Just noticed

I think Sky movies has been running Xmas movies for weeks now

Namsnanny

Rekarie

I'm always happy to see Christmas anywhere and everywhere. Love it. Can't get enough.

Well, tinsel looks tawdry in the thin light of Jan/Feb, don't you think?

An occasion becomes worth looking forward to when it isn't over exposed in my book.
Each to his own, you don't have to wait long Rekari.
Or have you left up the decs from last year?😄

That is cheap I paid £275 for mine and it is only for a Corsa, the unlock button cover broke on the key as simple as that it was only 4 years old.

I don't appear to be able to get the right quote on top of my post, sorry

Can any widowed G’netters advise me on how they coped with the next few months? DH died 3 months ago and the dark nights and the festive season feel me with sadness. I’m so fortunate in having a loving family and some dear friends and do feel grateful. I’m doing my best and muddling along. Family are already asking what plans I have ?!? I have young grandchildren and feel I should be wanting to be with them - atm just feel I want to be alone . Are these feelings normal?

Kathmaggie

Can any widowed G’netters advise me on how they coped with the next few months? DH died 3 months ago and the dark nights and the festive season feel me with sadness. I’m so fortunate in having a loving family and some dear friends and do feel grateful. I’m doing my best and muddling along. Family are already asking what plans I have ?!? I have young grandchildren and feel I should be wanting to be with them - atm just feel I want to be alone . Are these feelings normal?

Very normal, but make an effort, you will be glad later you did, It is all part of the grieving process. The first of all the special times are the worst for most of us. Big hugs.

Kathmaggie, Sending love from one widow to another. It is very early days for you (my husband died 8 years ago at this time of year). Your feelings are perfectly normal. To be honest, I wanted to hide away forever, not just Christmas, but that is neither possible nor desirable. Your family would hate to think of you alone and they very much want your company. I would advise you to join them but do make them aware that you may get easily tired or overwhelmed. If they are a loving family they should understand and give you the space you need.

Sorry I’ve deviated a little from the original thread but I really do appreciate your support win and flappergirl

Kathmaggie take warning from my experience. Every year since we were married in 1970 I have made a Christmas Cake using my mother in law's recipe. My husband died in August 2019 and I was looking for a way to stop Christmas just being a dismal re run, with him obviously missing. My brilliant idea was to change the cake. I found a new recipe which had all sorts of fruit, like apricots and cranberries and actually tasted quite nice. Instead of my usual Christmas decorations I turned it into a snow scene with a polar bear and big sheets of ice. Well talk about a lead balloon! "What's THAT?" was one of the milder comments. It got eaten, because cake is cake, but it was made very clear to me that this was not "Our" cake (I would point out that my children are in their 40s) Now we just do our usual Christmas =, while discussing what my husband would have said about the food, the presents, the decorations, and the lack of anything decent on television. I an still closely cross questioned about whether I've done anything to the cake!

MissAdventure

I expect the Christmas threads will start soon, about who goes where, or is/isn't invited, or may be on their own, or spent more on the family...

Indeed.

Need not be such a problem, however people carry memories of former Christmas into today. We follow old Church traditions, but add lights to Santa grotto - ridiculously loved by all of us.

win

Namsnanny

Rekarie

I'm always happy to see Christmas anywhere and everywhere. Love it. Can't get enough.

Well, tinsel looks tawdry in the thin light of Jan/Feb, don't you think?

An occasion becomes worth looking forward to when it isn't over exposed in my book.
Each to his own, you don't have to wait long Rekari.
Or have you left up the decs from last year?😄

That is cheap I paid £275 for mine and it is only for a Corsa, the unlock button cover broke on the key as simple as that it was only 4 years old.

win I'm not sure I was told the full amount🤣🤣

We've been in this position with another car a while back, and I seem to remember the price quoted then was similar to yours.

Ive recently been to Florida and along with loads of Halloween stuff they were getting Christmas stuff out as well and this was August. I bought back some Christmas decorations I hadn’t seen in England.

I also went to a meeting last Thursday where along with deciding what flowers and food to serve at the harvest festival and supper we also worked out the theme for decorating the Church at Christmas. Only 14 Fridays before Christmas

Lydie45

Ive recently been to Florida and along with loads of Halloween stuff they were getting Christmas stuff out as well and this was August. I bought back some Christmas decorations I hadn’t seen in England.

I also went to a meeting last Thursday where along with deciding what flowers and food to serve at the harvest festival and supper we also worked out the theme for decorating the Church at Christmas. Only 14 Fridays before Christmas

That's kind of to be expected and enjoyed though I think

Planning an occasion by it's very nature has to be done early.

I was caught watching a video on line of how to make a few Christmas decs out of bits and Bob's.

Just dont like being pushed into singing Jingle Bells in Aug/Sept.
Takes the anticipation away.

Only 14 Fridays before Christmas

Oh gosh. Really!

When we get nearer to the day, I warn my nearest and dearest not to tell me how many days left.

I agree fancythat it begins to feel as if your on an escalator speeding up every day😄

MissAdventure

I seriously think it should be illegal to display Christmas stuff this early.
I'm that much of a grinch.

So do I MissAdventure
IRGOMT as well.

IRGOMT too.

Maybe I should get the sprouts on though?

I'm knitting my sprouts this year 🤣

It's an easter pattern with a bunny sat in the middle of a lettuce, but it looks like a sprout to me. I've just got to turn the rabbit into Santa or something christmassy, make a dozen of them and add ribbon, Bob's your uncle they will be decs for the tree or strung together as a Garland.
IF I can re jig the pattern to my way of thinking.
Big If though🙄

Time to make my mincemeat, I think. Must check the jar situation, dig out Delia’s recipe, and make a shopping list.

Who’s going to be pushing you into singing Jingle Bells in September, Namsnanny?

Personally I really love traditional carols, but I don’t/won’t play any until the beginning of Advent or 1st December, whichever is earlier.

Talking of which, dd informed me recently that Gdd1’s primary school choir carol concert will take place on the Saturday before Christmas. Same as last year, it’ll be in the magnificent Sheldonian theatre in Oxford, along with other choirs, inc. the Oxford Bach choir.
It was a superb evening last year, so we are very much looking forward to it. 🎄

Apart from the heinous crime of mentioning the C word in September, do we have to use that awful slang term Crimbo?

Funnily enough I’ve never heard anyone say Crimbo in real life.
TV presenters , magazines, SM it gets said but anywhere else?

Sprouts are the most awful veg ever created 🤢

Witzend

Time to make my mincemeat, I think. Must check the jar situation, dig out Delia’s recipe, and make a shopping list.

Mines made Witzend
As soon as my apples ripen I use them as the base for the mincemeat. As for jars, I actually bought some very pretty ones in the summer to use, as I shall probably be giving some of the mincemeat away before Crimbo.

Apologies to RosiesMaw2, I promise I'll use the proper name from now on, especially as I now know it troubles you.

Where's nanna8 from Australia? The reason I ask is because isn't Crimbo a word Australians like to use? Maybe it became used here after the show Neighbours?

No nothing to do with the Aussies. I've just looked up the time line of the etymology of crimbo or crimble

Earliest record in The Strand 1928 - "You've saved your man by crimbo"
Used in place of Christmas which was commonly used in place of Christ.

Cited in the 1960's Dick Crimbo meaning St Nicholas

Also in the New Musical Express 1960's Beatles greetings to fans

Garry Crimble to you
Garry Crimble to you
Garry bable dear Christmas,
Happy Birthday me too!

Falling out of use now (you will be pleased to know)

Well, that was an enjoyable rabbit hole Thanks RosiesMaw2 for setting me off

Oreo Don't bacon or nuts cheer them up for you? Tbh I don't really mind them.

I don’t eat pork, but even chestnuts roasting on an open fire wouldn’t cheer them up for me.😬

Haha, fair enough. I hated them years ago but now I don't mind. So long as they arn't sluggishly soft or bullet hard