Is anyone else glad it's over?

Until a little while ago son kept a wormery in his kitchen. Glad to say he has at last listened to me and removed it to the garden.

oh and one year I gave SiL a ceramic compost bin for the kitchen (he does garden and has a bin in the garden) and he gave it back to me 'because it might smell'

Sympathies Jingl. Last year I gave DD and DSil stuff from Fatface which they normally love but it wasn't quite the thing.
They did take the stuff back themselves though.
This year they just got money and a few stocking fillers.

It's not over. I've still got take-backs to do. ungrateful little sod Flipping son. (They are lovely cushions)

Flower - where are you staying? Hope you hospital visit goes well.

The last lot went about an hour ago and I don't have to change the beds as they are coming back in 12 days, for a week, while they have a new kitchen floor laid. I think I'd better go for a sit down while I can.

My two grandchildren, 4 & 8, left this morning after three action-packed days with me - I am truly knackered!

I packed all their clothes (six pairs of pyjamas?), toys, junk, contents of crackers, etc and waved them off to spend the day with Grandad (my ex) and his GF, who will return them home to Somerset.

Now, granddaughter (4) has cut a chunk out her hair ....... do I 'fess-up to DIL or quietly let ex take the blame?

We have just said goodbye to Son,DIL and GD, who was very poorly in the night and is too young to tell what's the matter. Before that we had a lovely few days with them and my daughter, and the little one was a real delight. They are hoping to see a doctor when they get home and we all hope she'll be her usual sunny self soon.
We also have turkey left in spite of heroic efforts. Curry anyone?

We have hosted Christmas Day for many years but this year DD1 and her family were doing something else. As we see them constantly throughout the year and any day we are together is a good day in my book, DH and I had a blissfully relaxing day on the 25th. Both GDs dropped off at ours on Boxing Day then collected after dinner the following day and we had great fun playing with all the new toys and games and GD1 helped me prepare a special candlelit dinner both nights

DD2 and her fiancé's plans to come home from OZ for Christmas fell through and will be home for a holiday at the end of January instead so we are looking forward to a family get together then.

You deserve it Flower. Enjoy your break - hope the weather treats you kindly. I just love Suffolk too.

Love Suffolk! Enjoy.

No more gatherings but a hospital visit and then a wonderful 5 days in Suffolk for my DDH and I. Present from my youngest DS. Cannot wait.

I love Christmas,and have really enjoyed seeing all the family, including my nephew and his wife and their newest arrival all the way from dusselfdorf, and am really enjoying the aftermath - I have finally mastered my sewing machine ( bought in June ) and have had some lovely pyjama days reading my new books and eating illicit left overs, I don't go back to work fro another week.....better sign up for
slimming world again

That answers my question on the Dear Gransnet thread!!

I just finished "Christmas" this morning when my children went home. I am exhausted. I was catering for 6 adults and a 15month old. Lot's of cooking but quite a bit of stuff prepared in advance.

DD was a real star helping me cook and prepare stuff. DS and girl friend finally arrived at about 8:30 pm on Friday not 5pm as hoped. We still had a good meal. I did our usual Christmas dinner yesterday and we had a good time. I forgot to serve the sour creamed shallots until the main course was nearly over and and I boiled dry the xmas pudding.

The plastic pot had just started welding itself to the trivet in the pressure cooker but we dug out all but the bottom layer and enjoyed it.

By that time anyway us three woman were doubled up laughing which is the only way to deal with a culinary cock up.

Newmarket road was indeed very bad, I wanted to carry on and come in from the north which is always much better during the day but DBh forgot. I survived it all though and we had tea at Prezzo, which is good at catering for children of all ages up to great grandmas and grandpas. They all leave tomoroow after a huge lunch, I think we shall all be in bed by 8pm tomorrow night including the 18 year old Uncle, whose patience is admirable.

I am sitting here surrounded by total chaos. It looks as if I have been done over by a really inept burglar.

LOL for the 'dreamfeed' whatever that may be.

Your Wednesday sounds like bliss.

Isn't it funny how quickly the Christmas decorations and cards start looking just that little bit sad? I'm itching to take mine down.

We too are on the last stretch. DD2 and her husband (who have been here since Friday) have gone out tonight with DD1 and DD3 and left us, metaphorically I hope, holding the babies. Apparently I'm to do a dreamfeed at 10 pm - another late night.

They go home before lunch tomorrow and then that's it!! Wednesday looks like being a good day as DH and DS1 are off to an away game - leaving here at 10 am and arriving home at 8pm - I might not even get dressed that day!!

I promised myself a lie in today and NO driving. The lie in was interrupted by someone getting lost down the farm road and banging on the door which set the dogs off and I was the one who had to answer it because DH doesn't possess a dressing gown (smart man)

I'm still going anywhere near the car!!

On the last stretch now! Two small boys and their parents arrived last night for a few days; DD is nearby and hasn't seen them over Christmas so there is one more present swapping to do. I am very tired, I must admit - been to Hampshire and Cheltenham then back here to Devon since Boxing Day...

Wouldn't change it but....

We don't get to see our children often about 3 or 4 times a year as they live some distance away. We talk on the phone and Skype so are always in touch.

Christmas is one time when we all get together and this year was no different only that we went to our daughters home, she had a baby in October so couldn't travel for 4 hours with the baby.
We stayed for 5 days and I made the most of our first grandchild it took be back to when the children were small and we had a lovely time.
I cooked as usual and everyone mucked in doing things and it worked out well.
We are meeting up again in March our son and wife and daughter partner and baby will come stay with us. It will be lovely when the little one is older and he can come stay with us for a week, we can't wait.

I know what you mean about getting back into your usual routine, we love our retirement life and it's good to be in your own bed and surrounded by your own things in a quiet environment.

I won't have normality for another week. The S.O. has moved in until after the New Year [and will then stay the following weekend as per usual]. This used to happen when I was still at work. But I'm ready for some space [and a few days without eating]. I wish I could explain to people how I reach a point of just wanting to have my own space for a while. I almost wish I was back at work tomorrow

Good Luck with the shopping traffic tomorrow, janerowena. Newmarket Road was practically at a standstill today. I wasn't going to the sales but trying to get through to see Mum in her Nursing Home....Nightmare!

I endorse your comments absent the whole shebang from aboutnseptember onwards really gets too much ! I so enjoyed seeing Munson and his family sooo much work for such short time!

Bah humbug glad its over!

Sadly we found out about 2 bereavements via Xmas cards a lady I worked with before married kept I. Touch and met up about once year soooo sad.

I have another two days to go, I was doing well until daughter suggested that we all go to Cambridge for shopping tomorrow, I am exhausted already and that will just about finish me off! I have been outvoted, so have insisted that we all go out for a meal in the early evening. I love them all dearly and am fine when we are at home, or at the beach, but going out shopping for the day in the freezing cold with two small children was never my idea of fun.

Grandsons gone off now for their New Year holiday. I have had a little cry, probably more due to exhaustion than anything. Have tidied and hoovered and now I will make someone take me out for some lunch somewhere.

It is worth it, isn't it?