Preparedness for when

Hollyberry

Ah, Christmas... We haven't gone overboard with it for many a year. OH and I set a small budget to exchange prezzies, and have great fun furtling in the charity shops for a mixture of the brilliant and the laughable, the latter being re-donated in the New Year. OH gave the best daft prezzie last year - a pair of size 10 flippers! :cool: I did manage to waddle around the room a bit while we all cried with laughter and made inappropriate comments, and now they are hopefully adorning the feet of someone more aquatic than I. So a bit of an extra donation, if you like, and a great laugh on Christmas morning.

We don't cook a traditional Christmas lunch, but will have what we like - probably fish or perhaps beef. I do agree the trimmings are the best bit!

This will be the first Christmas since my mum died, and I thought we should do something a bit different. So it's Christmas at home rather than away, and we will for the first time in years decorate the house. I see that our holly tree is groaning with berries (the view from my desk, hence my user name), so at least a little of that will be decking our halls. I've got a tree that hasn't seen daylight for many a year, and a delicate fairy with a china face and a little bell, bought for a princely ten shillings by my nan. As thriftwizard says, there's plenty of family history in our tree decoration box, and I'm excited to revisit it again this year. VJsmum - I so want a sparkly tuktuk now! My fave is a koala in a santa suit (from my mum's years in Australia).

I'm looking forward to long walks by the canal, snuggling up by a big log fire with a pile of books, and driving into the country on New Year's Eve night to watch the fireworks from long distance, chatter away with OH and freeze ourselves silly while we see in 2014.

I'm not in the least surprised to see an *alternative Christmas* emerging on this thread. I see it as a kinder, gentler Christmas, not about expectations, but more about time spent with those we love, doing things we enjoy, and way, way better for it.

Hollyberry

Shropshirelass wrote: »

Wot, not even for Buggalugs?

I fear Buggalugs removed Bob from her Christmas list shortly after her photo appeared on this very thread.

wondercollie

Head to a preppers site and buy a truckload of MREs.

JayneC

Totally agreeing with the christmas manipulations - I don't have TV, don't read newspapers or glossy mags (I read permaculture mag and sometimes a gardening mag) so mainly avoid the in your face adverts, nevertheless there's a definite feeling of almost panic that I struggle to ignore when walking in the shops near Christmas time. I was perfectly happy with my plans - I tend to theme my presents so everyone is getting PJs this year with a book and a little something homemade - fudge probably, But I'm starting to get that feeling that its not quite enough - I should get a little extra this or that. I know I'm being manipulated but it is incredibly difficult to ignore even when you acknowledge it, so all those naive people who don't really think about it have little chance of escaping the manipulation. My DD2 who has 2 little ones, is totally engrossed in the whole thing. Even got the kids 'Christmas Eve packs' which seems to be the new 'in' thing. I just smile and nod and hope she's not getting into debt:o
We've not had turkey for several years, we usually have duck, but are going for lamb this year as we all really like it but its so expensive that it's a rare treat. Last time we had lamb it was the cheapest cut (misc stewing lamb) of the cheapest brand (Tesco basic), yellow stickered!!!! and even that was towards the upper end of what I'll pay for meat for one meal. I relayed this to DS who said 'wow mum we're really living the dream!' good job he has a sense of humour:rotfl:

elona

Oats, flour, salt, sugar, lentils and pulses, stock cubes, dried milk and veg as well as sacks of potatoes, carrots and onions.

Forgot to add - rice. noodles, pasta and tins of tomatoes and veg and fruits.

ALIBOBSY

Shropshirelass wrote: »

Are any other peeps feeling slightly queasy at the Christmas adverts now being inflicted on us? Some of them beautifully made, charming, touching, obviously no expense spared, and I enjoyed them at first at one level, but they are trying to connect big business to what is personal about family occasion? Cant quite put my finger on it, but don't like it.

Absolutely agree, plus the sheer numbers filling every break already.

That one for some furniture store where they have "santa" delivering your stuff in time for Christmas almost makes me heave its so dripping with the consumerism of the season.

They portray a world where you have to go out and spend to the max to give your family the "perfect Christmas" and its winding me right up already lol. If I see Ant and Dec gurning over another groaning table of food I may just throw something heavy at the TV.

Ali x

SailorSam

You could always go to the chippy each day.

pelirocco

elona wrote: »

Oats, flour, salt, sugar, lentils and pulses, stock cubes, dried milk and veg as well as sacks of potatoes, carrots and onions.

Forgot to add - rice. noodles, pasta and tins of tomatoes and veg and fruits.

Not sure the sacks of veg would be appetizing 2 years down the line

gairlochgal

Tinned tomatoes, potatoes, peas, various beans. Chilli/soy/garlic bottled sauces for flavour

elona

I was assuming sacks of veg would be all right for a few months then any not used up could be planted in the Spring.

Possibly experiment with a dehydrator for fruit and veg?