Once again we approach the season of joy and humbug.

[secrets22]

Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in our own way, by going to the shops and buying lots of tat and mountains of food,where half of it gets wasted, and huge amounts of booze,and thinking the shops are going to be closed until Easter,when in fact they are closed for just one day.Getting inebriated 7 nights in a row,buying gifts for people you cannot stand (do keep the receipts though in case you change your mind) The time of year when everyone thinks you are wonderful and you are best of friends .......until of course February when they wont give you a second glance.

A time when many will get in debt and be still paying off debts until the following Christmas.

A time when the house looks unbelievably messy,with cards left in a heap,and wrapping paper strewn all asunder,broken gifts and toys ,Christmas lights that refuse to work with bulbs that cant be replaced (unless you go to China to buy replacements).

A time when many folk absolutely hate the gift you have given them,and vice versa .

A time when Christmas music blaring out begins to get on our friggin nerves.

And on the Christmas day,if we go to family or friends,we all sit around gorging copious amounts of food,and as the day wears on getting more and more bored with small talk and cant wait to go home.The thought of spending the entire few days in someone else's home is the stuff of nightmares.

A time when families fall out and have rows galore.

And then there is the big clear up and we wonder what it was all about,and we say,never again.......urghhh

[Hidden]

How are you and the dogs getting on?

Here what we plan to do for Christmas is keep things nice and simple as having no expectations is better than upsetting ourselves should there be a fiasco like there was last year when the government came on the TV and announced no there wasn't going to be those days where you could see family and friends and I wasn't surprised as I had an idea that they would pull a stunt like that but I was gutted for the poor people who had believed them and had their plans snatched away at the last minute!

I would rather be disappointed in advance so have time to find something else than being disappointed at the last minute!

Baby will get her usual present or a stocking and a main present off us!

[secrets22 in reply to Hidden]

Oh my pupsters are keeping well ,thankyou for asking,but as for Christmas i really dislike it with a passion,and i might have lunch with a friend or i might offer to see what charity i could help with,or might just stay at home waiting for the tomorrow.xx

[hypercat54]

I think it's mainly younger people and those with young families who do all this. Christmas is mainly for children after all. I think most older people are much more sensible.

If you are in the UK and fancy volunteering apparently they get many more volunteers at Christmas so do book it well in advance.

[Lizzo30]

I bought a free range goose from M&S last Boxing Day it was reduced from £86 to £12 its been in the freezer all year and thats what we re having for Xmas

[Hidden in reply to Lizzo30]

That's lovely having goose for Christmas lunch!

Here it more than likely will be fish on Christmas day but nothing's been decided for definite yet.

[Arymretep in reply to Lizzo30]

That sounds lovely , we always had Turkey or goose for our family Xmas celebrations, happy memories , and what a bargain 👍

[Hidden in reply to Arymretep]

Hi passed few years just been me and mam we get a big chicken mam gets a small duck too, this year we have been invited to my sister's with her husband and his parents. It will be a change but we like to be at home really then can please oneself I don't like sitting in other people's houses for hours on end, and pixie will be alone but I'll make him.nice tea and give him.some nice food and we will have a nice dinner on boxing day, every Xmas day mam says this table used to be full of people and one by one they are gone and I say and one day it will just be me ☹️such is life I do enjoy the food tho I must say 🤗😺xx

Last xmas

[Arymretep in reply to Hidden]

Lovely photo Mandy, Yes same here, we’ve been invited out to my nieces, but we like to be home too , we used to be the same at my Grans every Xmas, all the large family, as you say, such is life ☺️

[Hidden in reply to Arymretep]

Thanks glad your not having to cook tho, yeu my gran and grandad used to come and my sister and her hubby and of course step dad 4 of them died, I dread it really as if you remember step died on a boxing day and mam had heart attack Xmas day 3 years ago so it's strange pixies just tryner get bath panel off time to throw him.out the bathroom.window 🙀hope you slept well 3 am now take care xx

[MadBunny in reply to Hidden]

I just like a quiet time at home. I've never been one for big family get togethers or parties and like you I don't enjoy sitting in other people's houses for hours on end.

I do like Christmas though, and enjoy putting up the tree and decorations: many of them are from when I was a kid so have sentimental value.

[Hidden in reply to MadBunny]

Here it is 😁waiting for lift to new home the tree it came from lives on I just love wood

😁

[MadBunny in reply to Hidden]

That looks really nice Mandy. You got a bargain there.

[Hidden in reply to MadBunny]

Yes looks better in real life night night sleep tight watch the bunny's with big teeth don't bite 😂pixie out the bed now so I'll be ok 🙀🙄😂xxx

😺

[MadBunny in reply to Hidden]

Good old Pixie 🤗😂Night night xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Last year we had steak for main course and lots of winter veg and prawn salad for starters and chocolate mousse for dessert.

Looks like prince Pixie is eyeing up the meat!

I actually ended up enjoying the quiet Christmas last year in a funny sort of way as the pressure was off.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I had nice walk in sun in park last Xmas day was nice as no one was out I asked mam to come she said no I got back after a hour she said wherev you been it's Xmas day it out dampener on my mood she shod have come sometimes we think.dont want to go out but when we do were glad we did it's easy to get stuck in a rut

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I hate ruts myself and I will do anything to get out of them and stay out of them!

At the toxic job I was stuck in a rut there and had needed to have got out and now time has passed by I feel that by accident management did me a favour by bullying me as it got me out of that rut but still I'm not making up excuses for them as its wrong to bully no matter what the circumstances are.

Even though I have forgiven them in no way does it mean that I'm making up excuses for them and think it's right to bully though and it doesn't mean I will be friends with them again either.

[secrets22 in reply to Lizzo30]

WOW and what a bargain.x

[Hidden]

Well said Roddy I only buy 2 presents one for mam.one for pixie 🤗😺xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Baby gets a stocking and a main present for Christmas!

[MadBunny in reply to Hidden]

I once bought Dylan an Advent calendar with rabbit treats in it. Silly I know 🤗He wouldn't eat them which is most unusual for him. So I gave it to my neighbour for her rabbit and he wouldn't eat them either 😂

[Hidden in reply to MadBunny]

That's because Dylan is spoilt and fussy!

[MadBunny in reply to Hidden]

🤣🤣🤣A bit of kale or broccoli is what he really likes. But no ordinary kale- M&S kale. Seriously😁

[Blueruth]

I just get through it and go on vacation in January or February. No fluff. No credit card debt.

[secrets22 in reply to Blueruth]

good for you,no debt here either.x

[Dolphin14]

I know there are many people that feel this way. I'm the opposite. I enjoy giving gifts. I don't accrue debt. I don't play the " fake" stuff with people I don't enjoy. I hang my cards as part of my decorating. My house is not a mess but cheerful.

It's my time to celebrate family. I have made special traditions that we all enjoy. My daughter has taken on some of these same things to share with my granddaughter. We play games and have so many laughs together. My new son in law says he's never had Christmas's like this, he loves it.

🐬

[secrets22 in reply to Dolphin14]

But i do give gifts all year round,but not especially at Christmas.

[Dolphin14 in reply to secrets22]

That's nice. I'm sure you make people very happy.

🐬

[Midori]

There are only two in my household, and we keep it simple. Minimal decorations, and minimal eats and drinks. Keep out heads down.

Don't see a point in gorging ourselves silly, the scales won't like us!

Cheers, Midori

[secrets22 in reply to Midori]

and you have the right idea.