Can we start a CF Christmas thread?

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

Because:

I need some light relief

I'll start. DS (nc now) once texted me on Christmas Eve to tell me (not ask) that her and DN were coming for Christmas...and staying for three weeks!

There was a list of instructions with the text, including:

I'll be sleeping in your room, and you, DH and DN can all share with DD, because I've had him all year alone and need a break. (She actually told me she was giving me a chance to prove that I was a better aunty than a sister!)

There'll be none of that (insert horrible racist word beginnig with P) shit that you normally cook. I'm allergic to hot food.

DN wakes up at 5.30. He needs breakfast within a half hour of waking, or else he won't be able to poo later in the day.

I need picking up at 6.00 at the latest, so you can give him tea.

Then she had the nerve to text DH and tell him I'd agreed to it, and she was ready to be collected! DH left work, and it wasn't until I'd been waiting in the rain for him to pick me up as arranged, and called him, that I dound out he was halfway to where she lived! (30 miles from us).

I'd just ignored the text.

He came straight back, I sent a "lol, dream on!" text, cue months- MONTHS- of PA fbk statuses about family not being everything, etc, etc...

Anyone else?

No, this was a vintage C&A jumper! One of those short ones with the big neck. Very 90s!

I think the re-gifting does depend a bit on the giver and their circumstances.

Also, I have been caught out by giving someone what I considered to be a lovely, hard-to-find first edition of a book I thought very appropriate for them. Big Mistake. It reached my ears that "LadyinCement gave me this old charity-shop book."

I'll follow Radley's example this year and send a text asking everyone to not give us gifts and to donate whatever they would have spent on gifts for us, or whatever they can afford to certain charities that we support.

We will, of course be getting them gifts unless we're told otherwise.

It just seems simpler this way, and I know some people are struggling this year.

thecats I do know one weird child who doesn't like chocolate.

My SIL (whose children are 17 and 12) now wants to stop doing Christmas presents for any of the nieces or nephews, despite the fact that the youngest is not even 1. We did point out that her kids have had presents from us for 17 years, long before we had our own children, and perhaps we should reduce the budget but still buy for the children. It is Christmas after all.....we didn't mention the fact she's just been away on a European city break, and had a foreign summer holiday.

I'd forgotten about the CF aunt and uncle who gave me a grubby makeup bag that my mum and stepdad had given my cousin the year before.

Evilstepmum I hope your nephew's okay with his nasty bitch mum.

AcrossThePond that's a seriously CF! It's especially hit home as I'm starting to wonder whether DD's coeliac and realise that if the test comes back positive we'll have to buy different everything!

Hahaha love that! do I have the balls to send it next time she asks where sells something?

Yes you really do. Report back.

I don't have any CF stories as gobsmacking as some of these but I do have an exMIL who will get hold of my DC Christmas lists before anyone else and cherry pick all the desirable, best gifts to buy. Leaving me and XH scrapping around for things to get that the DC actually want.

We have taken action and the DC now know to keep their lists secret from DGM

EvilDoctor I wouldn't wish Coeliac on anyone, especially a child, but if your DD's test comes back positive, just know that there are really wonderful GF products out there now (not like when I was Dx in 2003) and that you'll be able to find yummy versions of just about everything.

I hope so AcrossThePond, she's a fussy bugger.

EvilDoctor, you may find that the fussiness improves once she's gone gluten free (if indeed she is coeliac). DD1 was incredibly fussy until she was diagnosed, but then started to be more adventurous (although it did take a little time). My three DDs all have coeliac, so if you need any tips post diagnosis, feel free to PM me.

Sorry for the derail - I don't think I have any CF stories of my own, but have enjoyed reading everyone else's .

My OH Brothers Boyfriend! They have only been dating for around 6 months, we all recently went to my OHs step brothers 21st birthday party & we brought him a big designer present (£600 spent if that matters) as he's helped us a lot and it's a big birthday! And it was obviously a big treat for us/him!

We sent the generic what does everyone want for Xmas this year whatsapp group message about a week after, and received an interesting list from OHs brothers BF!

Burberry coat, Chanel shoes or a Gucci watch :/

Everyone's else's gifts were about £50!

showme - well you did demonstrate what you're willing to spend on gifts...

Spending a lot of money on a close relative for a major birthday is hardly in the same league as a present for a brothers very new boyfriend!

Hope you told him where to go Showme

My mistake. I'd missed that showme was talking about two different people. But the point still stands.

Just to say I have never had any cfuckeryness from anyone thank goodness all my relatives are very sensible and not grabby or selfish.

But my blood is boiling reading some of these posts, its hard to imagine such awful people who would do these things to relatives and friends!

Stick up for yourselves folks, tell them to go fuck themselves, your happiness is just as important as theirs, Xmas especially should be a time for family and if that means only you and partner and kids then so be it. Nobody is obliged to ensure someone else gets a free and fabulous Xmas without having to lift a finger to get it. You dont have to take that crap from anyone. Make Xmas 2017 to 2018 the year that cfery died a death.

I'm the only person in the family who has to work on Christmas Day, but my CF husband who can't/won't cook has invited six people to come and stay in my house, including two I've never met before and have no desire ever to meet, and one who has been refusing to talk to me for the past year.
I've told him that he can take them all out to the pub and when I get in from work I'm bolting the door.

What was his response to that, poisoning?

Well done poisoning !

Elephants I get the impression that he knows he's better off at the pub than in the house when I'm pissed off

poisoning

WTAF?
6 people over Xmas you dont know or like!!!

Tell him to go stay with them somewhere else and keep out the house until they leave. I would rather be on my own than have people staying I dont know or who wont even speak to me! He is a complete dick!

Got to be honest willow, husband doesn't sound like a cf he sounds like a twat.