Christmas - who are they kidding?

I sometimes make place names, as I love card making etc, but this habit stems from when the Grand kids were small and used to fight who got to sit by Grandmother, now they can sit where they like, fighting days are over, or else Grandmother isnt as popular! Why not just ask people to sit where you want them to, if they dont know each other, I gues we can all still talk even these days with I-phones etc!

Lucky girl that was a great post

I don't actually know anyone who gets really stressed and bothered . Certainly not me or my DDs. However we do like to make Christmas special in our own way and if that means 'faffing' with table decor, so be it.

I never understand why people get in such a state about one day. It's just a roast at the end of the day. Ignore all the rubbish about a perfect day and do what you want. Fussy eaters should be glad of any food they get. There are plenty going without on a daily basis

Just do your thing all that faddying about is annoying.so is Kirstie. Less is more so they say.

Sounds like Martha Stewart meets Pippa Middleton!

Rinouchka, that's a great idea! Think I'll do that too!

I think the bloody 'elf on the shelf' should do it all!

Why do we allow all these commercial impositions on our own celebrations?

Last year I did a sort of buffet Christmas lunch for 15 people and I did tie ribbons on cutlery bundles to speed them through the kitchen helping themselves, I also set up my coffee pod machine like a hotel would and let people get on with it themselves.

My major annoyance is people who are vegans or allergic who want me to cater for their every need, why can't they bring what they need? Almond milk gets left in my fridge with a couple of coffees worth of it used............grrrrrr

Bloody palaver for what is basically now a Sunday dinner, we are all too well off and don't know what to inflict on ourselves next.

Talk about first world problems

Lucky you missed felice or "he" might still have a dent somewhere!
(I take it your aim has improved since then!!)

I loved your post Luckygirl. I think you have got the sentiment exactly right.

FarNorth the cooking part was fine for me and DBF and DD then 17 were doing everything else, both arty types.
It was just the lack of communication on the Friday evening which sort of built up over the weekend.An extra 8 at the drinks party.
He had not thought to ask any of his friends whom I did not know about food likes/dislikes etc.
I did once throw an empty roasting tin across the room at him, missed, he still has it with the large dent in it's side.

We are eating with DD this year. At the moment you cannot see her dining table for homework projects, bits of Lego, a half built cardboard skeleton and various piles of household paperwork. I don't think I've seen the actual table surface all year! I suppose a half built cardboard skeleton might make a novel centrepiece with some tinsel around it? She'll get there before the big day, I'm sure. Last time it was her turn the table looked beautiful.

When I get so addled I don't know who I am, perhaps some kind person will make me a little napkin parcel with eucalyptus and rosemary(good for the memory)tied up in twine. I'd like a Thornton's continental on top and a brown luggage label reminding me who I am saying, 'Ginny, you must sit here'.

Indoor fireworks!! Happy memories, do you remember the one that produced a writhing snake from the top?
When DH was very poorly 8 years ago and in the Royal Free over Christmas, DDs and I along with his sisters went to spend the afternoon with him and took in smoked salmon sandwiches on Christmas Day. He was well enough to go down to the cafe area in a wheelchair which was better than staying in the ward.
However we nearly had a fit when his younger sister produced some indoor fireworks and said "do you remember howcwe always used to have these at Christmas?"
Could you imagine the smoke alarms and probably sprinklers going off and evacuating a huge 12 storey hospital on Christmas Day afternoon?

The best alternative idea DH had was to make crackers with indoor fireworks inside - if course, they didn't work and the children were totally underwhelmed. Since then we have always enjoyed the ones that look good on the table and blow the contents.

Our table always looks nice with a red cloth and shiny glasses and cutlery, nicely folded napkins and candles as a centre piece. It's one of rhe things I remember from domestic science at school, making the table look nice with some sort of symmetry. I've actually surprised myself with that memory as I hated ds and, particularly, the bullying teacher.

Agree about the cost of outsourcing but actually we do make an effort with our Christmas table. We are lucky enough to have all or most of the family with us most years and everyone mucks in with the preparations. We always have a table centre and nicely folded napkins. Usually some small gift or novelty in each place sitting. It has become one of our traditions along with others that many might think of as silly or too time consuming but each to their own.

Fuss-free Christmas, did you say, Daphne?
I cannot tell you the stress it would cause me to fiddle around with napkins, twine, sprigs of rosemary and mini meringues.

Oh! I've always done that Daphne Thought of something different this year though. Plate, knife , fork and spoon, with a napkin of course.Very novel I thought. ( takes tongue out of cheek )

felice you must be a domestic goddess to do all that.

I'm surprised you didn't throw something heavy at him while uttering ear-splitting screams!

I buy cheap crackers with equally cheap gifts inside but all the other bits acceptable then, instead of the stupid but costly gifts inside more expensive crackers, I place a wrapped book on everyone's plate. I collect these over several months, some new, some from charity shops and sales( but they look new). I try to match the book to the recipient's interests. This year, we will be 12 for lunch, including a 7-month old baby. She gets a book, with music, of "The Wheels on the bus".

We all look forward to opening these parcels before the starter. Somebody usually remembers to get me one!

"Kirstie's Hand Made Christmas" I can't abide her either, so won't be watching that!....where's the Phantom Flan Flinger when you need him?

Oh dear,,DBF and I once decided to 'entertain' one Christmas.
Started Christmas Eve, dinner party for 12, traditional Scottish, Lamb Scotch Broth, Haggis stuffed game birds(don't remember which) Trifle.
Guests, 3 Scots, then Greek, Turkish, Iranian, Russian, French and Italian.
DBF tells all his friends 8.30 noooooo 7.30. Greek girl fasting on Christmas Eve, no dairy or meat, Russian couple Vegans ummmmm you can see where this went.
Christmas day, drinks party after Church for 10 with canapes, fine.
Christmas night, Dinner for 20, 6 courses went fine, don't really remember it much.
Boxing day dinner for 10 I am getting a wee bit knackered, DBF great but tends to chat and wander off.
That night I went towards the kitchen and DD and DBF asked if I was making tea, I burst into tears and he still hasn't after 14 years figured out why.

I don't mind Kirsty. It's Brandreth that sends me running for the hills.
No need for place names at our table. It will be the same 5 of us that sit in the same seats each night for dinner.

Oh gosh - isn't Kirsty utterly nauseating? Can't stand her!!

... and wait for Kirstie's Handmade Christmas (on telly tonight)