Boxing Day traditions - what do you do?

Yes, we do it all over again at our in-laws'! Then we have our quiet day on the 27th - lying in, bit of fresh air, catching up in the Christmas telly we've recorded. Oh, and the traditional heart attack on a plate fry up of all the Christmas Day leftovers.

Yes, off to our son and DIL later. I've just got to provide the pudding (Cumberland Rum Nicky) so I really ought to get started on it.

DD and the boys will be coming over for a lunch of cold meats, pickles, fancy breads, lemon meringue pie, pistachio ice cream and cheese and biscuits.

Everything is laid back and help yourself on Boxing Day chez merlot

No visiting or visitors for us. We've just done the tidy up from yesterday. Then a stroll along the seafront, back to watch yesterdays recordings. We will be eating Bubble n Squeak and cold gammon tonight.

A day of chilling out for us, TV and eating when we like. ???

Chill out day for us, too. Our only recent tradition is making Thai Fishcakes for lunch. They make a change from Christmas fare...

We're going off to the annual Boxing day get together of my DH's extended family. His cousin is hosting it this year. She is expecting 60-80 people in her house for lunch. Everyone attending brings a contribution to the feast, we're taking the ham! I expect it will be quite a crush! It's good to see people at least once a year.

60-80 people for lunch??

Jeepers!

Gosh hildajenni that's incredible - must be a big house! We have 16 for Christmas din and that's a headache to seat round the table!

We have all the family around Boxing night and have fun and games and I prepare a buffet Everyone enjoys it (usually).

Nothing on our agenda just OH and me chilling and slobbing around nibbling on 'stuff', we'll have bubble and squeak with gammon and turkey later if we get hungry.

Full Christmas dinner blow out at our house with DS, DDiL and DGS!
They had a Christmas lunch at DDiL's parents yesterday, but DS insists on having one of my dinners, you know the sort, when you have to be carried away from the table due to being completely and totally stuffed full of food!
They're out for a walk right now, and I'm grabbing a quick coffee before heading back to the kitchen!
Tomorrow is 'our' day, peace, quiet and relaxing,

Do the washing, clean the fridge and prepare a grown up dinner just for DH and I - stuffed guinea fowl today and the good wine!!!!

When the children were young (up to being teenagers), it was our tradition to do a Boxing Day walk up on Derwent Edge. It was mostly always cold, sometimes snow on the ground (spot the mountain hare) but we always went, with sandwiches, soup, coffee and pockets full of Quality Street. Then, the offspring mounted a rebellion - they had got to the stage where they would go but not willingly and then they just decided they wouldn't go at all, even with Quality Street thrown in! (bolshie little blighters!). So if we weren't expecting company we would go on our own (the wilderness years ?). Now, of course, they descend on us and after lunch, guess what - "why don't we go for a walk? We've brought our boots!" (when all I want to do is veg out on the sofa!) We may not manage it today, as everyone is running late, it seems, so we are just enjoying the peace and quiet.

Boxing Day buffet lunch at ours usually. I'm sitting down for half an hour having spent all morning laying out cold cooked meats, salad, cous cous, breads, dips, cheese and biscuits, two home made deserts, Banoffee Pie and a sponge filled with fresh strawberries and cream plus some home made gluten free muffins for grandson aged 2 who has a few special dietry requirements. Our grandchildren will be opening presents from us and their aunts and uncles at ours today so looking forward to that

Just got back from our invigorating walk, past the beach huts, down to Lady Anne's drive then through the woods back to the beach cafe for hot chocolate. Didn't have the drink because the queue was too long so now we're home having a little relax before DD, Son in law and DGS come for left overs.
That's what we do every year if we are at home and the weather permits. Judging by the amount of people we saw it seems as though that's what most of us do in this part of the world.

Back to normal today. Had a long walk this morning with a friend then back home to take down the decorations . All over now as far as I am concerned, thank goodness.
I am now watching a recording of Riverdance from Beijing. Why does it always move me to tears?

Off to mother-in-law's later. She has open house for all her family every Boxing Day in her small flat. First one since my husband died in September so we may get emotional. The young ones and men go to Rileys for drinks and to play pool first. She puts on a buffet, we have a drink then the men play poker with my husband's poker set which we have kept there for a few years.

We had lovely walk in our local forest (a boxing Day tradition) with DH, my sister & her two mad spaniels
It has been a lovely mild sunny day
We were attempting to take some decent pictures of the wild life, mainly deer.
Actually that was what DH was doing. (Sis & I were mostly yapping)
We then had lovely lunch at my sisters home before BIL had to leave for work
Back home I have played ball in the garden with one of my inherited ginger cats. (New ball from Santa)
DH unloaded the said photos on to laptop.
Now feet up

I'm going to admit I have spent all afternoon on the sofa with Channel 5. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, West Side Story and a Pierce Brosnan comedy. 3 films in a row, my other half is not impressed, he doesn't think the TV should be switched on before the 6 o'clock news. However it has been a very busy few days, a lovely noisy day yesterday and I'm back at work on Wednesday when he can sit and do nothing all day if he likes. I have really enjoyed today, but I have been multi-tasking - surfing the sales and checking out holiday options!

Sat absolutely knackered, after different family members on the two days for lunch and tea. All gone now -DD had to take GS to girl friends grandmas house - so dozing with one eye on the television. Shall do very little tomorrow and get my energy levels back up again.

lyndy what was the Piers Brosnan film please? I do like him in a comedy role, so want to try and find it on catch up.

We had a massively lazy day today, just the two of us. Mostly reading, apart from a short walk. And a snooze.

If lyndy doesn't reply , it was on channel 5 at 5pm. It was a good cast with Emma Thompson and I think Timothy Spall. I taped it for later viewing.

Like several others, DSs and their families for a relaxed lunch.Chips, salad and Gammon with several indulgences from M&S for pudding.
It's delightful to watch the little ones playing together and a relief that we all fitted in the downsized house. Feet up time now!