Are you running round in circles?

Everythings done, all bar two presents delivered, cards sent, fresh veg to buy on Monday along with two deserts! Housework to do, but it's always there, final blitz tomorrow morning, tree decorated, no baking to do..... So why am I waiting for the other shoe to drop, when it's far too late to do anything?

Paddyann I too did all the 'cleaning out the old year dirt to let the new year's in' thing for many years just as my Mum did. Then having to work over Christmas and New Year I realised this was ridiculous. Do have a bit of a good cleanup but nothing like the clean curtains, bedding, cupboards, clothes etc all more or less on the 31st. It's madness and quite honestly no one even notices. Relax, very few have dusty old coal fires nowadays so there is far less need for the mammoth clean so enjoy the 31st instead of making a martyr of yourself. Happy 2019.

inisowen Sorry for this but look how your stress could have been minimised .
Tesco would have delivered your shopping as would several other supermarkets if you had ordered online Why have a kitchen installation in what is usually the busiest time of the year. Could not H's decorating waited until after Xmas ? You had no control over what your DD has experienced but at least by relieving yourself of shopping , your fitted kitchen ?and H decorating and if any one complains over their late xmas presents then they didn't deserve one in the first place.Most important is your daughter, what help is a stressed out mother.?

I don't stress as it's just a big Sunday dinner and nobody ever eats the stuff bought for tea!
It's youngsters who can't handle the shops being shut for a day that I find amusing....bring back Sunday and half day Wednesday closing.

sarahellenwhitney, I can imagine how inishowen's situation arose (apart from the daughter's relationship of course). She started looking at kitchens in the spring, and by the time she found one she felt she could trust it was mid-summer. Then something kept delaying the start. Then they came in the early autumn and found something extra they needed so went and did another job while they waited. Then they started but needed to come back to finish off, by the time they finished it was December. DH was waiting to decorate since Summer but with all the hassle and stress of the kitchen going on and things lying about and dust, it was impossible. Inishowen by the time she'd got rid of all the dirt and could think again, she was ready to order the shop. But by then all the delivery slots in the 2 weeks leading to xmas were gone. Also the daughter was phoning in tears every few minutes and interrupting everything. I don't think she could have done any better, probably.

I like checklists. I have one for Christmas and one for holidays so I never forget anything. As MOnica said, means you just think about it the once and then it’s done.
P.s. I’m a Virgo - can’t you tell haha!

I had a real personal crack up last Christmas and this year just cannot/will not jump to it. Will the sky fall in?...

I think Teetime has got the right idea. I’ve just been up to the shops and wondered if war had been declared and I’d missed the announcement. I have never seen such colossal piles of food in people’s trolleys. So, following Teetimes suggestion, cheers, I’m going to let it all go over my head and enjoy a delicious G&T. Happy Christmas ?

There's a parellel thread titled Annoying things women do. This is one of them - being a martyr over Christmas. Every year is the same. I'm convinced there's a competition to see who can get into the biggest tizz over it. Just stop.

I have spread sheet too to ensure I am spending roughly equal amounts on dc and do not forget to do stuff. I just put what bought and cost. Adds up on its own with formula dh put in it, finds difference in cost too. For task I put 1 if completed and 0 if not. I have it in time list order too. I too use same spreadsheet each year. I am always a bit worried about forgetting something or someone and always have a few of spare gifts just in case. My memory is not as good as it once was.

Yup i'm a Virgo too.

Nope.
Its just a day, regardless of who eats what, goes where or gets what.
The world won't end if anything doesn't work out as planned.

I am with Bluebelle on this whats the fuss, its just a day or two and then back to normal. Went out to do my food shop today but it was hell so I had a coffee and came home. Will now have to do it Sunday or tonight in the evening.

No, Monica, what was actually said was that doing something right the first time is the most sublime kind of laziness, and I assure you, Katey no sock fluff will dare rear its ugly head here for the next few days, and like PaddyAnn we will be making sure everything is spick and span for the New Year.

Glad to hear I am not the only one up to the eyes in things.

What the blazes is the matter with you then silly woman!

Don't you just love Mabon1 and her cheery advice....

Much worse than usual because DH decided that he would take December off work as he had accrued a lot of holiday.
He then decided to empty his office which means spreading if all over the house. As we speak I can only just get into dining room!
Luckily for him he bought me a Prosecco Advent Calendar which is just about keeping me sane.
I am assured it will all be cleared by 25th. I'm not holding my breath-his idea of 'cleared' is a long way from mine.

Teetime, alcohol is very dehydrating so she should make sure plenty of tonic is taken with it.

I was all ready, near enough anyway. I'm on my own but my single daughter is coming to spend the day.. Wed I went to clinic for check up for back pain and doc asked questions, phoned an ambulance and I was in A & E. Supposed to have emergency surgery today, was starved for 18 hrs, had usual tests blood etc, then lunchtime they decided morphine would do, surgery cancelled. I'm still in hospital and have no idea what is going on. Hope you all have a good stress free Christmas.

The supermarket was rammed this morning but I was calm and glad I wasn't at Gatwick!

Don't need an extra clean at Christmas,just put up cards all over the place and usual Xmas stuff,no one notices !

Craftycat, I tell my DH in advance what periods of time he won't be allowed to start any projects. Men seem to have some natural trigger that just as you've got the house in order for some event it goes PING! and sets them off on something messy.

Tescos was rammed here at 9.30. There was no where to park and people had trolleys piled to the rafters. My own trolley was fairly full but thats because I've been ill and haven't been adding stuff each week like I normally do in run up to big day. It is only one day the shops are shut for isn't it? Have a lovely Christmas everyone. xx

I've just got in from delivering presents and my newly decorated study is full of plastic gluttering and associated fittings.....I think my DH has decided to replace and repair the leaks I mentioned last winter!!!

I was having a lovely day until my Hairdresser rang to say she wasnt well and had to go home, she booked me in for Thursday next week AFTER Christmas, when I thought things couldnt get any worse,I collected our post looking for Christmas cards and there was a big fine to be paid for a parking fine I had paid but they wouldnt hear of it, so £60 gone from my not too huge bank account, better to pay immediately I thought,just waiting for the third disaster today then I can sleep well tonight.I have wrapped all my christmas presents so thats positive I suppose.