Countdown to Christmas

By far the best Christmases are spent away for 2 or 3 weeks somewhere warm in a nice hotel in the Costa del Sol.

Eat drink and be Merry and waited on.

A Real Proper Christmas.

Felice Navidad

Xxx

Whitewavemark2

RosieandherMaw

Nooooooooooooo - don’t want to play! 🧑‍🎄 🌲 🎅 🎄 🎁

Well hard cheese - you have to 😄😄😄😄

I love Christmas and the run-up but not too early.

DS1 is hosting this year, so not much for me to do.

Dh is now diabetic so I’ll have to research recipes for puds and cakes. He loves them.

We’ll get the decs down second week in December.
Write cards but not too many now
Buy Xmas snacks and treats gradually , in the weeks shopping.

That’s it !

I don't really think about Christmas until after the birthdays - 3 kids first week of December, except for cards to the UK as they have to be done early. Very few now as I mostly do ecards. I really miss Christmas UK style, but it was a lot of work and stress. Nowadays I can't find much Christmas spirit so very half hearted about it, but I usually put up a few decs and the family does a Kriskringle present exchange and we have an outdoor (Australia!) special meal all together somewhere. I've no idea yet who will host.

Mr A asked just the other day “when shall we buy the Christmas cards” to which I responded “I don’t plan on sending any this year as I’d sooner donate to a local charity”. Normally, he would want to do both………fancy, individual cards for special neighbours, friends, family etc plus a donation. The card list would increase year on year (and cost a fortune) as he would remember work colleagues from way back, a distant cousin, the new neighbours 4 doors down who we’ve never met……..get the idea??
Well, this year he has reformed and only wants to donate to charity! Knew I would win him over eventually.

I am not buying much extra for Christmas, the main items are things that add pleasure to my Christmas break and this year will not be food. I put weight on very easily and am liking my slimmer me, also easier to cycle up hills now

I have been booked for Christmas and will be going to Wales this year but very much is weather permitting, not liking the drive along 2 busy motorways. I do like being at home anyway, love my solitary quite life

My Christmas season preps are done, via my organic delivery. Venison fillets are ordered and so is my Christmas veg box. Glad to say I have lost my sugar cravings so no cakes for me.

I will be buying in a few nice treats like booja booja to take to family but I am very appreciative of the lack of stress in my life at this time of year. The stress will happen in march when I host a big family gathering, a better month for people to travel

In the old days I would be very like many on this thread, list upon list and cooking for the freezer

I have Thanksgiving, Halloween and Thanksgiving Part II. Since I'm not religious I'm not big on Christmas. The rest of my family use it to pressurise conformality on those who have reservations.

I make a Christmas cake but not a dark molasses based one so I leave it until nearer the time.

I have already started my shop bought mince pie tasting and would give Waitrose ordinary mince pies 6/10 and LIDL’s 3/10. I am waiting for the Tesco’s Finest to arrive and be on their half price offer when I will bulk buy. They are easily an 8/10. I mourn the passing of Waitrose’s flat bakery mince pies with melt in the mouth short pastry.

I don’t make a Christmas pudding either as the shop ones are often great and not everyone in the family likes them. Sainsbo’s Taste the Difference puds have been very nice.

I love all things Christmas and find the anticipation and preparations get me through the dark days until the end of December.

We haven’t decided what to do for Christmas day food yet but I have started shopping already. Catgrann your friend is in for a treat on Boxing day. I make a pan of Scouse too nothing can compare with the addition of beetroot and red cabbage.

I have relented a bit and invited a Friend over on boxing day to share a pan of Scouse with me . She's never had it before

I always make the cake in August, so that’s done, I booked a Click and Collect date with Waitrose just today. That’s it now until November when I sort out the Antipodean presents.

After my Boys left home, I stopped most of my Xmas cooking. I started making Xmas cake in baked bean tins. Just enough for 1 person without them getting sick of it. I gave them to friends. Now I have Diabetes so no Xmas goodies for my. My younger Son and I go for an Indian meal on Xmas day. No cooking or washing up for either of us. hugs

We are staying at my son's caravan in the Lake district. After picking up the Booth's Christmas book today, I've decided to order all the beautiful Christmas goodies and not make a single thing (If only!)

I used to enjoy the cooking to get ready for Christmas,but on my own now so I can hardly be bothered to even put up the cards,although I do as people have bought them and sent them. I just ignore Christmas as much as possible

RosieandherMaw

Nooooooooooooo - don’t want to play! 🧑‍🎄 🌲 🎅 🎄 🎁

Neither do I!

I may try the chutney, it sounds good. Already made two smaller than usual cakes 7” this time as we two enjoy eating it!

We bought a new 'faux' tree last year. But health events have overtaken me (us) and I know if I can be a...d anymore. I love it when it's done but understated is not a word you could use to describe it

OH! F***! Not yet PLEASE!

Finished grandchildren shopping so only have to sort the children now, get my wrapping, cards, tags and my December grandchildren hampers are all bought in the sales, other than the chocolates etc that go in.

Eurgh

Chocolatelovinggran

I've started my cross stitch cards - these can't be done the week before..

I've decided my "new skill" in retirement is going to be knitting.
I'm making a triangular shawl for my granddaughter, it remains to be seen how big it will be 😂

Norah

Bit early for me, however others should do as they wish.

Bit early for me too, really, but once the cooking is out of the way that's the last we'll think about Christmas until December. That's why we stay out of the shops 😁

Bit early for me, however others should do as they wish.

We are heading to October half term, which was when I made the Christmas cake. Now mr I is no longer here I find I’m less enthusiastic about the making. He loved fruit cake and munched a peace most evenings and often afternoons. Writing this has helped me understand my resistance. Same with delia’s mince meat 🌞

I'm in my eighties, on my own and moving house. Moving day is fast approaching.
Christmas is the last thing on my mind.
I know I shall be with my family as usual over the Christmas period.
We're not Christmas cake or mince pie eaters so nothing to make in that department.
I used to do the whole Christmas food cooking/baking thing when the family were at home though.

We have Halloween, half-term, Bonfire Night and 2 birthdays to go before Christmas. December 1st is time enough in our house.