All I Want For Crepemas Is Youth

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Phew

The thing I always wish is that it would be so nice not to remember anything the next day. I always remember every tiny excruciating detail.

I have just screamed at the DDs to get off their arses and help me.

Observe the quite frankly impressive gingerbread tree created by Head Chef and control freak DD1 and General Bottle Washer DD2.

I have never been excruciatingly drunk

CV, that tree looks fab, and definitely worth the trip to Asda. We have Nigella's Christmas Morning Muffins on Christmas Day, but they are sweet. Ham and cheese muffins are good - maybe I'll make some of them too.

MI, your DH has gone up in my estimation - hunting and fitting an oven Way more than my DH could/would do!

MrsS, well done for getting your DD's to help out. We arrived back to find our lovely cleaner finishing off here

We have had a lovely day on our annual Christmas Eve lunch and theatre with a bunch of family friends. Kinky Boots was a big hit with all, including the teen boys - DS said it was "decent" which means good
The DC are currently trying to help DH switch his contacts onto his new IPhone 5 which he bought from a mate for £80!

Wow, CV that's amazing. Could you send your dd here please?

I am done. I had to hoover round the slumped figures of dd and Dh. Place is still a building site. miL due any minute for wine and a mince pie. Not mulling as everyone turns their nose up at it.

Everything is standing by for tomorrow, but Dh has to make a pavlova tonight. He started finished his shopping at 1pm which is a record for him. Last and minute are his middle names.. Cue me having a panic attack and thinking of the year that his family all got voucher cards from The petrol station.
[santa]

CV - I'm seriously impressed by the gingerbread tree.

I fall asleep when I've had two glasses of wine so am also a pretty pathetic drunk. We have had prawns, coquilles st jacques, wine, buche de noel and now are slumped on the sofa. I will tackle turkey etc tomorrow with help (I hope) from the DD's.

Happy Christmas Everybody.

Ho ho ho, crepeys. Just returned from Christingle service, which was lovely, if rather religious, oddly, and with a new, happy clappy song of which I did not approve. All the children went to the front, apart from DS who always wants to stay with me.

Welled up rather when all the darlings had their candle lit and sang Away In A Manger. DS sang with such gusto and heartfelt meaning that I got all choked.

Rose, you'll know. DS absolutely LOVES going to the theatre, laughs at all the jokes, even those for the adults, and is entranced by the whole thing. But is very shy, and refuses to perform in any shape or form. He'd probably be very good behind the scenes - is there a good 'yoof' kind of theatre for ones as young as him? The ultimate would be the Hackney Empire, as he's been there and loved it...

Hallo Crepeys.

Am seriously impressed by that gingerbread tree, CV.

Very quiet here today & if I am honest a bit miserable. I miss DS like mad at Christmas as he was always so much of the party spirit of it. But his job, in the French Alps, is tied into to Christmas & the tourists. And 10 years ago I would never, ever have thought he'd be in the happy place he is now.

So all is good & I have had my annual weep & have dried up the tears & am fine now. (Should not have listened to Carols from Kings)

DH has got a cold & has offered to sleep in the spare room tonight!! Could be my best Christmas present ever!

Have a wonderful day tomorrow - my glass willbe (silently) raised to all of you. Even though I've not met any of you, which I hope to remedy in 2016.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!

Curry, wine, gearing up for tomorrow.., I have a badly written list, I am working on getting the turkey in the oven and then worrying about the veg after that......

Seen Jim Broadbent et al - alpha plus. Exchanged and opened presents with the family friends we went to the theatre with. Must stay awake for stockings...

Happy Christmas!

Ach, you guys, Happy Crepemas! Herbs, you made me well up there, talking about ds singing. What a wee pet.

Happy Christmas one and all and many thanks gor the crutches, props, laughs, wise words, companionship, love, support....

My lovely crepeys couldn't do it without you!

Yo, happy crepemas - and thanks for thinking of me. Due to mucho fancy parenting footwork on my part, dd has at least declared a Christmas Eve truce. I am daring to be optimistic that this may continue for Christmas Day and the visit to dm's for Christmas lunch. Coz yes, once again, Dm is catering for 9 and doing both a turkey and a vegetarian alternative and all us middle-aged and younger parasites will pitch up and lick our plates clean in appreciation. Maybe when I'm 85 I'll be doing the same (not).
I will not fill you in on the dd details. After all, it is Christmas. And as she is smiling right at this current moment and hasn't done or said anything odd for about 6 hours, I'm giving myself the evening off angst.
Re: Dds and genderfluid friends - dd has a very lovely friend with whom I am friended on FB and I have just unwisely liked and commented on his newest profile pic, unfortunately registering slightly too late that he doesn't seem to be wearing any clothes. Nice lipstick, though...

Great to see that DD has let-up for a bit Stropps

I just picked up a message from my friends mum/my mums friend - apparently DM is still in a flap about the heating/TV and friend can't go down to check on her because she has had a couple of glasses of wine (good on her!)
God, why can't DM just bloody engage with her carers?
Now not feeling relaxed after a lovely day and it's Christmas Eve FGS !

Just enjoy every moment of the truce, Stropps.

And, dare I say, that if she is up to a truce that sounds like a good thing.

BTM - my sympathy - have been there - not with the heating but with the ubiquitous 'burglars'. It's so tough.

Aww Magi - sorry you're missing DS. I'll raise a glass with you! Have just watched Polar Express with the DDs and am very much enjoying my mulled wine.

Strops - fingers firmly crossed for a peaceful Christmas for you and yours.

BTM - you can't do anything at the moment - try not to worry.

Just the blasted stockings to wrap. I'm going in.....

Merry Xmas, lovely Crepeys, and thanks for all the cheer yesterday. Glad to hear about the truce, Stropps, long may it continue. Sorry about your mum, though, BTM

I have parboiled everything including dh's head and I am ready. I think.

Ooh Santa has arrived in the Uk, currently over London.( ref: NORAD)

It's officially Christmas! Have just got back from Midnight Mass and crawled into bed. DH is rooting in the freezer which is in the garage, getting out all those things which I stashed there and which need to be thawed out before I cook them.

Felicitations to one and all. BTM, you can't do anything, so don't get worked up about it. Enjoy your Christmas truce, Stropps. See you some time after the family has left.

Just back from midnight mass at St Bartholomew the Great. Beautiful church, fabulous music. Feeling v pleased with myself as nobody wanted to come with me so I navigated the drive on my own, which is a big deal for me. Terrified all the way there, hands clamped to wheel, but it was worth it. Now unwinding with a glass of Lalsy's sloe gin.

Wishing everyone good things for tomorrow (today).

ps Monty - ds also under represented in comparison to dd, but he just doesn't want stuff. it's hard

Merry Christmas to you crepetastic lot! We are having egg and bacon before we open the fizz. I have a cough and sore throat.

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you have a lovely day.

After a 4.30 call from the children, sorted out a blocked loo, reassured a child who had swallowed a toy diamond and talked about NORAD Santa tracking, we went back to sleep and are about to go to open presents now. Am tired already.

Thinking of those with a tricky family situation and everyone missing someone this year

Back later. Ho ho ho.

Have braced self for day with festive Ladyjog

Wow, MI, am seriously impressed. I can hardly move this morning after all the standing I did yesterday.

Presents opened from DH and DSis, just about to get up and prepare for the arrival of the DC at about eleven o'clock. I am looking forward to seeing them, but also longing for the quiet of Boxing Day.

Have a great time, fellow Crepeys - enjoy the time with families and friends. to those missing loved ones.

Thank you Santa