It's Christmas time, there's every need to be afraid...

[BaronC]

From my blog and with apologies to those who celebrate for the right reasons. But post brain injury the following feelings are multiplied every single year...

Here we go again,

Holidays are coming, holidays are coming....

Oh sod off, I hope that bloody lorry crashes and it's a total write off. Endless adverts for Christ (no pun intended) knows how long for tat that you wouldn't buy any other time of the year. Already this morning, I've seen M&S, Coca sodding Cola, Smyths toys (Who?) Argos, etc, etc. It makes me yearn for personal injury ads, or God forbid, Calgon.

The Christmas tree went up in our local pub in September, yes September. That's a quarter of the year building up to the biggest anti climax that humankind has ever dreamt up. 4 months of listening to young children squeal and beg for overpriced crap that they'll use for ten minutes before boredom creeps in. And we all buy into it, every year. Celebrating the birth of a character in a book. Next year I'll buy presents on the day Bagpuss was invented. Bagpussmas. We'll go to midnight Pussmas at the local toy shop. We'll have a nativity play where the local urchins play Bagpuss, Professor Yaffle, the mice on the mouse organ, etc. We'll make a video of it that we'll never watch and we'll beg for new year and the eight months of non-Bagpussmas adverts on TV.

I don't drink, I'm not rich, I hate flashing lights, Xmas cake is the work of Beelzebub, I'd rather have a curry than a plate of Turkey and stuffing. Christmas really isn't for me.

Bagpussmas next year, good-oh.

Pass the Nurofen

[sporan]

I'm not 100% sure, but suspect you may have reservations about the festive season!

Never mind, you're not alone. It's become a commercial monopoly and bears no relevance to the spiritual origins.

I'm an evolutionist so resent feeling pressured into complying.

The only part I enjoy about the whole affair is getting to spend quality time with family and friends playing board games, quizzes and maybe even watch the odd episode of Bagpus, unfortunately these days I to am a saggy old baggy person lol.

[Hidden]

I agree with the sad materialism that has taken over the true meaning of Christmas. Cute as Bagpuss is, I'm not sure he will make a very good saviour of the world

[BaronC in reply to Hidden]

Cant't do a worse job can he...

[Hidden in reply to BaronC]

yes...

[Sem2011]

I know exactly what you mean, I'm ill currently laying on sofa, if I see so much as the war of supermarkets ad, I feel I lose the will :).

[BaronC in reply to Sem2011]

Quite depressing isn't it. Bagpussmas is not a time for the supermarket giants to spend more an advert than than you care to think about. It's time for a bit of a giggle really. Worldwide laughter.

Happy Bagpussmas

[Sem2011]

Oh and I loved Bagpuss, my tabby is growing nearly his size. Yah lets have Bagpuss day !!!

[BaronC in reply to Sem2011]

Bagpussmas is here to stay!!

[cat3]

100% with you on this Andy. I'd like to rent a cabin in the hills for the duration but my family would come looking for me bearing turkey and mince pies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .and I'd probably succumb !

[Broken_Doll in reply to cat3]

Take me please

[cat3 in reply to Broken_Doll]

[BaronC in reply to Broken_Doll]

Yeah, me too. I'll bring Bagpuss

[cat3 in reply to BaronC]

Ok that's four for the hills then. . . . . . xx

[StrawberryCream]

I find it a very pressured time because I have an 8 yr old so can't ignore Christmas like I used too. Pre brain injury when I used to choose to work the festive days or would go off on group walking (& cross country skiing) holidays abroad. Pre BI I did enjoy creating a fun Xmas playing games etc with my son and foster kids once they had come into my life. Even used to be able to cook a roast dinner with trimmings. Now ....... Oh dear oh dear...... All the planning, organising, buying, wrapping, cooking .........decisions decisions decisions..... It all becomes too much to manage and is a huge cognitive, emotional and social challenge. Last year my mood crashed and I was in a very bleak place but still had to put on a front for my son. Exhausting!!!!! This year I can already feel the build up of too much to manage. However I have taken Xmas meal food shopping and cooking out of the equation this year. Usually he has munched some chocs/sweets and then I get upset having stressed and struggled to cook a meal and get the timings right for things to be ready at the same time, for him then not to want it be caused he isn't hungry! By then I'm so stressed out I don't want it either! Well this year we are turning our back on tradition and having pizza and nibbles on Xmas day that we can munch when we feel peckish. Then on Boxing Day we are going to a Harvester restaurant for a 'festive' meal which is actually the same as an Xmas dinner but no exorbanent prices as on Xmas day. I think this will be a great plan.

[Hidden in reply to StrawberryCream]

Sounds like a good idea Strawberry, glad you have found ways of taking off some of the pressure. I am sure your son will have a lovely day regardless of what you eat - he is spending it with his mum and that is what matters the most

[Broken_Doll]

Bah humbug

I'm over it already

[Danslatete]

School fair at my school - tick, school fair at my kids school - tick

Nativity rehearsals at school - tick gift buying - tick.

Yes I have managed to avoid them all so far thanks to my youngest who gave me slap cheek oh yes oh joy...o poor me I mean I missed it all so far ;(

Stress worry no time to think head spin too cold too busy miserable .... Oh joy that is Xmas.

Christmas used to be nice relaxed affairs, catered and fun filled with exciting highs and homely warmth, back in the day.. When I was a lass.

Now I'm practicing ukulele with cubs to entertain the old folk, sewing costumes for shepherds and donkeys, being given a pot luck dish to produce for a staff lunch, panto tickets money to keep track of, and I've to get stuff from a shop for no2 son and a quad please from no 3. No.1 wants a nice dinner and most of WHSmiths, bloke wants bird stuff and I want if over and done with ASAP.

I kind of like Bagpussmas

[Hidden]

MY BIRTHDAY IS 4 DAYS BEFORE XMAS. WHY DO PEOPLE THINK IT'S OK TO SAY "YOUR PRESENT IS FOR YOU BIRTHDAY & FOR XMAS" IF MY BIRTHDAY WERE IN FEBRUARY THEY WOULDN'T DO IT. I AM GOING TO DO IT NEXT YEAR WHENEVER THEIR BIRTHDAYS ARE.

PLUS I AM VEGGIE - CAN'T EAT TURKEY, HATE SPROUTS, CAN'T EAT XMAS PUD UNLESS IT'S MADE WITH VEGETABLE SUET, HATE MINCE PIES, HATE XMAS CAKE (EXCEPT THE MARZIPAN), HATE CHILDREN'S GREED. I DO LIKE THE GREAT ESCAPE THO'.

LOG FIRE IN A CABIN IN THE HILLS WITH NO DECORATIONS SOUND GREAT.

[sporan in reply to Hidden]

Hi Zeblet, how about claiming to be royalty, then you could have 2 birthdays a year, an official one (for the proper birthay presents), some when around mid June would suggest, then hope that by true birthday at Chrimbo they forget and get you bigg pressy for Birthday/Christmas combined.

I ask to have my pressy's early or late when the sales are on, it confuses everybody and I now reckon I'm about 3 Birthday's and 2 Christmas's in front lol.

[Hidden in reply to sporan]

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME! MY MOTHER'S B'DAY WAS 21 JUNE & MINE IS 21 CEVEMBER.I ALWAYS WANTED TO SWAP, AFTER ALL IT'S HER FAULT I WAS BORN AT XMAS! NEEDLESS TO SAY SHE WASN'T TOO KEEN ON THE IDEA.

[sporan in reply to Hidden]

Don't be too sure, probably gave her an excuse to let someone else to cook the Christmas dinner lol.

I don't really have a problem, my birthday is 26 June, although it was rumoured that I was 'found' rather than born, something about a gooseberry bush or something like that. Personally I blame the farmer that shot my stork causing me to arrive early!

[Danslatete]

My mum has a birthday on 29 th dec. so I understand the joint pressie thing as I've heard over and over if anyone buys joint gifts this year, they will receive either birthday or Christmas next year. One person persisted in doing this as they grew up till mum gave her sister one glove one sock and a half box of chocs for her birthday in August and told her she would get the joint bit at Christmas

Can I join you in your cabin?

[Hidden]

FOR SURE!

I LOVE THE IDEA OF HALF A PRESSIE ON B'DAY & HALF AT XMAS

PERHAPS I'LL TRY FLOWERS - THE BLOOMS ON THE B'DAY & THE (DEAD) STALKS AT XMAS. PERHAPS THEY'LL GET THE MESSAGE.

[AndrewT]

I have just Written a 'Post' sharing SOME, of your sentiments, though Mine was more 'Berating' the Loss of the Genuine Christmas Meaning. I HAD, thought mine, a little Reactionary....mind you 'Nothing' compared to a 'Sour Puss' like you!

You have Definitely Kept Your Crown.

AndrewT 2019.