Kitchen Garden Forum

Where has this year gone! Not that it was anything to write home about but here we are again wrapping, stuffing & preparing for the Silly Season! My Xmas list is all about lottie as usual, no doubt will break my New Year resolution in a blick of an eye - but getting that little flutter in my tummy to say CELEBRATION - FAMILY - XMAS!! Only 21 days to the big event!

Westi

Westi wrote:XMAS!! Only 21 days to the big event!

[VPM has her fingers in her ears]

I'm not listening! I'm not listening ...........

La La la ....... <------- [Very, VERY loud humming]

VPM
x

VPM!

I was just the same a couple of years back but the bah humbug is gone - don't know whether it is 'family' have dispersed but certainly feeling more relaxed & do soo much like unwrapping all the little lottie bits & bobs that no one else in the 'family' would appreciate! I think I might recognise the shed paint regardless of the wrapper though!

Westi

vegpatchmum wrote:

Westi wrote:XMAS!! Only 21 days to the big event!

[VPM has her fingers in her ears]

I'm not listening! I'm not listening ...........

La La la ....... <------- [Very, VERY loud humming]

VPM
x

The humming got louder as I joined in!

I've just made my third trip to town with the intention of buying a few presents, but have not seen anything that I would like to give my friends or receive from anyone. I'm going to have to be a bit more imaginative and hope I get inspiration before Christmas.

I actually came home with an apple corer for myself as my old one is made of such flimsy metal that it has ended up with a twist in it. The label on the new one said "not to be sold to anyone under the age of 18" - can't imagine it being a weapon of choice among image conscious hooligans!

Dear Plumpudding, would you be able to make some homemade gifts for presents. I just love homemade gifts.

oldherbaceous wrote:Dear Plumpudding, would you be able to make some homemade gifts for presents. I just love homemade gifts.

Oh I agree.

I've just finished knitting the 2nd of two scarves for loved ones and the girls are in the middle of making and painting little plaster of paris Christmas ornaments which will be 'teacher' gifts this year

Plenty of wool left over and so I may very well treat the girls to a scarf each as well as an additional pressie - both are envious of big sisters' scarf and have been dropping hints

VPM
x

The humming from VPM and Glallotments just became deafening as I joined in as well. I would quite happily hibernate from November until 2nd January.

The Festive season really fills me with dread. From October onwards, I feel my spirits sinking and I go into "Bah Humbug" mode the closer it gets. The shops are groaning with stuff no one would normally buy... people buy presents which will be still stuck in the recipients cupboard months later as they haven't a clue what to get and in desperation, think "Oh, that will do".
The amount of money spent on gifts which are neither use nor ornament must be staggering! Having worked in the Retail Trade for most of my life, I quickly came to this conclusion ....the returns after Christmas were amazingly high and we would end up with twice as much stock!

I did used to love all of it but as I got older, it just became an expensive nuisance. Sometimes I wish I did enjoy it, as folks think I'm odd. But I cannot pretend to enjoy any of it....other than the time off work.
So I am a real Bah Humbug person. Seriously!

What about spot the first Easter Egg on display.

Too late old chap.

Seen last week, Cadbury's Creme Eggs on sale in the sweet kiosk at Wood Green Underground Station.

A few years ago i started getting sucked into all the mayhem that seems to now go hand in hand with Christmas, bigger and dearer presents, and trying to fit more and more into the day. And i must admit i was starting to get fed up with the whole Christmas thing, and for an extremely Christmas loving person it just felt wrong.

So now the money spending has cut down, and we just have my Mum, cooks Mum and Dad, and two or three others, round for the day, and it has got back to a very pleasant day indeed. I often get told, "is that all you are doing", but when you see how stressed these people are on the day, i think i have got it about right for what i want out of Christmas.

Please don't think i'm preaching, i'm just saying what worksfor me.

Elaine wrote: Sometimes I wish I did enjoy it, as folks think I'm odd. But I cannot pretend to enjoy any of it....other than the time off work.
So I am a real Bah Humbug person. Seriously!

I think many people pretend to like Christmas. Recently we had a cheery are you ready for Christmas from a sales assistant in a local farm shop. When we said we were Bah Humbugs he said quire seriously - well to be honest I don't really like it either!

So come on everyone confess.

I love the excitement of my little ones and the pure glee when they open presents and being around the school at this time of year is pretty special too but it's the ever longer build-up and the over competitiveness of who bought the most expensive 'in thing' that I can't stand.

Luckily both our girls are not trend orientated at all with the 8 year old happy for any Lego that she may receive and the 6 year old desperately hoping for a dolly - anything else is a bonus.

The last couple of years Himself and I have made a determined effort to NOT go over the top and I think this helps with the attitude of the girls - they aren't expecting huge presents and so they don't ask for them.

8 year olds' Santa List had 6 items on it - all Lego
6 year olds' Santa List also had 6 items - dolly, dolly cot, dolly clothes and 3 small Lego sets

Compared to the wishes and expectations of some of their school friends, our 2 have inexpensive tastes. Long may that continue.

VPM
x

The turkey is ordered; we'll start that, just the two of us, on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day, weather permitting it will be picnic on the beach as usual. Boxing Day our two lovely granddaughters and their dad will come to stay. No fuss

Christmas "tree" made and decorated this morning. Cost: nothing. Our little Welsh home is too small for anything on the floor, but fortunately we have very thick walls and deep window sills.

Dear Vpm, i am lucky with my two boys, they are quite content with what ever they get. And your two girls sound just the same, treasure the moments.

Dear Alan, one saying i have always loved is, less is more.