I'm just going to say it.

[MintyGlint]

I'm ready for Christmas now.

That glint of the winter sun early in a morning. You can see your breath but the sunshine makes everything sparkle.

The feeling in the air as shoppers wander home, it's already dark and everywhere glows with lights and candles.

The sound of schoolchildren singing carols at our local church.

The look on faces when they open gifts, cooking as a family. The drive between houses to see other family. Hot chocolate, warm slippers, tinsel.

My first Christmas as a mother. Waking up with my daughter every day.

Just me? It's probably just me.

[Badders123]

In fact I have already paid my deposit for my works Xmas do and have put the school Xmas concert dates in my diary.
Marvellous :)

[randomer]

its too weird that suggesting a bit of alternative has caused such feeling....now read about moral high ground....no way.

[thedaisymeadow]

Crass and thoughtless?

Ok sooty I can only assume you were recently bereaved over the Christmas period. If so I am sorry to hear it. I've had a lot of bereavements (none in the festive period thankfully) but now have a partner so sue me, I'm excited about Christmas. Although even when I did spend it alone I didn't begrudge anyone else their joy.

[SoupDragon]

how about everybody donates the money they spend on crackers and puts it in a fund. the interest could then be used for any number of things.....poorly puppies,people with no water,lonely elderly,rehab programmes

PMSL.have you seen interest rates??

[Badders123]

Soup... Yes that did occur to me!

[randomer]

I don't look for gifts under skips. I buy something nice for each family member and hope they have a good day.

[ilovesooty]

Yes daisy
Crass and thoughtless, and I stand by that. I was merely astounded that a functioning adult would be so limited in their thinking.
And there are others factors than bereavement that impact on people.

Nevertheless I do wish you well at Christmas. I never suggested others shouldn't enjoy it and I'm sure you'll have a lovely time.

[Badders123]

I wasn't actually referring to you randomer
I have a very rich aunt who favours giving chipped wine glasses from car boots as gifts...I guess she was the sort of person I was thinking of
Have a lovely Xmas everyone - and to those dreading the festive season I wish you peace X

[thedaisymeadow]

Well, I think you take offence ridiculously easily

(Is this why we have a Christmas board on here?! So people who like Christmas don't upset those who don't?)

[SoupDragon]

Yes, that is why there is a Christmas topic.

Whilst sooty's point was valid, I think she was unnecessarily rude.

[MollHackabout]

endless shop shop shop buy tat

Simple solution to that - don't do it! Christmas in our house isn't all about gifts - we do buy each other some thoughtful, not wildly expensive presents, but tat, never. It just clutters up the place, gets broken and is forgotten about come New Year. Same with decorations/crackers/cards etc - I buy mine in the January sales to get best value, and come October/November DD and I make some out of fir cones, foliage, etc.

Christmas is only as expensive/tat filled as you make it. It needn't be either, if you don't want it to be.

[thedaisymeadow]

Well, I DO sympathise greatly with those who find Christmas difficult; I do myself but still love it.

[ilovesooty]

Well that's your prerogative daisy. We don't all think the same way, thankfully. People's experiences differ and colour their thinking as you may discover in due course.

[randomer]

is crass like ass?

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

I find people who get over-excited about Christmas and who drone on about it for months on end very childish tbh not to mention dull .

Making special family traditions and discussing Christmas Eve menu three months ahead of time ... I mean come on!

Just want to disassociate the username Mintyy from this op and her sentiments - it is not grouchy old Mintyy from old :)

[thedaisymeadow]

... Or, maybe, some people are just rude

[ilovesooty]

I apologise for any offence Soup but the original comment I took issue with really did shock me

[ilovesooty]

Yes daisy
I considered your original comment rude but our perception of rudeness evidently differs.
We shall have to agree to disagree evidently.

[MollHackabout]

Well, I DO sympathise greatly with those who find Christmas difficult; I do myself but still love it

I've found Christmas terribly hard in the past. My mother died at Christmas; my DBro's birthday is at Christmas, and he's been missing for 16 years. However. I love it now - over the years, making new traditions with DD and DH while always remembering older ones has taken away much of the pain, but I allow myself a little cry now and again over the festive period. Those no longer with me are very much still part of the celebrations - tbh I feel them more closely at Christmas than at any other time of the year, and it's a lovely comfort.

to all those who find it difficult.

[LunaLoveg00d]

I find people who get over-excited about Christmas and who drone on about it for months on end very childish tbh not to mention dull

You and me both, Bibbity. It is a lovely warm day in Glasgow today and we've all been in the park catching Pokemon and eating ice cream. It's SUMMER.

I don't mind Christmas itself, but Christmas is the days surrounding 25th December, it doesn't start in fecking September. I cannot be bothered with people who just want to talk about coordinated trees, Elf on the Bloody Shelf and their Christmas Eve boxes. Bad enough in December, let alone summertime.

[MintyGlint]

I'm neither childish nor dull. Thanks though.

[peppercold]

It's not starting in September, that would be silly...there is no harm in looking forward to it and planning. If you so wish.

[Badders123]

...and yet when you see a thread about Xmas you feel the need to comment!?
Just ignore or hide the thread, surely?

[Merd]

Oh for goodness sake! I'll probably get flamed too here but there's no need to be grouchy over an op like this. Would people snap like this at a new mum in real life for having a happy daydream moment about an upcoming special time? MN has a really unpleasant vibe about it sometimes.

Chat is a forum for all types of, well, chat. If you can't handle seeing certain words on the Internet then it might be time to log off for a bit. I'm battling infertility but don't show up on every thread about babies or children demanding they're put into the parenting section as they're upsetting. I had a messed up upbringing but don't interrupt every "I love my parents" sort of thread. I can't stand weddings but don't snipe away on those ones, and wouldn't in real life either.

I really hope you and your little one have a special Christmas together Minty. It sounds like it's been a long journey for you to get there, and no matter what happens I'm sure it will be magical. Now's a great time to be planning - although we're definitely in for some heatwaves still; summer seems to stretch into October these days, and winter's never snowy or cold enough IMO!

[thedaisymeadow]

I was wondering if 'I can't wait for summer' in March would attract similar comments. I bet it wouldn't. It's a shame but never mind.