I've started a list, well, more than one really.

I have had many sorts of christmas times over the years happy and sad, abroad and in this country. As a singer I am always very busy with rehearsals and concerts too , but as a ttaditionalist I wont look at any C stuff before bonfire night is over. Lets enjoy things in their turn instead of dashing through lifes pleasures just to suit the shops!! My tips that I do every year, whether presents bought or organised. I always plant 3 bowls of hyacinths (always stick to same colour in one bowl so that they flower at one time) and set them up so that they start coming out the middle of January and so have beautiful perfume and cheering flowers until the end of february. Then regardless of whatever else I have got ready I have my "rescue" presents wrapped and labelled and ready. So I buy usually Anton Berg"posh jaffa cakes " so they are individual wrapped jaffa style bisucuits but with liqueur in so orange in cointreau and plums in slivovitch or whatever. Wrapped up carefully and a card attached but NOT written on. Then go to book shop and get a book voucher for the other preseent. So come the day if you have an unexpected guest or are given a gift that you havent expected you have these 2 to choose from . You just say oh left it hidden and go and get it quickly writing the persons name on it. If they are diabetic they can have the book token etc etc, so you are covered all ends and sides. Even better , if you have been super efficient you wont need them. So in the middle of january, weather miserable, no spare cash, you can invitea couple of hardworking friends to come for super fresh coffee and posh anton bergs and are allowed to complain and moan about whoever in their family has driven them made over the holiday. The book token is yours - well you might lose it or it could go out of date, best treat yourself to a book you have always wanted. Now I call that a win win situation and most efficient. Before now I have sat coffee cup in one hand , lovely anton berg on plate and smelling my beautiful hyacinths, and breathing a sigh of relief that I have got through another festive occasion without either throttling a family member ruining the dinner or collapsing in a heap saying I cant sing another note!! Try it!

Thank you for the votes, guys!

Yes, I was surprised at how gut-wrenchingly lonely I felt - feeling left out was a far different experience to contented solo celebrations!

Thank you for the cake suggestion, teabagwoman! It sounds delicious, and just right. It's the same guys that I asked a few days ago about what to take to breakfast, and I said then I'd take the Buck's Fizz suggestion to Boxing Day - it'd be perfect with the cake!!

Ailidh, that’s a very kind thing to do. It can be incredibly lonely when you’re left out like that. If you’re still looking for a cake to take to your friends Nigella’s clementine cake is very good. It’s made with ground almonds so is really moist and flavoursome..

Stopped sending most cards a few years ago now - send Seasons e-mail messages/pictures to all those on my list who use the media. I think the postage on top of the cost of cards, which end up in the bin, is far too expensive. I still have a few overseas cards to send and some I hand deliver. Sad to see my card list getting smaller as people die.

keepcalmandcavachon

.Ailidh "Review Christmas entry in my calendar"

I like your style! I definitely think you should promote yourself to 'Head Prefect' as you sound very kind and thoughtful, new friends sound lovely too

Agreed. My vote goes to Ailidh too. The Leftover gang will become the cool kids in no time.

I sometimes think that Christmas is a lot of stress for one day, but I also think that it gives us all a focus in what would otherwise be a dreary time of year. I normally feel that December is early enough to start thinking about it, but for various reasons I have a lot on my plate this year, so need to be on top of things earlier than usual.

DD’s birthday is on 22 November, so we don’t start planning until after that.
Having said that, I’m making patchwork quilts for SiL’s nieces, so have had to start some time ago!
Also, now I’m a widow and go toDD’s for the festivities, in9 longer bother with any planning. Just do as I’m told.

I used to work in a gift shop. We had a good laugh one Boxing day when a lady came in with a Christmas shopping list. We were not sure if it was late for that Christmas or early for the next one.

I haven’t even begun my Christmas lists yet. I’m beginning to feel just a little bit panicked as I’m usually organised and start early. But this year I’ve moved house and it all happened a bit suddenly. So I’m in my much smaller bungalow, surrounded by boxes and with savings depleted, wondering where to start! I love Christmas and know it will all work out but I wish I was feeling just a little bit more organised.

.Ailidh "Review Christmas entry in my calendar"

I like your style! I definitely think you should promote yourself to 'Head Prefect' as you sound very kind and thoughtful, new friends sound lovely too

Oh Pearlsaminger I do love your name and was sincerely only thinking the other day I haven’t seen you posting in a while! Probably just on different threads, but 👋 anyway!

I love lists!
Mostly on paper and in MS Publisher, but also putting key things in the calendar in my phone/ipad. Next Thursday is a "Review Christmas" entry in my calendar.

I live solo in a retirement flat with a degree of community - lunch, including Christmas lunch, is part of the deal. So no big family meal to buy and cook.

Last year was weird: many residents went off to families, and most of the rest had palled up with others to sit with at lunch. Fortunately, there was a table of four of us "leftovers". It felt very lonely - not that most others had plans, why shouldn't they? but that the "head prefect" of the residents didn't bother to check. Gosh, I felt left out! This year am absolutely determined to be a Leftover again, and to look out for anyone else in that boat: if I can stop anyone else feeling that invisible, I'll definitely do it.

Oh. That was as a digression. Oops.

I only buy for my two brothers and their other halves, and a dear couple and a good friend. Mostly bought or made (Determined Crocheter) but "Review Christmas" will make sure of that, and I'll write the card list.

Then I'll have a Me list too. I've had solo Christmases for some years but always with joy and in my own home with lots of good food and Baileys and hints of childhood - bowls of red apples, tins of sweets. I think I didn't try hard enough last year, this year I will.

Oh, and the dear couple, who are new friends, have invited me to their house on Boxing Day! Am looking for recipes for a luscious cakey thing to take.

I've started my list of who I send cards to and thst's about it.
Would love to start buying presents but my sister and her family and her grandchildren never manage to get lists of what they would like so it's always cash as I don't want to buy something that they don't want so that makes family present buying very easy.

I have bought one present because I was supporting a Christmas fair. and Christmas earrings for going to lunches for myself and a pair to post to daughter.
I hav started thinking about Christmas....... and planning it in my head.

Stopped sending cards a few years ago, apart from giving my daughter a card.

Only one gift to buy for a friend, and a £10 budget to buy my daughter a small gift to open on Christmas Day. (We both do this and usually buy something silly and funny to laugh at)

However, we have gifted each other a sunshine holiday in January. I paid her half and she paid mine. A perfect start to the new year.

As for shopping, we just add a few extra bits for Christmas.. mostly savoury. No Turkey this year - we’ll go for gammon and a slice of pork with some crunchy crackling for Christmas Day. (And knowing my luck a trip to the dentist after )

Had to give out gifts early before housemove with strict orders to hide them away till christmas, as i couldnt move the gifts as well, or make room for them in smaller house 😐

Yes! I have thought about it and......panicked

We are a very small family group. 9 in total and our youngest daughter and son in law host us all as they have the biggest space.

This makes me chuckle. It’s how I feel about it all. One special dinner (and yet you can only eat so much no matter how much ‘else’ is on the table). I find it all a bit daft really. Yet I’m not a Grinch.

Boxing Day was always family round for cold turkey, ham, left over sausages, stuffing and jacket potatoes, with lots of salads, followed by sherry trifle and homemade Christmas pudding ice cream.
It was so delicious, I must find the recipe again.
Lovely memories.

Doodledog

Two hours!! I thought they were meant to take the work out of it .

I know what you mean about leftovers. The groaning fridge and the knowledge that from Boxing Day onwards it is 'help yourself, everyone' is such a good feeling after all the rushing around in the lead-up time.

I do so agree! One thing I love about the week after Christmas is all the leftover ham and turkey etc. - very little cooking and virtually no shopping! (Except maybe for the odd basic like bread.)

No leftovers is just one reason I’d never want to go out for Christmas dinner. Aside from the facts that a) home cooked is invariably nicer, and b) it’s ruinously expensive.

I used to use scraps of paper which always got lost, but these days I use a shorthand pad. Hanging on to my sanity by a thread

List Lovers Unite, we have nothing to lose but our sanity
and don't start me on The sheer Panic of the Missing List!

I have made lists for years. When I was working full time and bringing up two children alone, it helped me identify what needed to be done and when. It also meant I could spread the shopping over a couple of months, longer if organised. I was juggling so many plates in the air, lists helped me not to drop any or have last minute problems. Now, I'm on a very restricted income so I have to budget very carefully. It suits me.

I’ve been using an old exercise book for a few years now - lists of things to do and buy, and by when.
We’ll be going to a dd’s this year, but I’ll still be making the stuffing, pigs in blankets etc. in advance. Probably brandy butter and cranberry sauce too. Mincemeat and puddings are already made.

We still send quite a few cards, inc. to a number of friends abroad, so I like to have them ready to post by 1st December.

One fairly major task I always have on the list for early December is the polishing of a big old chest that originally came from Zanzibar, and is covered with ornamental brass and copper. It’s become such a December ritual now that I associate the smell of Brasso wadding with Christmas! I’ll usually have carols playing while I’m at it, too. 🎄

Yes, I don’t understand the ‘it’s only a day’ thing. My lot live a drive away, so depending on work come before and leave after. I usually have a houseful for a few days, and cater for vegetarians, meat eaters and a dog. I need to remember likes and dislikes that I don’t have to consider the rest of the year. I don’t want to forget the things they like, (and I have a new DIL who I’m getting to know), or dog food and treats that I don’t usually buy.

The basics are on repeat, but it is the little touches that make it special IMO.

Marthjolly1

Good grief. I can't believe what I'm reading here. I do like Christmas but it is only for one day, or maybe 2 at the most. Nothing gets done before 10th December. As its always a repeat of the last 50 years, it's rehearsed well enough to need little effort. And always very enjoyable 🎄

Our family Christmas season lasts from a couple of days before Christmas until a few days into New Year.
And if I fancy not doing much for a week after that as well, I dont!