Thank God Xmas is over!

Bugger. (On your behalf merlot)

Bah Humbug! (and much stronger words)

I bought DH a new fishing bag for Christmas and he's just discovered it has TWO broken zips. Sending stuff back to Amazon is such a pain!!

Thanks, Gonegirl - I was a strange child.

I am definitely getting a yearning for plain food. But DD2 has trifle making in hand. ?

Oldwoman70 (((big hug to you)))

Than was a very astute thought for a littleun rockgran

Devorgilla, I love that 'back to porridge and old clothes' saying!
In this house it's what my mother used to call 'dustbin soup' - made of whatever you happen to have in fridge/cupboards, (luckily dh would happily eat it every night), using up every scrap of leftovers and pref. no shopping/spending and a minimum of cooking for several days.

When I was little I wondered why there was a week between Jesus being born and the New Year starting since AD meant after Christ was born.

Christmas this year never seemed to get going somehow for me, don't know why. It all seemed rather flat and perfunctory and the only highlights were family coming on Boxing Day and the annual pantomine trip on the 28th. Never thought I'd say it, but I'm looking forward to going back to work.

We had a lovely time with DDs over the 2 Christmas days and then my brother & family later in the week. I will dismantle on 3rd ready for Dh to celebrate his birthday on 4th without Christmas clutter!

Anniebach hope you are coping ok?

W took all the decorations down this morning and cleaned the house through. Really looking forward to 2019 after a very sad end to 2018. So I wish everyone here their friends and families a Happy and Healthy New Year.

I haven't felt "Christmassy" at all this year. I haven't seen or spoken to anyone since a visit from b-i-l on Christmas morning

historians now believe 28th March to be Christ's birthday
Gonegirl; Now there's a coincidence with Brexit on 29th March. Will that be its official birthday ; Parties in the streets and all that!

(It bloody needed saying )

I only had a very little row with elder DD. All tidied away now. La la la...

I am really enjoying today. Washing machine on, hoover out, everything getting tidied. Back to how it was before the family descended came to visit Granny. So peaceful. But I do, of course, adore them. It's just.... oh, you know!

We had a lovely Christmas day and Boxing day and all the family were gathered together which was nice. It was hectic with children around, even though we ate out on Christmas Day. I was SO glad when everyone had dispersed after Boxing day, as the run up to Christmas and having people stay over on Christmas night was very hectic and involved lots of cooking and housework - beforehand.

I see the time between Christmas and Boxing Day as slobbing out time - for a few days at least. We were so shattered after the festivities that we had a pyjama day yesterday. We had no reason to go out so we put our feet up, caught up with programmes we'd missed over Christmas on catch-up and ate whatever cold was available. No cooking involved! Lots of guilt-free armchair sitting involved too as I dipped into my Christmas book presents - and it was great! I had a bath before bed and have woken up today feeling restored and ready for New Year and the next lot of house guests.

I enjoy myself although I tend to work myself into a frazzle in December. If we didn't have Christmas I would still be busy and feeling pulled in so many directions because of friends birthdays, visitors, family birthdays etc. Writing cards and decorating the house is extra work to fit in. I shall be cooking and freezing dishes today so that our New Year guests are easy to entertain.

Then that's it for another year. Everything falls flat for me in January although I do look forward to getting the best out of the new year. I still see it as a new start and a chance to do the things I have always promised myself I'll do. I fail, mostly but the intentions are good!

Or should I say old mince pie?

Maw, least you can do is save the odd mince pie.

It's become such an anti-climax and shouldn't be really.
I like the build-up to Christmas, the carols and all my thoughts of the past, in quiet contemplation.
Then comes the Day which is soon over and it either leaves you drained or wondering what all the fuss was about.

If there weren't any children in the equation I doubt that I'd bother with all the fripperies that Christmas brings.

This feeling is happening more and more as the years go by. It must be the commercialism/ consumerism of it all.

Alas Rufus it seems then that I can be emotionally silly without benefit of alcohol.
I am not sure if that is a good or a bad thing! !
Maybe a little just to be on the safe side

Sorry, getting maudlin - is it too early for a wine ?
Maw; according to my dictionary, "maudlin" means "drunk enough to be emotionally silly" and I'm sure you're not in the drinks cupboard this early! It's midnight here, so I've had no need of excuses to toast our health!
Thank you for your message. Whether it's a hymn sheet or song sheet, I've found it therapeutic to discuss these matters with anyone who cares to listen and I've found it lessens the need to dwell; other than on special dates of course. How did Dave Allen sign off?
Cheers

We had a lovely Christmas at my DS's - the first Christmas I haven't hosted for 22 years. My DD and SiL also came which was lovely. The next day my DiL said never again - next time we will go out - she found the strain of cooking Christmas dinner too much! Such a shame to have voiced it as it made me feel guilty.

Spending NYE looking after DD's dog so not going out which is fortunate as my DH is ill. He always manages to contract something either before, during or after Christmas!

Oh Maw your last comment brought a wry smile to my lips. I do not have your experience but I am sure it will never 'wear off'. Adjusting to a new life is very hard. I have experienced that on a few occasions and despite thinking I was able to do it it would come and kick me in the teeth when I was least expecting it.
It is all about enjoying the little things and leaving regrets behind.