A Christmas- free zone for all who hate it!

[Grinchly]

Inspired by the Secret Santa thread, just thought I would open this pop-up Santa free zone for those of us in the suffering minority.

I have no family, am an atheist, am unsentimental and hate excessive consumption. Oh yes am an introvert with hearing issues so loathe parties also.

Over to you. I know you're out there....

Oh darkriver...that is so sad...I can totally imagine and agree with what you are feeling

My daughter in law lost her little ones to their father in March ( thanks judge)
Despite being turned inside out and great reports ..she has no assurance she will even see them on Christmas Day...someone in their wisdom seem to think it’s ok to to remove these little ones from their mother, allow no contact for three months, and 2 hours contact a fortnight.

I’m hoping and praying this is going to be overturned next month as I don’t know how I can help to keep her upright if it goes against her again.

It really is your worst nightmare
Darkriver...I just hope you can keep the contact until they are old enough to make their own decisions

Oneday, I'm so very sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you. I wish you peace for Christmas and the year ahead

Hello grinches, I'll join. I generally try to opt out of all forced fun and this year have just said no to the office Christmas party. Strangely enough this has led to me doing something else for the evening with someone who is usually quite lonely (they have admitted this) and that feels far more Christmas-y, in its true sense. I love the lights, mulled wine and a bit of time to stop. I can't stand the commercialisation and the pressure to spend time with awkward relations. This year I will see no family and will open my house to friends trying to avoid theirs. Nothing will be done properly, there will be no big presents. I'm looking forward to it. I also lost a loved one this year and will think of all of you who have too, it's bloody hard.

@cleanhousewastedlife

"This year I will see no family and will open my house to friends trying to avoid theirs."

I've said this to people for the recent years I've been home in my flat. interestingly, a lot of people have said they'd like it but they can't say no to their rellies, so actually only one person has ever come along!

something else I'm grinchy about - why is Xmas so long now?! It used to be early closing for offices on Xmas Eve and then back to normal on 27th Dec. I have no interest in using annual leave at the coldest, darkest time of the year when most of my friends are esconced with family or away etc - but most offices seem to close for a really long period now. Total waste of annual leave for me.

@dowser
I fully intend to commit to letterbox for as long as it's needed. Its a living nightmare for sure. I hope things turn around for your sister in law.

I don't overly mind a day of eating and will enjoy wrapping some presents, but it starts as soon as bloody Hallowe'en is done. It gets boring long before it can be a relaxing couple of days off. I had awful frantic Xmases as a child, where my mother went into a hideous martyr mode and nothing I did was good enough, whether helping or staying out of the way! I also have ASD so I do not like the crowds, noise and enforced jollity of the season.

Thankfully I finish on Christmas Eve and go back to work on 27th.

I was in a city last week and had a bit of time to wander round the shops. The amount of Christmas tat was really depressing so I found a park to walk round instead.

It's become a wasteful and environmentally-damaging Midwinter Retail Festival, not a celebration of the birth of someone who may or may not have existed a long time ago.

oneday quite right. Massive gentle hugs xxxx

another grinch moment

some vouchers arrive that I would normally give to mum for shopping.

this time you have to spend £90 to use them!! because of course everyone's stocking up like a war is coming.

I should add - food shopping. I shop at Aldi but mum doesn't have one nearby, annoyingly.

Welcome and Bah to all newbies in the Tribe of Grinch.

I heard some stuff about Secret Santa at the office today. The email went round in about September. I said no then and it is still no.

They have also organised one of those ghastly office buffets where everyone brings too much, most of it beige, flobby, or sickly.

I'll be working at home that day.

Grinchly, I would so work at home on that day too!!

not sure what "flobby" is though....?

'They have also organised one of those ghastly office buffets where everyone brings too much, most of it beige, flobby, or sickly. '

Oh I hate stuff like this too. Enforced socialising and 'fun'

Who else is not going to their work Christmas meal? I'm going out for dinner the week before with two colleagues that I actually want to see

@grace12 - I think 'flobby' is like flabby only worse. Limp sausage rolls for example.

Oh and re Christmas parties/ meals. I went once about ten years ago and swore never ever again. I was stuck between the office bore and someone so pissed they could barely speak in an overcrowded overpriced Italian Resto.

The kitchen went down even with pre ordering. Starters took an hour and a half to arrive and the noise was indescribable. I fled before the main course even arrived, pleading train issues. One of the worst evenings out ever spent. And it cost money as well.

I can't bear these noisy group restaurant dinners at the best of times. But even if the food is decent ( not going to happen at Christmas) you can't enjoy it for the din going on around you. I no longer spend precious time or money socialising with people you would never dream of meeting up with voluntarily. All we have in common is our employer!

I do all the Christmas stuff for my children...the whole shebang!

However, if I never had to have another Christmas again, I wouldn't miss it.

It's a hell of a lot of effort and expense for basically a day at home eating a roast dinner and watching the telly!

Waving @ raraybidet

@rayraybidet

Yay! Thanks @Grinchly