Nice People Thread No. 14, all Nice and Proper

silvercar

Spirit wrote: »

Cheer up.

Are you suggesting you would prefer that he forgoes being with his romantic love to share their annual ritual celebration so he can make up the numbers in your nuclear famiy.

In return do you promise not to make him feel guilty if he and G/f decline your significant festival celebration to spend it doing something for the convenience of her family.

Missing point - DS2 is usually away at uni for significant religious festivals and were he here he wouldn't be interested, other than in family eating. We are also disadvantaged in that midweek festivals don't cause the country to come to a standstill, so those choosing not to partake will be going about their normal business unaware. If he elected to join us, I doubt that GF would also take time off work to join in, but that would be interesting and would also require DS2 to want to participate.

Currently their relationship is in the no-mans land of having gone out a long time but not yet feeling it necessary to do family stuff as a couple. Remember term time they are 200 miles apart. Add to that DS2 still being at uni and there is no established adult routine.

Your chick is fledging, his sibling will have to put his long trousers on and play by himself. Faced with a choice between monopoly or sex any 20 something bloke is not going to be wanting to land on Old Kent Road.

:rotfl: Thanks for that last thought:o

silvercar

Spirit wrote: »

SC on the present giving, I would give a personal gift to her mum/dad and a joint pressie to siblings and something for grandparents ( cover those present on Christmas day.)

I don't think it is right for me to give a present to her parents, they haven't got us a present and a present should come from DS2, if he is staying there and he is an adult. I will get GF a present.

DS2 says he has discussed it with her and he doesn't need to get a present for anyone other than a general "thanks for inviting" gift. Apparently they are not so big on present giving. :shrugs:

He is genuinely curious about how Xmas will be celebrated, though he won't go to church. Interesting to hear what he thinks, I imagine he is envisaging PNs description of idylic family gatherings.

michaels

So we have stockings on waking up (go and play and leave us in peace if it is before 7AM), breakfast possibly with something special like croissants, church, one present each whilst preparing lunch, lunch about 1, possibly a walk/cycle ride (if Santa has brought bikes), some tv/games and more presents, a what shall we have for tea moment then probably a movie in the evening and probably a few skype breaks at different timezone points throughout the day.

Probably some friends over in the following week and a family get together on the 1st Jan, might be any day before or after xmas, this year this was the day that worked - I prefer after as we can buy pressies in the sales.

Xmas eve probably a crib service and perhaps midnight mass plus a rush around trying to see who has the best deal on reduced turkey,

Oh yes xmas eve/day online sales and 5am boxing day Next Sale for DW and DDs whilst DS and I sleep.

I just counted and we have 5 people in the house and 5 sofas

michaels

30 cans of pepsi at Mr M for 6 quid for those interested in such things....

michaels

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/30x330ml-cans-pepsi-diet-pepsi-pepsi-max-5-97-morrisons-2353982

ivyleaf

Spirit wrote: »

i have never had anything from Greggs. Lack of opportunity. OH speaks highly of them although is currently giving them a wide berth to reduce carb intake.

Their sausage roll pastry is unfortunately on the greasy side, but I really like the taste of them. I enjoy high quality ones too, but sometimes a Gregg's one just hits the spot

ETA I can't remember any Christmases when I or anyone else was upset or desperately stressed, certainly not among my own family.

The past few years we've gone to DD1 and DSIL for Christmas lunch, and are doing that again this year.
Eldest DGS has got engaged this year, and he and his fiancee are going to her parents for lunch for the first time :eek:, so I thought DD1 might quite like to have a nice peaceful lunch with just her and her husband on their own (we'd have been happy enough to have lunch on our own too, though we do enjoy going to them), but he said it wouldn't feel very Christmassy without either their DS or us there, so we're going there again. We do take wine, crackers and desserts

Our son is going to have a late lunch with a friend who'd otherwise be on his own.

I go to the Vigil Mass at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve - it's aimed more at the children really, but I can't stay awake for Midnight Mass these days and am glad I finally gave in gracefully a few years ago and stopped trying to

Nikkster

I've always spent Christmas with my parents, even when I was in a relationship. Can't imagine not doing so, but 'whose parents to spend it with?' dilemma is unlikely to trouble me any time soon.

Christmas day routine round my way: Wake up not too early. Remain in pyjamas/ slobwear. Brioche for breakfast, and option of orange juice (these are Christmas only delicacies). My mum and I head into the kitchen around 11ish and mark commencement of cooking with a G+T. Start preparing the veg and cooking the garnishes. We cook a LOT of garnishes. Turkey into the oven at a time which means it'll be cooked by about 2.

Once the turkey is done, my mum dusts off her vintage electric knife. That is truly the sound of Christmas. My brother and I run around chasing each other pretending our hands are electric knives and making an appropriate noise (its making me giggle just thinking about it). Usually have finished eating and tidying up in time for the mid-afternoon film. Christmas pudding is around 6pm. The leftovers sit on the side until bedtime and the rest of the evening is spent sneaking into the kitchen every time you stand up to steal another pig in blanket/ stuffing ball/ roast potato etc.

I cancelled the presents I'd ordered (not been dispatched yet) as I was somewhere I could buy in person today. I'm really very excited about giving them to the intended recipients (well, they're a bit niche so can't really be giving to many people....
Will add a pic of where I was in a mo.

Here you go

CKhalvashi

PasturesNew wrote: »

Has any NP actually ever had a Happy Christmas?

Yes, although this year may be extremely different, as I'm in the centre of a huge family row at the moment (for something I haven't actually done, but that doesn't stop some people).

Mine were mostly me shutting up "for a quiet life" while somebody else made our lives misery and my only hope was that sibling wouldn't storm out in a huff on the day and that she'd not make mum cry.

We're generally closer than that, and will all get together as an extended family on Christmas day. Whether the group will be as large this year is yet to be seen, as we're thinking of disappearing to Georgia at some point next week if things don't improve considerably.....

CKhalvashi

PasturesNew wrote: »

Ah, 20p/can... presumably 330ml and not 250ml. I'll go check.


The buying price is 7.6p/100ml.

Mind you, twice in the past I've gone to Morrisons JUST to get their Pepsi - only to find the shelf empty. That's the trouble with shops, they don't actually have what you are in there for.

Their website shows 8 for £2 (which is my usual buying routine price). Mysupermarket shows the same. No mention of 30s.

£1 for 2 bottles of lemonade in Waitrose at the moment (2l), or at least was last week.

2.5p/100ml, and it's delicious

CKhalvashi

PasturesNew wrote: »

Sorry, it's an addiction thing.
Has to be cans.
Has to be Pepsi.
Has to be Max.


Even PMax in a bottle's not the same.....

I'll drink other stuff ..... but for my favourite addiction it has to be exactly right.

No problem

I'm more of a Coke person than Pepsi, but prefer OJ now more than anything, or Irn Bru.