Reply to: Christmas plans

[d000hg]

So we will celebrate Christmas on the 26th (the younger child is too autistic to notice).

I'd have thought an autist might be rather particular about things like dates!

It's going to be a 'Smart-price' Christmas this year, what with the old man out of work again, and my rates well down on last year. It's tough with the kiddies wanting all the latest toys like their friends will be getting.

Have you checked he's taking any holidays? That's for permies, so I heard. If you need to take Christmas with your family, you probably aren't cut out for contracting.

[Lockhouse]

Thank you for asking. I hope yours goes well!

It's the first Christmas in our new house and I'm off for two weeks on compliance leave from the 19th to the 31st December. I've arranged with the missus that we're not doing any work around the house as we've both been working really hard this year so the plan is just to kick back and enjoy ourselves.

Hopefully that will mean lots of walks to the pub, having friends round and just relaxing. We have earned it this year.

On Christmas Eve we're meeting friends in Winchester and then on Christmas Day we've got the kids coming round for dinner. Boxing Day it's down to the pub for lunch then back to catch up on any telly and fall asleep.

We do a £50 Secret Santa so no mega-present-buying sprees.

[alreadypacked]

Christmas plans

Christmas on the beach

New Year on a different beach

[norrahe]

Can't they cook?

I enjoy cooking, so doesn't bother me.

Would prefer if we stayed in cloggers, as I can't be bothered with all that travelling for 1 day.

Not the worlds biggest fan of xmas.

[darmstadt]

As previously stated, the 24th is Christmas here where we shall go to the in-law. We shall eat cake (Frankfurter Kranz, mmmmm) and drink coffee and then we shall go into the parlour,turn on the lights on the Christmas tree while listening to carols sung by a dead gay Russian. Presents will then be exchanged and then we shall go home as the coffee and cake gives me the screaming tulips.

The next day I will spend drinking in the kitchen while I prepare a 3 course meal for a load of German friends who come round (I try to do a typical English one but in past years that has gone the way of Santa) and we shall play silly games and drink (lots of) silly drinks and then they all go home and I get my yearly shag of the neighbours cat.

I might then go back to work in between Christmas and Silvester but that will be spent drinking and partying in Hamburg.

Actually each year I change religion at this time so we don't have to bother with Christmas. This year I'm a Pastafari...

[VirtualMonkey]

Working from home the two days before Christmas and then Christmas day with the family (including our current 7 week old's first Christmas) then probably having the wife's family around on Boxing day. Should be nice as me and Mrs VM will be cooking so get to spend some quality time together in the kitchen while our 3 year old entertains the guests.
Entertains being a rather subjective word here ... oh and quality time means getting drunk together while burning dinner
Really looking forward to it

[sasguru]

Christmas in the new house in Portugal. Looking forward to it.
Not sure we have everything we need and that everything works but there's a wood burning stove (and plenty of wood) so we'll be cosy at least.

[Scrag Meister]

Agree strongly for adults. Disagree for children - though we put far more effort into keeping the magic of Christmas for the kids rather than buying stuff. We put out a mince pie+sherry for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph. The mince pie gets half eaten, the sherry mostly drunk and the carrot nibbled. There is a footprint with magic snow around it. 2 years ago the kids asked why the snow did not melt - but that is because it is magic. One day they will taste it and realize it is reindeer urine.....

FTFY

[Scrag Meister]

A rather run ragged one for me.

WWS, never thought I'd say that.

Manchester for Christmas Day with wife's family.
Devon on Boxing Day to see my family.
Somerset on 27th to see a large selection of my extended family.
London on the 28th to work again.

[BrilloPad]

Do we really need to buy each other tulip for Christmas? Why not show affection in less materialistic ways, or make a present out of biodegradable string or something, like in the good old days. Shops made this Christmas buying bonanza tulip up.

Agree strongly for adults. Disagree for children - though we put far more effort into keeping the magic of Christmas for the kids rather than buying stuff. We put out a mince pie+sherry for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph. The mince pie gets half eaten, the sherry mostly drunk and the carrot nibbled. There is a footprint with magic snow around it. 2 years ago the kids asked why the snow did not melt - but that is because it is magic. One day they will taste it and realize it is icing sugar.....

[wobbegong]

Flying to blighty on xmas eve, will probably end up cooking xmas dinner at the outlaws and then flying back on boxing day.

Can't they cook?

[norrahe]

Flying to blighty on xmas eve, will probably end up cooking xmas dinner at the outlaws and then flying back on boxing day.

[Arturo Bassick]

I shall be driving home on the 22nd Dec. I shall then be relaxing at home. Christmas day is just me and the wife. Boxing day is family at ours. Wifes parents, 2 grown up kids, 4 grand kids (one I have yet to meet) and us.
I also have 4 offers to dine out including New Years eve.

I will be giving pressies to those I care enough about. I do not expect any in return though I do hope that somebody cares enough to make the effort even if it is a token gesture.

I am not a religious man but I use the season in its accepted manner of peace and good will to one and all.

[TimberWolf]

John Lewis bucks festive trend by breaking sales records | Business | The Guardian

Nice to hear one of the more ethical companies doing well for a change. Die Tesco die.

[chef]

what a load of misers you all are... what is wrong with getting a gift of something special that you know your partner will appreciate and would also unlikely buy it themself because they see it as too much to spend?

I do this not because I expect a gift in return of equal value but because I like to see the look of joy on her face when she realises what it is and that it is something that she very much wants. This is then compounded many times in the future when I see her use the gift and get great enjoyment out of it.

Life is for enjoyment IMO and treating people to gifts is one of those enjoyments.

NB: I know how your minds work and in the above example I was referring to last years present of a new semi-pro digital camera.