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Christmas

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Original poster

What will you do different next Christmas?

147 replies

MsMiaWallace · 26/12/2022 18:07

Mine would be a different venue for Christmas Eve dinner.
We went for carvery this year & the place was scruffy!

OP posts:
Luredbyapomegranate · 27/12/2022 00:32

Eat a bit earlier, to avoid the younguns drinking too much too early.

YolayCaprese · 27/12/2022 00:37

Not have D&V for fucking starters.
Have agreed my parents will host next year, sick of being run ragged doing everything while DP moans that the house is untidy and does fuck all to help me.
Also sick of buying all presents and wrapping them

crossstitchingnana · 27/12/2022 06:58

Not do so much in the kitchen. Not sure how I would manage this as Xmas dinner is a lavish affair. I'm sick of spending 5-6 hours in the kitchen Christmas Eve and day. Then, no-one eats it all. I have so much food heading for the bin.

Now my dh has Covid so that's NY fucked.

KangarooKenny · 27/12/2022 07:01

Im going to get my kids two presents each and give them money instead of buying all sorts.
And I’m not going to get ill next year !

Bottlesofhot · 27/12/2022 07:06

I need to take more time off before Christmas. I don't function well at this time of year and I think taking time off before Christmas would have been a good idea. Instead I ended up so stressed and had a headache for three days. I definitely think I should have more of a plan around presents, it started off well but work got super busy and I could just about cope with getting through the day.

midsomermurderess · 27/12/2022 07:13

Go away!

SHNBV · 27/12/2022 07:26

Have Christmas Plates to serve the roast on. This year is the first year I’ve dressed the table and it made a huge difference to the feel of meal. We have a small business near us who helps you to design your own plates, so we’re going to create one each for next year and I’ve also purchased three wreaths for the dinning room window to help with the dressing for the meal too.

We had the roast on Christmas Eve and then went out for an Indian on Christmas day which worked well.

00100001 · 27/12/2022 08:21

crossstitchingnana · 27/12/2022 06:58

Not do so much in the kitchen. Not sure how I would manage this as Xmas dinner is a lavish affair. I'm sick of spending 5-6 hours in the kitchen Christmas Eve and day. Then, no-one eats it all. I have so much food heading for the bin.

Now my dh has Covid so that's NY fucked.

Of no-one eats the dinner, why are you spending so much time on it?

Keep it simple, one course and only what gets eaten

evilharpy · 27/12/2022 08:31

My mum (elderly and quite set in her ways) spent the day with us and stayed till about 10pm. My husband offered to play chauffeur as I was cooking, but couldn't have a drink till she left. He didn't mind at all but I know he'd have liked a few drinks on Christmas Day. Next year I'll try and talk her into staying over. No big thing though, we all had a nice day.

Ragwort · 27/12/2022 08:38

Not spend three nights away .. too long, too intense, too much talking .. just want to be back in my own home.
The decision to have no presents (no DC) worked really well, will do that again.

NewMoonPhase · 27/12/2022 08:54

MyBooksAndMyCats · 26/12/2022 18:14

I'm going out for Christmas dinner next year, I'm not spending another sodding year cooking.

I'm wondering about this!

hopeishere · 27/12/2022 08:56

I've had a nice few days but didn't feel very "Christmassy". I'm not really sure why though.

We both have small families so only do anything on the day itself no hosting on Boxing Day.

Sparklefoof · 27/12/2022 09:04

Not catch covid hopefully! I managed to enjoy Christmas Day but the rest of it has been a total wipe out, still feeling dizzy and vomity and back to work tomorrow 😭

shuttheblindsintheevening · 27/12/2022 09:04

Move out! Grin

HelloTreacle9 · 27/12/2022 09:04

Get caterers or cold buffet food for our Christmas party so I can relax and talk to people instead of being a sweaty mess getting tray after tray of canapés out of the oven. Accept an invitation to sibling’s house for Christmas Day so I don’t have to cook. Get on a plane on Boxing Day to somewhere warm instead of hosting whole family for the third day in a row. It’s unexpectedly been a lot after an exhausting year at work!

Willmafrockfit · 27/12/2022 09:09

we didnt ahve brandy for the christmas pudding, so i will make sure i buy it and not ask ds to
try a different vegetarian meal, i think this one was too sweet
itwas was very impressive to look at though www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/jewelled-squash-chestnut-mushroom-wreath

and actualky i think although we had chicken this year, which was very nice, we may revert to turkey next year.

Willmafrockfit · 27/12/2022 09:10

not have my dm!
i imagine she will go to my sister next year!

GiltEdges · 27/12/2022 09:13

We’ve decided to go away from the 23rd-27th. We’ll be staying in a nice holiday cottage by the sea and taking my DMum with us, as she always comes to us for Christmas Day. We’ll also go out to a pub/restaurant for Christmas lunch rather than cooking at “home”. Can’t wait not to have to accommodate everyone else’s wishes for us to be here, there and everywhere visiting and/or calling in on us unannounced!

Runningintolife · 27/12/2022 09:14

I don't love hosting but I am a good cook and our parents are not getting any younger so it's harder to justify skipping a year and going on holiday instead which we do sometimes (they do have other children but we are the default). If I can persuade the dc to be available Christmas eve then we might cook then and do buffet Christmas day. Or get them to cook.

AmberGer · 27/12/2022 09:16

Forgot to add a few things to our shopping list. I would have noticed/ remembered had I have shopped but I sent Dh and he stuck to the list. Can't fault him for that! Will add to list for next year.
Other than that, it's been perfect and wouldn't change a thing.

JosephFrancis · 27/12/2022 09:16

I won't buy anywhere near as much/anything for my husband until I know he's actually bought me something. Was proper heartbreaking to have nothing and watch everyone else open theirs

mumonthehill · 27/12/2022 09:17

Not buy so much cheese, cheese biscuits, chocolate. I seem to think I am feeding the 5000 and not just 6!!!

wonderingpondering1 · 27/12/2022 09:18

I should have take time off before Christmas Day, first year with DC in primary school and I was sooobtired by the day. Also, I’m warming more and more to going out for Christmas Day meal, somewhere really nice and special - relaxing, no cooking, no washing up. Don’t know if I will get DH on board though as it’s quite a change!

Hibernatalie · 27/12/2022 09:31

Less booked in the lead up - go with the flow a bit more. BUT something more substantial on Christmas Eve - like a trip to the West End or maybe Panto.

Christmas day/Lunch at my mum's. Felt too quiet just us this year, whereas previous years it has been perfect.

Ice skating on NYE instead of in between.

Boxing day to 30th just chilling at home, eating, playing etc. Going out to run off steam when we want.

Be more selective with kids' gifts and plan better what to open when. I'm making a list of this year's hits and misses.

Don't let DS eat too much chocolate.

QuietYou · 27/12/2022 09:33

I usually buy too much cheese and the older DC complain we have too much cheese and not enough chocolate.
This year I was conservative with cheese and bought loads of chocolate and the eldest is moaning about fancying cheese and crackers and there not being much choice, meanwhile there are uneaten chocolates all over the place.
I would like to not have to go to PILs on Christmas morning as it really messes up my dinner timings but I don't know how to avoid it, the only alternative seems to be to have various in laws 'popping' in all day which is just as annoying.