The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!

silvasava

Last year due to Covid we had C lunch with DS1 as he's on his own. We usually go to DS2 & DiL on Boxing day but decided against it as DS2 and I are considered clinically vulnerable. This year DS1 will be hosting again with us, and some friends. So it will be good food, good friends and merriment with a tots up at 9pm to remember absent friends and family.  I will decorate our house and I'll be making a few things to contribute but it will be low key and absolutely lovely. 

newroadahead

I agree about C being tough DD Birthday is a few days after C and DH is a couple before
I remember one year when DSM was alive she said she would buy DD one gift for Bday and C so  I  replied that's fine we will do  the same for you her bday was 12th night and she said that's not fair so I asked why it should be different for little one needless to say there were 2 separate gifts 
It used to make me laugh how DSM used to send me brochures with items ticked that she wanted as gifts the prices were horrendous 
She was wartime generation but everything had a price !!
I try to keep a limit on spending I don't eat most things associated with C the cake mince pies the pudding as I am not  a lover of fruit but I get small versions for DH and DMIL if she comes for lunch from the home 

One of my favourite childhood memories was when my DM was alive and they had got me a bike for C
I woke up and came downstairs as I was poorly and was shocked to see Ddad and Dmum and Dsis wrapping 
Dmum said santa had sent a message to say his elves were poorly so couldn't
Wrap everyone's gifts so parents were helping 
They had hidden the bike in the garden so I didn't see it until the next day I was over the moon  with it

As I get older sometimes I think it would be nice to go away and have someone else deal with all the organising then I look at the cost and quickly change my mind 

One thing I enjoy is seeing what O'sers get up and if memory serves tru quotes a C Carol.everyday on the daily thread

Sorry gone offon a tangent again 

NRA

MrsCD

Our celebration of the birth of Jesus will be, as usual, very low key. Our two grown up daughters come for dinner, but we all open our presents during the morning. My dad stayed at home and didn't want a dinner because he can't eat a lot,  so he says. We all went to see him during the afternoon and took some nibbles with us. He opened his presents from all of us and we pulled lots of crackers! It was a lovely day which we all appreciated because Dad has been quite poorly for some time.
As others have said, it is what you make of it. No right or wrong way, just your way. I won't try to make people think the same way as me, but if they ask, I will discuss and try to persuade them! Now, how many days.........

VJsmum

Every year i steadfastly look through Nigella's Christmas cookery book - and every year i make not a single thing 🤣

I like christmas eve, day and boxing day.  Nothing else.  i hate New year with a passion and prefer to be abroad if possible - all that "thank god this year is over" nonsense cos you wake up and nowt's changed.

i do love my tree though - we collect decorations as holiday souvenirs so it's not stylish or coordinated but it's unique and very us

Florenceem

I remember C as a child living in a prefab. We had a coal fire and a real tree - stuck in an old National Dried Milk tin filled with dirt from the garden. We made chains with strips of paper and blew up balloons to hang on the ceiling - bought the packet of balloons in Woolworths. Mum and Dad hid our presents in the airing cupboard.
One year my sister and I had measles - dad set up a mirror so we could see the C tree while laying in bed. We weren't a family who went to Church so no service to attend. Think dad had a bottle of beer and there was a bottle of sherry but no heavy drinking.

MingVase

Florence one year my two eldest had measles as well, daughter was 3 and son was 1. She was so ill she slept in the livingroom right beside the tree and didnt even notice it.
vjs re New Year, I always feel its like turning apage in a school jotter - a nice clean new page to scribble all over! lol

Florenceem

Back then having measles meant staying in bed and being really poorly. When we moved to a house when I was 13 - not much changed about the day. Used to look forward to having C cake and pudding.
When I married - used to spend one day with inlaws and one with parents - what a difference. Lots of booze at the inlaws.

Florenceem

I don't remember my mum having to worry about nativity costumes when I was at school. I didn't go to a Church school and can't remember a nativity taking place.
When my children started school - it was time to deal with costumes by then it was the 1970s.
One year at infants school - my son was a king and his crown was too big - had to wedge it on his ears. Another year my son was a shepherd and his dad made him a crook - it was much too big and he struggled to carry it.
I sent my children to Sunday school as they attended only an infant school and the nearby junior was a Church school and you needed a letter from the Vicar to get in. Then I started to attend services at the Church as parents were invited along for Harvest/Easter/C time and end of terms. 

pollyanna_26

Christiano Ronaldo Florence! He's coming home.

pollyx

Florenceem

As I had more babies - I became host for C - who wanted to invite 8 of us. Plus we had the space.
I baked mince pies + sausage rolls - made my own puff pastry to save money. I made a traditional C cake and a Tunis style one for those who didn't like fruit cake. I cooked Ham + Beef + Pork and Turkey to feed the hordes who descended on us. There was breakfast to provide then the 2 course lunch followed by tea and lastly supper. I didn't get a lot of time to sit down. 
I had a large downstairs in my Victorian house - the hallways, dining room and lounge were smothered in decorations with a tree in each room. It took me hours to wrap all the presents.
I had started to attend the Midnight service so didn't have a lot of sleep before I was woken up by excited children. The bulk of the work fell to me as my then husband saw C as another excuse to drink heavily.