Can't be arsed with Christmas

[hairymuffet]

Is it just me?
As I get older I can't be bothered
I used to love it all
The excitement, shopping, wrapping
Putting up the tree
I'm putting the tree up today and I can't be arsed with any of it

Seriously cannot wait for January and the return of normal life

This x100

on a downer this morning....other years have " managed" it doin my head in now though,

Have put on a load of weight so cant wait for some normality to return.

I think it's a bit if a thing to want to "create memories"

People(mostly mums) set themselves ridiculous expectations.

It is silly and a shame to get stressed about something that ought to be fun and relaxing.

for all who have been bereaved and are missing loved ones.

I usually love the whole run up to Christmas and everything that goes with it but I'm struggling this year. I had a hip operation on Tuesday and I'm barely mobile and in a lot of pain. I missed my last week of uni and a night out with friends, I'm missing a party this evening that DH and the DC's are going to, my gran came out of hospital yesterday, my lovely mum who is run ragged looking after us all is laid up with flu and I can't do anything to help anyone. The house is a tip, there's a ton of presents to wrap, shopping to be bought etc and all I can do is sit and dictate observe from the sidelines. And it's my birthday on Wednesday.

On the plus side, I'm learning to use my crutches as a pair of giant chopsticks, useful for picking things up off the floor when you can't bend over.

Just started a similar thread on AIBU. I can't be arsed either. I don't think the tree with the baubles looks pretty - can't wait for it to come down and it's only gone up this morning. Children have been squabbling and in tears over the placement of the baubles.

I loathe the whole build up from Bonfire Day onwards, the crappy Christmas songs, the competitive consumerism, the waste, the whole NONSENSE of the whole thing. Don;t even get me started on modern shite like elf on the shelf.

Would quite happily disappear off to a nice warm country where life carries on as normal through the "festive period" and return to the UK on Jan 3rd when life can finally get back to normal.

I know most people on Mumsnet are suspicious of church but my recommendation is find a carol service at your local church this evening - bet it'll be at around 6ish. Go to that. See if it its an antidote to the commercial version. They'll probably give you a mince pie as well at the end.

I'm not suspicious of church but am in no way religious - so going to a carol service would be an extremely odd thing to do.

I'm not religious either Luna.

Monroe, I hope you are well on the mend, how are things going? I'm not sure I advocate crutches as chopsticks but I am a clumsy clot anyway so when I was on crutches I had the potential to be a disaster - i only reigned it in by doing nothing!!

I am looking forward to getting the shortest day out of the way - but that said, the fog and mist is so bad here, I am not sure it makes much difference! Sun due on Tuesday allegedly and then not for another week it seems.

some years I leave Xmas cards up for a couple of days - tiny flat so only tiny space - but this year I've literally opened them and just binned them after. I don't even have the energy to whine about the usual child scribbly crap card that some schools like to do.

I've been binge watching Whitechapel, I have seen it before but it's good so I thought I'd revisit. It is very dark but it is a good drama and kind of good to be absorbed in something sinister when so much Christmas crap abounds. Back in the office tomorrow but not expecting many people to be in. also hope rush hour will be quieter?

Luna, re the warm country - when my parents are gone I'm doing that but I wonder if the sensible thing, to avoid crazy prices, is to actually return just before Xmas, or even on Xmas day and stay in an airport hotel or something. The problem with going away for Xmas is def the cost. I nearly did it with sis and cousin when folks were in better health but we ended up going first week of Jan because the prices were shocking!

I once went on holiday early Dec which was quite good too. Miss the worst bit in many ways.

Before we had kids DH and I went to Paris one Christmas. All of the restaurants were open in the area near where we were staying, we had a lovely day wandering around the city. It is very expensive to go away at this time of year though even in the UK - I looked at a 3 night break in Center Parks starting the Friday before new year and it was £1500. Gulp.

yes, when we went in early Dec, we went to California and returned on the 20th - if we had gone over into the following week, I think the hotel rooms cost triple what we paid. I don't even want to know what the flights would have been.

I wouldn't mind spending Xmas Day in Central London but as we all commute there, no one else fancies it! But I tend to avoid it when not in for work and think it would be nice to wander about on a quiet day. I'd also be happy to take a sarnie whereas sis/cousin want tons of food on Xmas Day.

oh food reminds me - I still don't understand how Xmas turned into such a major consumer issue when it's meant to be one fecking day. And how people have to have certain foods etc and have to feast etc.

for those new to the thread, my mum is poorly so I'll be there and will make sure dad gets most of the day off as he is having to do most of the caring - but I'm glad to have a day that isn't about food etc and will probably spend a bunch of time on here and clearing their garden.

of course I'm sorry mum is poorly - but she keeps apologising, whereas I never enjoyed the Xmas spent with other family doing tons of Xmas shit. I'm much happier just to sit and cuddle mum when she's awake!

I was really looking forward to it, have lots of plans lined up and for the first time been really organised. Then had a bad first scan on Friday and am now in inscrutiating limbo so Christmas just seems pointless :(
Struggling to feel festive.

Hate the idea of having to put on a jolly front when all I want to do is stay home, eat chocolate and distract myself with trash tv.

Sorry for everyone who has had losses, this time of year is always hard for missing people.

I'm on the mend, I hope!, slowly but surely, thanks Loelei76 Getting very fed up already of sitting around feeling unproductive but not a lot else I can do at the moment. DH and DC'S are out at another Christmas party. I think I am still feeling the after effects of the GA so doing a bit more sitting. Best wishes for your mums health

hey rum, I feel for you

Glad you're feeling better Monroe, GA can be weird.

I'm sorry, this is more of a SAD rant than an Xmas one but I have literally just walked the five minutes to the gym, then came back. I love working out but today I can hardly remember what my name is and I just knew I couldn't face it. It's the thick of the dark period where there's no point doing anything for a while. So annoying.

Saw your link in another thread Lorelei.

Have felt xmas anxiety building all week and had a little bit of a cry today. It's all shit and I cannot wait for January which can only be better.

Very mixed feelings. Have spent recent years trying to create an amazing xmas for kids which I didn't do well as marriage got increasingly shit. First year separated this year. Should be a happy one as I've left but instead I am really missing being part of a family. My in-laws are having big celebrations and then there's me. So the whole it's not about the big pile of presents its about family doesn't help.

So there's my rant.

I will likely be busy xmas day but around in the evening.

Sorry for those who have had very tough times.

hope your anxiety goes Yosh

I've just realised, for the first time in years I'll be alone when travelling on the Tube on Xmas Eve. Previous times when I've been alone have included:

a very drunk woman giving me a long and detailed set of instructions on how to make Irish coffee, interspersed with so many drunken hugs I lost count but luckily was sitting down as her alcohol fumes overwhelmed me. She made me promise I would never ever make Irish coffee differently than from her instructions (which I don't remember anyway)

a very drunk man telling me how much he didn't want to spend Xmas with his family

a very drunk woman on crutches, with hefty bags, who told me all her woes (fair enough) then turned out to be walking the same way as me when we exited the station and insisted she didn't need help and didn't want to delay me where I was going (a 10 min walk for me so helping someone along with crutches would add, what, 20 mins max to the journey?) So I couldn't even walk her to a house that was a stone's throw from my parents' house. Ach well.

Oh dear, can you travel early to avoid the drunk folk? Or does that prolong the Xmas experience.
Sorry your parents are in poor health.

Been rereading the thread and feeling bad for moping.

I've just realised that I've probably had pmt . Always catches me out.

I remember waitressing and making perfect Irish coffees that then "sank" on way to the table and having to turn back. Torturous. Haven't had one in years.

How does Irish coffee sink? I guess I should have listened to the lady!
I travel around lunchtime, that's early enough! I'd really like to go later but mum would be upset.

have you seen the thread where people list enormous meals? What the hell is wrong with them.

It's all about the food for us. We only have 1 meal a day but it takes all day.

How does Irish coffee sink?

It needs the right amount of sugar to stop the cream sinking and mixing with the coffee and whisky.

Yes, it was the cream sinking into the coffee. I remember pouring softened whipped cream over the back of a spoon to get it on top.

randomer that thread must make for tough reading, especially given your volunteering.

I helped at Crisis shelters a few Christmases and it's difficult to be ok with the excess after that.

A family member emailed me ideas for Christmas presents which included, some bright scarves, don't need to be good quality, only need to last a few months. I couldn't quite believe they had written that.

Yes, it was the cream sinking into the coffee. I remember pouring softened whipped cream over the back of a spoon to get it on top.

That's cheating! I was taught to do it by pouring double cream over the back of a spoon into the swirling coffee.