What’s everyone’s Xmas eve plans?

[Cornecopia]

Good morning!
move had coffee in bed and had planned to get the kids and dog out on a walk but the weather is horrific!
so going to make a picky lunch and watch Xmas films I think.
how about you?

Working but finishing at 3.30 hopefully.
I need to get to M&S for a few last bits including wrapping paper.
Make some sausage rolls, snacky bits for dinner and once DS is in bed, wrap everything.
I’ve not felt at all Christmassy this year and have been more disorganised than usual
Thankfully spending the day at my brother’s tomorrow!

i boil oranges, lemons, cloves, cinnamon, star Annise bloody lovely x

We are so, so unwell.

DS is working tonight (and worked last night) and is also unwell so we’ve been driving him in and picking him up as he’s too unwell to walk there.

Rest of us are just in bed sleeping or doom scrolling peppered with the odd hot bath.

Haven’t been this unwell for YEARS. It’s hit me like a sledgehammer.

We’re not Christians so we can shift ‘the big day’ to the weekend if we’re not feeling up to it.

Lazy coffee in bed this morning, then a walk to the playground with the kids while DH went to get a couple of last minute bits. Had lunch, made some Christmas morning cranberry ice cubes for prosecco, now watching Arthur Christmas with snacks!

It'll soon be time for a sherry, and I'll prep a couple of sides for tomorrow. We have got into the tradition of having fish fingers sandwiches on Christmas eve. We will then go for a drive to see the village xmas lights before bath and bed for the kids.

DH and I will finish wrapping, more snacks, more sherry, maybe (definitely) a Baileys, set all the presents out and watch something Christmassy before the madness of tomorrow!

We went out for breakfast, then picked up some pastries for tomorrow's breakfast. We opened Christmas Eve boxes when we got back. Teens but I don't think I'll ever be allowed to stop!

I wanted a nice walk but the weather is horrific so I've just taken the dog for a quick run. Then we've had a nap, laughed at videos and read a bit.

Just lit a fire and we'll get Chinese and watch Muppets later.

How things change when you have older kids...

DH is at work until midnight, I've just given the house a good clean and the kids are on their phones and/or gaming. A few years ago and we'd be watching the Polar Express and going to see friends trying to while away some time before 'he comes' 🎅

I've got a lasagne on the go (apparently this is NOT what people have to eat on Christmas Eve!) then they've agreed to watch Elf with me later which is something these days 😁

Saying all that, we're all excited for Christmas Day with the usual mountain of food and games playing with a few drinks 🥂

I have had a horrible afternoon in town with IBS and DH has been cleaning the house, so we're both feeling a bit less festive than we'd like. Just having a nice cup of tea and a rest before we start the Christmas Eve rituals.

Christmas Eve is Snowman Night in our house and has been the same for a couple of decades now. First we make snowmen out of card and fabric, glitter, sequins, tissue etc, name them and put them up around the house. We pull snowman crackers which usually contain some sort of game. Then we decorate gingerbread snowmen (which I have just baked) with white icing/coconut/coloured sugars and mini sweets. We then take them through to the living room and have hot chocolate with snowman marshmallows, we have a snowman jug and a set of little mugs with snowflakes on. Then we watch The Snowman, and ds1 (22 now) cries at the end 😂

For the last few years I have gently intimated that I would be open to a less messy and more adult-oriented Christmas Eve, but the kids look at me like I've just killed a puppy. So Snowman Night it is!

My plan was to spend the day baking lovely Christmas things and pottering around the kitchen but feeling rotten from a virus so may just try and make some soup or something and go to bed. I'm enjoying reading about other people's trips out of the house though 🙂

I've shopped, picked up prescription, had festive coffee in fave coffee shop, lunched, wrapped, made sausage rolls and buffet food is now cooking in the oven.

Will eat while watching Carols from Kings, then make mince pies, put a wash on (cat threw up on dd's jumper earlier), mull some wine, watch spooky BBC ghost story, go to Midnight Mass and sing in the choir. Then put stockings up, presents under tree. Then SLEEP. (I hope.)

I'm home alone as my children are with their dad until tomorrow. Went for an early run, made cauliflower cheese and tiramisu ready for tomorrow. Went to give blood (lovely atmosphere with the nurses and Christmas music) then prepped a load of veg. Just eaten a curry and watching TV for the rest of the evening!

@TheLightSideOfTheMoon We're ill too and thinking of doing the same. Rubbish isn't it!

I'm having lasagne tomorrow. Already made.

What is the spooky ghost story everyone keeps mentioning? I have never heard of this xx

@Cornecopia Mark Gatiss does a ghost story for Christmas on bbc 2 every year. Usually it's an adaptation of an M R James story but this year it's an Edith Nesbitt one I think.

Nuclear family, just home and food

Prepped Christmas dinner for tomorrow so it'll take less time tomorrow other then that couple of drinks now in bed

Just finished on BBC2, will be on iPlayer now or soon.

Ahhh mine would have loved this! Will 100% watch next year xx

Merry Christmas everyone.
Hope you all have a wonderful day, and for those not so well, rest up and do your own big day your own way when your ready.

have a good one 🥂