Countdown to Christmas

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 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

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 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.

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 !

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

I’ll be making Delia’s mincemeat very soon (away at the moment) and Christmas puds soon afterwards. I infinitely prefer a homemade pud to any shop version - I use an old GH recipe - always popular, even with people who don’t usually like 🎄pudding. The GH one is considerably less dark, dense and heavy.

I no longer make 🎄cakes - too much used to end up on the bird table!

I won’t be making my mince pies (we get through a lot!) until 1st December, or the first day of Advent, whichever is first.
I make them with carols playing, and the first glass of mulled wine on the go!

I just love Christmas and with a large family I like to prepare well in advance.
The knitted hats I make each year are all ready. Snowman hats this year for 17 family members. We'll wear them on our Christmas outings, Centreparcs last year with our elf hats, Beamish Christmas event this year wearing our snowmen.
I'm in the process of making Christmas stockings from fabric for everyone to save on wrapping paper in the future. Two years ago I made reusable Christmas crackers which we're now using each year. It means I can fill them with something that won't be tossed as rubbish, usually a chocolate or even some wildflower seeds or a small tree decoration. The grandchildren write out some jokes to go inside (they are not allowed to answer their own on the day).
At the moment I am painting wooden nutcracker decorations for the Christmas table helped by GC. Each guest will take one home on Christmas day.
I enjoy crafting and Christmas is a grand excuse to keep me busy during those dark Winter evenings. I enjoy visiting craft fairs for new ideas, maybe Christmas aprons as a project for next year. We'll see.

Okay, I know this is sad, but I can’t help myself. I am always ultra prepared. I preplan day trips, holidays, even visits to the local shop. I hate surprises. I take ‘be prepared’ to the ultimate level. I have never been late and would rather arrive an hour early than keep someone waiting a single minute.
And I have already finished shopping for Christmas presents, though I have still to buy family Christmas cards. I will do that next week and by the end of the week I will have the cards written and the presents wrapped. And then…….relax.
I am 74 and aged 50 was diagnosed, through occupational health, with autism. Am I autistic? Goodness knows. Did that diagnosis change anything? No. But I suppose it might explain some of my quirks.
Anyway, Happy Christmas.

I am a capricorn flippinheck and am always organised, for everything and have also never been late for anything

Today I bough the boojabooja chocolate boxes that I want to take when I go visiting, another tick off my list

Whitewavemark2

RosieandherMaw

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

Well hard cheese - you have to 😄😄😄😄

Shan't, so there!!

My Dad used to do jars of pickled onions, GrannyGravy. They were the best I've tasted.

Yes, I've made chutney years ago and made myself late for an appointment because it took so long.

As for red cabbage - love it braised with apple, etc but ditto! It took ages.

There's a very old Christmas pudding in the cupboard (home-made) 🤔 Should I risk it?

Bought my first Advent calendar yesterday 🫣

karmalady

I am a capricorn flippinheck and am always organised, for everything and have also never been late for anything

Today I bough the boojabooja chocolate boxes that I want to take when I go visiting, another tick off my list

Yes, I am a Capricorn too! I hadn’t realised this was a Capricornian trait. I like that idea much better than being autistic! Thank you for that.

My S works at a garden centre, one of a very large major chain. He told me today the Christmas trees will start to arrive on Monday.
They will be the living ones in pots
When I pointed out it is still October he said they will sell some, not in volume yet but they will be bought.
Madness.

Annapops

I just love Christmas and with a large family I like to prepare well in advance.
The knitted hats I make each year are all ready. Snowman hats this year for 17 family members. We'll wear them on our Christmas outings, Centreparcs last year with our elf hats, Beamish Christmas event this year wearing our snowmen.
I'm in the process of making Christmas stockings from fabric for everyone to save on wrapping paper in the future. Two years ago I made reusable Christmas crackers which we're now using each year. It means I can fill them with something that won't be tossed as rubbish, usually a chocolate or even some wildflower seeds or a small tree decoration. The grandchildren write out some jokes to go inside (they are not allowed to answer their own on the day).
At the moment I am painting wooden nutcracker decorations for the Christmas table helped by GC. Each guest will take one home on Christmas day.
I enjoy crafting and Christmas is a grand excuse to keep me busy during those dark Winter evenings. I enjoy visiting craft fairs for new ideas, maybe Christmas aprons as a project for next year. We'll see.

Are you Mary Berry?

Or Kirsty Allsop?

Mind you, crackers are very poor these days aren’t they, so I like your suggestion of refilling ones with your own gifts.

Usedtobeblonde

My S works at a garden centre, one of a very large major chain. He told me today the Christmas trees will start to arrive on Monday.
They will be the living ones in pots
When I pointed out it is still October he said they will sell some, not in volume yet but they will be bought.
Madness.

DH went out for brunch today.
The pub was decorated all ready for Christmas and the waitress was wearing a Christmassy headdress.

Depressing. We'll all be fed up with it by 25th December.

My Christmas break does depend on weather, I will not be driving in treacherous weather nor will be wanting anyone else to risk their safety. I do keep some goodies for me, just in case

This week I will be making braised red cabbage with apple, prunes and chestnuts, to freeze in single portions. I am also expecting two venison fillets to arrive this week and will be freezing those. My organic veg box will be arriving on the 23rd december

I am well and truly organised for `what if` weather which could put the kibosh on any plans with family. I always come home to my bed and travel in the light

Ha, ha, Oreo. I wish. Kirsty A indeed ☺!Hats are knitted for 2025, 26 and busy with 2027 version. Crazy I know, but it makes me happy. 😉

WithNobsOnIt

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

Sorry, don't agree with that at all. I've done Christmas in the Canaries, Australia, New Zealand and California and all were nice enough but not really Christmas.

The best Christmas away we ever had was a week in a small village Derbyshire (can't remember exactly where). Had a lovely dinner in the hotel, sang carols and played with children who were staying and brought their presents round for everyone to see, went to midnight Mass in the snow and got snowed in at the hotel. Next day built snowmen with the children and their Dads (Mums were all inside staying warm 😁). Being snowed in was a lovely excuse for doing nothing much, then when it thawed went for walks around the village. Not cheap but a memorable week.

There's a very old Christmas pudding in the cupboard (home-made) 🤔 Should I risk it?

Allira Was it you you said that last year???????? Is it the same one??????? 😆😆

Allira

Usedtobeblonde

My S works at a garden centre, one of a very large major chain. He told me today the Christmas trees will start to arrive on Monday.
They will be the living ones in pots
When I pointed out it is still October he said they will sell some, not in volume yet but they will be bought.
Madness.

DH went out for brunch today.
The pub was decorated all ready for Christmas and the waitress was wearing a Christmassy headdress.

Depressing. We'll all be fed up with it by 25th December.

We had tea out yesterday on our way home. The place also had a Christmas tree up and the piped music had every third song a Christmas one. Slade in October nooooo 😕

We haven't had Hallowe'en yet!