AIBU to think it’s not me who’s ‘odd’

[NotOdd]

Apparently (according to bf) I’m odd, out of touch and not like “most people” because I think Sunday roast lunch as a regular standard default family event is normal and that about now is the time to start firming up Christmas plans in terms of guests etc.

Bf says he knows no one who regularly has a Sunday roast lunch or anyone who thinks about Christmas “this early”. He thinks this is because I come from a “backward” part of the country 🙄

I am genuinely confused because literally everyone I know (bf and his family aside) would have a roast Sunday lunch (not set in stone, other things may happen instead ie days out, bbq in the summer etc) and everyone I know either has, or nearly has, their Christmas plans settled. When I say ‘everyone’ I mean my whole family, my EXH whole family (going by knowing them for 20 years) and all my friends.

AIBU for thinking it’s not me who’s the ‘odd’ one?

We've had two roast type meals since Christmas and surely no one can firm up Christmas plans in a pandemic?

I am actually now thinking about Christmas!

I have a whole menu.

salmon and brown bread and quails eggs, turkey with bread sauce and all the trimmings then we have vanilla icecream and chocolate sauce and chooped fruit.

Boxing day is my fave though- I make a ham and serve it with cauli cheese, peas and cramberry sauce. I think Boxing day is the best.

This year I might do duck for Christmas dinner instead. But Boxing day never changes.

[happy sigh]

It is unusual that everyone you know has a Sunday roast though, I. Like most people on this thread, don’t know anyone who does other than occasionally although I guess more of us will remember our Parents or grandparents doing it.

The thing is if you wish to do it do it, but if the issue is your partner doesn’t want to have a roast every Sunday or would rather do other things, either compromise or spend the day apart.

We’re working full time so weekends we often go out or do stuff so cooking a roast only happens once a month ish. Last Sunday I really wanted a roast so we went to the local pub. We start planning who is hosting Christmas in September once dc are back at school. All other Christmas planning then waits until November.

Sunday lunch on Sunday is normal but even thinking about Christmas in July is bonkers

I could eat a roast dinner right now.
I live alone now so might do chops and potatoes veg etc like a mini roast

Bit early for Christmas yet for me.

Sunday roast here too, usually chicken - it's an easy meal because it does itself in the oven IMO. Usually eat it in the evening which means we can be out during the day. If we were going to be late back from an event I might pick something quicker to cook.

Same here on the roast front.

WRT Christmas, I am happy to think about it whenever. We don't really do much about planning, as such, but we always stay at home anyway. My in-laws join us if they're about (they've been invited to my SiL's house this year, so won't be here; it'll be just us 4).

I have to plan when we will visit my parents / family at some point and get a hotel booked. I'll probably think about that over the next month or so.

We always book the Santa train early in the year to avoid disappointment, and I booked Dunham Massey the other week, again to avoid disappointment.

I buy presents as and when I see them and look forward to the Christmas food offerings coming out in October.

In summary, I'm more of a vague planner - other than a few specifics - and tend to bring it all together towards the end of the year.

We love a Sunday roast. Like you, it reminds me of family Sundays as a child and has lovely cosy associations. We haven't started thinking about Christmas yet but I know plenty of people who plan very early (more to do with managing large or scattered families than social class). You are not at all odd, OP, but your DP might like to reconsider his class prejudices!

A Sunday lunch is completely normal and commonplace. Having one or not having doesn't mean you're 'odd' though. Calling someone 'odd' seems to be the passive aggressive trend atm.
He sounds like a tosser.

If you have family spread out across different parts of the country or in our case in different countries then you have to start thinking about Christmas plans early to decide who is going to fly where - who is hosting this year etc.

It doesn't mean you've started writing your Christmas cards out or created your shopping list.

Also we like to sometimes cook extra roast potatoes, veg, yorkies and stuffing and have it the next day as bubble and squeek. Delicious

We love a roast in our house and feel cheated if we try something different for a change
As for Christmas we’ve started thinking about it so not that weird

I already know where I'm spending Xmas. Don't currently do Sunday roasts regularly, and neither do most people I know, but for me that's because my circumstances don't currently allow it (Sundays are ultra busy) but I intend to bring it back once that is no longer the case. It's part of being family oriented to me, why would that be chavvy? Other cultures have routine family events where everyone gets together and it's part of the fabric of life, only in the UK would anyone label that chavvy instead of 'strong family culture'. 🙄 Though I do think it is fairly unusual these days for families to do this weekly.

I've honestly no idea what the rest of my family/friends eat on a Sunday. I rarely do a roast, I genuinely like them but Sundays can be busy & at the moment I choose to work some Sundays to avoid too much 'family time' .
I have given a bit of thought to Christmas, my parents are very elderly and for at least the last 15 years we always say 'this might be mum/dad's last Christmas' !!

HalloumiSalad why is roast meat family oriented though? That's so bizzare. My mother thought it was a compulsory aspect of proper family behaviour and it just became dreary and stressful because she was so fixated on ticking off so many rituals they became so limiting - no change from routine, church, Sunday roast and songs of praise at all costs, regardless of lovely weather and fancying something else. It was just depressing.

We eat together at the table most days, either lunch or dinner, whoever's home eats together. The whole family eat s cooked meal together at the table several times per week, most of the family every day (not always due to shifts, sports, kids at friends'). Not roasts though.

Nothing remotely special or family oriented about roast meat, potatoes and vegetables in particular.

I live by myself and still have a roast dinner every week. Saturday lunch though as I work on Sundays.

i get annoyed when shops start putting up xmas stuff in july /august theres no need esp this year

oh if someone wants to cook me a roast i'll have one it wasnt much of a thing growing up

I always had roast dinner on Sunday or chicken and rice around 7pm to 9pm

Its not a lunch for us.

And i haven't planned Xmas

Does sound like you're from the country but that isn't a bad thing

@ThreeImaginaryBoys

OP, I think it's lovely that you do roasts regularly because they remind you of your Mum. The smell of roast potatoes reminds me of cozy Sundays at home as a kid.

We roast most weekends in the autumn and winter. Not always on a Sunday, Saturday is good too. The kids love it and it means we have leftovers for the next day. And I love cooking so it's a pleasure for me.

I'm slightly alarmed to find out this makes me 'chavvy', mind you, not least because I cook roasts for guests a lot! I wonder if they're secretly judging me Or maybe they're just enjoying the food instead.

You're still bonkers about Xmas though, OP!

There is absolutely nothing in the least 'chavvy' about a roast.

I love a roast but hes right you are odd.

I agree about the Sunday roast.
Christmas is another matter.
I don't give it any thought until winter is firmly here.
I love summer and relish ever minute of it.

Growing up I've always had a roast on a Sunday and that's kind of followed me into adulthood and running my own home. My dad has always been a stickler for routine and would even have a roast even if it's 30 degrees outside (whereas I probably wouldn't).

My husband and I are both from fairly 'traditional' families who have always sat down at the table and eaten meals as a family and we both very much enjoy a Sunday roast with the family but we don't always have it at lunch time and it can vary from a home made pie, a joint, a chicken or toad in the hole but yep, pretty much every Sunday I cook a roast. I love cooking though and make really good roast potatoes so any excuse 😂

We sometimes have a roast on Sunday, never at lunchtime though. Xmas in July, no way. I’ll think about Christmas in November.

My mum was a great cook but didn't do roast dinners. ILs do them weekly but are terrible cooks. I do a roast every month or so, not necessarily on a Sunday.

I have started prep for Christmas, planning main presents for kids, and ensuring the friends who often come are going to again. Even if it means a fortnight quarantine after.