The bah humbug thread...

Adventuregirl.

missA please have a virtual hug from me - totally non intrusive. And, of course, everyone else going through tough times especially baggs.

We, as a wider family, have had a bit of an awful year and there are challenges to come, but Christmas is bringing us some respite so we will splurge a bit with a clear conscience.

So much sadness and loss expressed on this thread. My love to everyone finding this Christmas particularly difficult,

I’m not sure how I feel about Christmas. I love the lights and the minimal Christmas bits we have about. Our family is very small. No extended family to form warm and chaotic days. Mr C and I be at our sons, just for the day. He will cook a mountain of food. I don’t want to eat too much, although I love turkey. The teenagers will disappear into their phones. I’m anticipating the sense of anti climax I have felt for the last few years. Maybe I’m thinking myself into a negative place. We’ve never had the sort of Christmas where the house is full of people and noise. I think perhaps I would prefer to avoid it all now, except for the lights.

Better out than in, all of these feelings, I think.

I haven't really told anyone how crap I'm feeling this year, apart from just now.

MissAdventure

Oh, I had always imagined you as huggy.

Nope…🤓

Perhaps people don't like Christmas precisely because they aren't sharing warm hugs with other people, even if they are wearing christmas jumpers.

Splurge away kitty and enjoy your Christmas 🎄⛄

Miss A

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MissAdventure

Perhaps people don't like Christmas precisely because they aren't sharing warm hugs with other people, even if they are wearing christmas jumpers.

That's my problem; I don't have a Christmas jumper.

I have a christmas sweatshirt, but I'm sure it won't fit this year.

I mean, it's in the problem wardrobe; the one that shrinks every single thing you put in there.

Christmas for me is a chance to catch up with my family. We have decided to cut down on Christmas gifts etc this year - although not completely. My son will be overseas this year and my brother is no longer with us. He died a year ago today. We used to have a big family get together between Christmas and New Year at his house and none of us can face doing this without him. I will be grateful for the family I do have around me though and happy for my son.

I think I enjoy the run up to Christmas more these days. No parties as such, just lunch or coffee with friends. A chance to reconnect despite our busy lives.

My thoughts are with all those here who are bereaved or not with their loved ones.

I do like Christmas, my tree is up and a wreath on the door, still buying presents but not nearly so many as there used to be, children and grandchildren all busy, the gc love it, meeting up with friends, the parties and I love to think of them all happy My husband died at Christmas, and it used to feel very hard. Think of all the good times I used to have, first with my parents and sisters and grandparents all gone now, then with my husband and children. Used to love the nativity plays at school nothing ever went to plan, I remember 2 children, Mary and Joseph fighting over who held Jesus, nearly pulling the legs off, nothing changes in a way.. I will miss my d from whom I'm estranged, but I do any way, but enjoy the family and friends I do see. I just think you gave to make the most of things to celebrate.

I am not a great fan of Christmas at all but thought these two little chaps might brighten the thread…🙃

Every yar I used to dread my mother asking "What are you doing for christmas" when she knew fine well I didnt want to come and spend it with the family. I used to ask her why she wanted me to come when she KNEW I hated it. She just used to say its a time for families and its only once a year.

I hated the fighting, the squabbling, the kids underfoot, the lack of privacy. As a non driver I had no choice but to stay there from christmas eve until the day after boxing day. Horrendous.

Then one year an old friend invited me to visit her in Casablanca so off I flew. I enjoyed it so much I went to Morocco again the following year. The next year I went to Nepal. The one after that India. After that even if I wasnt going abroad for christmas I used to tell me family I was going.

"Why do you go to these god forsaken places at christmas?" My mother used to ask?

For that very reason, they dont celebrate it

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I get a bit bah-humbuggy when Christmas decorations and music start in shops before December. But in general I like Christmas. I'd just like to have it every other year, as it comes round so quickly.

I hated it for years, I have four children and then grandchildren and it just turned into a spending-fest which was very hard work and very expensive. (Think children in their 30's who still expected stockings and who didn't really appreciate any of it!).
I remember too many years when I was sitting wrapping presents alone at midnight on Christmas Eve whilst DH snored off the excess Christmas Spirit.
But now we keep it simple with only immediate family and a niece/nephew getting presents. Not that many presents for the children, the older ones prefer vouchers to spend anyway.
My daughter and I take it in turns to do Christmas lunch for our local family which is not too bad: it really is just a fancy roast dinner after all. We have a cockerel rather than a turkey as it's smaller, moist and tasty, with a small turkey crown for DH who likes dry meat. Nobody really wants Xmas Pud so this year we're having lemon meringue pie which can be prepared ahead.
We'll have the starter a while before lunch to keep us going, this year it's a mix of M&S deli bowls with a bit of smoked salmon and some ciabatta.

MissAdventure

I really don't do hugs, as a rule.
I'm awful, I don't hug anybody.

You see, now I'm wishing I had hugged my girl more than once every three years.

I'm not much of a hugger either, except for my GC. And as for the kissing people you hardly know, no, just no....
The pandemic was a blessing in that you didn't have to automatically kiss everyone when you arrived somewhere. Personally I'm not reinstating the social kissing though some people are surprised when I back away!

Since the family flew the next Christmas has been a bit flat. Add 2019 (nearly lost my dog, Charlie) and lockdown that prevented me seeing my grandchildren and the flatness goes on. I'm visiting there this Christmas so hooray! BUT my bah humbug moment, in these times of energy crisis, cost of living crisis and prospective hike in council tax, was seeing the Christmas lights switched on in Morpeth and Alnwick (Northumberland County Council) on Friday the 18th of November!

Flew the nest....

I HATE christmas. I was burgled at Christmas so I always associate it with Christmas, also my dad died at Christmas so I loathe it with a passion.

I absolutely detest the way Christmas has become so commercialized. It used to be do simple. It lasted a few days. No over indulging. I will be hibernating. Will make my usual mushroom and cashew roll with mushroom and sherry sauce. Will have a brandy while watching the Kings speech and will probably dig out It's a Wonderful Life to watch. Burner will be blazing and I will put my ankle length fleece lined hoodie on...all cosy.

My son was born on Xmas Day , we do Church Service Christmas morning and Christmas Eve and assemble as many family as possible and do the full Dickensian Pickwick Papers Dingley Dell Excess ...

Callistemon21

^I am definitely not bah humbug wrt christmas but am watching so many here on GN, planning huge spreads and spending loads of money, which is often being put on credit cards. Buy now pay later^

My christmas will conisist of a few happy hours with family, I shall drive there and drive back in the light. A nice short inexpensive family gathering. I am glad to say that excess does not come into for me and my family

I flashed the credit card around yesterday 😲

What makes you think that, because Gransnetters use their credit cards, they can't pay them off, karmalady?

We're not driving back, we've been invited to stay the night.

#smugorwhat

Me too. I put all my spending on the two credit cards we have and pay them off in full each month. We do it this way for convenience, not credit.

As for the original poster's "bah humbug" approach to Christmas, why would you want others to join you? I enjoy everything about Christmas with my family and friends so I won't be taking you up on your offer and equally won't invite you to join me.