[lord flynn]

you don't have to get sucked in. I've always loved Christmas-unashamedly as I count myself an atheist! My dad went into a coma christmas day in 98 and died on the 28th. I spent 3/4 years not 'doing' christmas but then go together with my current partner who had young kids, so had to start really. I decided I was going to throw myself into a christmas that meant something to us.
 So we don't spend huge amounts of money, but do spend xmas eve and xmas day just us two and the animals, doing what we want-no pressure to go careering around the countryside visiting people and spending money. we don't get alot of time to ourselves during the year. we get the kids on Boxing Day and catch up with family then and after. we got married on the 29th Dec three years ago and the last 10 xmas days have been fab-good food, nice walks, big fires, doing what we want and watching what we want etc. I also get two weeks off work-whats not to like?!

[Lesley Silvester]

I am a Christian and so is my OH and we both hate all the commercialism that come with it these days. We have our carol service by candle light the Sunday before Christmas and do some carol singing in the shopping centre also in December.


Christmas morning starts with seeing to the animals, then church after which we usually drive to Liverpool to spend the day with our eldest daughter and her family and one or both of our sons, if they are around.


I don't start Christmas shopping before December, usually about half way through. Most of it is done online as we can confer with both daughters as to what their children want and then it's ordered and delivered straight to them. It saves postage charges.


I don't buy extra food although I have made a cake this year (because I was making our son's wedding cake and had some cake mix over).


Boxing Day will be just an ordinary day.

[devonlad]

There are so many reasons to hate  christmas- most tied up in the sheer greedy nonsense it is. Shops playing slade in September, endless tv adverts, the way it magnifies loneliness, people who call it crimbo and the fact that there isnt anything tbat happens 'because its Christmas' that you couldn't do any time if was that great BUT I love it I'm afraid.

[happygolucky]

We doubt now that we will be moving out before Christmas and I said to my husband that I would not get all the decorations out, he said not to bother with any, at that I got quite upset as it means so much to me, so love a bit of glitz and it makes me feel all nice to see the house all festive.
 
After watching some TV adverts last night I felt I was being tempted to go and stock up with cheap drink, mince pies and chocolates......now if I did, who thinks they would last until Christmas?

[Bionic]

Sandy, if you want them for Christmas is definitely too soon to stock up yet. Well, if you are anything like me it is too soon anyway.  Mine wouldn't last until the weekend 

[Womble]

After a disasterous "happy families" Christmas last year, Mrs Womble and I have told everybody we're going to New Zealand this year....... then we're going to stay at home.
 
Bliss!     

[happygolucky]

  , that's funny Womble, so many people want it all perfect and its so un natural for all of us to be stuck in a house for hours with each other......I remember a classic row one Christmas with my now X and we had friends coming over on Boxing day, we were both still fuming with each other and when are friends arrived, they looked grim too, it was not long before we both said how we had rowed and that was that, we had such a fun day in the end.  My x was a  bit of a workaholic and could not sit and just be with his children and me, I made up all the toys and played the games and did all the cooking so that was the tension.  One very funny Christmas, when my 3 daughters were young teenagers, we had 2 sitting rooms, I was in one with my daughters with the PlayStation blasting and festive CD's on while my X was in the other with his elderly relatives watching some mind numbingly boring film, in fact they were all nodding off with a sherry in their hands , I popped out with the empty milk bottles and saw 2 of my daughters friends passing with a young couple, I shouted for them all to come in, they did, we ate tons of chocolates, the girls played on the PlayStation and I made a few cups of tea before they left, my X  had no idea that other people were in the house, when they left I said, are they the girls aunty and uncle, and they were not in any way related or actually knew the 2 girls that were passing, they were total strangers...I kept giggling all day about that!!   

[Marches Farmer]

My husband and children are bellringers so will be in great demand!  Many regular ringers are away at Christmas so they'll probably be doing 45 minutes' ringing at two towers rather than the usual one.  Recommended for meeting a friendly bunch of people and getting some exercise. The oldest ringer is Horace, who's 93 - he didn't start until he was 80!  I stay at home and cook.  We'll all have attended the carol service the evening before, and baked some of the mince pies to be scoffed after the service.  All the stock will be checked as usual, although the pigs might miss a day's mucking out.  We try to spend some time together in the afternoon - playing a board game.  Main problem is fitting a roast lunch into the slot that's normally occupied by sandwiches.  We're too tired to have a full dinner in the evening.  Roast Southdown lamb this year.  My grandmother always made the cake and pudding on November 5th - I've failed already!

[Victorian Farmer]

I do like the Christmas service but I to will be sorting stock and feeding the animals. will be glad when its all over.A green Christmas would be good the wether will be very cold the last couple of weeks in November if the northern blocking builds it will be a white Christmas 50/50 at the mo.Christmas for me is the light days back .I do think getting out and enjoying the day is the best bet.

[Lesley Silvester]

My worst Christmas was the year we didn't go to our daughter's and didn't have friends to spend the day with either. After Church, we came home and had something for lunch then I asked my OH what he wanted to do for the afternoon. He said he wasn't bothered what we did so, after walking the dogs, he went to listen to something on the radio and I went up to my study to catch up on a load of marking of students' assignments.


I love to see as many of the family as possible. I would love to spend Christmas with our younger daughter one year but they live too far to go for the day and no one wants to look after the animals on Christmas Day. The daughter we do go to is mad about board games, same as me, so we play games as a family. Perfect.

[NormandyMary]

After last year's debacle of having hubby hospitalised Christmas Eve until the middle of January, any type of celebration will be lovely. Last year we didn't have any decorations up as Allen was too ill to put any up, so this year the tree will go up on the 1st December, well actually 3 trees!!! I don't want a present this year, Ill be getting mine (a grandchild) in January!! I just want a healthy happy day at home!
 

[sabrina]

What a precious gift, a grandchild. sure he or she will bring years of joy.