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Original poster

I had a lovely Christmas Day. Anyone else?

78 replies

ODFOx · 26/12/2023 00:23

Slight glitch on timing led to dinner at 5.30 (an hour later than planned) but we managed to move The rate limiting taxi to 6.30. Otherwise a completely stress free day.
Thoughtful gifts. No arguments. Little walk mid afternoon. Some games. 4 generations. It was busy but those that needed some space took it and no one complained or forced compliance.
19 fed (17 here and two drop off dinners) and we have enough leftovers for a couple of days. 9 for brunch tomorrow.
No stress: it's ready when it's ready. Everyone on good form. Lots of laughs.
I am shattered but it's a happy kind of tired. Who else has had a really good Christmas Day? Care to share?

OP posts:
LuvMyBoyz · 26/12/2023 03:32

Lovely day here. We’ve been having simpler Christmas times for some years now and this year was pared back further. Haven’t spent a fortune, had great food and seen family, too. I’ve caught DH’s rotten cold, though, hence awake and snotty just now.

MissBuffyAnneSummers · 26/12/2023 05:43

We had a good day. Very relaxed. Lovely presents. Good food. Some booze. Some games. Good company.

6 adults and 4 children.

Catsknowbest · 26/12/2023 05:51

Had a pleasant and quiet one! Just me, DP, BIL and cat 😊 partner is post stroke disabled and BIL had accident at work in Oct restricting use of his hands so cooking etc down to me but a pleasure. Well planned and all my timings went fine so had a calm lovely meal then just T.V. and chat. I treasure Christmases like this as had over 20 years of an exh who made most of them one big unpleasant egg shell experience so always count my blessings especially that I still have my DP with me despite many serious health scares. An equally pleasant Boxing Day ahead

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Events & celebrations
HalfasleepChrisintheMorning · 26/12/2023 05:52

Ours was lovely this year. Last year my Dad had a cancer surgery looming, I got emotional, drank too much and had to be put to bed.
This year I didn’t drink too much, a good start!
My Dad is still here and doing really well. So lucky! DS who’s 11 was delightful, loved his presents and has been really helpful.
I got wonderful gifts including a handbag, nice smellies and a velvetiser.
DH cooked a delicious lunch. We played Herd Mentality and Articulate, good fun.
PJs and Dr Who and Ghosts from 7.

Kathy34 · 26/12/2023 05:56

Me!! Woke up at 11am, spent 30 mins in bed just snuggling the cats, dinner at 2pm. Aunt and cousin came, one of my step kids actually ate with us! ( they have social issues). Then after my hubby actually watched a Christmas movie I wanted to watch ( he hates Christmas). Then the night ended w him doing all the laundry. It's our first Christmas together, been married 5 months and he's got two older kids still living at home ( 18 and 23)

Undineimmor · 26/12/2023 06:14

It sounds lovely OP! Glad you had a good day. Lots of fun here too!

Lorac23 · 26/12/2023 06:14

Lovely peaceful low key Christmas. No family arguments, no one getting ludicrously drunk, no loneliness and bitterness, no drama. Just good food, nice TV, a nap, and a board game. I've had far too many Christmases that weren't like this. I don't think we'll visit the extended family next year either, this is hopefully our new normal! Though the girl cat, hilariously, was the most excited I have ever seen her at the prospect of turkey. It was like having a small furry toddler about the place...

Whathappenedtomyvag · 26/12/2023 06:14

I feel really emotional at how lovely it was for us. Nothing fancy, just thoughtful gifts, an easy lunch, snoozing, and loud accusations of sprout farts all afternoon. Husband was especially thoughtful, and it was lovely to see my adult sons getting along so wonderfully. They stayed up late drinking some weird craft beer, insisting dad must join them, and although he protested that he was old, tired, etc, he loved being with his boys. The dog can barely move after pilfering a load of pigs in blankets, and we have enough leftovers for a hotchpotch boxing day curry.

The sons have left home, and we already know that next year they will not be with us for Christmas, so this was wonderful. I know that next year will be different, but also lovely as husband and I make new traditions for just the two of us.

WesselCups · 26/12/2023 06:29

Me. It was great.
Just me and the husband eating, drinking and having a laugh.
A family member asked if they could come over but we said no, we don't do visitors at Christmas.

Mushroomwithaview · 26/12/2023 06:29

Low key, stress free and lovely.

My favourite bit was when I heard someone up very early and crept downstairs and found my 2 daughters (12 and 18) sitting looking excitedly at the stockings at 6am!! We made tea and all sat together with the cat in the light of the Christmas tree, whispering and guessing what was in the presents. Nothing opened until the boys got up at 9!!

NDerbys32 · 26/12/2023 06:34

Just the two of us yesterday. I do the cooking here and sorted scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, toast and fruit for breakfast

Opened our gifts to each other then rang our son in Scotland, spending it with his girlfriend's family ths year, then opened their gifts to us.

Blessed that he is so happy and obviously loved by her family as we never had that from either set of in laws.

Beef Wellington for dinner at 7pm. It was lush and think I've peaked with my cooking lol. The brownie points won should see me through until next Xmas.

Missed our son but our turn next year. Just a very steady day really.

I had a lovely Christmas Day. Anyone else?
ElmtreeMama · 26/12/2023 06:44

One of our best here.
Despite all feeling a bit rough and DD 2 being poorly for weeks now it was just a very lovely, simple day.
Mog about 20 times in a row, lots of excitement about new toys, easy token but nice presents from Dh and vice versa, one of my best Christmas dinners and all asleep by 8pm.

Catsknowbest · 26/12/2023 06:46

ElmtreeMama · 26/12/2023 06:44

One of our best here.
Despite all feeling a bit rough and DD 2 being poorly for weeks now it was just a very lovely, simple day.
Mog about 20 times in a row, lots of excitement about new toys, easy token but nice presents from Dh and vice versa, one of my best Christmas dinners and all asleep by 8pm.

Think I noticed another cat one on iPlayer yesterday but can't remember what it's called or if she'd like it- hope she's better soon

ElmtreeMama · 26/12/2023 06:47

Catsknowbest · 26/12/2023 06:46

Think I noticed another cat one on iPlayer yesterday but can't remember what it's called or if she'd like it- hope she's better soon

Show quote history

Thanks!! It's tabby mctat and we're on our second watch this morning 🤣 she is obsessed with cats! ... I suppose they do know best x

AuntieMarys · 26/12/2023 06:49

Perfect. Just the two of us. A good 6 mile walk in the morning, pub, home for champagne and gifts about 3. Cheeseboard.
We've had a manic December seeing people.

Catsknowbest · 26/12/2023 06:52

Lorac23 · 26/12/2023 06:14

Lovely peaceful low key Christmas. No family arguments, no one getting ludicrously drunk, no loneliness and bitterness, no drama. Just good food, nice TV, a nap, and a board game. I've had far too many Christmases that weren't like this. I don't think we'll visit the extended family next year either, this is hopefully our new normal! Though the girl cat, hilariously, was the most excited I have ever seen her at the prospect of turkey. It was like having a small furry toddler about the place...

I love the cat and turkey bit 😀 mine refused to part with certain paper and bows

Catsknowbest · 26/12/2023 07:01

Bless her 😊

Catsknowbest · 26/12/2023 07:03

ElmtreeMama · 26/12/2023 06:47

Thanks!! It's tabby mctat and we're on our second watch this morning 🤣 she is obsessed with cats! ... I suppose they do know best x

Show quote history

Bless her heart

user1471548941 · 26/12/2023 07:05

A lovely one! I spent Christmas Eve prepping the dinner and a last minute decision to head out to church with my Dad and Nan meant it all became a rather late night… then we woke up with no boiler so headed off to my parents (loaded up with Christmas dinner) rather stressed. Got even more stressed realising that my suspected ASD brother was stressed with it all also!

But he came down and we had a lovely present opening with some great and thoughtful gifts, particularly from my brother who I know puts LOADS of effort in and then worries he hasn’t got it right! DH brought me some really thoughtful token bits as well as the new boots I had asked for also.

Brother and girlfriend headed off to her parents for lunch and I cooked for my parents, DH and Nan. Fell about laughing with my Mum when I asked her where the other veg and she just went “what veg?!” and had completely forgotten! So it was only the stuff I’d prepared the day before but it was plenty for everyone and my homemade stuffing and gravy went down really well! Then a chilled evening chatting with the family, phoning family and friends in the US, watching Strictly!

BG2015 · 26/12/2023 07:07

We did too.

We spent it lying on a sunbed in warm sunshine. We're in Tenerife!

It was glorious.

Countrylife2002 · 26/12/2023 07:17

Yes me and dd as usual, plus party food and cheese. Hardly any cooking - just sticking stuff in the oven. We both read a whole new book and I’m well stuck into a second. It was absolutely perfect. I feel so relaxed.

Countrylife2002 · 26/12/2023 07:20

And .. first Christmas that I’ve not been up at the crack of dawn since having dd. She didn’t get up til 9 (16)! The dog got me up at 7 by I just put all the fairy lights on and drank tea for 2 hours in the peace.

RadRad · 26/12/2023 07:25

We had a lovely day with our almost 2 year old despite my having a cold and all our family living abroad. My dd was beside herself with happiness when she saw her presents and the decorated Christmas tree the night before (don't ask, she's a climber😂 so we put up the tree for one day just to put the presents underneath.) Seeing how little kids are in awe of the holidays is so so lovely.

LaSpuddle · 26/12/2023 07:30

Me.
I was a bit stressed about it but I managed to cook the full meal in someone else’s kitchen and oven and was less than half an hour later with it than planned. And the only component that I forgot to take round was the brandy butter which no one seemed to miss.

All of my dc were lovely all day and my older two made their grandparents cry with how thoughtful their gifts were. Two of the gifts that my younger dc received were huge hits with my older ones and caused much hilarity all afternoon.

I was unsure if my teenagers would be bored because it was just us and two lots of grandparents, we’ve had far busier Christmasses with lots of cousins and other relatives, more ‘fun’ activities rather than just board games but they both said they’d had a good day and my son said it was one of his best ever Christmas Days.

Twasmoreorlessthenightbeforechristmaseveve · 26/12/2023 07:31

Yes it was lovely. Nothing really remarkable and only the 5 of us but DC were all on lovely form, DH was in a great mood (he lost his lovely mum this year and this was always going to be a hard one for him), food was really delicious & we just all really seemed to appreciate each other after a really hard 2023.

It was the nicest Christmas we’ve had in years and I’d not been looking to it at all.