Christmas 2021.

Bob said:

So it's September.......And I want to put my tree up!

Click to expand...

It's your home, shove it up anytime you wish!

Bob said:

So it's September.......And I want to put my tree up!

Last year was a flop and I'm not sure what this year is going to look like yet earther with warnings of food shortages and supply issues for gifts I'm starting to think about investing in another freezer and starting the Christmas shop now.

Click to expand...

We have a fridge/freezer and a large fridge and a freezer. I start to buy stuff for Christmas from the end of September. Food and presents.

By all means put up your Christmas tree in September

Perhaps leave it up the whole month

It's going to be hot

Christmas, heat, sunshine, chocolate mini rolls, fanta, pork pies, blue cheese and a pillow case full of pillow

Great idea.

Get it over and done with by October

Brilliant

I'm excited too!

I feel summers over (although it is lovely here today!) I almost want to skip autumn and get right to Christmas!

We're staying at home this year and I've put an open invite out to all family, however both my brother and sister in law and my cousin have all purchased / rented their first house this summer so I'm not sure if they'll want to stay home as well!

It feels like we're all proper grown ups and the usual solid plan of going to mum's house is now a thing of childhood past! Nostalgic and sad but treasured memories!

This year I have an oven so pretty stoked about that!

I hope for a more normal Christmas this year with all the family, but with the conservatives attempting to extend lockdown powers again it could be under threat. So I'm not going to buy things yet for the big family get together until it looks reasonably likely to be allowed to go ahead.

We've only got the 3 of us ( me, hubby & son) so don't have to do much preparation. Son's most likely working Xmas eve til early hours of Xmas day, then back in boxing day. So won't be here for long. Just like a normal day except the excitement of seeing what Santa has left on Xmas morning

Should have the rescheduled works Xmas do, after last year's was cancelled due to covid restrictions, to look forwards to in December....

Xmas tree and all the fairy lights inside the house have always gone up 1st Dec so will be sticking to that.

Xmas card list has shrunk dramatically this year so don't even have to buy more of them.

Just another day for us really , with the pleasure of son's company .

Christmas was great last year with not having to see anyone.

I love surprises on the day for pressies , and diving into the pile that has left under the tree. Doesn't have to be expensive or fancy , just a nice surprise to unwrap.

But ..... already had both my christmas present and january birthday presents off hubby , after already buying them myself .......

Treated myself to a couple of things last week whilst on holiday. Hubby announced afterwards "I'll pay for those.The necklace is your christmas present off me , and the shoes can be your birthday present. That's me done then , saves me bothering looking around for anything "

Then added ..... "You can wrap the necklace up , and open it on xmas morning and act as though it's a surprise in front of son" and .......
"I need a good coat, so when I see one you can pay for that and that's my present off you done ! "

Looks like it will only be sons presents to and off us under the tree this year then.


And I'm taking charge of buying sons presents as usual to make sure he does actually get some! Infact already bought most of them, with the latest delivery arriving this morning via the man in red (dishy DPD man ).
Will get busy wrapping them all this next week IF I get in the wrapping mood. I get evil doing it and end result doesn't look very fancy , but at least they get wrapped.

Jonah said:

Christmas was great last year with not having to see anyone.

Click to expand...

We’ve taken to just spending Christmas at home, after a few years of visiting family down south it just got tiring as all the travelling just made Christmas a stressful period. So realistically… last year was the same as usual for us

The big difference this year is I’ll have a reason to put the tree at the office up!

Had a late Christmas with family in Stourbridge in late July with the whole works. Silly hats, Christmas pud and so on. Making up for the one missed last year. Hoping to get up there again for this years actual event ... weather and shit storms permitting.

Last year for us it wasn't much of a Christmas, we were hoping to move so everything was in boxes and the tree and decorations were in storage. This year we intend to make up for it.
I know there is an age old problem of people being rage filled that a tree dares go up at the start of December or shops have Christmas stock before Halloween, but as I have said before, I love it, I welcome it and this grotto will be opening the Sunday closest to the beginning of December.

Bob said:

Has anyone happened across plastic free Christmas crackers that don't cost a bomb, with 30ish mouths to feed across Christmas day and boxing day £25 for 6 isn't going to work for me. I'm a budget crackers all the way kind of girl!

I can't believe how quickly the past few weeks have gone!

I was super organised and now I'm not, it's the big Christmas deep clean today but I've still got shopping and wrapping to do and I've just realised I don't have enough bowls for Christmas pud!

Click to expand...

I think I saw some in Roots, only a think tho as I wasn't looking for them so they didn't register properly!

Bob said:

Has anyone happened across plastic free Christmas crackers that don't cost a bomb, with 30ish mouths to feed across Christmas day and boxing day £25 for 6 isn't going to work for me. I'm a budget crackers all the way kind of girl!

I can't believe how quickly the past few weeks have gone!

I was super organised and now I'm not, it's the big Christmas deep clean today but I've still got shopping and wrapping to do and I've just realised I don't have enough bowls for Christmas pud!

Click to expand...

Googling suggest Oxfam have some for a very reasonable price

Bob said:

What are everyone’s favourite Christmas dinner sides and puds, I tend to sick to the tried and tested but thinking of expanding this years offerings.

Non negotiables are:
Roast tayters
Sprouts
Cauliflower cheese
Yorkshire pudding

Normally I’d do broccoli, carrot and swede mash, mash potato and peas too but ready to mix it up a bit this year!

Click to expand...

Roasties,
carrots,
cabbage,
sprouts for the sister and daughter in law,
Yorkies.
And this year a Sainsburys Christmas pudding, other choice is Vienetta or ice cream.
All with Turkey, beef, gammon, pigs in blankets.
Chicken breast for daughter in law who doesn't like Turkey, weirdo.

Mint & apple sauce and Oxo gravy.

Bob said:

What are everyone’s favourite Christmas dinner sides and puds, I tend to sick to the tried and tested but thinking of expanding this years offerings.

Non negotiables are:
Roast tayters
Sprouts
Cauliflower cheese
Yorkshire pudding

Normally I’d do broccoli, carrot and swede mash, mash potato and peas too but ready to mix it up a bit this year!

Click to expand...

Non negotiables are

Sprouts
Roasties
Carrots
Yorkshires
Bread sauce
Onion gravy

Mash/broccoli/cauliflower/swede be gone with you!

We're Vegan so no dead animal products for us but still have a great nut roast free dinner!