Are you ready for Christmas?

I would be if someone came and got the tree out of the shed loft for me, I hate this not being able to do much for myself stuff.........

I have hardly any Christmas now the kids are grown ups but due to ill health it takes so much longer than it did when I had the whole full on experience.

I think one of the kindest things you can do for people with limited mobility is to help them gets their decs sorted and then taken down....it is too late once the family arrive to start faffing around.

Bottle of Baileys and a large trifle for me

Three packs of Dreamies for the dog and 2 cats. Sorted.

Made a Christmas door wreath. At first I thought it was going to be crap, but I managed to rescue it and now it's not bad Making something does provide the feel good factor.

Now for the sausage rolls.

Wrong thread. Should have been on 'what makes you happy'.

Essex Gillybob ...... send over your list ?

I'm all ready and so excited! So easy now my 2 kids are 40 + 41. We go to son one year and daughter next - they do all the work! We do have to travel though - one down south and one in Australia - so lucky to be able to go.

I wrote my cards 3rd week in November ready to post 1st/2nd December - I've done that for many years.

Tree up & decorated begining of December as I was going to DM's & have only just come back.

Presents bought & mostly wrapped - went shopping this morning for last presents which I will wrap later

Ironing (what's that!!!!) done before visit to DM - I hate having to do it so I wait until I have quite a lot & spend days psyching myself up to do it

Just food for me as Christmas Lunch is at DD's so all I need is "treat food"

I would like to wake up and find it was January 2nd . I just get more and more depressed each year at all the fuss . I rebelled about sending cards ( spoke to a few friends and they agreed it was a good idea ) I do not want to get cards from people we lived beside 50 years ago telling me once again who has died since last year . Christmas music in the shops and restaurants is just one more reminder of how happy we all should be. Well some people are not because of illness fractured families etc. so I wish we could just go back to the basics go to church and quietly celebrate.
We live in a smallish town and have two churches of the same domination I could not believe my eyes when I saw they are sharing the Christmas Day and New Year's day services . If Christmas day fell on a Sunday when our children were young all the children would take along a toy to show everybody and it was lovely .
Good luck to those who love this time of year but ghosts of Christmas past are too much for me.

Almost ready! Got to be as we fly to Manchester on Sunday. We're staying with DSD and then DS. We also have a flying visit to DD as it is youngest DGD 3rd birthday the day we arrive . I've even got birthday presents sorted. The 3 year old to be sister has a birthday in January!! Looking forward to it though!

My little angels on the TV stand are as far as decorations go this year.
Christmas cards posted this morning.
Food shopping done apart from maybe a joint of beef for Christmas Day.
About to go online and put Christmas money in DGC's bank accounts. This stops after age 18. Having 22 grandchildren you have to draw a line somewhere.
Getting ready for Christmas expat style as we are having a quiet Christmas for the first time on our own.

Oh I feel much better now. I always think I am the only one not prepared. Most presents bought- nothing wrapped. Turkey ordered. Cards made, written but not posted or hand delivered yet. Deccies up- well almost all -still have to make a wreath.Cooking not done- I need to make & freeze a lot of bits. I will do last big shop on the Thursday next week I think
I have all 6 DGC coming to stay for weekend- how come I agreed to that!
It always all gets done - just usually by about 5pm on Christmas Eve.
Then there will be Prosecco followed by wine followed by a G&T & I will sleep peacefully until the madness of the next day!
Same every year & I never learn to start early.

I have posted my cards, ordered my shopping and started the decorations.

Every year I dread that I will have forgotten something. My biggest fear is that on Christmas morning Mr Turkey will still be in the freezer.

I do love Christmas though and all the planning and shopping and scheming and cleaning and tidying and decorating and lighting give me a real thrill.

I'm a lot readier today than I was yesterday. Most of decs up, sausage rolls made, and a few mince pies. And sampled, of course.

Knackered now.

Goodness what a load of fuss. No Christmas cards, all card's via Internet. No presents to buy, GC only want money, will send cash in card when I arrive in the UK as I have just moved house and can't find my cheque book, have told them it may come late. I am determined to enjoy my hotel Christmas theme stay. Lazy week lots of bubbly and chocolate.
Sent money to my son via bank transfer and DI bought a dress from M&S which she had to collect herself.
Mean old women ?No coping with life without my darling son who I lost In February
HB hates Christmas so he's more than happy to be by our selves.?

I'm sorry for the loss of your son nellgwin Christmas must make it doubly hard to bear. There is nothing I can say to help. I hope that you can get some enjoyment at your hotel and that Christmas is at the very least restful.

For the first time ever - yes...

NO VISITORS, NO FUSS, NO DECORATIONS, HURRAH

XMAS cards done and sent. I will take presents to Uk when we visit in Jan. Amazing.

Fortunately I had the gifts bought and mostly wrapped before our latest family crisis turned into a catastrophe. I've been so sideswiped by family problems that Christmas has had to be put on the back-burner for now. I have no decorations up, but The Wonderful Man did bring home a Christmas tree tonight. He bought a £20 tree that was reduced by 50% from B&Q and then also got a further 10% off because it's pensioner's Wednesday (or whatever it's proper title is). So, a lovely tree for £9! He had planned to cut one down himself (with permission), but he couldn't find the tree he had previously earmarked for cutting!

I have just sent money to DS1 in USA visa PayPal. It was easy to do, I just needed to know the email address he uses for his PayPal account. This information may be useful to others with family overseas.

Far from ready though have written and sent cards (except hand delivered ones). Hate wrapping up so avoiding it. Tree still in roof. No beds made. But hey, there's over a week left yet, anything could happen - or not ?

Oh, forgot the food ... literally.

Hi everyone,
I know its late to post message but I still want to wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.