Christmas stress

For the first time in years we - or should I say 'I' - had a stress free Christmas Day! I visited DD on Christmas eve and we got on well and she and her children are likely to drop in today to help eat up the left overs. The problem with DS and family I mentioned in a post a little while back is solved and he agreed that coming on Christmas Day and leaving by 2.30 would have been a rush so they're coming for New Year's Day for a 'second Christmas' but I've decided to service it 'school dinner' style to save loads of washing up!!!!!

I've just discovered my disaster . Trying to get ahead of myself, I made the meringue base for today's Pavlov and I stored it, still on its original baking parchment, in an airtight tin. Just tried to remove the baking parchment so that I can put it on a plate and finish it off but the parchment is welded to the underside of the meringue. Tried to slide a wide palette knife underneath and I've destroyed the pavlova. Eton Mess it is then. I'm so cross at myself right now

DS and his lovely partner came to us for the day last Saturday. Arriving in excellent time they took us out for Xmas lunch and stayed till early evening. DS 's birthday is on the 22nd, so two birds etc!! Yesterday we were on our own which was fine, today DD along with DGC are arriving at lunchtime. This year it was her ex's parents turn to have the day with DGC and Boxing day for us! Oh dear these extended families can be a bit wearing to say the least. Just hope we don't get the flack of a perceived bad day yesterday!!!

Well, we had a peaceful day this year all to ourselves! No Monopoly playing with DS after lunch (he stayed in his new home with his new fiance); my sister had my mother for the first time in twenty years and we're off to Cornwall for the New Year. It was pure bliss!

Didn't fall out with anyone, DD did come close to losing her temper with DGS1 (aged 7), bit over-excited & wanting everything doing immediately. Not helped by DGS2 (7 months old) who wasn't very well but smiled through most of the day as long as we kept him amused

Lunch was about 1 1/2 hrs later than planned but was delicious.

Left at 3.30 with lovely pressies, home & feet up to veg out in front of tv. I managed to behave apart from spilling gravy on the (disposable) tablecloth & down my Christmas (white) T-Shirt

Wrote on two presents my Daughters name instead of writing one to my Son, he had left by then, but he has an honest Sister, so he will get his present tomorrow.Was this a senior moment on my part?

Not applicable so no battles in my house .Slummed around in dressing gown ,endless coffees, watched recorded movies.Lunch was my favourite chicken curry followed by Xmas pud with rum butter from a Harrods hamper ,a gift from my family the other side of he world. Miss the Christmas's past with my family but it could be worse and what I do have am grateful for when I know there are those who do not have a home or food.

Happily, can't fault mine one iota. Leisurely awakening and telephone contact with important persons. Short drive to family where GC were excited as could be. Lovely family lunch and dinner with real fun present opening session in between. Left after bath time as parents did storytelling and I managed a gentle departure. What's not to love. However........ I am EXCEEDINGLY aware of my very good fortune.

Anniebach, that made me sad and grateful at the same time. For the future if you want someone to fall out with or even fall in with message me I’m sure I can do both in equal measures. Enjoy your Boxing Day.

For the first time in thirty eight years I didn’t cook Christmas dinner. I went to my DDs and enjoyed a lovely lunch with her, DS and gkids. My ex and his second wife joined us later. They offered me a lift home and that was great! I got one of those ullo wine filters as a present and that was great too as I have no hangover today from the wine! And a lovely pair of fancy wellies! Designer power-hosing beckons!

Less than D H has manflu. Sniffed and snivelled all day, retired to bed at dinner time leaving 5 of us to eat without him (hurrah!)Then has spent this morning sniffing and complaining I bought and made too much food! ?

SIL washing up 'greasy' roasting tin before it's even been used, along with lecture to DD on how to cook every item of Christmas dinner even though he has never cooked anything except pasta? DD accused of ruining said 'expensive' roasting tin by cooking in it previously - obviously it's an ornament, who knew? Presents still unopened, DD now ill with severe chest infection out trying to see a doctor to get antibiotics. Grandma left looking after DGS for 9th consecutive day. My oh my next year I'm going away for sure.

Christmas eve I asked my bil if the hotel he'd taken my sister to (after showing me photos of what looked like bordello) had fetish rooms!! Then realised my nephew (15) was in earshot ?. I obviously apologised ?

DH loves cooking and prepared a great meal for DS and BIL. He timed it for their arrival (pretty stupid I know) and got increasingly stressed out of mind when they breezed in over half an hour late.The meat was a bit on the chilly side by that time.

Hubby does the cooking and was annoyed that our daughter arrived about three hours later that planned! This meant everyone had to wait. Then daughter said she was starving and unplugged the heat plate which was keeping everything hot. She wanted to make toast!! It's a fine line where husband is concerned, and daughter always crosses it.

I have to face all of that today. Going to DD2 for a belated Christmas dinner. DD1 son is on the Autism scale and finds Xmas day just too much, Santa leaves toys, he has to go and see his other granny and that side of the family. He is filled with chocolate and sweets etc. I am unable to manage cooking a dinner due to health concerns, so daughter's it is. Hope you all have a merry what's left of Christmas and a happy new year. xx

We started the day when DGS climbed, half asleep, into our bed, shouting "Father Christmas has come", and we opened his stocking presents, squeezing 5 onto our bed. Managed to have some breakfast, blast the turkey crown for 20 mins, then off to Church, leaving the oven on slow. Lunch was later than we anticipated, owing to the fact that I had forgotten to get DIL veggie roast out of the freezer. No fallings out, and although I am exhausted, by cooking and DGS, we had a great time. Left overs today, so nothing much to do. Have a good Boxing Day everyone.

I'm not happy with a beret that's more suitable in size for a small elf.....and we didn't even get a Christmas dinner due to visiting all the kids all day. I'm quite annoyed.

Just one small point OP, double cream does whip up very well, possibly you have passed the whipping stage by now. However, I need to go and whip myself, I have been hunting around the house and appear to have lost a present that I need to wrap up for one of our guests today

I enjoyed the day apart from being a bit emotional early on thinking of those I wished were with us. It’s such a tricky day.....I have a lovely supportive family and I try to help in the kitchen and keep busy but it’s hard when they say ... no nana you have a rest today!!! It’s so not what I do .... lots of deep breaths taken

What an insensitive thing for Paws sisters to do. I hope someone realised the whats and why's of you wandering off. As for not worthy - humph! Not worthy of the organisers I'd say.
We survived the chaos and waved the family off at 5 when they went to visit their partners families. It was then Time to lie on the sofa and watch nonsense tv.
Enjoy Boxing Day everyone

Can’t complain (but will) after a lovely day when the DDs and their menfolk did everything to make me feel cosseted and loved I finally lost it when, returning to the dinner table with assorted teas and coffees I found Paws Sisters had organised a very upmarket form of (Tate Gallery) Happy Families and everybody else was playing in pairs except guess who.
Wandered off to the sitting room and sulked.
Not worthy of me.

No one here to fall out with

We ended up having dinner so late the buffet tea barely hit the table before it was being packed into Tupperware and scooped up to take home along with over tired and fractious grandchildren. And I forgot to get the Christmas cake out from its tin - I'd decorated it with old Father Christmasses from mine and DH's childhood and snowmen from when our children were little, so sent a photo last night so the DGS could see it. Thank goodness for Whatsapp! As DD1 said, it was probably as well no one ate the icing, with all that lead paint seeping into it.

For the first time ever in 34 years, I managed NOT to fall out with my grumpy DD. It must be because she is so "loved up" with her new fiancée, that she stayed out of the kitchen.
I did manage to "lose", the oatcakes etc for the pâté, ended up making crusty rolls and using the crackers for the cheese course.
I found them sitting on top of the toaster, after everyone left.