In the bleak midwinter, frosty Crepes may moan

[Collymollypuff]

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

X post, Auriga. Sorry you're all a bit ill; hope you too have a peaceful Xmas. Imaginary puppies are such a good idea!

I do wish we had an open fire. There are a lot of very idyllic pics on FB at the moment, of extended nuclear families toasting marshmallows in co-ordinating festive PJs, and it's making me feel inadequate. I can console myself with the hope they'll be arguing within 12 hours.

Talking of non-idyllic family gatherings, this is a very amusing article about navigating arguments with less liberal members of one's family... Enjoy!

Greetings and happy Christmas crepies. Have been flat out of it for two days with very nasty virus (courtesy of DS). I actually had to take to my bed. Luckily DH and DD1 have stepped in although DH is not terribly on form either. Hoping tomorrow we'll all be able to rally.

Crem - ham sounds delicious (appetite returning slowly).

Happy Hols Cremo

Sounds like everyone is having a reasonably relaxing festive time.

We had all had a fab day out with friends in our traditional Christmas Eve way - meal out then musical phew! The DC and I have done some last minute wrapping and we are now all watching Gogglesprogs

Goodness, hatty you poor thing! Wish you better. What about GGG, and who else was ill? auriga...-? Glad NU is recovering...and if you're in an Oro- Morph haze, well, I hope it's doing the trick pain wise .
at wafs solution to the national grid power shortages in respect of cremo who definitely gets the medal for us not knowing how she does it... .

to all Crepeys coping with crabby DCs and unhelpful DPs. We are currently doing hygge, watching Polar Express, lolling on various sofas...Having had our annual Xmas Eve blow out. The mulled wine was on the house and very nice it was too. I have made Jamie Oliver carrots and prepped a shit load of sprouts. The turkey breast is oiled and in the slow cooker pot, currently refrigerated until I put it on early tomorrow. First night of Hanukkah has been duly celebrated with candles doughnuts and gifts. There is a moderate level of bickering going on. Of course there is.

Got home. Went up pub. Passed dads over catering on to landlady. Drank - came back - pork pie, crackers, maniac dog...... A shadow of what's to come......

We will cope.

Oh hell.

I hated - absolutely hated - family Christmases when I was a teenager. Every year, every year without fail when anyone asked what we were doing my dad would say "we're just having a quiet Christmas this year" as if we ever did anything else, while I yearned for something else and the day itself was this arid formal exchange of presents and from the following day my dad would nag us about thank you letters. I hated it.

And not only do I now live with someone who seems to be quite fond of a "quiet Christmas" and also I have friends mithering me to do stuff with the girls who are now grumpy teens but we have to go and visit my sodding father tomorrow and I'm worried about how confused he is and he will burst into tears about my mum and then DP will be grumpy afterwards and I DO NOT WANT TO DO ANY OF IT I WANT TO HIDE UNDER MY DUVET.

I kind of feel my life has taken a massively wrong turning and I am not sure how to sort it out.

Oh MI I'm sorry, can see that not only today but tomorrow not fun. But maybe not massive wrong turn? But I speak as one who is bored out of their skull because v nice in laws also averse to seeing anyone else so is entirely insular conversations 3tines a day over meals. Ffs

But ds made lovely Christmas Eve fish stew and is now escaping to 'spoons while ds has been out all day doing god knows what.

Happy Christmas Eve all!

Final pressie assembled, board game played, luckily no prep for tomorrow as fondue awaits! Off to watch the telly and will have to stuff stockings once big two go to bed!

Sorry, cross post with MI

This year is a bit odd as we, as in my extended family, are normally all together, either here or at my brothers. Due to dg's crap job, we have had to 'break the cycle' so much more incumbent on us to entertain...

Strength for tomorrow, MI. Bung them in the fancy wagon and drive south for a walk on Boxing Day! We have beds!

Dh's crap job

We used to have huge family Christmases when I was a child and teen. This year I just want to sleep. I made 36 mince pies today - they have all been eaten, and I had to go out for more wine as we appear to have drunk 3 bottles of Champagne and one of Montrachet today. I don't think much of this was consumed by me...

Sorry you are having such a shit time, MI.

Rendang was a success if anyone wants the recipe.

Merry Christmas lovely crepeys!

Mrs S, yes please (rendang recipe)

Have ended the evening watching random music on youtube TV with DH - steely dan, pentangle, pilot , once and future time, and judy garland (have yourself a merry little christmas) - not so bad but how do you make it fun if nobody wants to do anything? drinking not the answer (though helpful)
we're going to try a) playing carols and b) quizzes tomorrow and c) i'm going to slope off to watch old films tomorrow evening of none of that works

and feel I should add fish stew was made by dd not ds. Ds turned up really quite late because ... 'my phone was out of charge'

Greetings Crepeys from NZ. I have to admit, the sheer lack of panic here is just wonderful.

I drove into Nelson yesterday (top of South Island) yesterday morning. So, it was a Saturday morning, the market was in full swing, and it was Christmas Eve. I swung into the nearest car park, drove all of 50 yards before I found a space, slung a dollar ino the car parking machine (after lovely friendly kiwi couple took time to explain how it worked) and moooched around the town.

In other news, my luggage arrived in Nelson yesterday. (another reason why I went over there). It minus a wheel, but everything is there, and my presents are intact. The manager of this place managed to pull more strings in 24 hrs than I could manage in 6 days. It was the best present... EVAH!

I do try and remember that Christmas Day is just... A day.
The lunch is just a roast dinner.
The world will continue to revolve regardless of what happens.

We will all survive. Some better than others, but we will.

Big hugs to you all for scooping me up and getting me through the last month or two. It's been horrendous, but your help and advice have helped soooooo much.

Now I'm off for a sneaky gin before I drown in a vat of NZ Sauv.

Colly yes. A spell in Ze Clinic will set you right for many months to come regarding your immune system.
That's why I went in September...I knew this Autumn would be sh*te.

Merry Christmas crepeys!

I think I probably win the record for early rising, with a wake-up call from v excited son waving his stocking in my face at 5.45.

CMP - he absolutely loves his train set, so thanks again for all the trouble you went to in its procurement. I managed to pack it into two boxes, though will never be able to do that again, obvs...

Morning all! Happy Christmas and a massive smooch to my Secret Satan. Xxx

Happy Christmas Crepeys!

How lovely Herbs - great to see a happy cherub!

Just DS and I up ATM (he is quite excited ), can't see DD getting up for a few hours

Happy Christmas! I should say I came come to a clean house with flowers and no spices (ds has chucked everything away). But the place does look lovely.
I would like to sleep for a week...
Have a good day everyone and hope there's some lovely presents under the tree for you. - I'm off to stroke my deck.

Happy Christmas Crepeys

Here we go!

Merry Christmas Crepeys! I am still in bed and waiting for someone to make me some tea. And still pissed off that the fuckers ate all of the mince pies.

I am still n bed, too, MrsS, although I have been awake since 6.45 (atm I don't get up until after DH has brought me breakfast in bed). DH and I have exchanged gifts and I am delighted with my new watch and handbag (carefully chosen by moi before my op).

Had a lovely, low key evening yesterday, listening to Carols from Kings, eating lasagne, provided by DSiL, and teasing DGC. Off to DS's at 11.30 to join the festivities around there (first trip outside since my op). No doubt all the DGC are hyper.

Merry Christmas to all my Crepey friends; was pleased to hear that DS was up and excited, BTM, and hope the day continues well for you, and Happy Hanukkah to Rose, Crem and MrsS (I hope I haven't missed anyone out). I hope your day improves, MI, and DDad is ok. Much love to everyone missing departed loved ones. The first Christmas is always difficult and, although it does get better, you will always feel it at this time of year.

A somewhat early start to get the turkey on...but the advantage is that I stole into the shower before anyone else was awake. A very Merry Christmas to you all. We don't have Xmas presents as such but I'll make a big deal of opening my SS shortly.

they ate thirty mince pies, MrsS????