Nightmares about Christmas

For years now just the two of us. Good meal bit of TV and a good book. Let the rest do their own thing. Do what you want to do.

Youcantchoosethem; One Christmas, we had snow, and Sainsburys rang to say the delivery vans couldn't get into/out of the warehouse. Luckily there was still 2 or 3 days to go, so I managed to do a shop in person. Now I make sure I've got all the essentials in plenty of time.
I also had a holiday nightmare once; it was back when you could still get 1 year visitor's passports. I dreamed I got to Gatwick and my passport had expired, so I had to get a taxi to the nearest post office and get a 1 year one!

Callistemon21

The only year I've been really organised was the year I was expecting DC1 at Christmas.
Cards written, presents bought and wrapped by the end of October, food planned and Mum and Dad on standby to cook it all ?

I had a Christmas baby too, 13th December, it was lovely to have all the cards out of the way before December. The post is so appalling this year that I think I may have to do this again. We seem to get post in batches every three days or so.

MayBee70

Not Christmas. But I do have a reoccurring nightmare that I’m going on holiday and I haven’t arranged for anyone to look after the Guinea pigs. I haven’t had Guinea pigs for years. I’m sure that, if I hosted Christmas I’d have a similar nightmare about that.

The same for me, not Christmas but many years ago I used to dream that we returned from a holiday, or somewhere, to find the large tank of goldfish we had in the pantry had not been fed for weeks.We did not possess any goldfish or a tank, nor indeed a pantry.Our minds are peculiar things.

Oh, a Christmas baby, how wonderful.I would like one even now.

cc

Callistemon21

The only year I've been really organised was the year I was expecting DC1 at Christmas.
Cards written, presents bought and wrapped by the end of October, food planned and Mum and Dad on standby to cook it all ?

I had a Christmas baby too, 13th December, it was lovely to have all the cards out of the way before December. The post is so appalling this year that I think I may have to do this again. We seem to get post in batches every three days or so.

Snap cc one of ours was December 13th on a Friday

Had a fabulous lazy Christmas Day, (the only person to get dressed was DH).

Then we flew to Spain on Boxing Day to my Mum’s home where I didn’t have to do a thing, bliss.

Nightmares? No, not even thought of it yet.

I always had the "Christmas Eve and I haven't got anything" nightmare. Not any longer, as I am now widowed with no children or grandchildren to buy for!

I was once the baby left behind! My mother had taken me with her when shopping, left me in the pushchair outside a shop, finished her shopping, got the bus home and as she walked in the door Dad asked her "where's ****"! Rushed back to the shops to find I had been taken in by the ladies in the bakers and was happily munching on a doughnut!

My Christmas nightmare is what presents to buy for grown up children and partners. They never say or give me ideas. I only have a small budget too so extra stressful.

My nightmare is that I just can't afford it and wish it wasn't coming. There'll be no money for presents under the tree, let alone finding money for the dinner !

Sandynan

My Christmas nightmare is what presents to buy for grown up children and partners. They never say or give me ideas. I only have a small budget too so extra stressful.

Would they agree to a Secret Santa? Only one present to buy, everyone gets something to open and cost for everyone is kept limited

I dreamt I rushed into M&S in a panic on Christmas Day! Strangely it was open, although no other customers so the staff were pleased to see me ?

I think that quite a few mums have left the baby outside a shop. I did too. Luckily only a few minutes from home, and no harm done.
As for Christmas, I can't work up much enthusiasm for it, these days. I don't have many gifts to buy. Half the family lives in Australia and parcel post costs a fortune. We don't bother with adult gifts, and I send some cash to buy gifts for the two GC. They get what they want that way.
DD and 2 adult GC, and DS, who all live near me get a token gift and some cash, which is how they like it.
Since DH died I usually go to DD for Christmas dinner. Last year, to celebrate our freedom to meet again, she invited a group of friends too. I knew that they would party until late, so planned to make an early exit. In the event someone had brought their elderly father, and the pair of us ended up sitting in the quietest room we could find. He had forgotten his hearing aid, and I felt too mean to leave him there alone, so it was after midnight before I escaped. I'm not fond of parties, and prefer a quiet Christmas, so I will plan more time at home this year. I would love to love Christmas, and all the hoo-ha about it, but I much prefer a peaceful day at home.

Me too, Grannybags. I used to rejoice on January 1st with Christmas and New Year entertaining behind us for another year.
Life is more relaxing these days, no more nightmares ?

No worrying for me. Just my sister and I with the dogs for Christmas lunch. I get up in the morning and open my presents on my own and the sad person I am, show the bloomin dog what I got.

I love Boxing day, peace and quiet and a chance to enjoy my presents!!

Bilboben that’s pretty much what Mr. B and I do and we love it

Last year was a nightmare but not a dream ! DD and family invited me for Christmas -for the first time ever I wasn’t cooking ! DS and family along with extended aunts uncles and cousins invited for Boxing Day at DD .I arrived Christmas Eve to find DD not feeling too good but putting on a brave face . Christmas morning she tested positive for Covid ! As I was already there and would probably catch it I stayed, cooked Christmas dinner as always, during which SiL went to bed ( Covid) and the two children and I played mad games. Boxing Day was cancelled of course so freezer groaned under the weight. I never caught Covid despite the DGC getting it three days later!
This year we are back to good old mum cooking but I have said I need help and everyone can bring a dish .

Meggymoos I think there will be many in the same position this year.

Nainijo, I'm having my THR on November 8th....snap...ooh excuse the choice of word..
Hubby and I are going to our daughters which is only a couple of miles away for Christmas Day.
Good luck with your surgery.

Youcantchoosethem shepherds pie for Boxing Day, make it now and freeze it

Witzend

Don’t do what I did one year, Grannygravy13 - drank so much Buck’s Fizz (a Christmas morning essential in this house) that I completely forgot the potatoes - hadn’t even put them on to parboil.

So dinner was at about 5, rather than 3 ish*. but TBH since everybody was that much more ready for it, we’ve had it at 5 or 6 ever since.
*The turkey did keep nice and hot, well wrapped up in foil and tea towels.

So dinner was at about 5, rather than 3 ish*. but TBH since everybody was that much more ready for it, we’ve had it at 5 or 6 ever since.
*The turkey did keep nice and hot, well wrapped up in foil and tea towels.

When I was eleven, I was in hospital to have my appendix out just before Christmas. I was sent home on Christmas day after the hospital lunch. Mum didn't want me to miss out so did the family lunch for mid-afternoon. It was so successful we ate later every year after that, and I still do now nearly sixty years on!

I loathe Christmas with a vengeance and always have done, even as a child. With grown-up children who all work shifts, I don't yet know if they'll be coming to ours for Xmas dinner or not. If it does end up just being the two of us, I could quite happily not bother with the whole thing.

Sandynan

My Christmas nightmare is what presents to buy for grown up children and partners. They never say or give me ideas. I only have a small budget too so extra stressful.

We just don't. Presents for very immediate family only - that means daughter and partner and son and his partner, who all usually get a gift voucher for a night away at a hotel or special meal out, grandson aged 5 who gets a present and my very elder inlaws, who get a hamper made up with foods I know they enjoy. That's it. Done and dusted.

Gosh, what a miserable lot you are! It’s just so easy to make it all work for you, and, as one GN said, it’s ONLY a Sunday lunch with sprouts! As for presents, why not suggest a secret Santa with a price limit, and ask everyone to help on the day? Some people just make e so unnecessarily difficult.