Bah humbug!!

MamaCaz ….nobody could blame you for dreading even the thought of it, given your reasons!

And because youre posting on a thread that caters for shall we say, an alternative point of view you're obviously thoughtful of others who seem to like Christmas!! So Thank you!

Christmas time is universally a difficult time of year for most of us truth be told.

I don't blame anyone who feels the need to hibernate under the duvet to avoid it.

I have my issues and sometimes feel that way too.

Your description of your family getting together, is exactly what Christmas is or should be all about, and sounds idyllic! Even though it only happens in the summer time.
Perhaps you can ignore Christmas day all together and celebrate at a more convenient time together with your lovely sounding family?

Having said that, there is no ignoring it is there, with adverts and lights up in the town?

I hope the bruhaha isn't getting you down too much?

Just wanted to commiserate and let you know even those of us who join in with it all don't necessarily buy into the whole 'Christmas is wonderful' lie.

Have a healthy and relatively peaceful Christmas

And the same to all.

I detest the blatant commercialism, and find myself silently screaming at posters on other threads when they talk about the latest Christmas c**p that they have just 'had' to buy to prettify their homes.

OH gets depressed at Christmas - I don't think he has adjusted to enjoying it in an adult way, and still craves the magic that it held when he was a child. He's not prepared to put in any effort himself on the day - or any other day, come to that!

My ideal Christmas would be a get-together of the immediate family, with no pressure to be extra jolly, but just to enjoy each others company like we usually do when together.

Unfortunately, our house simply isn't big enough for us to have both sons and their wives and their children, plus my mum, all at the same time (minimum 10 altogether, though this year would have had to include two extra visiting in-laws). Not at this time of year anyway - only doable in summer if the weather is good enough to spread out into the garden. This has led to huge stress in deciding who goes where at Christmas without upsetting anyone!

There are other factors that now complicate Christmas, and I start dreading it before summer is even over!

I always try to do too much and end up feeling grumpy on Xmas Eve but I blame myself. Trying to cut back this year.

I would just like to say publicly that i hate Christmas.
?

lindiann …

I am looking forward to Day after Boxing Day shops will have the Easter Eggs out

I love Christmas and love planning for it. Unfortunately, this year is the one the beloved DD must go to her new DH’s parents for the actual day but I will see her and the new DSIL over the break and I will, have my DH and DS for the day itself.

It’s November and January I have the problems with. Useless, dark, cold, dreary and pointless months. I will, nevertheless, fill them with something or the other.

You've made me feel sorry for the Joneses now Bradfordlass!!

Chikkygran ...I love January too. I like the fact that all the faff is over (even though I like the Christmas season), and I can look forward to the Snowdrops peeping through.

I could easily sleep through New Year Eve though. Always feels a bit flat and fake to me.

Tensions abound! Eldest has had love life issues for past 3 years as GF's religion precluded them being together but fingers crossed now has a lovely new GF this year! Youngest + GCs has to visit his in-laws as DDil is an only. Basically ends up as Mum doing C Eve, C Day and Boxing breakfast. if I order food early M&S will give me a free bottle of wine...probably will be needed

Namsnanny
I've often wondered about these wretched Joneses we're urged to keep up with.

Clearly they are gullible fools with more money than sense, easily sucked in to all the latest hype.

They believe every advert and everything they read in the press as if it's Gospel.
They dash out and buy things just because someone on telly has told them to and must generate mountains of waste each time they renew things in order to stay 'on trend'.

They must be totally barmy.

They're the ones who make Christmas into an unhappy spend-fest farce.

It's their fault other people now feel under pressure and Christmas stress as they hurtle to copy them, like lemmings over the cliff.

It's their fault families descend on people who don't really want them and who, because of these wretched Jones, feel obliged to over-spend, over-eat and get pickled because the date says 25th!!

They have stolen our free will, these Joneses, they have turned us into sheep without minds of our own - totally unable to buck the trend.
We would love to just let it all pass us by, or at least have an old-fashioned Christmas with a few mince pies, a glass of sherry and the Queen's Speech.
But no; we're on the treadmill, desperately running just behind the Jonese with absolutely no ability to get off.

Meanwhile, on Boxing Day, the Joneses will be boasting about the exotic holiday they've just booked in order to keep us on our toes.

And it'll all start again....


Well, I for one say 'Pip off' to the blasted Joneses. I shall have an enjoyable Christmas because it will be the way I want it, not what someone else dictates or tries to enviegle me into.

Cheers

PS: Where are you going for your holidays next year?

Please be my guest, and report. There was categorically no mocking.

I don't think you are reading any of the posts clearly, as you have misinterpreted every post I have written.

I think you will find I said

You have a lot to say about others behaviour on the matter

&

how will you be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ?

After much deriding and mocking of other peoples way's of celebrating Christmas, I was interested in how
* you would be celebrating the birth of our Lord.*

BTW why would you automatically think I would mock your faith?
You don't know anything about me or my beliefs.

I have many thoughts as to why.

Please re read the posts with more accuracy, and I'm sure you'll find there isn't any mockery from me about your faith, just annoyance at your attitude of dictating the way other people should behave.

If you look closely you will also see that I haven't accused you of mentioning other peoples faith.

You are mistaken but please feel free to do as you see fit.

You certainly were mocking my faith. And I most certainly haven't mentioned other people's faith. I am considering reporting you to the moderators.

littleannie ...don’t tar everyone with your own brush. I wouldn’t dream of mocking your faith and I’m sure you can see that I haven’t. Just asked a simple question as you seem to have quite a lot to say about others behaviour on the matter.
Buy it seems to be do as I say not as I would be done by.

Such a relief to know i’m not the only one who hates C........! I detest it. Just find it so stressful, waste so much money. Like many of you i’ve “done” C for all the family for many years & it’s a slog that costs a fortune. I love January. But C seems to come round too soon these days......

Namsnanny - my Christian faith is my own business, and not open to mockery by you.

Please alert me to where I have insulted you.

Gfp okey dokey, treat as you would be treated

It's her business. The tat fest is nothing to do with Jesus.

Please don't insult me, Many thanks.

Gfp The question was to littleannie as she expressed a Christian sentiment.

Still bitter then?

nightswimmer ...Yes almost the same here. We decided to buy tickets to shows/concerts etc and go together throughout the year, for a while.
But getting everyone to agree to be free on the same evening is proving to be difficult now they all have partners and children to think of.

Doesn't mean I cant make the house nice for me though does it ?

There's too much keeping up with the Jones's in adverts pushing us to buy buy buy buy.

But that doesn't mean we have to follow like sheep does it?
We can all think for ourselves and do our own thing.

Ah well , here's a thing, if Christians wish to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, that is a wonderful and Holy thing to be respected.

But that's not what the discussion is about is it?

The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool

littleannie… how will you be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ?

Gfp ...(Me thinks..) the lady does protest too much.

Only do presents for gk's other than that bypass as much as possible.

blondenana … I don't think you're a grinch. Just telling it like it is, and I can agree with you about the awful Christmases in the past.

Even had some as a child!

Why is it that as soon as Christmas week comes along someone gets really ill?

Nothing like the mention of Christmas for someone in my family to end up in hospital! Me included.

As for expensive meals out, I've found just because it's expensive doesn't guarantee quality. At any time of year but I think it's worse over Christmas and New year!

To be honest there is no incentive to buy for people who don't visit is there?

Don't let yourself be dragged into all the hype on TV. It can be very depressing.

BUT do anything you can to give yourself a perk up (if you'll excuse the turn of phrase!)

Treat yourself to something you like. If it's only new bed sheets or some flowers. Something that you enjoy.

I love new sheets, so perhaps I'm being a bit odd suggesting that

Another Grinch here, had some lovely Christmasses as a child .but some awful ones as an adult, usually due to Husbands [now exes]
All the big shops i have been in are already full of Christmas cards .trees, decorations
I don't even want to think about it
I am quite happy staying home and watching films or just surfing the net
I went with my daughter fr a lovely meal last year to a lovely big hotel, her partner paid for me, [far too expensive] and the meal wasn't worth it anyway, but the thought was there, but this year i will stay at home
I have stopped buying presents except for my own children .partly because most granchildren live away and don't bother visiting so i don't now bother buying