Christmas plans up the spout... so where do we start?

[wahwahwah]

No turkey, cake or mince pies. It really looks like we won't be getting to visit family (boo) this year and will be just the 3 of us at home.

Where do I start?

I also need some good Christmas Day plans to make the day go well ie so that I don't spend all day cooking, tidying up and cleaning (lke every other day really), and so that DS has a lovely day.

oh bugger! is it due to snow? can you get out to do your shopping? could you do an online shop?

"so that I don't spend all day cooking, tidying up and cleaning (lke every other day really)"

If you are NOT the only adult in the house, why would YOU be the ONLY doing these tasks?! I say this because you only refer to one DC.

I think if you could ensure some help, it'll cut down your workload, but ultimately, lovely Christmases don't happen WITHOUT work, whether you stay at home or go elsewhere. Perhaps you need to impress this on the 3rd person who lives in your home.

Can't you walk to get shopping? Where are you that it is so bad?

Sorry your xmas day has been messed up :(

We are in London, so we are ok for shopping - it's that the family is waay oop north and have been snowed in for 2 weeks already, so it's not looking likely that we will be able to get to them.

I only remember one Christmas we had in London (before kids) and it was wet, grey and boring. Not much family nearby (very few ILs but they don't do christmas).

Thank goodness we didn't decide to fly off this year!

I need to start making a list of things to get... And only one of us eats turkey!

Yes, I am the only one who does the cooking and cleaning around here! He really can't be let lose in the kitchen - makes a terrible mess, has very odd ideas about following recipes (or not as the case may be!) and spends most of the time banging and crashing about moaning about not being able to find anything and having things fall out of the cupboards on his head (ok, so I find that bit amusing).

can He be supevised making mince pies? with ready roll pastry and a jar of mince meat he cant go terribly wrong.

If only one of you eats turkey, why bother? If it was just our family and not extended family I would just get whatever meal we all liked to eat and dispense with "tradition". But get crackers and yummy nibbles you like etc

The cleaning and tidying can wait for a day can't it? Or, if you cook surely the He can do the washing up, dishwasher loading anyway?

Get croissants, muffins or whatever else you would find yummy for brekkie.

Things to do, get out for a walk, play silly games, watch trashy tv, play christmassy music? Thats what I want to do on xmas day.

don't panic.

Ultimately, it's just another day, so if you don't eat turkey then don't buy one. If you want a special dinner then buy another joint you can roast, otherwise just cook whatever you normally would do - the whole panic about christmas dinner is just overrated imo - it's just a glorified meal at the end of the day.

Then spend the day playing with the kids and their new toys, listen to christmas music, go for a walk.

Don't bother with the tv cause it's all shite.

This is the perfect opportunity to buy ready made things. Get things for the freezer in case you are stuck inside due to the weather. Choose what your family would like to eat, and make life easy for yourself. We are having roast chicken as we prefer it to turkey.

Do activities as Jumbs says. It will be fun with DS, he will just enjoy whatever the day brings. You can phone family for a chat if you feel a bit isolated.

3 of you - get a chicken, otherwise you'll be eating turkey for months. Buy the rest ready made from M and S. Or prep it Xmas Eve, there's a thread kicking about on here about what you can do ahead to save being in the kitchen much on Xmas Day. ( eg parboil potatoes, peel and prep veg etc ). Keep it as simple as poss, and eat what the 3 of you like. Take it as an opportunity to please yourselves.

Remember its your Christmas Day too, not just DS's. Make sure you have at least a bottle of your favourite tipple and nibbles in.

You don't say how old DS is - my DC are 4 and 7 and I have made a Christmas Pass the Parcel with forfeits ( eg eat a cold sprout, sing Jingle Bells etc ) as well as treats. Prize is a Christmas puzzle we can all do afterwards.

Get out - maybe Boxing Day, to the theatre or panto, go for a walk. Go for a curry! Again, take advantage of being in London and do stuff that you wouldn't do oop North - Tate Modern, museums etc will prob be quiet close to Christmas, a good day fro the ice rink? Go walking Christmas Eve to look at all the lights and look out for Santa's sleigh in the sky, then back for mulled wine for you and hot choc for DS. Get a Christmassy DVD on like the Snowman, Polar Express, whatever.

oh and I completely disagree about the telly on Xmas Day. Doctor Who is on at 6pm!!!!!

Have been waiting for months.....

just debating whether to venture oop north ourselves

sorry, meant to say if it was me I would go out to the local pub for lunch

If you're in London go to m&s and let them do it all for you

it's way too early to be cancelling things though

all the snow diwn south will be gone by Friday