The little annoyances of Christmas

flamingo747

The disparity between what we can afford (and choose) to spend on others and what they buy us/ds. You know we're poor, please don't spend £30+ on us when we can barely manage £5-10 on you, it makes me feel really guilty! I guess I get a bit "Sheldon" about gifts

Georgiegirl256

GobbledyGook wrote: »

My only annoyance is people having a moan. I was doing a big shop today and a charming woman behind me starting cribbing about how ridiculous it is that people go daft, buying loads of food etc when the shops are only closed for one day.

Sorry, but I have to agree with the woman, she's got a point! Sounds like my Mam and my husband, they were just saying the same thing. People go absolutely mad, it must be from the time when the shops were closed for days, they think it's still like that and go in to stockpile mode.

I agree with you though, there was no need for her to make a comment about milk, like it was directed at you personally.

Lieja

My mother's insistence on me and OH arriving at her pre-defined Xmas dinner time, despite the fact he works nights and is having his daughter at our house from 11. Daughter's mum lives 20 mins in one direction, and my parents live another hour in the opposite direction. She wants dinner on the table at 2pm and she cannot even consider the possibility of being a bit flexible so we don't have a mad rush and OH's daughter can open her pressies without being pushed out the door. Or even flipping eat your dinner without us! Sheesh. Can you tell this has been an issue today?!

I'm also a bit annoyed that my parent's don't think to get even a little token gift for OH's daughter. I get that due to distance and the days we have her, my parents never really see her, and I know she doesn't care in the slightest about getting a gift from them as she has no real relationship with them, but I do think it would be a nice gesture for my OH if nobody else. Not that he's ever mentioned it, so I'm probably just having a huff with my mum today.

Bella73

The only thing I don't enjoy is my work colleague bleeding on about how stressful it all is, they don't even HAVE to do anything.

Moaned about the price of real trees so I suggest get a fake one...but no couldn't possibly as have it have the smell...then buy a real one and stop whinging!

Every year she moans about the costs etc...she only has three grandchildren to buy for as doesn't do her grown up children so I did point out last week that she has chosen to leave it until now and that Christmas Day is the same date every year so she could budget and plan???that went down like a lead balloon...lol

GobbledyGook

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Sorry, but I have to agree with the woman, she's got a point! Sounds like my Mam and my husband, they were just saying the same thing. People go absolutely mad, it must be from the time when the shops were closed for days, they think it's still like that and go in to stockpile mode.

I agree with you though, there was no need for her to make a comment about milk, like it was directed at you personally.

I don't see the issue with it myself. If someone wants to stockpile and not have to set foot in the shops from today until after New Year that's entirely their business. Although I don't understand the interest in other people's shopping habits at all.

The rudeness is just something else at the moment in shops. People are possessed.

arbroath_lass

BritAbroad wrote: »

For me, the biggest 'minor annoyance has has to be those irritating 'I'm not sending Christmas cards, but giving a donation to charity instead' messages. Does it really take much to show family and friends you've thought about them for a few seconds? Why not send cards and make a charitable donation without making a big song and dance about it?

(On a related note, I hate those work situations where your team decides that they're going to buy a goat or whatever instead of sending cards. Usually it means one person has decided that every should donate to a specific charity and you can't object to their choice without looking like Scrooge.)

Haha I do both of these.


The point of the charitable donation is to donate the money you would have spent on cards and postage. You can't really do that and then buy cards - rather defeats the point.


We do the same in the office. I've always asked people to suggest an alternative to Oxfam if they want. When they do we have gone with their idea. This year we collected £20 from an office of 8 - doesn't sound like they object. I'd much rather 20 people got safe drinking water than I got 8 glittery cards that will go in the recycling bin in a week's time.

catkins

marisco wrote: »

It is like who can rack up the biggest leccy bill round my way. Tacky ott lights strung round every possible bit of wall on peoples homes. Urghhh. I have a real dislike for blue xmas lights. They look really stark and cold!

I love all the lights on houses. Me and OH drive round to look at the houses. It's a bit of fun

Homeagain

The staff party. Nooooooooooo I just can't do it. Although I have really great colleagues I just can't do the silliness of it all. This year, I made no excuses (as in previous years), I 'came out' as it were and said that I am too shy, don't enjoy loud music, don't dance, can't afford it etc etc. I guarantee it will be the same next year.

katieclampet

Homeagain wrote: »

The staff party. Nooooooooooo I just can't do it. Although I have really great colleagues I just can't do the silliness of it all. This year, I made no excuses (as in previous years), I 'came out' as it were and said that I am too shy, don't enjoy loud music, don't dance, can't afford it etc etc. I guarantee it will be the same next year.

Me too. I also loathe it when people send you a card, with just their name on it, and your name on the envelope. They have obviously just sat and written out loads of cards with there name on it, and just stuck your name on the envelope. I d rather they didn't bother.


Katie

Rebecca01

I'm also a bit annoyed that my parent's don't think to get even a little token gift for OH's daughter. I get that due to distance and the days we have her, my parents never really see her, and I know she doesn't care in the slightest about getting a gift from them as she has no real relationship with them, but I do think it would be a nice gesture for my OH if nobody else. Not that he's ever mentioned it, so I'm probably just having a huff with my mum today.[/QUOTE]

I see your point. My parents , my sister and my Auntie all buy my OH two daughters a present despite them living 300 miles away. My sis has only met them once. They do it for my OH to show his family is part of ours. He really appreciates this.
So while I undestand that your parents never see so whats the point? I can see why you are a bit irritated.