What have you learnt from this Xmas that you'll take forward to next Xmas?

[Trudee]

I'm in bed on my phone unusually early for Christmas Day as I have learnt that staying with family for the festive period is not for me. As such I shall not be repeating the experience.
On the plus side I have learnt that having to cut down on dc's gift due to having to fit them in the car has been a great success and I will stick to a reduced amount in the future. I was concerned by the size of the pile lastnight but dc's really didn't care.
What will you all be taking forward from this year?

I'm going to write a letter to myself for about September to remind me-

1. Keep ONE list only for gifts as I forgot just that I'd bought and ended up with excessive amounts for the younger kids.

1. Go on worth. Not actual cost. Great bargains had...but I spent a similar amount and just got a tonne...see point one.

1. Remember the fucking parsnips!!

1. Try to relax a bit more... it isn't always perfect but it is always nice to spend the time together.

1. But little bits for the pocket advent calendar before Dec. Poor dd2 looked in three every day...but probably only got 12/13 out of 24!!

1. Buy only that dairy milk calendar that ds2 can open easily with no stupid foil...

1. Be organised so i can manage a run on Christmas Day...

Just to let DD open all her presents at once. I tried to space them out but she just kept asking to open another one. However once they were all opened she finally settled down and played with her new things.

To give DH an exact list of what I want - after 15 years he should know me well enough to make good choices, but he doesn't.

That i can reduce food shop by about 25%! Christmas dinner was spot on but the party food and nibbles were still overboard.

That DD was very happy with lots of small presents that reflect what she is interested in, she didn't miss the lack of "big present" and her face opening each gift was fabulous see.

That my dh is a bloody saint and I don't appreciate him enough.

He shopped and cooked for a houseful - and didn't stress for a second. He bought me lovely gifts including a weekend away somewhere swanky.

I completely take him for granted.

I learnt that jamie Oliver turkey gravy is to die for ! As are his roast potatoes :-)

Tom Kerridge carrots are too sweet

Tha my dc don't need so many presents,it's like a bloody toy shop

Centre parcs is lovely at Christmas but getting lost in the woods and walking around half the night trying to find our lodge is getting boring now

I really don't need to buy so much food

To not have Christmas with the cunt that masquerades as my mother ever again.
She's ruined several already, why I keep going back (or having her here) for more is beyond me.
Ungrateful, selfish, self centred bitch.
Mentally constructing a post fit for stately homes thread. It will be long. Long overdue too.
What a shit Christmas Day.

We ditched the entire family and had Christmas somewhere hot and just the two of us.

It was nice to not have to host but quiet. Too quiet. Won't do it again.

But because I'm not exhausted and still full we are able to make it out today to do some sale shopping. So next year I'm going to do all I can to make it easier for me so I don't feel like I need another week to get over one day.

Make a Master Food and Drink list and make sure all non-perishables are bought well before Christmas Eve. Stock up on soft drinks and mixers for cocktails (DH did the last-minute buying of veg, cream etc. on Christmas eve but because they weren't on the List he walked past them).

Notapizzaeater, it's not just his gravy. His parsnips are the best I've ever tasted. As are his carrots. In fact, most of our Christmas dinner was sponsored by Jamie Bloody Oliver. Best cook book we've ever bought.

Don't let dh help buying puddings. Profiteroles, fresh Yule log, bullion bars and a trifle is too much, even for me.
Buy sprouts for weirdo ds.
Don't stress, don't get up early. Remember where the fuck you put the orange juice.

Not try Brussels sprouts again! :p Seriously, it was an unexpected lovely day with family. What I will be doing next year however is not buy expensive, thoughtful gifts for extended family. There's only so many smellies sets you can receive. (No, they were not dropping hints!

Lessons learned:

1. To spend Christmas in future with chosen family rather than actual family

1. To not spend a fortune on friends' kids at Christmas to receive no acknowledgement of the gift at all, let alone any thanks (pattern of the past few years). Next year I'm getting them all a charity goat. Humph.

Pay a little more attention to dinner, was being laid back but forgot bacon roll ups and mini sausages, also forgot napkins.

Buy a full turkey the dc are getting bigger and we easily finish the breast roll now.

Less presents, try to talk dd1 out of her must have thing that she is bound to not play with.

More chilling out on Christmas Eve, it seemed busy and not very festive.

But we had a good day overall so very thankful.

Ive learnt that from now on we WILL be having Christmas Day at our house as no one else in the family has a big enough house.

I've also learnt that there's no point trying to have Christmas lunch the way we want, as MIL won't compromise. Next year we'll eat our type of food on Boxing Day.

I can't do with my hostess Trolly. The top oven isn't big enough.

Put presents in piles according to person.

Also agree on Jamie Oliver Christmas gravy. It was fab. Also his peach and chestnut stuffing was the best I've ever had.

Plan where things will go in the oven, to avoid last minute rearranging when I realise not everything will fit.

Don't bother buying chocolates/biscuits/sweets as guests will bring loads and we'll end up with more than we started with (by a bad problem to have!)

Don't go anywhere and don't have overnight guests! We stayed at home with friends coming for lunch and then others in the evening for drinks/cheese and it was wonderfully relaxed. Best Christmas I've had in ages.

Have chicken from butchers and not turkey. It was divine and half the cost and hassle.

Don't get a puppy if you want to sit on your arse.

16 year old daughters love to receive tweezers, socks and pjs.

Do treacle, not Xmas pud.

I spent the day on the plane, and due to various issues ended up in tears and had a panic attack, completely alone, at Heathrow.
20 hour layover later, I am about to board my final flight to get home to ireland to see my family!
I'd do it all again as it was so much cheaper to fly 9pm Christmas Eve, like $1000 cheaper.

To not buy anything for ungrateful family members who couldn't even pretend they liked the gifts even though I thought it was what they'd asked for, they clearly hated and I've woken up this morning still feeling tearful and hurt. I'm trying to just let it go.

Don't go on a mini break just before Christmas. Sounds lovely but we had a couple of very late nights getting everything ready without those handful of days at home. In general, get things done earlier to make it all a bit more relaxed.

That my dad will never ever be as festive as me so I shouldn't try.

And that although I love being with my parents for Christmas, once every three-four years is plenty.

Make breadcrumbs for stuffing and bread sauce by hand not in a food processor.

I don't enjoy hosting. Hosted for the first time fir a mix of both families. DH did most of the cooking and was great. But lots of comments from father in law about the fact we had no sprouts, not enough carrots etc. We told people to bring nothing but they all brought cheese (and then didn't fancy any after the meal) so in addition to what cheese we had we have a fridge full of it. On my feet all day tidying and getting drinks. Have a 2 yr old and 32 wks pregnant. Knackered!!!