this is how I want my Chrtistmas day to be:

[LibraryBook]

A series of thoughtful but inexpenisve giftlets that have been exquisitely wrapped, a series of nibbles plates, the odd glass of champagne, frequent cups of really good tea. Not much moving off the sofa apart from a proper walk mid-morning. Lots of chatting and poking the fire (even though ours is gas). Lots of friends and family calling in with inexpensive giftlets, a plate of figs and goats cheese rolled in pancetta, a bottle of fizz and a newly learned magic-trick.

I am so over the Christmas dinner what with all the getting up at 6am, peeling, sautéing and frequent basting.

Dreddin it already. Innit.

Is there a reason why it can't be?

I take exception to the word "giftlet".

Greetings

Ditto but with REALLY GOOD TV. None of this falling asleep in front of mediocre Dr Who rubbish.

Also board games.

Also no family squabbling (adults I'm talking about you!).

It would be nice to have one Christmas where my Mum doesn't go running off to her tit of a boyfriend and then moaning she hasn't seen us all holiday

I quite like the sound of that actually.

This year DS (4) will be with his dad so it'll just be me and DD(12).

I'm undecided about doing the usual family christmas or taking us both off for a grown up city break with posh dinner in a restaurant.

'Giftlet?' Oh no. I want a pony.

My DP is meeting and staying with some of my relatives for the very first time this Christmas.

He's immensely shy. Any tips?

My DP is meeting and staying with some of my relatives for the very first time this Christmas.

He's immensely shy. Any tips?

You don't need frequent basting when you brine. Innit?

Prosecco, Love Actually and Muppet Christmas Carol, posh nibbles and toys for DD. Sorted.

I'd like to get up and open pressies under a glittering tree with Xmas carols playing serenely. There would be no mess from wrappings and toys would come with batteries and in paper bags with no shackles.
Dinner would be cooked perfectly, again making no mess and the kitchen would remain a cool and calm place.
There would be plenty of room on the table and a plethora of matching chairs.
Dinner would be leisurely eaten not scoffed and nobody would eat until they were nearly sick.
There would be no bickering or farting.
Table instantly cleared away and dishwasher emptied.
Parlour games would then be played happily until a cold buffet.
We would all be in our Xmas clothes looking like a catalogue family.
Yeah right!

Argh!!! We haven't had Halloween yet.

I would like less stuff. Fewer, smaller presents for everyone. Each year everyone goes mad with presents and it's just silliness.

6am to start peeling?

You're having dinner waaaay to early.

pensandpaperclips get him to bring something that will engross and distract everyone. One year we had musical crackers that kept everyone busy for hours.

Like this.

Eat later! We have a brunch type meal at 11, then Christmas dinner at about 4 - 5. Much more chilled, with the added advantage that you can send children to bed after dinner and slump on sofa with wine (assuming children are young).

Haha, brilliant idea! Thanks MrsTerry

Christmas Christmas come on now we haven't had Halloween yet.

As for the above I wish but I want Dr Who too.

As for starting the lunch/dinner at 6am tad early or is it just you that does the cooking as I rope in hubby and the turkey is done the night before, well in all honesty we have loads organised before the event as the lunch is the event for us.

LibraryBook I just reread your post, whilst playing something tinkly and dreary by Katie Mellua and / or Gabrielle Applin and you seem to have written this years John Lewis Christmas ad. Bravo

I'll settle for no one killing each other this Xmas - first Christmas Day with the in-laws, who don't exactly react well after 12 hours cooped up together, and a toddler, in the least child-friendly, trinket and ornament heavy house you have ever seen.

Oh, and Doctor Who better be good.

On our own. No in laws. Had them here every bloomin year for 20 years

Do your vegetables the day before. I have mine all prepared on Christmas eve. I cook the roasties the day before and the stuffing. Makes life a lot easier.

you have gone for what Elizabeth David used to want.

LOL @ no farting, will you issue eveyone with a cork on arrival?

Second eating late. Smoked salmon sarnies for lunch. Proper dinner at 6 if kids are young, 7 if not. with wine.

you could always buy one of those M&S turkey crowns like my sister does and then it only takes an hour anyway

We always make sure gifts to each other include newly released DVDs that we haven't seen before and can put on if tv becomes really dire.

DS will just be 2, last year and this year will be will be identical:
Wake up with DS
Unwrap presents
Breaky
Skype family in Australia
Play with/put together presents
Prepare lunch (about 1hour)
Eat lunch
Snooze with DS
Go for a walk
Skype family in UK
Light snack dinner crackers and cheese, pickled onions, Christmas chocolate)
Watch Christmas film
Put DS to bed, open alcohol, put on Die Hard (1)
Pass out under blanket on the sofa covered in chocolate after a Christmas Day sofa shag

Might go to in-laws Boxing Day, but usually NYE. Kings' Day (6th January) is huge in Spain, so, on the night of 5th, we watch the three kings on boats come into the harbour and go right through town on floats chucking out sweets to the kids. Then go home and eat our faces off! I hope they have someone from Sengal this year as one of the kings, not just a local in black face

Its easy here - dh and I exchange presents and give ds his (in our bed). We eat pancakes or something else treaty for breakfast, then during the day we eat whatever we've decided on (nothing high impact at all, and may include a dessert meal), go for a walk/cycle, watch what we like, wear what we like.

At PILs on boxing day, we will get a few presents, and then thats it. This year, I'll buy for ds from my parents, wrap them and take them for him to get from them when we see them. He'll get 7 presents that aren't from us total, so no tat.

Your Christmas sounds lovely.
The first year our little family stayed by ourselves (as opposed to travelling to my parents'), both our dcs napped for two hours after lunch (just smoked salmon, cheese, biscuits, olives) and we had champagne and watched a film! It was lovely, paradoxically the most grown-up-feeling Christmas I had had for years although the reason we weren't travelling was because I didn't feel up to all the driving with the littles. The four of us had a little, easy, delicious roast chicken at 5pm and it was effortless. I would do it again like that in a heartbeat - but that year mil was abroad, etc, I don't think it will ever be just us again - and even if were, the chances of any child napping are rapidly approaching zero.

Xmas dinner should not be a chore.

Do a pud you can do a few days in advance (trifle/choc log) or better still buy one!

Pop in a joint of beef/ turkey crown/ salmon or what ever you like.

Pre-prepped stuffing/roasties/veg/gravy/mince pies from M&S or waitrose. Just bung in oven when needed.

No hassle and I get to spend all day with family rather than in the kitchen.