While our Christmas tips are still fresh in our minds share them now ready for next year....

[SlightlyMadShrek]

My best one is lost in my brain, but here are the boring ones...

1. Need to entertain the DCs for the last few days before Christmas while you get sorted? Give them a pencil sharpener and their box of pencils - you may need to hoover afterwards but 2hrs+ peace (if you have confiscated the sharpener for the other 364 days )
2. Set the dinner table Christmas eve. One less job to do Christmas day...

1. Remember to have one's mother bumped off in the run up so that she doesn't have to stay ever again

2. Failing that, pretend you've gone on holiday.

Bitter? me?

Remember to buy lots and LOTs of Calpol, Nurofen, Tixylix, honey and lemons, headache tablets and a bigger bottle of Tia Maria!

Avoid any members of the family by unplugging the phone, closing the curtains and having no lights on

Remember that although it's christmas noone will care how much time and effort you put into it esp the dc!

They will still be mardy overtired and your dp will probably get totally drunk with your dad not be able to eat his xmas dinner and you will spend xmas afternoon hissing at said dp

"you bastard you ruined Xmas day"
Whilst trying to fit together numerous toys for 5 dc

bitter moi ?

Oh go on then, I'll join in! (Mybe I'll win the car - now wouldn't that be funny! )

Remember to check when the recycling men are coming, so it doesn't look like your an alcoholic until they come back this week!

Likes Scamps tip, defo be trying that one!

AT work christmas party, don't get so sloshed on wine that you burst into tears, run up to your hotel room, decide to sober up by getting into a freezing cold bath fully dressed, realise it isn't working so climb out of bath and take off skirt, then crawl to the phone in your thong and top to croak to receptionist "call an ambulance, I actually think I'm going to die", then lay on teh floor just in time for your DH, member of staff and two colleagues to worriedly check on you.

Remember the DC's have no interest in helping to decorate the tree. Forget any notions of carols playing while the children carefully arange the bauballs, DH puts down his mullled wine to pick up the youngest so she place the angel on the top of the tree. They give a s**t, and life isn't a Disney movie.

oh yes LS

don't bother trying to make the Christmas cake with the children. They WILL argue about whose turn it is to mix, whilst nicking all the cherries

I'm assuming this happened when you were 17 not this year MamaG!!! You nightmare!

start early, say bits n pieces from june onwards. by say nov your done apart from fresh food n other essentials. have a bag or box ready to put wrapping paper in so u can dispose of. try to stay calm i know it very stressful time of yr but only 1 day don't panic

2005 actually

Don't buy everything early trying to be organised because everything is half price in Argos and Woolworths in December!

convert to Islam/judaism/sikh etc

then you don't have to worry about any of it