What's up with me

I'll be putting up a few decorations next weekend. And that's pushing it for my DH who's a real BahHumBug. He says nothing should be done until Christmas Eve and then moans until 12th night when they come down. We've got DGD for three days after the school's break up so that's my excuse.

I have noticed people do seem to be generally getting jaded with all the Christmas hype and the encouragement to spend, spend, spend. Perhaps that's a good thing.

I've just finished cleaning up after the house being upside down most of the week as I've tried to put the decs up and work at the same time. I've got trees in every room and enough lights to power the street (although most are battery ones). And now it's done there is no one to see it - we don't have any visitors and have no family here to come and see us or friends who would drop in. Every year I think I'll just put a few bits up but when it comes out I can't stop until I've used everything as I can't bear to leave it in the boxes. My husband hates the mess as do i and putting it all away is even worse but still I do it :-)

Oh dear, apart from the weather I have a feeling that we are all fed up with the endless advertising and overspending being done. I'm sure people spend money when they cannot afford it and that is a misery in itself. Oh for the simple Christmasses from way back when we were grateful to get just a little something. I feel as is I need a shaking up!!

It's in the news that the average Christmas spend has fallen, it has in this house! We have realised that we don't want novelties that are never used or fancy snacks that aren't eaten until Easter.
I have always said that Christmas should be celebrated every 4 years like the Olympics to make it more special.

We have had the Rotary Father C round this evening it was very much a non event as no-one came to their doors as they usually do. I was most disappointed and it just re-enforced my own feeling that this year people are jaded and tired. Sorry to be a grinch this year but nothing is lifting my mood.

I'm joining you annsixty, it seems like Christmas starts in September (our local Sainsburys put out Christmas stuff beginning of September ?) and it's like slow torture, inescapable and dragging on.
I don't think I've ever felt less festive!

I love Christmas, but have just spent the day with DD and family at two different (and very nice) Christmas fairs - I loved being with the family and seeing the children chat to FC; but I felt no desire whatsoever to buy anything at all. There were lots of lovely things there; but I seem to have got to a stage of life when I don't really want more stuff hanging around my house.

What a brilliant thread - there was me feeling all fed up and jaded with Christmas - forcing myself to do the cards (only a few for me OH does the lion's share) and equally forcing myself to put a few decorations up and wrap some presents - after reading all the posts it made me feel so much better - i.e. it's not just me!!! There are so many factors involved not least having "done" Christmas for 45 years - it's all getting a wee bit tiresome but have to put a brave face on it for everyone else. Ah well, as they say.....

Playing Christmas very cool until I arrive at DS2's household next week where there are two GSs looking for granny-treats though even they, at 8 and 10 are likely to play things cool. When they stop being toddlers, the excitement fades a bit. I assume that mine are all Santa-sceptics now, though they still insist on 'believing' in the tooth fairy.

Well ...... I'm of the CBA brigade and have not put much thought or effort in so far but tomorrow !!! Watch this space....... You have laid the gauntlet down ladies. I intend to do a class at gym. Have birthday lunch with a terrible two GD and little bro then come home do the ironing and put up the tree and decorations. Wrap a couple of presents. (Ooh and sort out all the wet clothes on the washing line). Wonder how much I will achieve???? Good intentions.

Good luck with that Thebeeb - look forward to hearing how you get on tomorrow evening - if you cba'd that is......

Well, the tree is up, the cards are on their strings, and musical Christmas ornaments have got batteries in, ready to annoy the hell out of one of my sons when he comes, he HATES them, lol!!

Cards all done and I have got my a**e in gear and put up my very tasteful fibre optic tree. The candle thingy for the front window is next on the list.

Oh well , better sideways than not at all

DH just brought me some berried holly in from the front garden (I had forgotten we even had a holly bush as we seldom go out the front way) and it is now looking a bit more festive. My mini real tree on the hearth, my Christmas candle on the table and now the holly is as far as I am going with decorations this year as we are going away for Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Well I've got a horrible slipped disc which has managed to collapse straight on to a bundle of nerves.... so I'm off into hospital this coming Saturday to have it sorted.... goodness knows when I'll get out... so wasn't looking forward to Christmas at all.... but people have been so lovely it's completely restored my faith in human nature !

Just one thing... haven't been able to have a drink for seven weeks due to glugging morphine.... and am soooooo looking forward to a massive gin and tonic !

Merry Christmas everyone and here's to a Happy and Healthy 2016 to us all.

Sent most cards last week, one pressie going off to the USA today. Never put tree up till Christmas Eve (and it comes down Jan 6th) and have succumbed to a fake one this year for the first time.
Going to a Carol service tomorrow, which a colleague tells me is the most Christmassy thing she's ever been to and really puts her in the spirit. And it's followed by mulled wine etc, so hoping that will get me in the right mood.

This time of year can be very trying. The light levels are poor and the weather dispiriting. You might well be affected by low level SAD without knowing it. I hope you can find your Christmas 'oomph' nearer the time. Try to put the pressures out of your mind and focus on the nice things.

I was a bah humbug gran until a couple of years ago, when I was rushed into hospital losing a lot of blood just before Christmas. After some exploratory surgery, I was allowed to go home, and we spent a few days on a magical trip to Lapland with our 4 year-old granddaughter. It was the most fun I've had in years. After Christmas I was back in hospital, where they found I had a bowel tumour, which fortunately turned out to be benign, but I woke up with a temporary colostomy bag. A few months later I was recalled after a routine mammogram, and had to have biopsies to remove specks of calcium. So now I just feel glad to be here at Christmas. I've got the Christmas jumper, and I'm off to buy some flashing Christmas tree earrings. I just don't care any more!

We decided at 54p postage no cards, donation to air ambulance. Apart from grandson cancelled Christmas as son 42 has just had massive stroke, living abroad feel so helpless.

Oh dear, Kazzer and Sue01. Please accept my sympathies for your un-Christmassy plights.

As for Nina and the lack of Christmas cheer, there's not much you can do, is there? All I can suggest is,

- kick everything under the table, put a huge Christmassy tablecloth over it all, light lots of candles round the room so you can't see any undone bits of housework, and pour yourself a glass of wine or a cup of cocoa. And put some Christmas music on the stereo.

All decorations inside and out were put up last week. When you have 3 grandchildren under 6 you soon get in the Christmassy mood. They are so excited it's contagious. We've been to see eldest in her nativity play today and when you see the effort and sincerity put into it it brings out the festive spirit. I love it.

If it wasn't for DH I wouldn't bother. I don't put a tree up. I just decorate the fire place and draw a Christmas tree on the chalk board. I love chalk boards. I have two now. We have lots of red around so looks festive easily. DH cooks every day, so I look forward to cooking high days and holidays.mums here this year for lunch... she is a little odd these days, so it will be interesting. He!

I wasn't going to bother. But as the little darlings came for the weekend I got out the old fibre optic tree and some baubles and let the little angels direct mummy and daddy where to put them on the tree.
Kept everyone amused for about half an hour.

Galen do I detect a slight bit of sarcasm in the "little angels" there?

No! Of course all our grandchildren are little angels! All the time.