To think it shouldn't be this easy...........

[CwtchesAndCuddles]

......to sort out Christmas day plans (going by the threads on here so far)

We live 200 meters from my parents and 3 miles from in laws, in laws don't drive so to come to us for lunch means we have to collect and return them, as we like to go to church in the morning and FIL wants to go down his local for a few pints before lunch it all gets a bit complicated to keep everyone happy. My parents find the in laws a bit hard going (they are very different)

Solution
Quick conversation with my parents, they are quite happy to have Christmas lunch on their own and we will go to them on Boxing Day and be joined by my brother and his family and my aunt and uncle. Big roast dinner, exchanging of gifts etc and I will share the cooking with mum. (we will see my parents at church and may well pop in tea time to say hello)

We will go to PIL for lunch so that FIL can go to the pub! MIL is a terrible cook so I have offered to take my fab homemade gravy and special stuffing along with a yummy dessert. MIL is happy for me to take these and assist with cooking lunch in her kitchen - no trace of any offence being taken as she openly admits I am a much better cook than her!

It shouldn't be this easy should it????

[IgnoreMeEveryOtherFuckerDoes]

Why

[SaucyJackOLantern]

Um. Well done?

[scurryfunge]

No. Big fail. You need to argue more about it all.

[Andrewofgg]

Humbug.

[GlaceCherries]

Stealth boast much? (I'm just jealous really.)

YBU, more arguments please!

[CwtchesAndCuddles]

Huge stealth boast!!!

My MIL is great (even though she can't cook) and my parents are fab!!!

[PurplePidjin]

YANBU, mine is easy too - solved a few years ago by the extreme measure of Rational Discourse...

Christmas Eve dinner with my family. Back to them for breakfast and presents Christmas morning before setting off for ILs 2 hours away. Lunch and overnight with ILs, home in time for the sales.

How dare we all act like grown adults?

[HedgehogsDontBite]

Mine's even easier. I emmigrated. That's every Christmas sorted.

[TweeAintMee]

OP - how do you make fabulous gravy without the turkey in your oven? Somewhat puzzled.

[Hassled]

Twee - Jamie is your friend. This recipe has revolutionised my Christmasses. Except maybe give the star anise a miss - it's a bit over-powering.

[TiggerLillies]

OP it is my dream in life to make gravy, don't suppose you would share your fabulous recipe (pretty please) ??
Mine are barely edible let alone fabulous.

Our Christmas head also been simple to organise, my sister and I organise and tell everyone else what's going on - they agree 'cos they're too lazy to argue.

[TweeAintMee]

Thanks Hassled - interesting stock recipe from Jamie. I have to confess that I do not consider chicken stock a substitute for turkey stock. I am passionate about cooking and love the unique flavour of turkey which for us is an annual treat ....

...but I do know that we are all very different in the way we celebrate Christmas. Have a wonderful family time...sounds like you have it all sewn up. Well done. Please imagine a smiley emoticon, with holly tucked behind ears.

[socially]

Argh I'm so jealous!

My Christmas will be sorted out by a judge, at some point so ridiculously near the actual day that I can't make any plans anyway.

Bloody ex husbands

For you though.... Must be lovely to have everyone so close too!!

[HermanSkank]

I'm going to Paris with my lover for Christmas

[DaftStudentNurse]

Oh you've put the mockers on it now!

You will be the first one on here on Christmas day with a thread describing something that we will all be hoiking our bosoms at...Mark my words....
[csmile]

[BuilderMammy]

I declared once we had two kids that we were staying at home for christmas every year from now on, because I think it's nicer for the kids and I flipping LOVE cooking christmas dinner. DH says that's fine. My family say that's fine and they're all happy to come over. The PILs are fine with it because they have 12 other grandchildren living 60 miles closer and my kids are my parents' only grandchildren; we see the PILs on the 26th.

There's really no way to argue about it, for us : )

[CwtchesAndCuddles]

"Twee"
I will be cooking turkey before Christmas for a buffet and will keep the juices to use for Christmas Day!
Also my brother is a head chef and is able to save meat juices for me from his workplace throughout the year so I always have a good supply of beef / pork juices in my freezer!!!

My brother and I learnt to make gravy by being in the kitchen as children with our mum and gran. Good browned meat juices, make a roux with plain flour and add veg water.

[LadySharrow]

If I do Christmas dinner, I buy a cheap turkey drumstick a few weeks in advance, roast it, use the fat and sticky bits to make a thick and flavoursome gravy base with flour and a bit of stock, and then freeze it. I then defrost, dilute it with giblet stock and heat on the day.
This has transformed Christmas dinner for me - making gravy under pressure is impossible.

[Birdsgottafly]

YABU, because it sounds as though you actually like your family members, are capable of having honest conversations and aren't being a Martyr to family duties, all a big No No across MN.

[carlsonrichards]

Never heard of a pub open on Xmas day.

[CwtchesAndCuddles]

South Wales - lots of pubs open for a few hours on Christmas Day!

[Birdsgottafly]

Carls, where do you live, that the Pubs aren't open on Christmas Day?

It used to be a tradition that the men all went whilst the wives cooked the dinner.

Nearly every Pub in Liverpool is open on Christmas Day, you'll see them full of men in their new Christmas Cardis/Jumpers.

[ithoughtofitfirst]

hedgehogs that made me laugh.

[Showy]

DH used to run a pub. V busy Christmas Day.

I'm lucky to like my parents and ILs. 24th at home, 25th with my family, 26th with ILs. Easy peasy. I am v fortunate.

[ZingOfSeven]

I'm not impressed, you fucked it up big time.

swap name tags on gifts at least to shake things up, ok?