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Original poster

To start a Crappy Christmas Thread?

68 replies

sitandnatter · 20/12/2011 13:14

Just reading some of the other Christmas threads and how boyfriends aren't being that thoughtful at Christmas time. It reminds me of one Christmas Day when my boyfriend invited me to his parents, then popped out for a drink at the local prior to his dinner leaving me to help his Mum, that's fine she was lovely.

Only he didn't bother to turn up for Christmas Dinner until it was all over, then was totally bladdered, and hiccuped while apologising incoherently.

The year before he dumped me on Christmas Day.

So what was your crappiest ever Christmas?

OP posts:
marriedandwreathedinholly · 20/12/2011 16:54

Oh there have been a few highs and lows.

The year I missed Christmas Dinner because I went into early labour and lo a son was born.

Combined birthday and Christmas celebrations.

DS's 2nd Christmas/birthday at my mum's when she and dsf got him so overexcited he didn't go to sleep until 5am on Boxing day. Oh how great was that Boxing Day.

2001 when my MIL went into one because I said the IL's couldn't come that year because my father was in a hospice and I didn't know if the family would be called to his bedside and couldn't cope with the thought of hosting it.

2008 when we went to a hotel for Christmas lunch because it was the first one without FIL and it seemed sensible to take it elsewhere because of the empty chair.

The first Christmas with two children after trying to produce them for years.

Very sad for all those who have had a truly terrible time or are going through one at this time of the year.

marriedandwreathedinholly · 20/12/2011 16:55

Yellowraincoat I think that sounds similar to a very successful TV show which has a Christmas Special

yellowraincoat · 20/12/2011 16:56

Er, sorry marriedandwreathedinholly, I don't quite get your meaning.

marriedandwreathedinholly · 20/12/2011 17:00

I think it's called the Royals. The couple who used to be in Neighbours and she plays the psychologist expert lady opposite Trevor Eve in something else. I think Mrs Merton's in it too. They all sit round the tv being utterly banal and farting.

Snorbs · 20/12/2011 17:01

Christmas 2005. My (then) DP had invited her sister, BIL, and their three teenage children to stay with us and our two DCs in our small 3 bed house for a week or so. DP had been drunk for the best part of a month and her drinking was accelerating fast but she knew I'd not say anything about it in front of her family.

On Christmas Day, DP was still pissed as knickers from the previous night's heavy drinking and claimed to be sorting out lunch while, really, she was staggering around the kitchen getting stuck into the champagne while her sister did all the cooking.

We then all squeezed into the front room for exchanging of presents. I had bought presents for our DCs and for my DP (as stuff for my family). DP was organising some more presents for our DCs plus sorting out her family.

Just as the presents were starting to be handed out, DP suddenly revealed "I haven't got anybody anything." And then laughed.

Boy, was that an awkward silence.

It went downhill from there. On Boxing Day she told me she'd taken an overdose the previous night but flat-out refused to go to hospital. That night I lay awake all night checking on her breathing. The following night I fell asleep through sheer exhaustion but had every expectation of waking up next to a corpse. (In retrospect I don't think she had taken an overdose, it was more that I had been asking her WTF she thought she was playing at with all the drinking and she needed to create a diversion).

By about the 29th, DP spent all day in bed with a bottle of vodka and some cans of strong cider. I remember looking at her and thinking that the only difference between her and a drunken tramp in the street is that I was paying for a roof over her head.

I vowed to myself that no matter what, I'd never have another Christmas like that. And after kicking her sorry drunken arse out, I never have.

yellowraincoat · 20/12/2011 17:03

Right well imagine the Royles except miserable and without any sort of affection for each other.

marriedandwreathedinholly · 20/12/2011 17:07

The Royles are miserable and without affection aren't they. The daughter's idle, the son's downtrodden, the dad's a bigoted git, the gran's a whingeing pita, the friends are dubious and the son's their lackey and the mother is a hardworking unpaid servant. I think it's just funny because it's on the telly. If that were my reality I'd run a mile. Poor you yellowraincoat

yellowraincoat · 20/12/2011 17:09

They chat, though, don't they? If they were just sitting watching telly, it wouldn't be much of a show. My family don't chat.

ViviPrudolf · 20/12/2011 17:13

I don't think the Royle Family are "without affection" at all, married. If anything, the whole premise of the narrative is that despite their apathy and lack of airs and graces, they are bound together by an underlying mutual affection.

I'd prefer that kind of reality than the humourless, dour experience that yellow describes and that characterises the atmosphere at my PILs

Punkatheart · 20/12/2011 18:13

I have been very lucky to always have good Christmases. However, this year will be awful. My OH walked out on me, after some kind of breakdown - in July. He has now admitted that he needs help and there is no one else - thank goodness. But his feelings are all up in the air. Unfortunately, my teenage daughter took it really badly and has not wanted to see him. She gets hysterical if I even mention his name.

Rightly or wrongly, I have secretly invited him over on Christmas day - hoping that seeing him will trigger that gorgeous bond that they once had.

I want him back..he doesn't know what he wants....not looking forward to the day; my stomach is already in knots.

yellowraincoat · 20/12/2011 18:14

That sounds hard Punk. I hope it goes well for you.

DoesNotGiveAFig · 20/12/2011 18:18

Aw punk hang in there, I hope it goes well xx

thepeoplesprincess · 20/12/2011 18:21

Christmas 2002- I wanted to watch the Xmas day TOTP but the ex decided that it was an insult to the memory of Joe Strummer (who'd died earlier in the week) so he got a tit on, unwrapped the cheese board and then pinned me up against the wall with it to my throat.

thepeoplesprincess · 20/12/2011 18:22

*knife from

Punkatheart · 20/12/2011 18:22

Thank you.

I am hoping for a Christmas miracle...that something loving will trigger in his brain when he sees our family.

But blimey...people have had some duff Christmas Days!

DoesNotGiveAFig · 20/12/2011 18:25

punk I hate saying "oh this happened to my friend.."

But it did (the works, full breakdown, he felt "nothing for her just numb"), and they managed to work through it, and are very happy now, so hopefully the same will occur for you.

I agree, blimey there are some bad ones.

hiddenhome · 20/12/2011 18:33

When first dh was in the hospice. I still associate Christmas with that place even though it was several years ago now. The staff tried to make it nice, but it was still a hospice.

Original poster
sitandnatter · 20/12/2011 18:42

Good luck Punk but have plan B if your child goes off on one. I hope it works out.

OP posts:
Punkatheart · 20/12/2011 18:52

Such a lovely and positive thing to say Does....I hope Christmas is a fine and merry one for you.

Hiddenhome...so sorry..associations are very difficult.

I will have to ask him to leave if all goes pear-shaped. I love him but I love my child more.

2old2beamum · 20/12/2011 19:46

Aged 6 in 1949 on Pissmas Eve Dear Mother got fed of parenting me and dumped me on Paddington Station, my lovely Dad picked me up 1/2 hour later but at 6 it seemed like years!! Never saw her again.

hiddenhome · 20/12/2011 19:53

2old2beamum Shock That's terrible.

Punkatheart Hope your dh is better soon and that all goes well on Christmas Day Smile

Punkatheart · 20/12/2011 20:16

oh my word 2old...as a parent I shudder with protective horror at what have might have happened to you...thank God all was OK. Horrible experience.

Thank you hidden. I can't express how much I love this man but boy, has he hurt me.

2old2beamum · 20/12/2011 20:41

Don,t worry it made me the person I am, I have 3 brilliant homegrown children and we have adopted 8. I do sometimes wonder why, ha ha. Thankyou ? mother.

Punkatheart · 20/12/2011 20:53

Wow. Good for you, 2old. So there was a purpose meant for you.

Lovely.

Pandemoniaa · 20/12/2011 21:02

I'm hoping for a Christmas miracle for you punk. Some very sad stories but very strong people on this thread.

Of discovering nothing had been done for Christmas, DP always remembers the year that him, ex-wife and 3 dcs were invited to his BIL and SIL's house - several hundred miles away. They also had 3 dcs. All seemed to be going very well until Christmas morning when SIL announced she was "quite bored with Christmas now" and planned to stay in bed. Which is precisely what she did. Unfortunately, she'd clearly got "quite bored with" the idea of getting any food in and BIL was surprised to discover quite how bare the cupboards turned out to be.

DP recalls being pleasantly surprised at how well stocked their local corner shop was but Christmas dinner was interesting, to put it mildly.