Was everything “fabulous” for you?

Why shouldn't people post nice happy pictures on Facebook?
Clearly, for some, Christmas might be very difficult, sad or marred by illness. I've had a few of these over the years which makes me really appreciate the cheerful happy ones.

Do people feel if it wasn’t the best of everything they have somehow missed out?

I think, is it Fa cebook, where people post photos, and everything is wonderful?

Our Christmas Day was just me and MrB, we went for a lovely walk arund the Dock, ate bacon toasties, had another walk, exchanged gifts, ate a delicious dinner and watched some old films on YouTube. It was fabulous as far as I’m concerned but it probably isn’t anybody else’s idea of a good Christmas

Nobody is going to say they had an average time at Christmas.

My lot do.

Just rang a friend.
Virus, sickness and people dying/funerals.
Not her best Christmas by a long way.

I don't think the OP was talking about a normal "we had a fabulous" Christmas or Christmas meal. I understand and agree with her that some people can go in OTT overdrive and bore on for 20 minutes or more about how fabulous something was when a "we had a really great time" is enough.

I don't think OP was begrudging or jealous of people having a good time. Just that it maybe a sign of our times that everything has to be fabulous awesome etc etc. Are our expectations raised too high by magazines and newspapers. And I agree with her.

I had a lovely time with DH and DD + SIL. This year was low key due to DH illness, but I am not jealous or begrudging of anyone having a great time. Why would I.

That’s absolutely fine Aveline that is what GN is about.
We are all entitled to say how we feel.
It would be a very boring forum if we all agreed or indeed kept quiet in case we offended or upset others.
At least we try not to deliberately upset or offend, well I hope we don’t.

I wouldn't either boast or moan to people about the day. I was just glad that someone else did all the cooking.

I'm sorry you feel like that. However, like others, I'll continue to use whatever adjectives I like to describe Christmas and any other day.

Our Christmas day was good. Not fabulous as there were some personality clashes silently evident, but the meal was excellent - turkey and all possible trimmings, with either Christmas pudding or sticky toffee pudding to follow.

I have to say it doesn’t.

The OP said it was a rant and a moan - and it was. I suspect that it didn't occur to her how her complaints about people enthusiastically describing their Christmas day might appear to others. I'm sure it does now though.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I cannot think of a less jealous or ‘begrudging’ person than uttb. I think she’s been sorely misunderstood here.

I think it’s more the OTT flamboyant words that people use to describe experiences nowadays. Things are ‘awesome’ when ‘enjoyable’ used to be a more routine answer.

Never mind uttb.
I ‘get’ you!

I agree. Haven’t been on Gransnet long and think it is a bit odd the way some seem to have got the wrong end of the stick here, I don’t think the OP was saying anything that was out of place. Am imagining she feels a bit put upon tbh.

I cannot think of a less jealous or ‘begrudging’ person than uttb. I think she’s been sorely misunderstood here.

I think it’s more the OTT flamboyant words that people use to describe experiences nowadays. Things are ‘awesome’ when ‘enjoyable’ used to be a more routine answer.

Never mind uttb.
I ‘get’ you!

I must have misunderstood this thread? I thought it was more a place to share or admit everything was not as you had planned or hoped?

Aveline

For goodness sake. It's not a competition. Nobody is saying their Christmas is better than yours. Can't you just be glad that at least some people felt they had a great time?

Hear Hear, why can't people say how lovely/fabulous their Christmas is?
I hate it when people moan that people are showing off when telling you about their good times, especially if they have Been asked. My partner cooked an amazing Christmas meal, and if asked I will tell people.
I will also say that people who moan about others and say they are showing off are very often begrudging jealous people.

Absolutely agree mrsmeldrew it was just the two of us although we did go out for lunch this Year which was fantastic! We have done all the family/friends Christmases in the past and no way do we want to do all that hosting again. Apart from cooking/entertaining we also had to prepare the house as family members did not live nearby. This included making meals from Christmas Eve to Boxing day, preparing the house, making beds, leaving out fresh towels for guests. Then when they left we had to strip beds, wash bedding and towels as well as putting the house back in order. It was completely exhausting no idea how we managed it. So the busy people as we used to be are the ones that we feel sorry for, we can just relax and enjoy Christmas in our own way. Entertain again, no thank you!!

It was just the two of us, as usual. We opened our gifts to each other, took the dogs down the woods and had some mulled wine, cooked and ate a nice dinner, had a snooze and watched some telly, read books and listened to music. It was very nice. Yet when you tell neighbours and friends what you did, you get the impression they are sorry for you because we weren't surrounded by family or "hosting" for 12 as they were! Being content with our own company most of the time I couldn't think of anything more stressful ...

I enjoyed Christmas apart from the time I was fed up that no one was helping, that there was another load of dishes to go in the dishwasher, someone was always wanting something to eat and my little granddaughter crept into my bed at 4am on Boxing Day. She went straight back to sleep and I didn’t 😩. Turkey was lovely as were the roasties but stuffing from Waitrose was as dry as a bone. Traditional Boxing Day trifle was a disaster. DH and DS fell out. However we will probably laugh about the dry stuffing, sloppy trifle and lack of sleep on future Christmas days and future turkeys will never compare. All in all we had a great time 🥳 TG it’s all over for another year 😂

Usedtobeblonde

I really don’t think I have ever been so misunderstood as I am being on this thread.
Of course I want my friends to have had a lovely Christmas, I am sure they did.
I just don’t want them to exaggerate just how fabulous it was.
It sometimes seems like trying too hard to convince that it was just that.
I hope everyone on GN had a super time, I’m sure some did and some didn’t, that is life.
I did enjoy my Christmas very much just in case you think I didn’t and envy those who did.

I get you Utbb. Like those friends whose children are all fabulous.

Usedtobeblonde

I really don’t think I have ever been so misunderstood as I am being on this thread.
Of course I want my friends to have had a lovely Christmas, I am sure they did.
I just don’t want them to exaggerate just how fabulous it was.
It sometimes seems like trying too hard to convince that it was just that.
I hope everyone on GN had a super time, I’m sure some did and some didn’t, that is life.
I did enjoy my Christmas very much just in case you think I didn’t and envy those who did.

I think we should all, when talking about life’s events, think about what other people might be experiencing and rein back on the wonderful time they’ve had if others might not be having such a great time.

Cabbie21

I spent Christmas Day at my daughter’s home. About 7 pm, my 18 year old grandson, who had received lots of good quality gifts, mainly clothes, suddenly said
“ The presents were great, and the food, but the best thing about Christmas is not the presents, it’s being with family.”

I agree with your grandson. I'm not bothered about food and presents although both were lovely. It was being with my family that made it wonderful for me.

Desdemona

I hope Christmas is something that will die out soon, when enough people realise it is more hassle than it's worth.

I hope everyone learns to enjoy Christmas in their own way. Everyone has choices.

I hope Christmas is something that will die out soon, when enough people realise it is more hassle than it's worth.

Lots of people now use 'Awesome' and 'fabulous' instead of good or lovely or nice. To some people if anything nice happens it was 'awesome'. I don't think it is anymore than that. They aren't words that I use, but they are just words.

It is fabulous being part of a family Christmas and I'm sorry if usedtobeblonde objects to that terminology. It's just a word!