I love Christmas!

Plans changed again - I will now go to Sandhurst tomorrow after all and DS2 will drop the boys off there on Sunday. Sympathy, Grannylin, I don't think I could face flying at the moment. Hope your infection is getting better.
Why am I so useless at wrapping presents? Given the same materials - paper, scissors, sellotape, my DiL can make a package look as if it came from Harrods. I get the sellotape twisted; lose the end and take ten minutes to find it; cut the paper the wrong size; crease/tear the paper. My presents look as if a dog's had a go at them and none of us has a dog.

I have just made a large batch of sausage rolls. Now I need my dinner. But I stripped the beds this morning and I've got to re-make them.

I'm so tired!

I'm almost ready, just got the last minute fresh food shopping to do on Monday and some Christmas biscuits to make on Sunday and I am done. First son arrives tomorrow so that's when the fun starts. We all love it as we know what will happen next as it is the same year in year out. We will skype with those who can't be with us on the day but will see everyone at some point during the hols. I love it all.

Big hugs to anyone who won't be having a good time.

That was a bit of a random remark * AnneMaria*.

Are you on the right thread?

Oh you are so right Anna , there was a case in point this afternoon .

[fgrin

sometimes people just say things to be 'different' and 'edgy' - and it doesn't work

Pogs , chase the ace, newmarket , sevens , easy games without too much competion between sons .

Just lots of frivolity , shall we pick u up or will u make your own way here ???

Lal . Enjoy your Christmas

Christmas tree looks lovely. Presents bought and wrapped.

DD1 is away travelling in Argentina for a month so for only the second time ever she won't be travelling down on Christmas Eve. I can cope with this because I see from her Facebook postings that she is having a wonderful time exploring.

Christmas Day will be spent with DD2, the four GSs and the other grandparents who we get on with very well. They're a fun couple.

We are taking champers and wine and lots of presents. The other grandma has said she will drive so we can get sloshed without worrying.

Roll on!

Gearing up for the family arriving on Sunday. Have been heating up the guest cottage and all the beds, preparing stacks of food, OH bringing up masses of logs. Today he decided to make stock so he has been finding all the bones in the freezer, roasting and then boiling up for three different sorts of stock. Think we have almost finished shopping, but not a problem as the only queues in our bit of France are for the fish stall. On Sunday we will go and get the goose and go to Caen market for the last bits and pieces while the family bounce across the channel (I suspect, looking at the forecast).
Would be perfect if our son and family could come too as we haven't seen him at Christmas for about twenty years, but Skype will have to do.
Hugs to those of you without the family around as we have Christmas like that too every other year.

anno and grannylin olbas oil inhalations.

Happy Christmas!!

It might be a blessing in disguise anno.Trains in and out of Reading today are being cancelled.Am also suffering with sinus/earache and nearly screamed when the plane touched down in Exeter, so lots of sympathy. Have a lovely Christmasx

The best laid plans... Tomorrow I am booked to go to Sandhurst, changing at Reading. However, younger DS rang in a panic. Partner's mum was going to stay with them and look after the GC on Sunday, but has now got the noro virus and has to stay at home in Northern Ireland. So I am now going to break my journey at Didcot and watch the boys on Sunday, then go on to Sandhurst late afternoon. I hope the toothache/sinus pain clears completely by then.

Nonu

Sounds like my cup of tea, any room for another.

Card games, chase the ace etc?

I'm more of a baking person than cooking. DD gets the stuffing and bread sauce done on Xmas Eve. Then I do the actual dinner on Xmas Day. And DD does the Boxing Day dinner. Turkey Xmas Day, pork on Boxing Day when I let the grandsons in the house the others come.

Bless u Ana , why do say I don"t have to worry about anything ???

[fgrin[]fgrin]

??Oh gosh of course i will be cooking , in fact 2 days , Christmas Day DD will arriving about 4pm , so I am doing " of those 3 bird roasts . after Communium at 8am. The children will go to bed at about 7/8 then we will have card games.

Boxing Day I will be cooking the turkey that DD has brought down . we have champagne and smoked salmon starters both days and a very , very good time will be had by all .

I am more than happy to cook to ensure that we have a happy and laughter filled time . Of course everyone joins in .

What do others do

Oh, Nonu, you're so lucky not to have to worry about anything. Will you be cooking on the day itself, and have you done all the preparations? If so, well done - we haven't all got time to be frivolous and gay!

Golly gosh , we certainly splitting hairs here .... CSL

Roll on Big Man , we need your goodwill here

Lots and lots of frivolity and gaiety .

I love Christmas too but this year we are having it on Boxing Day due to it being the "in laws turn". It will just be my OH and myself on Christmas day and we are looking forward to a quiet day, scrambled egg on toast for lunch and ham and cheeses for supper. We will have a nice bottle of red and of course a box of chocs, and we will be very happy. My Mother, and others of her generation, were a burden at Christmas as they couldn't possibly have been left out, and I learnt so much from that situation. I see my DDs and GC most days so it will be no problem and they feel quite happy because we are happy. I am so glad I have learnt from experience.

I do maths, and anyway, he doesn't come before midnight on the 24th!

Yes. I could too. But there again, I would probably drop from exhaustion.

Gin o'clock was earlier tonight having spent the day cleaning, cooking, shopping, ironing, more cooking, present wrapping. I think I could do with another week

Lets do the math , the Big Man arrives Monday 24th night time .

23rd, 22nd,21st,20th = 4nights .

Five, surely, Nonu?

I like the run up to Xmas. Like the actual days as well though.