In the bleak midwinter, frosty Crepes may moan

[Collymollypuff]

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

Indeed MrsS ! klops, latkas, cholla, haimisha cucumbers.... Wow to the cash gift. do you need any help spending it

BD not your arm?. Some people are just like that with presents. They take "it's the thought that counts" a little too seriously.....

He didn't open it in front of them because he knew it was likely to be pants .... I think I will have to say something. I'd rather she gave him nothing than have this disappointment every year. Last year she actually said 'it's not exciting'

Sorry rant over...

No not my arm!!! Two of my guests decided to arm wrestle - cue one broken arm!

There is NO thought- that's the point.

BD, definitely say something.

Yes BD, say something. my bil used to give my children a joint rubbish present (as he has only one child and seemed to think he can't be expected to give them something each when he will 'only get one in return'). Often one book 'to share'! Some people are VERY odd - and mean. They used to write him a joint thank you card - why should he get two thank yous and us only one . Not sure exactly what dh said to him - I think he teased rather than berated him - and it seemed to do the trick.

BD, say something and be quite direct. TBH, it doesn't matter if she never gives him anything again, no gift is better than a shit one.

Am with GGG - odd AND mean

Mrs S - heavens! Really no idea why?

Just back from few days family visit in the north. V lovely but am now realising just how much the mince pies for breakfast and cake for lunch with free flowing booze add up to portliness. Facemats went down a treat

BTM and Colly and anyone else - I could happily do BP on Monday if that was any good?

I've decided to give in to the urge to scoff and neck alcohol until Sunday - then back on the no / low carb wagon - my willpower has been overcome very easily this year...

Come on Mrs S - more details - he just stuffed £1k in used note into your hands without a word?? What are you going to do with it? In the absence of explanation he's sounding a bit like a character from the Sopranos!

I think I'd go to Orkney for a few days - on my own! And buy a ridiculously expensive pair of shoes...

Has he robbed a bank, MrsS?

Here, dh was being weird and tiresome. I have told him off and now he is just "pained". Dd is apparently off to do NYE in Bristol, but is then coming back on Monday (driving) and going back on Thurs (train) for an exam on Friday. I have my first day at university in Bath on Sat (will leave here at 7am), and she now wants me to give her a lift back. Like I need more complications in my life that day. Because apparently her term doesn't actually start until the 16th. Wtf is this with exams in the holidays?

Am vastly (and possibly unreasonably) pissed off with youngster friends for being too much hard work just now. Am craving a w/e with my bff. Who I've only seen about 3 times in the last 13 years. Because...logistics. Meh. 2017 will be different, I tell ya!

BD - my DSis used to buy really mean presents and I used to spend ages seeking out nice presents. In the end I just stopped buying - and so did she - it's better this way.

Mrs S - wow - the sales. Faites vous plaisir

Random fact: apparently "ye cannae shove ya granny off the bus" is the Glaswegian version of "she'll be coming round the mountain when she comes". This tells you all you need to know about the state of play this evening in the Stropps household.

BD, some straight talking is called for about the mean presents. She'll never get it otherwise.
Sorry to hear about the very broken arm. But it sounds like a good party.

It sounds like a great party!!

The 1K was a repaid loan from years ago. That is, the loan was from years ago; it has only just been repaid. I am hiding the money so that he can't change his mind.

Woo Mrs S, nice one matey.Get thee to a brewery.oh and well done on the TOT fitting still.

BD, my sister took me upstairs to show me what her sil on her dhs side gave them. Dh got a book from second hand shop on. 'Business' circa 1987 and some pamphlets from The Telegraph which were free pullouts from 2010. Dsis got 3 H&M kirby grips in black.
I mean I know it's wrong to point and laugh, but really, what are they thinking? Dsis and Bil bought child specific gifts for their dcs, all 4 of them. This might not be notable, if it had not happened suddenly, but it did. Dsis can't work out what's happening. I understand the difficulty of facing it head on BD , but I think the other wise Crepes are prob right.

So yeh, symptom checker thinks I'm doomed, but having seen dd in vivo, with this lurgy I know what to expect.
Trial of a day at work didn't help as I shivered through it, most likely infected the team and puked my lunch.
Am now home with temp and head in mangle.
And THERE IS NO ONE TO COVER ME if I call in sick tomorrow.
Right I have to stop whinging as tis my resolution to stop it next year. Have stopped the booze and the fags. Whinging and flab are next to go.

Yes, BD just announce that from henceforth all inter Christmas presents will STOP. Just did it with DBro at the end of last summer. It's worked a treat.

There are 5 of them, only 3 of us, and they never EVER got DH a present. It's made a big dent (in a good way) to my present buying. Their presents were always crap. Mine were full of thought and based on their extensive Christmas present lists all sent round at the end of September.

Yes, you read that right. End of bl**dy September.

Can't believe I'll be celebrating the New Year as you lot contemplate elevensies.

I'm in Christchurch, and of all the places on this planet, it's in need of a Fresh start... And I'm hoping all you Crepeys who need one, get a fresh start, too. I'll be joining you.

Well Done Crem on fags AND booze. RESPECT.

MrsS - Wowser. A grand. In cash. Don't tell the kids.

DH has bucked up a bit and has started to embrace the holiday mood. Better late than never. We go home in less than a week. Sigh.

Happy new year Cocoa! Seeing as you are first to celebrate.!!💥🌃🎈

Addle, I'm up for BP on Monday - will need to do about eleventy million rounds

Stropps, I know that song - a colleague years ago taught it to her class for a show!

MrsS, there's a lot of good suggestions here - I'd go with several spa weekends or the like

Cocoa, DHs BFF lives in Christchurch - we loved it, there's a real sense of creativity in the aftermath of the earthquake. And it wasn't as windy as Wellington!
Glad your DH has bucked up.

Cremo those presents surely have to win the prize
WTF is wrong with money or vouchers?!

Had a restorative drink up with our friends last night and am feeling less sorry for myself this morning - result!

God Crem - hope you're feeling a little better - nothing worse than trying to work when you're feeling shit like that. You are neither a whinger nor are you flabby - what are you talking about?

Have a lovely New Year Cocoa.

Am going to buy some food in so we can stagger through into 2017.

Oh I forgot to treat you all to my mother's reaction to her Christmas presents! I bought her what I thought was rather a nice top from White Stuff. She said "Well that will have to go straight back! I don't know what you bought me a 14 for, that will never fit." It was huge - clearly meant to be loose fitting. It would have been slightly tight on me, so would definitely have fitted her. She got a purse from DD2. "My friend bought me a purse too. Hers was much better quality." And a pretty silk scarf from DD1. "It's silk. Did you realise that? It means I'll have to hand wash it, which will be a pain."

Mrs S - at your mother. Those sound like lovely presents and her grandchildren made an effort for her.

She is always the same, Hatty. One year I got her a book (new one from an author I knew she liked), chocolate truffles and a cd of songs from her youth. The book didn't look interesting, she didn't fancy the truffles and would never play the cd as she had all of the songs on vinyl (and has no record player). I'm used to it now.