What was your worst Xmas ever? (Lighthearted)

[unmemorableusername]

Not a Phoebe Cates bad Christmas but daft bad Christmas's you can look back on & laugh.

My Mum invited me round but when I opened my gift from her it was a cookbook with an inscription saying go to page 125 (?). There was the recipe for roast goose (which I dont even like). She then sat back & expected me to cook the meal!

The time when everyone was ill so most stayed in bed and the food just got gradually eaten over the next week.

I was a big TT fan so I got a E17 CD as a present!

A CD when I didn't have a CD player.

An Amazon voucher when I had no home internet/PC/ pre smartphone days.

Chestnuts no one knew how to cook so they were just these hard rocks on a plate.

Teens refusing to dress properly so wearing shorts under the table.

The cat getting at the turkey carcass before the dregs get put in curry. The curry being made regardless.

Getting the car put in the pound on Christmas week because of an unknown rule.

Yeah in fairness they were. We can all
Laugh about it now but honestly

My light hearted one is known as custard gate in my family.
We were all staying at my Aunts lovely farmhouse, DM, DB & I, DGPs etc. 6 dogs between us. I was in charge of making the custard for trifle & the like. 6 egg yolks a go.
Made a batch, popped it on the floor of the study to cool (stone floor, unheated room) one DDog got in, custard gone.
2nd batch custard made. Dogs counted out of study, baby cousin let one in by accident. Custard gone.
3rd batch made & DUncle put it up high to cool.
18 egg Whites left over. DM made souffle & meringue. I've never made custard again.

Less lighthearted. Mum discharged herself from hospital on the 23rd where she was having a bunch of tests & was determined to have us all at hers for Christmas. I bought the train tickets for me & DC. Stepdad got covid on Christmas Eve so everything ground to a halt. Turned out to be Mum's last Christmas & she died on jan21st. Pretty crap that one.

Christmas 2009. I was 33 weeks pregnant with DS1. Christmas Eve I started throwing up. Couldn't keep even water down so exH called the OOH GP who sent me straight to A&E. Ended up on a drip, whilst given steroids to improve DS's lungs in case they had to perform an emergency c-section. Thankfully it passed by Boxing Day and DS went on to 39 weeks. But it was one to remember!

This one - dd(16) threw most of her presents back at me and has verbally abused me all day. She's the only person that I'll see today. She does have SEN and has been having a hard time recently - doesn't make it any easier

I'm feeling really ill anyway and struggling to function.

My dad was in A&E yesterday and is having funny turns - mum very stressed. I can't even visit because of DD

I found out a week ago that I'm probably losing my job.

Toss up between 1976 when the cooker blew up on Xmas Eve. No idea how my dad arranged a new one but he did and all was well, and 1992 which was the catalyst for a break up.

See my other thread in chat.

I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time. Fingers crossed something improves in the next few days.

Thank you @MotherOfCatBoy it does help to share it!

My Ex and I had a 'Waifs and Strays' Christmas one year in our one bedroom flat - for local friends who had work commitments, couldn't travel long distances or didn't have anywhere to go. Without any help from EX I prepped, decorated, shopped, managed to elongate the table by adding a Wallpaper hanging table, used every chair, arm chairs propped up with back and sofa cushions, created more seating devices out of a Pouffe etc. I even think someone happily perched on a step ladder . . . They and EX congregated at the Local which did that thing of being open from12 to 2pm for regulars; Roast Potatoes and Mince Pies on the Bar. I obviously stayed at home, keeping an eye on things and patting myself on the back re timings and taking into account any delays - I'd factored in time for nibbles e.g Smoked Salmon, Blinis with (fake) Caviar, spiced nuts and Bellinis whilst we relaxed and waited for the main event. Except EX decided to join in with Landlord's proposed lock-in. Despite our guests saying we really have to get a move on (before time of Mobiles), my EX was one of those tossers who always said 'after the next one'; serious issues of FOMO. There was loads of drink at home. Needless to say, I'd dragged in loads of booze in prep (had to try and hide from the twat but cleaning, under the kitchen sink and airing cupboards were areas he would never venture into plus a nifty unscrewing of the Bath panel provided some hidey holes for red wine, Port, Brandy, Cognac etc.). By the time everyone rolled in the very expensive Organic Turkey looked like a Porn Star; legs akimbo.They'd had a couple of Roast Potatoes and Mince Pie in the Pub but were stuffed to the Gills with copious amounts of Guinness followed on by knock off Baileys. Landlord must have been very happy on his expense re ASDA's cheapest frozen Mince Pies / Roast Potatoes versus massive customer drink expenditure; give them a free knock off Baileys and happy to hand over even more cash! On their return I had to deal with drunk Anorexic (Big Gins, slimline Tonic) who would 'helpfully' clear (throw) the food away before anyone had had a chance to help themselves or be served - just as I'd placed pre-warmed plates, carved Turkey, and multitude of sides on the Table(s). Needless to say, the most activity that late afternoon was the queue for the one loo as the Guinness and Baileys re-merged. Ex went to bed before I even got out the flamed (posh shop bought) Pudding. Yes, it sounds like I had martyrdom syndrome but it was just the way I was brought up - to be a gracious hostess. Guests weren't a problem; Twat was.

Ds2 now 14 was legendary as a small child for starting the Christmas holidays with whatever bug was going around nursery or school and being ill on Christmas Day.
there was the Christmas he had one sip of Irn Bru ONE SIP. and projectile vomited across the living room painting the carpet and sofa orange. Or the one where he was unwell and everyone went to in laws on Boxing Day and him and I had a snuggly day on the couch.

The worst was one where we were all ill with a flu bug. None of us got dressed at all Christmas Day we spent it together under duvets and the only thing we ate between the 5 of us was a handful cheese and crackers and a pepperoni pizza for dinner. We were still shattered at new year but well enough to have our Christmas dinner on 1st January.