How are your Christmas preparations going this year?

Today I’ve made a stack of cheese straws, 3.5 dozen mince pies, and brandy butter. All that’s left for tomorrow is to cook 2 pieces of gammon - one to take, one to leave here for when we’re home again.

Today is the first day of feasting for us, as my sister and husband coming over because we had not planned to see each other over Christmas (since changed) so I’ll be cooking a 3 bird pheasant, mallard and partridge roast with stuffing - then using the royal chefs recipes for the veg and accompaniments 😊 - just for a bit of fun followed by a Christmas panna cotta (must get that done in a minute). DD and husband have since invited themselves (as nothing on🙄).

Quiet easy days then as DD is hosting Christmas Day and Sister now doing Boxing Day. DS coming over on 23rd as he has a puppy who is rrcovering from a serious operation and need# to be kept quiet, so we will be having roast pork etc, with I think chocolate and orange mousse.

House is now decorated and presents wrapped and sent off where appropriate. I always try to make Christmas week as relaxed as possible, so everything gets done before hand and I do nothing apart from cooking - no housework etc.

Listening to the children next door in the garden singing Christmas carols at the top of their voices - obviously getting excited. “Deck the Halls” fa-La-La-La😁

It just doesn't feel like Christmas! Must be me. Getting over gastroenteritis but feeling better. Luckily ordered an Ocado shop but may venture out today. Lots of social things next week, drinks, coffee morning etc but think I'll cancel those as I'd hate for someone to pick up the infection even though I'm nearly clear. Out for lunch on Christmas Day when hopefully we'll all be well although DD has just called with the most awful cold.....

It will be a very quiet Chrustmas this year .
I haven't finished putting my decorations up yet .

All done apart from baking the mincers.Quieter Christmas this year due to husband's illness, but , all cards sent , all presents wrapped, decorations up, just have to meet a local friend to exchange gifts and that's it ready !

Mostly done here. We’re going to our son’s family Christmas Day, I’ve the beef joint to pick up Christmas Eve, then treats to buy from M and S probably Tuesday.
I’m going out for a very posh afternoon tea today with my lovely dil’s looking forward to that, then feet up for the next few days. Bliss.

It has taken me much longer to do the cleaning that I thought we're having guests Boxing Day for a few days so I'm suprised I have given up. Most shopping done, wrapping tonight so better get going.
All cards I'm going to send, sent.
Tomorrow I'm putting up the tree and trimmings, more cleaning.
Sunday shopping with GD Carol Concert in evening, helping with refreshments.
Monday usual food shop for the week. Probably a lot more cleaning and wrapping!
Tuesday M&S shop for treats and some nice things for Christmas Day.
Wednesday visiting cemetery and maybe family to exchange gifts. Mass in the evening.
Thursday Christmas day- a day off!! Get up when I like, eat and drink what I like- can't wait!
Friday- family arrive so it will be chaos!!
Now where have I put the sellotape...?

I ‘only’ have the small matter of 3 dozen mince pies and masses of cheese straws, plus brandy butter to make before we head north on the 23rd.

Meanwhile a Christmas concert with Gdd1’s school choir and others, at the magnificent Sheldonian theatre in Oxford to look forward to tomorrow. 🎄🙂

Slowly to be honest. Turkey, cake, pud, frozen snacks, cranberry sauce and brandy cream all ready.

Don’t have to buy many presents and what I have bought I have bought online as it’s difficult to get out with poorly husband.

Don’t buy or send cards anymore. Donation sent to Pancreatic Cancer UK while they had a double up event on. Also planning to make provision for this charity in our Will as they have been a marvellous support to us.

The tree and decorations were up last weekend. I've bought and wrapped presents for everyone in the family, including the pets. Cards written and posted/distributed. I've bought a Christmas tablecloth, serviettes and cake stand. Bought a couple of new outfits for meals out. I haven't got a single food item yet, as DH and I are going out on Christmas Day, and the family are all coming here for a buffet on Boxing Day

Love Fairy Tale of New York. Especially the rude bits.

Mine were fairly easy. Pack my suitcase. Lock up. Off to the Costa del Sol for Christmas and New Year

Viva Espana
💃
Ole!

Ilovedragonflies

I'm currently untangling Christmas tree lights. The air is blue (in my head) - why didn't I put them away properly last year? Have put some Christmas music on via Alexa and that's helping a bit
Fairytale of New York currently playing (always good to belt out the rude bits )

There’s just one thing i absolutely HATE about Christmas, and that is ‘Fairytale of New York’! It’s the dreariest and worst song ever written! I literally cringe when I hear it!

Ilovedragonflies

I'm currently untangling Christmas tree lights. The air is blue (in my head) - why didn't I put them away properly last year? Have put some Christmas music on via Alexa and that's helping a bit
Fairytale of New York currently playing (always good to belt out the rude bits )

It doesn’t matter whether you put them away properly or not Ilovedragonflies they always need untangling! 😂
I think I’m ok except that the Christmas tree hasn’t arrived. We’ve always had a real tree for the main room but now have to have help with it as it’s too heavy/cumbersome (we have a small real one in the garden room). I ordered one from Balsam Hill, bound to be good I thought, but it still hasn’t arrived. It has, apparently, been dispatched so 🤞🏻.

I'm currently untangling Christmas tree lights. The air is blue (in my head) - why didn't I put them away properly last year? Have put some Christmas music on via Alexa and that's helping a bit
Fairytale of New York currently playing (always good to belt out the rude bits )

Think I'm about done now which means I've started worrying about what I might have forgetten!

Absolutely nothing at my house - am going to daughter for C.Day lunch, then back home to my dog and cats and enjoy the log burner. When my beloved husband was alive we always had a really fun and happy time , he loved everything about it!

Not too bad - I was somewhat anxiously awaiting the arrival of a personalised little musical carousel (with unicorns on it instead of the usual horses) for my little granddaughter's first xmas, but it's just arrived and it's really lovely. I've just ordered a book for my grandson which I couldn't find in the local bookshops, so that should be everything all sorted.

To answer the OP, very well 😃I have now sampled every mince pie known to man and supermarket.

I am OK, waiting on one gift from Amazon, tree up, all presents sent to children, and Grandchildren, in the North of England. Most Christmas food bought.
Downside, I have been without a car, which is getting fixed today so cannot get to places I usually go to. Partner has to have a scan, awaiting results. I have hurt my heel so certain jobs are painful.
To be fair, I am satisfied and not anxious.

Am invited out for christmas day, so will be taking a few things but not responsible for the cooking or sorting out. Have already given son and daughter in law their presents when we met last (hope they were able to resist opening them beforehand) and have my grandsons present ready but not wrapped up yet, and hoping we are all meeting up sometime soon, but have to wait and see what we can arrange. Not sent many cards , given the fact that they managed to lose my sons birthday card and keep hearing from people locally that cards have gone missing, decided it was better to send quite long emails catching up on various friends and a few cards sent abroad earlier. So not feeling terribly christmassy yet, but once I am singing and involved with various carol concerts , it will start to be more real. But yesterday was at a funeral of a friend from a choir we both sang in so not at my brightest yet. Hopefully things have time to pick up

All done and dusted. We had our Christmas with friends on 7th December. It was a fabulous Christmas with all the decorations, turkey dinner, leftovers for tea and party games. We are all on track for New Year now.
We do this every year now as the actual Christmas dates bring a lot of sadness. We always loved Christmas so doing Christmas early makes it a happy occasion for us.

Sad but happy memories, Deedaa.

I seem to be worryingly organised at the moment. Of course on Christmas Eve I shall be cursing the gammon (if you know, you know) so it could fall apart then. Only a couple of small presents to buy, and some cards for the family. Must make an effort and start wrapping the presents.

Tree just up, presents all bought and nearly all wrapped, those going elsewhere posted and have already arrived.

We are going to a big family get together 150 miles away and I’m taking pigs in blankets (about 60 made and in the freezer), 🎄puds (made), brandy butter (still to make), lots of cheese straws (still to make) ditto about 3 dozen mince pies.

So I shall be busy with all that on the 21st and 22nd, before we head north on the 23rd.