Are you nearly there yet?

I'm so calm and organised that I feel I must have missed something!

I really thought it was all going to run away from me, but here I am, on the 19th, pretty much sorted. Hurrah!

House decorated, presents wrapped, food all ordered. Mostly due to DH testing positive for Covid on Tuesday. Neither of us has had it before and I was certain I would get it so rushed to do everything. Six days later he is nearly over it (only feint line), so willl hopefully be negative in a few days so he can go out, and I have not got anything. Hoping I won’t now. So although for wrong reasons am really enjoying being super organised.

All presents bought and wrapped and cards posted but cards still not arrived 1st class sent 12th!!
Sisters card posted 2 weeks ago still not arrived either. Missed her birthday. Bristol area post is chaotic but we delivered presents last week for family and DGC. Good job we didn't post them.
DGD and DD staying here over Xmas so DGD trimmed the tree this morning. One DS visiting over Xmas and the other staying for 2 or 3 days. Spent all day yesterday cleaning, washing, ironing and making beds so now relaxing today. DH does most of the cooking which is a bonus.
Sat with a Baileys atm.
I'm not usually this organised but might make it a habit the future lol.

I don’t go overboard at Christmas. I find the build up and fuss on the day a bit overwhelming.

Apologies for my double post, my broadband is sooooo slow today, thought my post was lost in the ether

I just can't believe your husband did this without consulting you. My husband doesn't cook and would be in trouble for this major blunder!

Sago

Pittcity That was my plan too until my lovely husband opened his mouth😉

I can't believe he did this! Hope he plans to do the lion's share of the preparation. My husband can't cook and would certainly suffer for this major blunder...

To all those not up to celebrating this year for whatever the reason - I hope you manage to find a little peace and/or quiet contentment at some point over the Christmas period.

There will be a few 🍷🍷🍷 raised to absent friends in our family this year. It will also be DM's first Christmas without DF for 60 years and she has opted to stay home alone and spend her time quietly and just have visitors. Everybody needs to do what is best for them.

No visitors this year, so not bothering with any decorations.

Only food for the two of us so a fairly normal week really.

We are visiting Dd on Boxing Day. She can’t be bothered to cook, so having a takeaway curry.
Although she has put up a tree and decorations.

Uninvite the guests unless and until the inviter says what he is going to do about the food, drinks, presents, washing, tidying and entertaining.

We usually don't have anyone in from the 23rd through the 29th, but if my husband chose to invite he is competent to the whole of Christmas 'shop, bake, clean, beds'. Husbands can do anything needed.

Then my husband opened his big mouth and invited some friends to stay, it was supposed to be our first ever Christmas alone and I was looking forward to that!

I need to shop, cook, bake, clean, make beds.

No, your DH needs to do a lot of that.

I don’t know how I’m going to manage everything. With help!
M&S and other outlets sell mince pies, cakes, puddings, sausage rolls, ready prepared stuffing, sprouts, carrots, glazed parsnips, pigs in blankets, brandy sauce, even gravy - everything to help you cheat 🙂

I haven't managed any decorations, not even the tree this year. Just so difficult to do on my own. Dh made may little wooden Christmas decorations and they are all in the storage boxes. Finding it difficult enough without seeing and handling all those little treasures. DS did offer to visit and help, especially with the outdoor ones but I just don't feel able to ceebrate. Next year perhaps.

Sago

Pittcity That was my plan too until my lovely husband opened his mouth😉

Write a list if jobs for your lovely husband and get him to take some if the extra work he’s caused.

Presents bought, wrapping starts tomorrow, MrJ as well. Farm shop Wednesday morning, early, for veg; grandchildren and daughter prep them Christmas Eve.
All meat in the freezers, including vegi alternatives, house decorated.
I cook gammon on the Eve and we visit to exchange presents with my son and his family. I cook dinner on the day, the others clear up.
I too am ‘if it’s not done now, it’s not happening’.

Not as ready as I had planned . I’m having a cataract op tomorrow so will be out of action for a couple days I think. Decorations done, food ordered for delivery but some presents for DGC still to arrive from A…z..n . My one secret Santa present for adults is wrapped though.
Hoping my vision will be good enough to cook Christmas dinner if not DD and family are here to take over !
My late DH seemed to be completely oblivious of everything that needed doing at Christmas, and usually decided to start a big DIY project or make a game for the GC two days before Christmas Eve ! I’m missing his chaos though this year, as although he died nearly 3 years ago (New Year’s eve😞) it’s the first big gathering at Christmas since he died .

Yes almost, thank you 😃 Finishing indoor decorations today then it will be time for Christmas 🎄 Quite frankly, anything that isn't done now won't get done and I refuse to worry about it. Last year I forgot to put the slow cooker on for the Christmas pudding but it tasted just as nice on Boxing Day.

We've even organised the family Zoom sessions so all the GC can open their presents at the same time and we can all join in, except the ones in NZ who will have already opened theirs.

Ask husbands for help, write lists...

If they start helping they just didn't notice it needed doing before

If they still don't help, they need retraining, go on husband strike, no clean pants for you

Seems that husbands dont do much in preparing for Christmas. Mine used to complain that the golf course was closed on Christmas Day.
So we went to Spain in the days many years ago when it was just religious day. No cards or presents. Children got presents on Jan 6th.

That SHOULD have been wrong brackets - sorry. x

Iam thoughts are with you - this must be so, so hard. {flowers}

Sago I think your DH needs a list of things to do - given that he has dropped the extra burden on your shoulders. From what you are saying if you attempt all those tasks you will be on your knees by 25th, and unable to enjoy your visitors, welcome or otherwise!

Love & hugs to everyone who is missing their partner this year.

On reading this thread I realise how lucky I am as my husband cooks, shops and wraps the presents. I must tell him how much I appreciate what he does, I'm not very good at that.

No, not even close to being ready. Mostly due to managing money this year and Christmas savings needed for breaking things.

My last day of work is Tuesday so normally I would want everything done by then so I can relax but it's going to be a scramble this year I think