Differently in future Christmases... ?

[bumblebee39]

And what would you do the same next Christmas?

What went well, what went badly, what would you do differently?

I would more organized. I made do without a lot key ingredients because I couldn't cope with joining the masses at the supermarkets in the days leading up to Christmas. I made a few attempts but turned back for home when i saw the crowds. Luckily I have a very relaxed family so no one minded.

I would definitely be more organised too!
No more Xmas eve wrapping!
& sort out the old toys before anything new came in

I'm thinking I might not do white meat next year or will try and get us invited somewhere and so not cook at all

A real tree (went for a fake one this year and regretted it)

Get my nails done before Xmas (ended up not getting them done)

Oh and get up in the morning and get showered and dressed, it's been fun but would have been more fun feeling less slobby

I'm going to start buying and saving for Xmas in January this year 😂

This year I did Xmas dinner from cook.com. so I had a luxurious bath from 11 to 11.30, had a half hour walk and played with dd2.
Had lunch at 2.30 without being hot/grumpy/ feeling fecked off.

Less Brussels sprouts. I think about 6 got eaten.

Ooh like the sound of that @AJPTaylor

I'd go on holiday to a non-Christian country.

I will do the cooking myself. I used to always cook at Christmas but since my mother died and my father got a new partner, his partner prefers to do the cooking herself. For the sake of family harmony I have tolerated it, but this year was the worst when literally everything other than the turkey pretty much came out of a packet. Frozen roast potatoes, gravy granules etc. It was just lazy and lacking in flavour. And yet somehow she makes a big drama out of heating things up in the oven. I would much rather cook myself then at least everything will be made from scratch and taste of something other than E numbers.

I bought for 5 families.
Not individually but as a family so pub eating out voucher, loads of nice biscuits, nuts, cakes, and a bottle of bucks fiz like a hamper.

That narrows a whole load of stress & expense down hugely.

I need to do something similar next year but put more thought into it.

Get a proper turkey crown not just a rolled breast.
Other than that it's been Ok.

Not invite my in laws. I've been on the receiving end of 4 really rude and disrespectful comments by FIL today. He can fuck off next year!

Nothing we've had a really lovely time.
All veg was bought ready prepared from the Sainsbury's entertaining range so it was just a matter of bunging everything in the oven at the right time.
I only had my mum over with me and DH and DD so no chaos and rows. Mum and DH entertained DD while I cooked. Everyone loved their presents and I even got to have a little nap in the afternoon.
Perfect!

Go on holiday somewhere hot. As a not very anxious person Christmas creates a whole host of anxious feelings in me and 33 is enough - next year I will take us all on a holiday and forget turkey and Christmas trees for once.

This was a very relaxed Christmas in my house this year
A bit sad as there were empty places at our table this year but we enjoyed time together with friends this morning, had a nice meal together this evening and some (all but me) are snoring on the couch before a movie.

Buy the dc less. Ended up spending about £100 on dc1 and £70 on dc2 but they're only 4 and 2 and a lot was second hand so it seems like a lot of stuff. Dc2 only wanted to open the stocking fillers and then didn't want anymore. Annoying thing is i wanted to not go ott, wanted less plastic/tat, but still seemed to get too much. I'll finally learn by the time they're older and want tons!!