Not mentioning the T word at all

tessie_bear

could i please join the i hate christmas club because i do....i love grey queens comment on retailers disappointment with her seasonal spend.....this year im spending the ridiculous sum i always spend on my bambinos but everything else can take a running jump.....i hate the commercialism and the pressure it puts on folks to spend spend spend....especially if they haevnt got it to spend

i slink off now to moan to my dearest in real life

short_bird

GreyQueen wrote: »

Mum remarked last weekend that she thinks there is "less fuss" being made over Christmas this year, meaning less hoo-haw in the shops and the media. Of course, there's still plenty of time for fuss to happen but I sort-of feel that it's a bit more low-key.

I'm waiting for the regular as clockwork, late November story: "OMG, nobody's bought anything for Christmas! Retail is doomed!"

As regular as the "get a bikini ready body" stories in the glossies.

oldtractor

I used to hate xmas but no longer. I think the expectation sort of spoils things. its never seems good enough. I now love it because
1. I have no tv so dont see all the adds
2. I avoid the shops
3. we buy only for immediate family ie Dh DS1 and 2 and Dgs. these presents are £25 maximum and are often "I'll take you out for a cup of tea and a cake in a cafe" sort of present rather than "stuff".I have told them all I want nothing buying but would like IOU's for washing up,hoovering and sweeping the garden path. Huge sighs of relief all round.
4. I decorate the house minimally
5. we just have a "sunday lunch" which happens to be turkey and xmas pud got pudding,no going overboard with allsorts for days on end
6. we hunt,so boxing day is the big day for us, we pack a flask of soup and hm pies and sandwiches and follow our local hunt in the car and on foot.
7. we go walking and try to be outdoors as much as possible
8 if the weathers vile we watch DVD's.
9 we dont send any xmas cards to anyone
10 we go to a church carol service and go carol singing around the village.

katieowl_2

I've got my mate who's OH left her coming for Xmas Day, she feeling a bit low, as her son decided he wanted to go to his Dad again this year not the leaver) also it will be DD no.2's first Xmas at home since we moved, and she's pretty miserable at the moment too (she's convinced when she's finished her degree it will have all been in vain) so I really feel I should make a bit more of an effort (dare say the Case of Mr T's finest will help )

I was perusing the Cath Kidston catalogue that came yesterday and having a little look online, they have some cute christmassy stuff that would go in HM crackers, and I saw a couple of things I'd like for the kichen, but think I need to work up to spending over £50 on stuff I don't *really* need. But HEY can't take it with you when you go. Otherwise I'm doing food pressies again by popular request.

Kate

ebayqueen_2

Hi there you bunch of mad things....I have only got reading as far as the crazy party night:j:beer::j:beer::T:rotfl:

The next night you have one of those parties I'll be there:D

Am subscribing to this great thread and look forward to hearing how everyone is on a day to day basis.

I like Christmas, especially Christmas eve as we go visit family and head to midnight Mass or early Mass on Christmas day. Its very special and gives us all a bit of hope for the coming new year. I try to buy presents that will aid others (Barnardos, Christian aid, Trocaire) and these are very much appreciated by friends and family.

I detest the rip off season leading up to it and the crazy shoppers. What really gets on my nerves is this new playing of piped music in towns... so flipping irritating. So I avoid the towns like the plague and get my grocery delivery the day before Christmas Eve.

Looking forward to 2012 and another pledge to lose the weight:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Ah we all can hope. Seriously I do need to lose a few pounds so will be def trying to get it off and keep it off.

Slow cooker fan here too Mine at the moment is filling the house with the smell of pork chops, onion, carrot and garlic. I have just closed all blinds and curtains here and its real cosy. My lot soon in from school too...then the madness begins.:)

Take care all and I will get caught up with the rest of the posts very soon.

Bobbykins

Has anyone ever looked at the cost difference between using the dishwasher vs washing up by hand?

My dishwasher went into suspended animation last week - it hasn't actually died but isn't working!. Engineer came today and has ordered a part which he "hopes will be here before Xmas" :eek::eek::eek:.

Anyway, I've been washing up by hand since Saturday and have to say I'm quite enjoying it! The peace of standing gazing out of the kitchen window with my arms in lovely hot sudsy water is rather therapuetic. I did wonder, though, whether the cost of heating the water (gas CH boiler) is actually more than the cost of the electricity for running the dishwasher.

Anyone know?

maryb

Could you boil a kettle? When I had a makeshift kitchen in a corner of the hall while our kitchen was being redone, I found that if I rinsed everything first in cold water the actual washing was
a, really quick; and
b. only used a kettleful of hot water for an entire sink's worth - the water just didn't get dirty because I had got all the grunge off with the cold water rinse

Gigervamp

Don't know about the costs of doing it by hand or using the dishwasher as far as energy is concerned, but when I briefly had a dishwasher, I was shocked at the cost of the tablets, salt and rinse aid. A bottle of Lidl washing up liquid is sooo much cheaper!

VJsmum

Bobbykins wrote: »

Has anyone ever looked at the cost difference between using the dishwasher vs washing up by hand?

My dishwasher went into suspended animation last week - it hasn't actually died but isn't working!. Engineer came today and has ordered a part which he "hopes will be here before Xmas" :eek::eek::eek:.

Anyway, I've been washing up by hand since Saturday and have to say I'm quite enjoying it! The peace of standing gazing out of the kitchen window with my arms in lovely hot sudsy water is rather therapuetic. I did wonder, though, whether the cost of heating the water (gas CH boiler) is actually more than the cost of the electricity for running the dishwasher.

Anyone know?

It wears off - the quite enjoying it bit. Mine died in the summer and we were without for about a month. Started off quite enjoying it but soon got really sick of washing up after every meal instead of bunging it in dishie. I haven't moaned about unloading it since we got it back.:D

Cat501

I can't wait 'til I've saved up enough for a dishwasher, the cost in tablets/electricity etc will be far outweighed by the joy I'll feel not having to stand facing a flipping wall washing up (glasses especially, for some reason they really get me down)! I think I might feel a bit differently about it if my sink was at the window but not much:D