Good Morning Sunday Christmas Eve 24th December 2023

Marydoll I'm glad your priest appreciates you! Don't overdo things.

Morning on this mild Christmas Eve from S Hampshire, a blow for your son Mizuna hope he recovers swiftly
Gammon cooked yesterday, half staying here, the rest to my daughters tomorrow.
MrJ went to our Tesco express last night, his Saturday lottery ritual, they all know him, as he walked to the till his tickets were ready, ‘this one’s on me’ said the young man, aaah.
A quiet day as for the first time ever we’re at my daughters tomorrow.
Safe travel and a gentle, uneventful day for you all, a big thank you to Mick for this pleasant start to our days.
🦩🦩

Good morning everyone from Inverness where it’s wet and windy
I arrived back home yesterday evening, there were a few problems with the journey but nothing too bad. The flight was full and in the arrivals hall it was lovely to see all the extended families meeting up for Christmas with big hugs and kisses. Today I’m going to double check that we’ve got everything sorted for tomorrow, we’re eating at DD2s but will be taking all the prepared veg round plus the wine. I might need a last minute trip to Tesco later.
Hope everyone’s plans go well today and take care if you’re out and about
Thinking of everyone with worries and struggles, hope today is gentle and take care all whatever the day brings 💐

Good morning from a breezy Essex.

Yesterday dgd1 and I went round to DD’s with shopping and cheered the poorlies up. We spent a lovely few hours there chatting and the twin boys(17) joined us (very unusual). It was a jolly time with old stories of when they were small , being remembered and told.

Today I’ll make lemon cheesecake which is everyone’s favourite. I’ll make 2, check I’ve got everything and also check the present pile. I always think I’ve forgotten someone/something. 😰.

This afternoon dgd1, Dd and dgd6 and I will go to the Nativity and join in with the Carol service. 🎄.

I hope you all have a joyful Christmas . 🙏.

Good morning from my bit of South Lanarkshire. Forecast is wind again today but after a period yesterday afternoon when it got decidedly gusty, it hasn’t been too bad.

All preparations done, this morning mass, then pack the car for a few days away at DD5’s where youngest DGC are. The ham and, if I say it myself, lovely soup from the stock, are in the fridge ready to go.
DD and SiL are not turkey fans so we’re eating out this afternoon where I can have my traditional Christmas meal and everyone else can choose whatever they want. Tomorrow steak for the adults which will be lovely and whatever the children have chosen. The ham will be part of a relaxed meal on Boxing Day.

BlueSapphire, I was very sorry to read your awful news yesterday, my sincere condolences to your family.

Mizuna, what rotten luck for your DS, good that his dad can help him out a bit.

Everyone’ seems very organised and I hope that all the quiet sadnesses that so many of us carry are a little more bearable over the next couple of days.

As ever I will remember all our needs at church today and tomorrow and I wish everyone the very best Christmas possible 🌲💐💕

Good morning everyone from south Manchester. It’s damp out we had heavy rain in the night. Himself is collecting a turkey crown and a sirloin of beef from our larder in a ‘time slot’. Other than that I’m minding L’il Miss for an hour while mummy finishes wrapping presents. She will then picked up, I shall enjoy a shower, hair wash & get ready as we have been invited over at 5pm for champagne (VC, my favourite with the orange label!) and canapés. Himself will drink Vimto his juice of choice.
💙

Here’s Matt.
x

Good morning from a wet and windy Oxfordshire.

Sauces and vegetables to prep today and then out this evening to a drinks party, MrOops wasn’t feeling so good last night so it will be a relief if he doesn’t want to go, I have other things to do.
I hope everyone has a good day, doesn’t overdo it (*MD*) and doesn’t run out of anything,( like me, I have to pop up to the local CoOp for a couple of bits that didn’t arrive last night, I say local, it’s an 8 mile round trip)
Thoughts are with those who find Christmas a difficult time.
🎄🎄

Good morning every one, cant quite believe it's here .Shouldn't there be softly falling flakes of snow?
Marydoll go easy with the clear up, hope you have lots of help!
My white indoor hyacinths have decided to bloom today in a beautiful shade of blue. Take care all and hugs to anyone who is finding this season hard x

Morning all

We will have a slow start today, DH will cook breakfast then I shall potter

DD and boys are coming here mid afternoon (The Imp is especially excited) We have already ordered a Chinese takeaway banquet for this evening.

I think I am all organised, I will probably not post for a few days, but will be thinking of my virtual friends in quieter moments.

Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas however you are spending your time 🎅🏻🤶🏻🎄🎁

Keepcalm, I love hyacinths in the house. My mother always had them. They started life in a pot, in the dark under the bed, until it was near Christmas.

Good morning from a mild, windy Durham. I’m not feeling festive at all - DH used to jolly me along, but it’s my 3rd without him now and I’m weary, being awake between 2 and 4am. Yesterday with both DDs and the little ones went well - still more clearing up to do! DD2 has asked me to do something with her later, but I must get the vegetables/table prepped for tomorrow at some point. Still a few presents to wrap too!
A broken foot sounds a challenge - hope Miz’s son can get to his jobs.
Best wishes to all. X

Good morning from a dry but still windy NE. Thermometer says it is 12 degrees.
Sister and BIL came yesterday and I thought I would push the boat out and open a bottle of rose Champagne. Apparently it was the 46th anniversary of the day they got engaged so was appreciated.
DD and SIL are coming this afternoon and we will discuss what needs doing in readiness for tomorrow and we will make dinner together. Hopefully we will get to see the carols from Kings college.
Have a lovely day with friends and family.

keepcalmandcavachon

Good morning every one, cant quite believe it's here .Shouldn't there be softly falling flakes of snow?
Marydoll go easy with the clear up, hope you have lots of help!
My white indoor hyacinths have decided to bloom today in a beautiful shade of blue. Take care all and hugs to anyone who is finding this season hard x

Mum always had hyacinths for Christmas she had 2 glass ‘shaped’ hyacinth pots ( I have them now) but somehow the bulbs managed to tip slightly over in the dark cupboard so that although they flowered and smelt lovely they always drooped over the side of the jar and TBH didn’t look as lovely as she thought they did!

Good morning all. Just a flying visit to wish you all a very happy Christmas and hope 2024 is kind to us all.

Good morning all from a dry east Yorkshire. .
Put new Christmas bedding on last night and I was far too hot. Looks pretty though!
An easy day here really. I have to finish off the floral table decoration requested by DIL. Just going to add the flowers today and get it to her in one piece 🤞. We are spending tomorrow with the family and contributing the turkey and trimmings which DH will take across later. He’s also taking the presents and leaving in the bar in the garden. He has bought a Santa suit for tomorrow I can’t wait to see everyone’s response!
We are going to my favourite fish restaurant in the marina for a late lunch. Then relaxing with a glass or two the rest of the day,
Here’s Santa 🤣

Good morning everyone from a mild dry Northampton.

The family are still reeling from the shock of losing my much loved DB-in-law on Friday evening.
He had a massive stroke on Wednesday, and at first we hoped he might make a good recovery. We knew that things had taken a turn for the worst when my DB (a retired priest) was sent for on Friday morning. He must have made the journey of 80 plus miles in record time, and was able to be with my DB and his immediate family to offer prayers and words of comfort. The life support was switched off early evening and my DB-in-law died peacefully an hour or so later.surrounded by his family.

We take.comfort in the many happy memories we have of him, the knowledge that it was a life well lived. A good kind man, he was like a brother to me and my memories go back to the late 1960s when he met and married my sister.

It was with a very heavy heart that I just had to get on with Christmas preparations yesterday.
DS invited me for an early dinner, and then we went to see elder DGD dance in pantomime. It was her last show of the season and was excellent, in a theatre packed with excited children. It helped to take my mind off things.

Family all arrive this afternoon, not much left to do, just make up the camp bed for a DGD, and get the Christmas tablecloth on and then leave it all up to them - they are in charge of cooking!

Have a lovely Christmas Eve, everyone.

Good morning from a dry and calm Suffolk and a late start for us.

The Bristol gang have gone home and the Ipswich tribe are at home tomorrow and here on Boxing Day so we will have a quiet day here and tomorrow interspersed with good food and drink.

I did my church cleaning stint yesterday and there is a crib service at 5.30pm today. Neighbours and friends are away and it is very quiet and peaceful here which we are enjoying.

It is very different from the days when our children were small. Christmas Eve was when we brought in the tree and decorated it whilst listening to ‘Carols from Kings’ and then we and 2 other very local families, 8 children in all, gathered for a couple of hours at one of our houses for drinks and nibbles whilst the children let off steam.

We enjoy remembering those times whilst thinking how privileged we are to do what we can now.

Thinking of those with lives less fortunate than ours and sending very best wishes to all for a happy Christma.

Good morning everyone from Severnside where it is damp and the sky is very grey.

I’ve a few cooking jobs to do today and my brother will come by mid morning. He made me smile in his message as he detailed exactly how long it was since he last saw me 🤣

Have a good day all and go with the flow of things to be done 🎄🥂

Good morning from grey and windy N Bucks. Rosie goes to the kennels this morning for her three day stay 😢😢 but actually she is generally happy to go and I know she will be well looked after. I spent most of last night awake, finally getting off to sleep somewhere around 5 but it gave me the chance to run the dishwasher (had forgotten to put it on, on the timer) check the red cabbage which was cooking overnight in the slow oven and add a jar of redcurrant jelly, fortunately lurking in the back of my cupboard which I had forgotten was my mum’s “mystery ingredient”.
I shall fill up with petrol on the way back from dropping Rosie off, make the Boxing Day pud of Delia’s Chocolate and Bread and Butter Pudding while listening to Carols from Kings, and pack a bag ready for the off tomorrow.
I have felt a bit of a fraud while all you domestic goddesses have been queuing at the supermarket, preparing to feed the five thousand, prepping beds with Christmas bedding ready to host the family and baking all those sausage rolls!
But I wish you all joy this Christmas with those you love (or even more sincerely if you are not or are no longer with those you love but know they love or loved you) 💕🎄

Very remiss of me, but I forgot to thank everyone for their kind words of condolence yesterday and today.

Good morning from a windy W Kent. A quick shop is needed as I am now doing a lunch Boxing Day. dB arrived safely yesterday and we shall see DD2 and family tomorrow.
Best wishes to all

Happy Christmas to you all. Thank you for this wonderful thread.

Good morning all from the unseasonably warm Scottish Borders.
Very windy here
Everyone seems organised for their big day
I have nothing much to do apart from wrap up a few presents.

DH brother, who'll also be going to DS tomorrow, says not to get him a present but when I suggested I wrap one of DH books possibly a gift from his db he changed his tune so I shall wrap a book from the shelf which I haven't read and am unlikely to.
I may do the same for DS.
There, that was easy!

I saw a tractor in the high st yesterday and thought of you Susan 😂 and I love that the escape pain course was a success.

Sorry about your poor DS Mizuna I hope he heals quickly.

Safe travels Stilllearning
Happy Christmas everybody.

Good morning Mick and all from a damp northwest coast. I have a slight toothache so hope it hold off until after the festivities.
DD arrived last night getting over a cold so I’m keeping my distance. She went out with friends and I painted a card for her 50th 😳coming up, then watched the old Miracle on 34th Street, cosy. I was invited with them but preferred to stay here.
I’m a last minute gal so today will be busy but enjoyable and DS arrives with the turkey tonight.
BlueSapphire💐, hope your son improves quickly Mizuna and you all have the best day you can.
My painted card for this year.

Good morning from a very windy East Midlands. Happy Christmas Eve everyone! My heart goes out to all who find this to be a very difficult time. Sending love and hugs.