I shall be viewing an Hotel tomorrow.

Your starting early this year  don't think I'm even bothering with a tree this time

There are already lots of Xmas films on True Movies and True Movies 2 Sweet  

* hangs up stocking* 

Actually i have the first present bought.

 

I saw a nice watch - a sports watch for when I'm riding on me bike.

So was bought for me 3days ago.

Am I the first?

That's early Saint but good to buy in things you like, now. Its amazing how quickly stuff gets sold out - every year I find myself buying Christmas presents earlier and earlier.

Christmas market back at the old homestead.

OMG!!!

The sprouts aren't on yet!

 

Yep - i agree. Often i've seen something and thought about buying it later. Only to find it has sold out when i return. Moral of the story is to get it ... and relax

I've been actively preparing for Christmas since April.  Nativity scene made and quite a few presents already stored in the attic.  In fact now I think about it I was buying stuff in January, new baubles etc. 

 

  just like a squirrel storing nuts

I buy loads in the January sales. I've got all my cards and paper and loads of nice gift bags. 

 

I've also got most of my presents. We have a five pound limit on everyone who is over the age of 21, so I always get those presents in the sale so that it looks more. I've got my sister the most lovely pair of soft leather gloves from Accessorize. Full price £20, I got them for £5.

 

It ain't happening for us!   This year I am finally managing to pull off the impossible...     I have removed Christmas!!    YEP!   totally, & utterly!

 

We're off on holibobs for 10 days .. .  from 20th to 30th Dec!    It'll be hot!   I think on the 25th we'll have a day round the pool day!     (not actually booked it yet...  but will be doing in next week or so..   just waiting on funds to clear)

 

I really couldn't have faced it this year..     nothing could have made it tolerable..     removing it all together was the only option!

 

 

 

Ditty I think a holiday sounds like a very good idea! Book it
It's my busiest time at work so I can't go away, so we'll have to stay home and try to make the best of it. I honestly don't know how Mr Summer will be though, he misses his mum terribly
He has 2 weeks off over christmas, so I'm very thankful we have the dog- he'll be out with her a lot!

Cinds- I love your christmas spirit
I saw some red & white striped gift wrap in m&s last year and didn't buy it, even though it was £1 per roll in January. I'm now kicking myself because I already knew that my theme is candy canes this year!!!!! I bet I can't find any paper like now

Baz- thank you I'm going to add those channels to my favourites on sky

You have 'themes' ?

Everyone has themes. Ours is football. We outsource the 24th and 25th to a hotel, try to make the best of it, and then thoroughly enjoy a footie day on the 26th. Boxing Day is the highlight. This year has the added bonus of a trip to Bolton on NYE for a game.

Lol joe

Yes Saint, every year has a different theme for me. This year is candy canes, and I already know that next year will be snowflakes
Previous themes have been; gold, holly, robins, trees, puddings & rudolph

Suggestions for future theme a&e are always welcome

a&e !!! . . .  i hope that is never a theme

It must happen to some people!

It's festive overdrive here tonight!

We've booked tickets to a polar express ride! I hated the film but that doesn't matter- we get a train ride!
We've got tickets to a christmas event at beamish, a festive trip to Harrogate planned and another to Edinburgh!
Then I got all excited and made my prototype christmas card...

Can I watch a Christmas movie now?!

Awww sounds great Sweet and I like your card  

Thank you baz I think Santa will appreciate my efforts

I'm sure he will Sweet ,

The family is now booked in an hotel for a couple of days. (Also booked Horwich for NYE)

  awww Sweet...     

 

I am fast discovering that men struggle really badly with all this stuff...    the level of "falling apart" that the menfolk round me have been doing...   

 

Dunno about Mr Summer...   but even if I don't feel like it at the time, once I am out with the dog I find it really REALLY helps.   Sometimes I walk him on my own...   wind & rain lashing...  and I have a little sneaky cry...   other times I chunter along to myself...   sometimes MrD comes & I rant & rant at him about it all..   sometimes I just walk in silence....   

 

I've never come back from a dog walk feeling worse than when I went...   It definitely helps.

 

Worst thing about going away for Crimbo is that I'm afraid Loki will be off for his own little holibobs (possibly off to stay with Frank the gundog trainer for a few days..   borstal styley )

 

Much love & Hugs to your OH...     2013 will be behind us soon xxx 

 

 

Good lass, I've cancelled Christmas before, not for the same reasons.  

 

But please make sure your Dad is looked after. Xxx

Just to add to the going away for Christmas lists. We've booked to stay in a hotel close to our daughters in Yorkshire on Christmas night. We normally hole up in the house, but thought it would be nice this year with getting the 2 new babies to go to them. 

no worries there...   

 

at the moment I am going along with his "I shall spend xmas with Chuffley (his dog) and a bottle of scotch" plans...    but not really... . 

 

We are booking Loki into boarding kennels rather than taking my dad up on his offer to have him..   so that Dad is not tied down (Chuffers doesn't slow him down..   he's 8, and little, and doesn't do much )

 

closer to the time, if he hasn't made any plans with my brother, I shall put a shout round to his generation of rellies across the country & get them to start nagging him to join them over the festive period 

 

I don't feel guilty for not arranging to be with him at christmas...  we both agree that it would be really miserable if we were in the same place...  

 

we bring each other down sometimes..       sometimes its fine, sometimes we understand each others pain..   but sometimes we're really not good for each other (in terms of cheering up & getting on with stuff)

I can understand that Ditrs, you have to what feels right for you. 

 

The first Christmas after Mr C lost his Mother he wanted everyone at our house (where normally we just hole up in the house and don't see anyone) and it was really nice. Even more special in hindsight as he lost his father very suddenly 3 weeks later.

 

God that's got me all tearful writing that.

Loving the card.

 

We were just talking about organising a day trip to Edinburgh on the approach to Christmas. I love wandering around the Christmas market with a cup of mulled wine then a visit to the Turkish Kitchen before catching the train home.

Ditty, thank god for dogs! Mine's kept me sane throughout this whole thing, I've never ever come back from a walk feeling worse than when I went out
We'll get through it, it won't be easy but we will, somehow

Cinds- what's the Turkish kitchen?!
I'm in a mood- I tried to get tickets to Keilder Winterwonderland, but if you don't have a child they won't let you in!

I have just booked tickets for a singalonga carol service at the Royal Albert Hall for my mum's 80th birthday 

yeah what is it with having to write or type something.... 

 

you can think it and manage not to well up (sometimes)..   but the moment you have to put pen to paper its like its out of your head & that means its all really really real!

 

One of the things I have found the hardest was writing the card that went with my flowers for her funeral 

After my dad died, it broke my heart to get birthday cards written just "love mum" not "love mum & dad" anymore, 19 years later and I still have the old ones, I'll never throw them away.

It'll be the same feeling for you Ditty when you write your dad's card, or have to walk past shops selling Mother's Day cards. It's rotten

Rexi, that's awesome! does your mum know?

Awwww  

Nope, not yet. We have told her to keep the date free. Not that she lives in a social whirl, but it would be just our luck if she went on a British Legion outing on that day!!

 

i can't wait ... we shall go and see the Christmas lights, and meet up with all our young people, who live in London, for lunch  

And Ditts, the 'big' days after a parent's death are horrid. We actually had a nice Christmas after my Dad died. It was so strange without him, and it didn't help that my Mum insisted on doing Christmas as usual. She put the turkey on the table, and I swear to Gawd it would still be there now if my sister in law hadn't jumped in and done the carving!!

 

I coped fine with his birthday and with Father's Day but my birthday, almost a year after his death had me in bits all day.

 

it's almost 12 years now. His illness and suffering, and the first year after his death are now just a memory. Now, when I think of him I smile

 

Hang on in there

^ that's so true Rexi, when the pain ceases and the worst memories are pushed out by good ones, and you can look back with only love in your heart

Your mum's surprise is lovely, I can't wait to find out how she reacts- make sure you tell us!

I will Sweet ... her birthday is October 15th ... watch this space!!