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

I think our Xmas will now be scaled back. Normally I don't consciously shop for Xmas until later in the year but do pick up small things I see while out high street shopping to put away for presents. However (see the thread on retuning to the office) I have not and will not be high street shopping for the foreseeable future so haven't got anything set aside so perhaps this is the right time to scale the whole thing down. Many of us are now somewhat rounder and heavier because of lockdown (me, me!) so adding Xmas poundage to the burden is another good reason to cut down on seasonal stuffing!

Bought my first Christmas present yesterday. Thinking about Christmas earlier this year. Probably just something lovely to look forward to after a difficult year. And hoping things have improved by then and we can look forward to a better 2021. Fingers crossed.

I am thinking about Christmas too. I usually do stockings for my grandchildren, new pencils , colouring books dot to dot, maybe a few sweets, etc. They live about 100 miles away from us . So I am thinking of wrapping and doing the stockings in October and driving to my sons just to drop them off, not going in for coffee or anything. He can store them until Christmas and the presents should be free of any germs by then , at least the children won’t miss out. They are 10 and 7.

oh my! again I admit it, I have not taken in the comments in every post here.

I am running late today

but.. Christmas,, again I admit it, I go to church, with all that entails

and really, REALLY! is this what Christmas is about?

presents etc..
for me, I am dreading Christmas, dh died just before last Christmas I think I was still numbed or worse

so no, Christmas time, other than a small amount of church meetings, so glad when it is over..

sad that we seem to have lost the meaning of Christmas though.

I started cross stitching Xmas cards in lockdown. I’ve also started shopping for prezzies too. If I see something I think someone would like. I stash it in my prezzie box. I also have lists in my diary which I add whatever I have bought for someone. I’m not a huge Xmas fan hence I start early as the stress closer to the day is unbearable.

I will be making my Christmas cake in the next week or so. Before I retired I went back to work at the beginning of September, so I always made it before my return. Christmas pudding is always made on Stir up Sunday. For the two members of the family who don't eat anything with dried fruit it in, I make home-made icecream and chocolate cake.

I wouldn’t dare buy my grandkids Christmas gifts yet. What they like in August will probably be long forgotten by December!

I have a friend who knows it winds me up and starts to send me F B posts in August saying so many days till Christmas, I really don't want to see/hear these things until at least October, having said that because of the costs I do ( and have already) got some gifts put away for family and friends) can't do it all at once due to costs.
Last year I spent Christmas day on my own and will probably do so this year too, my daughter did come on 26th.
I just feel that talking about christmas so early plus the people who put up decorations much to early, Oct or Nov, it stops the holiday being special, Put up the tree and decorations in Sept and by Christmas the children are so used to them it is just like the norm, Just my thoughts and each to his own

Oh that C word,thank goodness.

Not my favourite time of year TBH, but this year because we had a big family holiday to Portugal cancelled, we have booked a large house to rent on the Isle of Wight for 4 days over the Christmas period. There are ten of us and I generally cook Christmas dinner because I have the most room. At least this way it won’t all fall on my shoulders, even though I have plenty of help. We will (hopefully) book a delivery slot for the food. It’s expensive but we will spend less on presents. Hope it’s a success!

Im on gov high priority and was looking so much to the 1st August so my 2 grandsons could stay over but Boris put my area in lockdown again. I had to do something to keep my mind active so started looking on line for Xmas presents for my wonderful 2 grandsons and I did more than look I have bought them 6 each only little things but I've started and it's only August

Fantastic work! You are so talented!!

Bah humbug. A painful time for some people and even more so this year. Having said that I don't begrudge anyone enjoying themselves, just please remember it's not the same for all.

In these times it is good that people have something pleasant to focus on. Once we get to September, Christmas seems to hurtle towards us very fast I find.

I love Christmas, but don’t usually start planning with a vengeance till we’ve got Bonfire Night over with. We do a Secret Santa now for most of the adults and I go with whatever parents suggest for our six grandsons, so it’s a lot easier than it used to be. Coincidentally though I’ve just bought my first cards. I wanted some Back to School ones I’d seen online and had to make the order up to £30 to get free postage. So yes, I’ve made a start.

I’m just hoping we can have something approaching a normal family Christmas this year. Fingers crossed.

It will be interesting to see which way Christmas goes this year.

Will it be an all-out celebratory splurge as a reaction to the awful year we've had (presuming we're not all back in lockdown that is!)

Or, will people be a little more thoughtful about what they buy. The lockdown has taught me how little we really need and, while I am not one to go totally overboard at Christmas anyway, I think now I am even less inclined to rush out and buy loads of tat than nobody wants or needs!

We love Christmas as a family ( despite having an upsetting anniversary the week before, long time ago now we manage better than we did ) My youngest daughter is particularly joyous about it and very generous. I started buying presents as I saw them several months ago ( shopping on line passed the time in lockdown) and will continue to do so as I can’t afford to do it all at once. I do try and hide where I remember !

queengran Now my GCs are grown up they are not a problem thinking of what to get them as presents for Christmas as they are more than happy with a Money gift bag,my 2 x GGCs aged 4 and 2 years are the focus now and I have been buing for them over the lockdown period online and have now got all I need for them.
They both love crafting and I have bought a crafting table for them with 2 x huge boxes of crafting materials this will keep them engrossed all over the winter months when they are indoors in the cold weather.

Those are beautiful Witzend! You could make a business out of making those if the fair doesn't happen. I know there's a chance Christmas may be different or limited this year (and Lucca I am sorry this is not the best time of year for you and wish you well) but I'm going to focus on the positive for now. I've got the grandkids on Tuesday and I'm planning on doing some crafting with them - the younger boy is particularly arty. Might be a few reindeers in amongst the melee.

I just adore your knitted Christmas characters, Witzend! If you ever decide to knit and sell let me know!

I have no problem with anyone discussing Christmas at any time of the year

Many people can't wait until December to start thinking about Christmas, be it for financial reasons or just a sheer love of the time of year

I also appreciate that for many, as Lucca mentioned, it's not the happiest of times.

My eldest daughter buys stuff in the January sales as well, Grandmabatty!

If I tried that I'd end up putting stuff in a safe place which basically means never to be seen again

That post was for Witzend

Usually yes I love Christmas and all that goes with it but this year no, just can't bring myself to even contemplate it. This Covid has put a final nail in the coffin for most things.

I explained why in my post !! Here :
“May I just put in a plea( which is why I clicked on the thread) not to call people the bah humbug brigade if they don’t relish Christmas “

I love Christmas and plan for it most of the year. That way I don't have the horrible spend spend spend, panic panic panic, time like a lot of people do. In fact one of my favourite things to do on the run up to Christmas is to sit in Costa (or another café with view of the street) and watch people rushing about and panic buying whilst feeling very smug . I've always has to spread it out so that I can afford it. We don't go mad but we don't have much money to start with. I'd hate to be in debt in January for it.

Heavens when I saw the "c" word I thought it related to something else

Thank heavens only Christmas yet again1 At the best of times I hate thinking about it in the summer and this year can't help thinking it may well be cancelled may not meet the expectations of those who are inclined to invest such a lot in what amounts to one or two days