The bah humbug thread...

Nope! I love Christmas .... but I guess it depends whom you share it with and what you do.

All the family get together and we have lots of fun. All the wee cousins get on so well together and love to see each other. Now that I am widowed and live alone I am very glad of this get together.

We hosted bar humbug xmases for many years after the children had grown up.
Everyone contributed food and drink: they were wonderful.
Then the grandchildren came along and I had to join in again.
I did a lot of Crisis At Christmas in the 80s. They are the best, although I have to say I volunteered for a Quaker Xmas once, they were lovely.

I’m absolutely with you…..

Love the card Shinamae even though I love Christmas.

I'm totally bah humbug this year. 1st year without my daughter, another brain tumour casualty.

I love Christmas!

As a child I didn't have very nice ones, so once I had children of my own, I made sure it was an important family occasion.

My Christian faith also has a lot to do with it.

gymsta 🫂

gymstagran, I am so very sorry.

I am definitely not bah humbug wrt christmas but am watching so many here on GN, planning huge spreads and spending loads of money, which is often being put on credit cards. Buy now pay later

My christmas will conisist of a few happy hours with family, I shall drive there and drive back in the light. A nice short inexpensive family gathering. I am glad to say that excess does not come into for me and my family

I am definitely not bah humbug wrt christmas but am watching so many here on GN, planning huge spreads and spending loads of money, which is often being put on credit cards. Buy now pay later

My christmas will conisist of a few happy hours with family, I shall drive there and drive back in the light. A nice short inexpensive family gathering. I am glad to say that excess does not come into for me and my family

Well that's us telt

Gymnstagran.

I haven't noticed any posts on GN, where people have indicated that they are planning lavish spreads, spending to excess and even worse, paying for it all 😱)with credit cards.

Each to their own, it's their business.
IMO, a tad judgemental Karmalady.

Each to their own, it's their business yes it is Marydoll. How much, how much it costs and how they pay for it.

I’m not quite at the ‘bah humbug’ stage, but at almost 60 I’ve seen it all before, and Christmas is now just an expensive ritual I go through.
I loved Christmas when my children were little, but once they grow up the magic disappears.
It’s still nice to get together with family & open a few bottles of something, but overall, it’s just another long weekend now & a break from the office.

Gymstagran, The first Christmas is so hard. I won’t send flowers. Have a few 🍷 instead.

Enjoy the kind of Christmas you want, Baggs. The thing I look forward to the most is no longer having to drive long distances in horrible traffic/weather now I’ve moved just ten minutes away from DD2 and her family.

And no more kennels for Peggy which always had me wracked with guilt.

Karmalady
Would you be offended if posters criticised your spending habits, probably not, I’m thinking.

I am glad to say that excess does not come into for me and my family
Keep the chocolate brazils away from me then!!

Baggs sorry to hear your daughter has had or has a brain tumour, hope she recovers well.
Gymstagran that’s so hard

Marydoll

I haven't noticed any posts on GN, where people have indicated that they are planning lavish spreads, spending to excess and even worse, paying for it all 😱)with credit cards.

Each to their own, it's their business.
IMO, a tad judgemental Karmalady.

Well said Marydoll

Thoughts with all those who have lost someone dear this year who are ill or are living with loved ones who are ill, Christmas will be hard this year.

And for those with family overseas too.

We all celebrate in our own way, quietly and thoughtfully, church or not big family celebrations or a peaceful dinner.

Callistemon21

^I am glad to say that excess does not come into for me and my family^
Keep the chocolate brazils away from me then!!

I like a bit of excess now and then when I can afford it.
Bring on the choccy brazils and Baileys.

I like Christmas even when times are difficult, nobody need buy into the ads and how a perfect Christmas should be, it’s whatever suits you.

Baggs I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter's health

And for Gymstagran at what must be a very hard time

I wonder whether any other GNs are feeling like I am, this December. I've always enjoyed Christmas, and (with family members in some years) have celebrated it happily, Sadly we are a smallish family, and
smaller still since our dear Mum died last year) and we're rather spread out across England. Plus our only child and family live overseas. This year on Christmas day it'll be me and DH, (which usually we enjoy) then relatives are coming for a few nights from Boxing Day. My problem is that I can summon up little enthusiasm at all for the festive season; DH feels the same, and we don't know why. I'm going through the motions (gifts, cards, planning food etc.) But mostly, for no reason I can identify, I feel as though I can't be bothered....... DH is the same. Anyone else feeling like this? And please can anyone offer any supportive advice?

I am definitely not bah humbug wrt christmas but am watching so many here on GN, planning huge spreads and spending loads of money, which is often being put on credit cards. Buy now pay later

My christmas will conisist of a few happy hours with family, I shall drive there and drive back in the ligh^t. A nice short inexpensive family gathering. I am glad to say that excess does not come into for me and my family

Bah smugbug!

Have been putting the trees up this morning, one for sitting room, one for conservatory.

Seems no time at all we were doing it last year.

Can’t say I enjoy doing it TBH, but I do like to see a lit Christmas tree in the window, and hope it looks cheery to anyone going past.

They’ll be down the day after Boxing Day however, once that’s gone, to me Christmas is over.

No keeping things up till 12th night.

It’s hard with illness and/or sorrow hanging over you. But paradoxically I think these are the times we need those we love most of all.
Lockdown showed that it is possible to get by without big family (or small family) gatherings but perhaps also highlighted that presents matter infinitely less than presence.
But we can be together in spirit, love takes no notice of the miles between.
So I’ll join Mr Baggs in a wee snifter if I may, be grateful for the possible and try not to let mourning “absent friends” (especially Paw) cloud the blessings I am still so grateful for.