmas without a row, would it?

So ... , own up.....how many of us really enjoy Boxing Day, on our own or with a 'Significant Other' eating cold 'whatevers' with bubble and squeak, a peaceful bottle of wine of choice and tv catch-up or favourite radio prog?
I love my DD , her partner and my DGS dearly but 24 hours of Scalextric, Minecraft and Jeremy Clarkson is enough for this ole gal. Oh. the bliss of one's one little home and bedroom, to which I will retire er' long with the dawg,a brandy and soda and 'The Minatuarist'. on TV.

My dil has not spoken to my other son since his wedding last year when she refused to speak to ANY ONE in both families the night before the wedding.Not sure why. Today she ignored him and wife the whole day except for answering 1 direct question.
AS MY OTHER DIL says we're lucky we only have to see them twice a year.

Apparently I'm obsessed with opening a window to let steam out after a shower. Everyone else spends 15 mins steaming up the whole room while forgetting to turn on fan and open a window. AM I odd?

Bluebelle - you've won first prize ! A week in the Land of Nod .
janeainsworth - you've won a fousty old , licked by the dog brussel sprout. That'll teach you !
Getting ready to watch Little Women - a treat for us all for doing so badly yesterday !
All your funny stories have made me laugh - thank you ! x .

Tiredoldwoman apparently I yawn too loudly now

I’ve just checked with DS.
Apparently my behaviour was impeccable

Saw my family christmas eve then over to my new partner's house for dinner. Roast lamb and all the trimmings. Beautiful day full of love.

I think one in three is very reasonable - maybe suggest it for next year?

Makes me very sad that our 2 DSs cannot spare us any time at Christmas. They are always far too busy with their own families and their in laws.... We do get facetime briefly but it's not the same. I just wish they could each do, say, one Christmas in 3 with us.

Yes, I wondered about that too.
DH has had man flu for the last week but managed a little bit of dinner. Did not very well either so aeverything down to me. I thought I had done the easy thing by getting preprepared veg from s..... Turns out not so good. Roast potatoes, (supposedly in that dreaded goose fat, Not so Old) never crisped up or browned despite ages in oven, parsnips hard and uncuttable.
Better day today. Cold turkey with home made roast potatoes and parsnips, delish.
P.s. so upset by inedible veg. actually emailed to complain on Christmas Day!

I was so intrigued I googled for it but nothing came up!

Henbane ,I don't know either !! I'm going to start practising for next year , would Pilates give me the ability to turn on taps with my feet ? But then I'd probably get into trouble for ripping me gusset !

OP, what's with the "Who touched a tap handle after peeling carrots (!)" ? I've never heard of this prohibition, how else would you wash your hands before starting the next job...?

DH got the grumps, didn't like his presents and didn't try to hide it from DS and DIL. That plus rubbish on the telly led to a very quiet evening with DH on laptop in his own little world. Trying not to say much about it until after DH, DIL and GD leave tomorrow, don't want to make matters worse.