What Will Your Christmas Arrangements Entail?

[Eleena]

A noisy or quiet affair? Will it be something you're looking forward to? ... or dreading? Has anything changed for you this year that changes the way you will celebrate it .. good or bad? It's not a great time for everyone is it, can be a make or break time for people, may be a new journey for some as we head towards Christmas and in to a new year?

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

As a family we don't celebrate Christmas (and never have done- we are Christians) and totally avoid all the associated pitfalls, shopping madness, presents and associated misery but are looking forward to spending time together with family and friends over the break, hopefully some long walks and roaring fires and time to unwind and relax a little.

[Eleena]

Hi mally, not a happy time then for you and yours x

[MallyJ]

Christmas??? Bah Humbug.........!!!

[Eleena]

Gness, with your sense of humour, it'll be fantastic. Nice to meet new partners!

[albaqwerty]

gness, make them wear name-badges.

Good grief Islay! That sounds like a challenge and a half !!

It's always nice to hear of achievements and people coming out the other side of whatever personal problem/situation they have had.
It's always sad to hear of bereavements and potential sad issues to be faced.

[Eleena]

Are you up for the challenge Isley? ;0)

[mallyh]

we will try and help her and the kids through it ,but the last two years have been pretty horrendous and our sons actions have just added to it xx

[Eleena]

emmie, doesn't time pass so quickly, doesn't seem real!

[emmie]

just seems like yesterday, the day was awful in so many ways, raining cats and dogs and a surreal service,

[EcclesCake]

It will be just me, Mr Cake and Mr Cake snr.

No doubt a neighbour will be hosting drinks on Christmas Eve that we will attend, otherwise it will be spent quietly. Depending on who is taking the service we may go to church on Christmas Day if it's the minister my FIL dislikes we won't bother and won't cross the threshold until Boxing Day when we'll go to watch the annual road race. Before returning home for a heartwarming bowl of soup and in the evening we'll have cold cuts, salad and new potatoes perhaps a sweet dessert or cheese depending on our mood.

Hopefully at some point over the festive period we will catch up with some other family members.

All in all it is going to be a very relaxed time reading books doing crosswords watching TV and if Santa is kind to one of us doing a jigsaw, might blow the dust off the scrabble set too.

[Eleena]

Hi Hazi , yes me too .. to a degree. I shop as I usually do. The day can be a crash test in how much you can eat, if you get swept up in it can't it. A simple roast here on the main day.

[douglas9401]

Ten for dindins, two over eighty and most of the rest will never sprint again either.
Still, there's plenty to drink. :-)

[Eleena]

Your last paragraph alba, yes x

[Eleena]

mally, wow you've had so much to deal with, I hope things improve for you all x

[Eleena]

Eccles, sounds just lovely to me!

[Stephen_G]

Weather permitting, I'm off (Again) to visit my Sister in Yeovil, Somerset. Finish work on Tuesday 19th and don't go back until Thursday 4th January! I'm not one to embrace the occasion though, and much like my Birthday, it's something I'd rather not celebrate - would rather treat it like a normal day of the week. Sadly, I've felt like this for a number of years.

[Eleena]

Hi Stephen, I can understand that totally. This period of the year can make people more anxious.

[Eleena]

Nice long break for you though x

[Eleena]

I hope however you all decide to celebrate it, you're happy with that. Always here to pop on too! Off to prepare tea, thanks for all your replies x

[Mamyalynne]

Quiet and cosy on the day itself and raucous fun with family,children,dogs etc and great hilarity on Boxing Day.
Each year we play it by ear, this year youngest Daughter and Husband are off to Edinburgh the week before and not back till Christmas Eve, Eldest Daughter,Husband and Children and hounds are off to Prague the day after Boxing Day - so we work round whatever is going on.