Christmas - who are they kidding?

Just read the article. What planet are these people on? Is she was genuinely using all of those services it would cost thousands! As it is, there will be 4 of us, having a non-Christmas dinner. We've given up all that time consuming cooking that gets eaten quickly then takes ages to clear away. Originally, DH & I planned a cottage break, just us and the dogs, jacket potatoes in the oven while we had a long walk on the beach, then just cook a couple of steaks. Now have sister and youngest son coming, but still contemplating jackets and steak.

...but, but, doesn't everybody do the handmade place settings?How would one know where to sit otherwise? One could be placed next to that ghastly old Uncle Charlie ( unless one swapped labels when nobody was looking.)

Just off to the garden to see if there's any leaves on my eucalyptus tree. Never noticed if it's deciduous or not. Now for the labels.

Would love him as a dinner guest - especially if he brought his own microwaveable food!

I'm a great fan of Giles Brandreth's dry sense of humour.

You have to admit it fills up the pages of these newspapers / magazines though I have to say I just skip 'em. It's trying to highlight a certain lifestyle that only some people want - usually those with time on their hands and lots of money

You'd have to tastecheckmthem for quality control first.
Sadly I remember one year DH had this idea of filling our iwn crackers with a real present for each person, rather than a rubbish trinket.
BIL got a silk tie, another man got silk boxers, the DDs each got pearl and gold earrings, Sisters inlaw got silk scarves etc etc. God alone knows what it cost, but all I know is that nobody seemed to appreciate the thought (and expense) that had gone into each cracker.
Cheepos from Sainsbury's ever after.

Handmade penguin shaped chocolates would look even better as a topping?

Well said Luckygirl

Oh - and it also means that those of you who will be spending Christmas on your own matter too - just because you are not awash in friends or family on that day does not mean you are not important; so I hope you will be here on Gransnet to share the good wishes.

FFS! - what a total waste of life. I could be playing with the GC or chatting to my family while I was creating this wholly unnecessary item. Each to his own!

I am joking; but I think there is a serious point here. Christmas has become a stressful competition for many - who can go to the most parties, who can create the most original table decorations etc. Anyone who doesn't come up to scratch in certain circles is made to feel inferior.

I am not religious but love Christmas and have loads of fun - but for me it is about family and sharing. I also think that there is a serious underlying point, whatever your religious stance, and that is the central idea of there being strength in weakness - that the person who has had such a huge influence on successive generations was born poor and insignificant, and that in there is a message of love. Now I know it has all gone to pot and power-crazy people have taken over the message to achieve their own ends, but Christmas for me is a reminder that you do not have to be powerful to matter and that caring for others takes precedence over everything else.

Sorry to get serious - but that is what Christmas means for me as an agnostic; and this is why I will be at the cathedral listening to the lovely carols (and ignoring all the old testament the codswallop about male superiority!).

they can stick their star shaped shortbread where the sun don't shine.

Daphne I have the time but neither the energy nor the inclination. Ah couldnae be bothered with that stuff.

The Yummy Mummies on our area's Mums Facebook page will be swooning over this - and then get the nanny to do it.