Can’t be bothered, 🎄 fatigue.

This thread has surprised me. I thought I was the only one who hates Christmas. It’s such hard work. However, this year I am counting my blessings. Started early and cards mostly done. Son asked me to please do one last Christmas as he loves it. He trained as a chef before going on to something more suitable for him career wise so has offered to do the roast, although he’s never done one so I will be the sous chef whilst he lifts the turkey out to baste from our low oven. It would do my back in. OH might be working so after lunch I will have a nap and leave son and partner to watch whatever on our comfy leather sofas. This morning, when looking in our stationary cupboard for Christmas stuff, I found photos of him as a little boy next to the Christmas tree and suddenly realised why he finds it so special. Next year? Tenerife maybe?
I know it’s very hard work as we get older. Agree with you all.

I’m so sorry for those on here with real problems and sorrows this Christmas.

I’m very fortunate in that I’ve lots to fit in before and around the big day, including having all the family descending on us on Saturday. I still love Christmas and really can be bothered - I’m planning a big buffet, Christmas games, a treasure hunt for the grandsons, a special cake for one who’s got a birthday coming up. The trouble is my get up and go’s got up and gone. Everything seems to take forever, and there’s just so much to do. Perhaps it’s time I started to rein in my ambitions and kept things simple.

Though for the first time ever I haven’t made a Christmas cake, a pudding or even any mincemeat, haven’t got my tree up yet or written my cards…. The spirit is still willing but oh, it’s all such hard work!

What a gorgeous cat. Our first cat was a British Blue called Misty.

Dianehillbilly1957, yes we can feel really good about avoiding waste and being kind to the environment, too. The family gathering is the only important thing to me these days. I had decades of doing it all - for the children - but now they do it for theirs!

Christmas just never dos it for me, I'm just getting the grandkids presents, my own kids I've told them not to bother with gifts for my partner and I, we have everything we need, we are having a family gathering and meeting up next summer so I've told them to keep the money to enjoy then.
I've also posted on Facebook that I'm not sending Christmas cards, the postage costs and waste of cards and time I've finally bitten the bullet and called a halt to it all. And I'm now feeling much relieved.Yay!!🤣

We can do as much - or as little - as we like, though, as there are no rules. I never did enjoy writing cards or wrapping presents - and always hated going shopping. The grandkids get vouchers or gifts sent direct to their places. Everything's ordered and I haven't set foot in a shop (except a corner shop) for years!

I didn’t feel like it until very recently. I did present shopping online and am wrapping a few each day, just in brown paper tied with raffia and the greeting written on the paper, no tags. A few cards sent but still quite a few to do. Have made the Christmas pudding, part of my contribution and the bread sauce which is in the freezer. Haven’t made a Christmas cake this year, instead, I made a much quicker, easier orange and almond cake, also in the freezer. My son and his girlfriend are coming on Christmas Eve and staying overnight so I’ll have to cook for that but at least I don’t have to do the full Christmas Day lunch. I think I’ll enjoy it as it gets closer. Hope you all do too. 🎄🎄🎄

Me too. I am going through the motions but wishing it was all over. So much bad news and grief around this year, I find it hard to get all 'Merry and Bright' when so many people in the world are hungry and homeless, it overloads my social conscience. Just travelled back from visiting in a care home and saw all Christmas trees in windows and pretty lights. I commented to my DH that I wish I had the 'enthusiasm for Christmas' gene, but it is sadly, missing.

Just a small point re sending Christmas cards. Last 2nd class post is Monday 12th. Last 1st class post is Friday 16th. These are the new guaranteed for Christmas dates.

Eeh I thought it was just me!

I was just about to moan about the decorator turning up at such short notice, (when I particularly said, i’ll leave the rest till the spring), but after hearing some of the real problems some of you have, I am humbled. Hope everything turns out well for you all
P.S. just couldn’t send him away, because he is related to my d.i.l.

ourjude well done, you've made someone else's Christmas 🙂

the Festive Pie looks rather good! I shall look out for one, perhaps for Boxing Day as we're not home on Christmas Day.

Exactly the same nanna8

You have just described me ! Daughter and grandchildren have just moved to USA, my husband is awaiting Radiotherapy treatment and I just cannot be bothered with all the gaiety of xmas. Good lord am I turning into Scrooge - think I had better go out for a brisk walk to lighten my mood 😂😂😂😂

Maidmarion, February? Please do bear in mind that, if you don't find something suitable and leave, your landlord will have to start the eviction process (and it takes some time).

Yep… me too! I have been given notice to quit my lovely, lovely (and warm) house as the landlord is selling it. (Why he couldn’t have waited until Spring is beyond me - it’s not as if he’s poor!!!!) so I’m spending all my time on my little iPad searching, searching for something to rent in the locality. Nothing doing ‘in my price range’ so at this rate I’ll be on the streets in February…. It’s so very worrying at 74!!!!
And yes, I have no interest in Christmas this year. I usually go to my family in USA but am unable to go this year for various reasons. I usually LOVE Christmas but don’t even want to think about it this year 😢

I’m so sorry, Jansue - I know how horrible it is. 💐

I'm not bothering with Christmas this year apart from cards and gifts for family and friends. My husband died on Christmas Day last year and it has completely ruined a time of year that I used to love. Am going home to visit my family for a few days at Christmas, having been advised not to be alone for the first anniversary of his death. My parents aren't that big on Christmas either, don't even bother with Christmas dinner these days, so hopefully will take my mind off things a bit.

ourjude

Last year I was ambivalent about Christmas - kept changing my mind every few days about whether I was going to celebrate or not. This year, I've got in the usual bits and pieces but, at the moment, would be quite happy if Christmas was cancelled.

I'm not particularly well and it is only me these days so that might be the cause but then again, 'everything' Christmas related seemed to start being touted (items in shops, carols played everywhere and films on TV) before we'd even done Halloween this year... Or so it seemed to me.

Perhaps if the Christmas hype didn't start until December was here I might feel differently. Or, considering how many of us feel the same way, maybe there's something in the water

I did have a bit of a giggle though. I received my first Christmas present at the weekend. It was from an older (I won't say elderly!) friend who decided that a festive pie (from Lidl or Aldi, I can't remember which) was not suitable for Christmas dinner. So, she brought round all the fixings for a 'traditional' Christmas dinner - plus a large variety of nibbles.

Didn't have the heart to tell her the reason I was planning on having the pie was because I'm fed up of the 'traditional' and the only thing that 'grabbed' me - despite visiting 6 different supermarkets/shops - was the Festive Pie. I am having 'all the fixings' alongside it - and all the usual nibbles - and have already bought them all so most of her gift has been gifted on to a family I know that wouldn't be able to afford these things.

Did you get the Festive Slices from Aldi? I bought them for my son, but he hasn't tried them yet and he sniffed at them a bit because apparently Greggs sell a similar one. I wouldn't have known

So kind of you to gift the traditional fare to a family who wouldn't be able to afford that. Enjoy your festive pie and good for you for not being pressured.

Every year I simplify more. Do less. As my husband says, "it's just a big roast dinner!" He cooks well and would cook the whole thing if I wanted.

Christmas shouldn't be about jumping through hoops, anyway. It should be just remembering what's important, eating a nice meal that should be anything you want and being with those who want to be with you too.

Christmas can be a big chore, if you don't enjoy the food and all. I'm not a fan of many of the traditional foods, so I won't eat them. As a kid I was forced to eat horrible festive foods , so as an adult I avoid them. My kids don't like most of the festive foods either, so we will eat what we like.

Jansue
So sorry for you. Your cat was beautiful, celebrate her life this Christmas and be glad you gave her a loving home.

Not even started - too busy - but when I do it will be a severely paired down affair. Maybe covid taught us that we didn't have to go crazy (not that I ever did) preparing for these two days months in advance, and gave us permission to be less frenetic. So we're going away for a quiet Christmas, I won't be putting a tree up or ending the usual bunch of cards with very expensive stamps on them and the hope that they actually reach their destination. Not even made a Christmas cake - yet!

Oh nana8 I could have written your post! I’m just trying to psyche myself up to write some cards, although I’m cutting down considerably. Are we the last generation to send them I wonder? My two girls don’t bother with them. I’ve still got presents to buy and have wrapped nothing. Definitely a case of CFS. If only it was like the Olympics, every four years, perhaps we could work up some enthusiasm.

On the plus side, all our relatively small family of 10 will be together, not at our house, and we have so much to be grateful for I do feel a bit guilty.

Yes, nanna8, I'm feeling absolutely like you are! (I wrote about this on another Christmas thread.) However I am going through the motions and I hope to gain some festive spirit from somewhere, before the 24th....... (I have always enjoyed the "Nine lessons and Carols" service broadcast on the radio on Christmas Eve.)

I am in the “I can’t be bothered camp too”. If I can’t be bothered then nothing will happen. I have one friend who I know needs her presents so I have got her something. I am not sending any cards and dinner is already in the freezer so I will heat it up on the day. Tree and decorations are in the attic and will most likely remain there. I may play a Xmas CD and drink some wine, perhaps eat a few chocolates on the day. The grandchildren all have so much already I can’t even raise the enthusiasm to try to figure out what is missing from their “must have” arsenal.