In the bleak midwinter, frosty Crepes may moan

[Collymollypuff]

Earth stood hard as iron, my heart like a stone.

In Kidzania. Which admittedly is amazing. It's in the west London Westfield, which is a number of cuts above my local!

Some lovely words....you are indeed a wonderful bunch.

I'm having a lazy day today, although the wrapping is calling. DS is the only one who's left the house today; he had a driving lesson at 9am. Which I'd forgotten about, so greeted the instructor in my PJs, with yesterday's mascara all over my face.

I left just after 3. And went to Waitrose, which was the busiest I had ever seen it (ie the car park was a quarter full). Have had early dinner, ham is in the oven roasting, have gin, cat cooing, and DD2 and I are going to watch Polar Express. DH is going out. Result.

London is empty. Am going to head Up West tomorrow to get the DDs' presents from my mother, which won't be what she suggested I get,

And am exhausted. While everyone else was doing Not Very Much today, I was working like a mad thing to hit deadlines (which would have been easier if I hadn't been called every five minutes from an hour before the deadline). Anyway. Done now. That's it till the new year, I hope.

Am in bed with a novel. DP just brought me a glass of fizz.

mrsS I really hope you can start to unwind now. And that goes for everyone.
I am waiting at the station for DD and DH who have found a train which is actually getting them here. DS and I had a quiet and easy drive down with a lovely pub lunch on the way. We have pretty much done any remaining shopping in a Waitrose similar I think, to MrsS's with ample parking and plenty of trolley space and also with people smiling and being NICE!
Flat is cosy and warm...which is good as there's a right storm brewing in these parts.
We will be having a lazy day tomorrow. Except I might need to get ahead on some peeling and chopping.

We are all packed, ready for the off tomorrow. I may not have much wifi so will be thinking of all you wonderful, funny, wise lot - and hope you all have a smashing time for at least some of it and no feeling guilty if you also want to yell at beloved family/think of absent friends/steal the gin and run away. See, I embody the spirit of Christmas .

And thank you again to my SS - it is coming with me!!

I am returned home, after a number of snifters at neighbour's house. Four of us in a row get on famously, and have suggested a social grouping investigating local culinary offerings.

Thank you for my SS! Don't know the elf in question, but it is under the tree.

Now watching Shine for the first time. I foresee an emotional 'episode'. Saw the final episode of the Royle Family last night, and the parallels with MiL were too much to bear. There were tears. And do wasn't even here!

PS am suffering ongoing guilt re Xmas day, and spending it with my darling little family and super friends, with their bottomless champagne and fun games, rather than with my frail elderly parents. Whom. Will be seeing on 30th. As agreed in triplicate.

crepeys who f&med yesterday - were there amazing bargains in ham etc as last year?

Addle, no bargains. But FB tells me we were a day earlier this year.

I am feeling quite unwell, but I think it is tiredness rather than anything else.

Thank you all for being lovely friends. It is especially nice having non-work friends, and not talking shop. Interview for job in Forrin Parts is on for January. Now worrying that I might get it...

Merry Christmas Eve lovely crepes. Last day of work today. Yesterday was Un bloody believable. Another queue that kept on giving. I have managed None of my own work and have been serving customers instead to speed things up.
Hoping the storm will keep Humans away from me today, but dammit it's a Saturday innit?

Theresa May can take her come together message and stick it where the sun don't shine.
I am a sprout away from being in a vile mood, but hope I can talk myself into Christmas cheer later.

Lovely Crepes, I second what everyone says about this Annus horribilis and your support. I couldn't have got here without all your brilliant comments and advice. You are all wonderful in so many different ways. It was a giant bonus to have you all celebrate my birthday. it's a memory I'll cherish.
Here's to 2017
Xx

Herbs, I'm sorry you feel bad. Enjoy your lovely small Christmas and be exceptionally lovely to your parents on 30th - there's no perfect solution.

Mrs s, thank you! Sorry you don't feel well . Maybe it's time to take to your bed and get others to do the work. Well done and good luck re foreign.

Doing last bout of shopping this morning and will try to grab some relaxation this afternoon, possibly watching white Christmas.

Lalsy, hv good journey!

Another Christmas Eve morning, but so different for me this year. I hope the travails of preparations will soon be over and you can all relax with a glass of your favourite tipple. Good luck to those who are travelling. Crem, I hope today isn't too bad. Rudy, whereabouts are you visiting? If you get fed up and want to get away for a couple of hours to visit an incapacitated friend, PM me (good excuse, that...).

DH has just disappeared to the village to pick up the turkey (I have to take it, cooked, to DS's tomorrow morning), DS's fresh veggies, and our small order from the greengrocer. Nothing else much to do, apart from stick bows on two beanbags which I have bought for DGC. DD, her two DC, and DH are going to a carol service later while I watch/listen to Carols from Kings. DSiL has made a lasagne and they're all coming round this evening to eat it.

There will be be no tipple for me this year as I am on so many meds (including liquid morphine, which did surprise me). I am managing to get round the house on my elbow crutches, and slowly progressing.

I, too, have found joy in your company; I hesitate to say we have had a good year, but apart from small bumps it hasn't been bad. I hope that next year will be better for everyone.

I am about to start Christmas dinner number one. It's going to be a long weekend :)
Have a good day my lovelies and who has all the crackers? Can't find a box for love or money!

At hairdresser's.

I am lolling. It's more enjoyable now it has a name, so can be a Pursuit.

I wish you all a good few days and am thinking of those who will be missing someone special.

Addle, I hope dd has stopped with the darts.

NU best wishes for your continued recovery. Like NU, I have 'found joy in your company.' Being connected to you all, I feel wiser, more normal and less.... scared.

I opened my SS. Thank you my elf! I will be wearing it on a hoped for jaunt out for a park trundle, if I can find an effective stump-stirring mode.

Does everyone have their SS now?

Whilst DH has had his worst year ever (he said yesterday he feels like he's stuck in a bad dream) I have had a thoroughly good one. I finished a book that might yet be published. The feeling of not having it over my head and knowing that's because I FINISHED IT is amazing. My paid work has been fantastic and plentiful and enjoyable and that gives me huge pleasure.

I've got a health condition (hiatus hernia) which has become unmanageable over the course of the year, I have to neck extra medication every day. It probably now needs surgery, but as a result of my relative caution around certain food (and a bit of a desire to be less blobby) I've lost about 20 lbs since Jan and, like Lalsy, I've been bashing away at the fitness and feel bloody good.

CV - you're turning 50 in Feb too, aren't you? What are your plans. I'm unsure what I want to do but I might hold on for a big party with fairy lights in the garden in the summer.

My big news on exciting things for next year is that - inspired by BTM and her DD - me and DD1 are going to go to New York for 4/5 days at Easter!!!!! I'm beyond delighted to have something to look forward to as DH simply can't make any plans. BTM please pm me when you can with your top tips for any aspect of it at all. I've done zero research/booking. Was there in '99 with DH. I'm thrilled that the idea didn't make dd1 kick off one iota. She's fixed on a week in sunny Spain in the summer.

Oh WAF, how exciting - I am well jel! I will deffo PM you.

Have collected the turkey - there was a queue at 7.30am - in the traditional manner with my lovely friend and have sent DH and DS out to get the car cleaned and filled.

NU, good to see you are recovering.
Cremo, hope today goes.
Herbs, enjoy your Christmas Day - you are seeing them on 30th as arranged.

Bit of those with 50ths still to celebrate. DH has 2(II) more years till it's his turn!

Am in the queue for the turkey hoping that peace breaks out in my absence. Have left my mum and dd1 fighting over peeling potatoes (!) - must buy another peeler for next year and dd2 and 3 doing the seating plan for lunch for 15 people. As every year I'm hoping they won't use it as a chance to wind up their older sister but pretty sure they will. Dh is in the car waiting for me having passive-aggressively necked lemsip rather than tea at breakfast.

So, it's pretty much situation normal for Christmas I think. Hope everyone else has a restful Christmas Eve with much lolling.

I'm hoping to get to NYC this year, either with sister or nuclear family.

DS is ultra-excited about Christmas Day, and keeps asking me complex questions about the logistics of Santa. Difficult stage of him still believing in the big guy, but beginning to realise it can't possibly work. But he's so full of glee and excitement it's infectious.

Today: final present buying for DP, trying to rig up more lights in the kitchen, playing board games with DS, going to see Rogue One, drinks/food with chums in local pub. Then frantic wrapping of 'santa's' presents...

Dh has gone present buying this is because he doesn't believe in planning or the interweb.....

And because he only has to buy about three presents.

I might go back to bed!

DP is cooking a ham with marmalade as we await one of his brothers for lunch. I must go and start packing:)

Are you going somewhere MI?

Beachy DH clearly belongs to the same school as dp who would be shopping if it wasn't for the fact he's driving south for the family do...

at passive-aggressive Lemsip, and yay for NYC trip! I was also there with DH in '99, sporting a small bump which turned into DS.

Yes, I do indeed turn 50 in February. No, I don't want a party in the depths of winter - I am planning to wait 18 months and then piggy-back on DH's 50th, which is conveniently in June. I was planning to go to Iceland, but have booked nothing, even though DM has offered to teen-sit if we do go. My BF sent me a Times article about Reykjavik, and every other word was "expensive".

Good to hear you are making progress, NU, and hope the liquid morphine is taking the edge off.

Nothing major on today's to-do list, as we're not hosting. I am in charge of Xmas Pud alternatives, so am making some spiced chocolate pots (Nigella) and a pavlova (Delia). All very easy. I might also whip up some lemon curd with the excess yolkage. Tesco have delivered - five minutes early and only one minor sub. Presents are all wrapped - DH is just finishing off the stockings.

Crepeys - hope you find a few minutes to chillax during the day and think happy thoughts (although Crem might have to wait a while....).

Standing in q at m&s Oxford street pausing only to thank mi fr brilliant blow up king fu panda idea. Catch up later x

WAF your post is so optimistic and cheering to read!

crem you're still at it. It sounds mayhem at your work. KBO and once it's over ...nice drink, feet up and no annoying disturbances, by order of The Rose.

Don't feel bad Herbs. You are seeing them on 30th. I have the situation in reverse, so to speak. This is the second year DM has been invited here for Xmas Day...we have made special arrangements for her...and she's blown us out for another, later invite.

We have had the first really slow morning that I can remember for ages. No one up til late. Breakfast in PJs. DH and DD have gone into the village in search of cinnamon sticks for mulled wine, and doughnuts for Hanukkah which also starts tonight. We are booked into our favourite fish restaurant for Xmas eve supper which is now a tradition. Facebook threw up a memory of DM, and Ddad sitting with DS1 in the same place from a Xmas eve a few years ago. It made me tearful...if I share it will FB Crepeys, like it please?

Wishing you all a peaceful and loving Xmas Eve xxxx