Don't read if you don't want to hear the C word !

I love Christmas but in August? Enjoy your plans. Moving along

I usually forward plan but have no idea what will happen this Xmas, we should be away but it seems unlikely. I have a small pudding in the freezer from last year and a box of cards so very long way to go.

If you dont want us to comment on it, why ask??

I think the only problem with planning and expectation is that we don't know what December will bring in terms of the pandemic. If those plans are dashed and expectations not met, that would make me very sad and frustrated.
I always say that I won't think about Christmas until after my birthday in November; sometimes I break that rule but as I don't have many presents to buy and we have a rota for cooking the lunch (it's just a roast dinner after all!) it usually works out fine. So, especially this year, I won't be making any plans for a few months yet.

Interestingly Christmas entered my head yesterday. Crazy and somewhat selfish reason in that I thought of something I need/would like and it occurred to me that my son and his partner might be the perfect 'donors'. Presumptuous? Indeed. They do usually ask if there's anything I want before surprising me. Here's hoping this procedure continues!! As for the giving side, I just collect items either in my head or reality as I see them and this eliminates stress at the time of the celebration(s). Works every time for me.

I meant to add that Brightminds suggest toys for specific ages of child, you might find that helpful:
www.brightminds.co.uk/collections/kids-gifts-by-age

Im usually a big forward-planner, and indeed do have a few small gifts for the older ones/ young adults in family but younger kids ive ordered online for things the parents said is current favourite, but im not making a big deal of it this year, simply because i was so very ill last christmas from 23rd to well into new year, and it does now look likely it was covid19 i had, without anyone knowing it was 'a thing' then- so its NOT going to steal another christmas from me if i can help it..last year i was confined to bed, having been a&e twice in 2days whilst my sons struggled to try cook xmas dinner, bless them, (they both have mild disability) amid many phone calls to older siblings for advice.Im not putting them through that again (although they did it because they wanted to and didnt do too bad) but this time, definitely just a small turkey crown& pre-prepped veg, just in case.And if any ones ill, i will just post off the presents in advance i think.?

Smythes toys online have a search where you can find toys for each age/sex and it brings up suggestions.they also send them straight to recipient.Smythes came in handy this year,as i chose what i knew they wanted for birthdays(GC) and had delivered direct to them.P&p free in most cases (i think free if you spend £20 or more)?

Let us hope we all stay safe and well. Anything beyond that is a bonus to my way of thinking. I would love to have my family here for our traditional Christmas celebration, not always on the day itself for various work factors, but that just means we get to celebrate twice. If it is not safe at that time I will just have to accept it. Knowing the people I love most in the world are safe and taking care of their individual families is the most important thing to me.

I started thinking about Christmas this week. I had hoped to have all the family come to stay this year, but I don't think its going to happen. I've started making a handmade stocking for our youngest GC, but I think I will be buying most gifts online (same as last year) and having them delivered directly to the recipients. But I miss wrapping presents and making personalised tags for them.

Earlier this week I went to buy birthday cards from my favourite card shop, and partly because of the need to wear a mask and the lack of distancing, I couldn't get out of there quick enough! I usually buy all my Christmas cards there but the thought of selecting over 60 cards when the shop is likely to be very busy rather worries me. I know there are e-cards and online sites like Moonpig (very expensive) but a number of our friends don't use the internet, and for friends and family that we don't actually see/meet through the year I much prefer to send a 'proper' card. Cards are expensive and postage is ridiculous but I still like the personal touch.

The only people we buy for are the grandchildren who are under 18; we always ask their parents what the children would like rather than buying stuff they probably already have or don't like. Never buy for our siblings so the shopping list or gifts is easy to manage. We're not big on having guests for Christmas Day dinner and after being well and truly taken for a mug last December there won't be a pre-Christmas party for extended family either.

Not my favourite time of year. I was burgled last year, plus in 2013 my father died 22 December, so it has bad memories for me. I do my Christmas shopping in summer to get it out of the way, because it's soon upon us.

I'm usually a last minute buyer at Christmas and this year it's even harder to plan as none of us know if we'll be able to travel to visit family or not thi year. I hope I won't be spending it alone but it will be what it will be.

Meanwhile I make handmade Christmas decorations. The original plan was to sell for charity, but so far most have been given away as gifts. They take about 2 hours each to make so I tend to make all year round when I have the time as the beading can be done anywhere while chatting to friends.

All this talk of Christmas has made me feel quite ill

My friend and I chatted through the week about the crowds and queues ahead near Xmas for shopping as I like to use the High Street shops. So this morning I I headed out just as the shops were opening, nipped in quick and bought all the pyjamas I need for presents, so sorry I've started. It was lovely and quiet, not busy at all and back home for 10.30am! I'll do this every so often now as I really don't relish the queues, crowds, etc nearer to the big day. Not a fan of Xmas, as I miss family so much, but gifts have to be got for the ones I'm lucky still to have. I'm sorry for anyone who dislikes Xmas and finds it a hard time to get through.x

Just finished knitting 6 Christmas stockings which I shall fill with small toys and sweet for nephews and nieces.. Halfway knitting through a Nativity scene, thought I would knit a camel this year instead of the usual Donkey, that will be a talking point within the family!

I am fortunate in having a small family, DD & her OH, 2 DGSs & DM. I usually travel to Yorkshire to see DM in November & take a small gift for her to open on Christmas Day, I take her shopping to choose a gift. This year I don't know what will happen as she is in Hospital at the moment, she's 91 so doesn't really want anything although she does like fruits in licquers or Stem Ginger.

DD & her OH is cash plus their favourite chocolates. My neighbour is usually something for the garden.

My DGSs are 10 & 3, I already have 3 books for DGS2, 2 chosen when I was shopping with DD, they love Julia Donaldson's books & we found 2 new ones. I will find a couple of books for DGS1. I do a stocking for each of them. I always ask DD for ideas, DGS1 will probably want money to buy something for his Martial Arts classes.

I think I have enough cards, except special ones & wrapping paper.

I normally start my shopping in earnest in September after DD's Birthday in September

Christmas? What's that then? It's only since my wife retired that we have spent Christmas together. She worked for The NHS, she had one Christmas off in thirty years.

Each Christmas since retirement we have dined out, always with friends. Hopefully we will be able to do so again this year.

I just started today buying for Gc's in Oz. The Tu range sale is perfect for their summer at C'mas. Oh dear though it wouldn't take my password and I gave up! I will try again tmoro and hopefully my carefully bought items won't have dissapeard!

I wouldn’t dream of saying bah or humbug! I enjoy Christmas but only in a fairly laid back way. I’m hoping it will be possible to see some family members and exchange gifts but I don’t understand why it all has to go on for so long before and afterwards. I don’t suppose we’ll get to go to church on Christmas Eve with our grandchildren this year which I always love because it always gets so crowded. As for presents and food I start buying in November having put some money aside in advance. We only eat Christmas food on the 2 days so I have very little shopping to do.

I put money on a couple of supermarkets Christmas savings cards, and on a local butcher as well. I also save with Park Hampers (not the hampers though, as Ioften think thatthey aren'tworth what you pay for them). Therefore when November arrives I have the wherewithal to buy what we want. I also buy little bits online throughout the year, especially to decorate my office and working area. (I might post some pictures if I remember!)

My own family is grown up and I have no prospects of being a grandmother but I also have friends and family in a similar position and some elderly relatives. I am making hampers for most people. We all have so many things that l feel consumables are far more welcome. I bought baskets very cheaply in the sales or charity shops pre-the other c word. I am buying items for them every so often. It is cheaper this way and, as l work, it makes the time management easier.

I too thought the C word was Covid, what a relief it wasnt.

Finished my xmas shopping already.... just saying! LOL!

I mentioned on a recent thread that on This Morning on Tuesday I think Eamonn and Ruth had Christmas trees and decorations that are being advertised for sale in John Lewis,
They actually had the studio all decorated complete with a Christmas tree,
When it came to testing which mince pie came out best , I had to turn off, It,s August, it,s too early IMO ,