OS Christmas Support thread & timetable

MrsTinks

Must start making food list for x-mas... really really must... *sigh* 6 people - thankfully no fussy eaters! I want to make it perfect because I want my mum to be able to relax this year she has always ended up having to do the cooking even at my step sisters house (lazy moo! grrrr) and me and Mum even bought most of the food the year we had it at my step sisters... *sigh*
Wouldn't be so bad but she got all the praise... ARGH!

Anyway this year I am thinking a boiled ham (as leftovers are good for a quick sarnie), 1 large duck and 1 goose (don't like turkey sorry...) and lots of veg for the main christmas meal. Possibly some sausages too from our local butchers...

Hmmmm need to go meal plan for the 6 days we have guests... :eeek:

sandieb

onestep wrote:

It absolutely positively definitely has to be real!!! We don't put our tree up until after my birthday (11th Dec) and the smell of the pine is just perfect, and always brings back loads of happy memories of Christmasses when I was growing up. I don't go in for matching decorations either, or single colour baubles; I use all the multicoloured ones that I can rememer from my Nana's tree, and some from Mum's that she's handed on.


onestep

SNAP!!!

It has to be a real tree for me and my birthday is 11 December and I don't put it up until after then!! I use lots of different decorations all meaning something or reminding me of someone.

Tricky_Vicky

When I was a kid, my Mum used to get so stressed out at Christmas, she was like a she-devil and she and my Dad used to always end up having a blazing row. :mad: When I grew up, for ages I used to dread Christmas because that old sinking feeling came over me each time. When my kids were little it wasn't too good either, because I brought them up alone and money was very tight.

I always used to refuse to talk about Christmas till late December and I would rush out on Christmas eve to get presents last minute - talk about setting yourself up for disaster.

It was only once I had grandchildren that I discovered how magical it can be.

OK so its a lot of work and cost when you have to feed the multitude, but now that I have got rid of that nasty nagging little gremlin, it is possible to enjoy it and even relax a bit.

I hope you all get time and resources to be able to have some fun:beer:

furrypig

I love a real tree and our family tradition is usually to buy it the first weekend in December and it lasts really well until early jan whenever you are meant to take it down!

There are some really good trees with 'no drop' needles and I love having it up and all of us decorating it!!

Very exciting Christmas will be here really soon!!

QueenB.

As a child my family always had a real tree but once i moved out and started my own family i have prefered having a fake one.

The main one we have now is a large, full 6ft traditional looking tree. It was gien to us by some friends of ours a few years back who where living the country and i have a feeling it has many many years left in it ( if out cats would stop climbing into it:rolleyes: ).

I have to say i don't actually like the smell of pine, the main smell in our house at christmas is spices and mint, to me there is no smell more wondeful than cinnamon, the children know that when the house starts smelling of cinnamon and cranberries that the autumn has truely arrived and christmas is not far away.:D

Lillibet_2

Real tree:D We put ours up the second weekend of December, trial & error have taught us that this is usually the best time to buy a decent one & still have it looking fresh on the day. Has to be co-ordinated decorations for me (even to the point that they not only co-ordinate with each other but also the decor:rolleyes:) & white lights, hubby likes a big mix of coloured decorations & lights so now we alternate decorating it each year (it's my turn this year:D:D:D)

We have been buying the annual Swrovski (not spelt right but you know who I mean;)) crystal star and snowflake decorations, one a year for Spud as part of his Xmas present but he won't get them until he's (much) older, so far only got 2 buy I can't wait to get enough to have a crystal decorated tree with white lights:j Saying that they are quite expensive (but cheaper if you get them imported from the USA for some reason?) & we could only afford to buy one a year!

shetitasatic

I do this too, Lillibet! I've got one each year since 1999
and they've increased in value like mad. We go camping in Europe for 3wks each year and I try to buy them then as souvenirs - i've got them from Vienna, Monte Carlo, Krakow (now who's boasting!!) I tried to buy this year's star in Prague a couple of weeks ago but they only sell it in a set with 2 smaller ones! - worked out at £78!! - I don't think so!

I only decorate my tree in white , crystal and silver - i'm very strict about this - the family think I'm mad, but my 4 grandchildren won't let me stop buying the crystal stars because they all want several each when I'm gone!!

I also buy other Christmas tree decorations on holiday to remind me of special occasions and people, lots of places have Christmas shops all year round.

monty100

Furrypig said:

There are some really good trees with 'no drop' needles

That defeats the whole purpose of having a real tree!! Am I the only one who loves hoovering up the needles afterwards - such a satisfying WHOOSH up the vacuum cleaner:j :j :j And it makes the vacuum filter smell nice afterwards!!!

mrs-moneypenny

i cant remember who asked but someone was looking for white/clear fairy lights in this thread. I've just got back from wilkinsons and in their gardening section they had quite a few indoor/outdoor sets reduced, 100 white fairylights were priced at 10pounds but had 25% off (so 7.50). they had they parasol lights at 8pounds with 25% off (so 6) they were all mains electric.

also had some really cool coloured solar lights in red, green, clear or blue for only 4.50 each after the discount

hope its of help to someone

Ruby_Pudding

I'm another real tree fan - we always had one when I was growing up so I guess that's what I'm used to. Although it would make more financial sense to buy one I could reuse it wouldn't feel the same to me somehow.