[Marches Farmer]

I think this time of year has as many different ways to spend time, whether or not in some sort of celebration, as any other day of the year.  A friend of mine in Thailand who is a Buddhist always finishes her e:mails with the words "Be safe.  Be happy." and I guess that's as good a message as any.

[Rosemary]

And we shouldn't feel pressured to do it anyone's way but our own.

Made mince pies today. Cheated and bough ready rolled pastry and used a crumble topping. Dan likes them but I'mm not sure. And marzipan'd the cake - ready rolled. I love ready rolled 

Done the cards apart from the ones I write a note in.

Tidied out the boot room and am going to file tonight - good to start the new year fresh

[Louise Gaunt]

I have had a day of finishing things getting ready to start on food preparation. Mince pies and cake icing at the weekend, then present wrapping and filling stockings! I still haven't brought in any greenery as every time I go out to cut holly etc it is tipping down with rain. Rosemary, ready rolled is always best! I shall be buying pastry for my pies, life is too short to make my own puff pastry!

[Rupert the bear]

My Christmas dinner is nearly sorted , just bread to be baked and then decide  Heinz or Cross & Blackwell baked beans for lunch . Mrs RTB is having to work , so My plan is spend day with animals in steading and eat simply. I have considered nipping in at Midnight to catch them talking. like last year.... all they kept saying was " Baaa humbug  " Just cant get into the spirit of things this year.

[Buttermilk]

Just discovered my local Chinese is open as usual Christmas Day. Do we go mad and eat in or just get a takeaway?

[Backinwellies]

Think my festive spirit is being drowned in mud ..... rained every day since 2nd Nov ........ very difficult to think Christmassy when slopping about and its soo warm too!

Went to town yesterday to remind myself Christmas is out there somewhere!  ......... and you lot have reminded me I need marzipan!

[Factotum]

soo warm too!

It's very warm up here - we went to Elgin yesterday and Steve was wandering about in shirtsleeeves. On the journey the car showed the outside temp as 12C - never had it so mild at this time of year. Even I found it warm!

Trying to do our bit for the Christmas spirit - we bought goodies to go into the party hampers for our bowls club, and bought ourselves some interesting nibbles from Lidl, and some wine to get the party going...

Hope everyone has a good Christmas.

Sue

[Factotum]

Saw this on Facebook - there's too much rum in Santa's cake. 

[Buffy the eggs layer]

I love the expressions on the reindeers faces! 

[landroverroy]

That is so amazing you wouldn't want to eat it.

I'm a bit of a bah humburg person about Christmas, mainly because of the obligatory waste of money on presents that aren't particularly wanted.

But I love all the lights that spring up at a time of year when nights are longest.

So here's my contribution, that I made last week

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Love it LRR

[john and helen]

Going to be a fantastic one this year..we actually got all the children coming down and grand children…we have loads of mud for them to play in…well !!!! me and the grandchildren 

[Bionic]

Love that picture 

[Penninehillbilly]

Was tempted say various things but John may not appreciate the humour, so I'll just say picture made me smile :-)

[doganjo]

Christmas will be different this year from the last 7 since I moved close to my two lovely kids and three wonderful grandkids.  Someone I used to love will be controlling our lives.  But it will pass and hopefully next year will be better for us all.