Its just that's its getting to that time where the commercial/retail world is now in full flow, bombarding us with 'festive' messages. I've always hated that, but this year I just seem to be finding it really, really dispiriting. Depressing even!
There's an element of the nonsensical, that I just roll my eyes at, ie: people actually discussing the John Lewis advert. Seriously... who cares?
And then there's the real stuff. The fact that things are going to be [i]a lot[/i] tighter this year, financially, than ever before. To a worrying degree. Which makes the commercial bombardment even more demoralising. I'm better off than a lot of people, I know. Thankfully. But its going to be a difficult month.
Admittedly... I'm a miserable old sod at the best of times, but.... is it just me?
I'm looking forward to all the bargains on Ebay etc of things that people need to seell because they've overdone the spending on Xmas and need to pay thier bills. January is a great time of year for the bargain hunter!
Christmas you say? Don't do it, it's not compulsory!
Easy for me to say that as my kids are adults but, yes, it will be terribly hard on many families.
Get rid of the telly? 😉
NOPE
I love it, Put my first decoration up today.
So bloody excited...
Yep absolutely dreading it, almost to the point of not knowing how I will cope.
First year without my wife and daughter.
Quite enjoy it tbh
It's better when you have kids
Edit: I just read the post above sorry if what I said sounds harsh I don't know your circumstances
Can't wait. Kids are 3 and 5 so it will be magical!
Got some friends round on Christmas Eve, Outlaws on Christmas Day and were having Boxing Day to ourselves.
Err...yes, but then again...no, as my hair gets a lot of work around now.
Oh I don't know. 😀
Totally and utterly indifferent.
My (extended) family just decided a few years back to only buy presents for the kids (nieces and nephews in my case), makes things a lot easier, cheaper and less stressful. Although apparently they want an iPad Mini to share this time so maybe not entirely cheap 🙁
Opt out.
Punch anyone who mentions it in the kisser.
Simples.
No, me n the fam are looking right forward to it.
Tree n decs go up this weekend in fact, can't wait, especially for the time off work and to see the kids reactions on the Day.
Bring it on!
Xmas = PITA.
Not really dreading it, but never really been a fan of Christmas since a young age, sadly all I can remember is arguments and shouting.
I'm with you binners. CBA with all the marketing bollocks surrounding it. No kids here so i suppose that is a factor. We were going to go abroad for it this year but I've just had a new car so we can't afford. Ah well, a week of lie ins booze and food with my wifey will do me nicely. I just need to avoid society for the next month or so!
We don't have kids so it's a lot easier, but I am indifferent. We're off to Scotland in the caravan over christmas to try and get some skiing in - if nowt else it should look pretty spectacular
Waitrose always have loads of free samples of booze, chocolates etc. Half an hour wandering round, and you're fed and watered. and oyu don't have to buy anything!
It's pretty easy to avoid the commercialisation though, just don't watch the plebby TV channels.
Every cloud, eh Mike?
We're too poor, and northern, an' that, to have Waitrose round here though 😉
I can't wait. Hopefully we'll be in our new house, and the kids are getting to a really exciting age.
I'm not looking forward to Xmas either all the hype and expense and stress that Mrs FH will no doubt lat at my door, Will be a quite Xmas this year without the inlaws etc so my plan is to go down the pub at 12 and come back at 2.30 with as many pints down me as possible.
Nick - Urgh - I don't watch any of those frightful Non-BBC Channels, but in the society we live in commercialisation seems to seep into everything
Right now I'm looking at a Singletrack advert with falling snow etc 🙁
I'm looking forward to 12 days off work!
Our daughter is 10 now and doesn't believe in Santa anymore - I still want my mince pies and whiskey on Xmas eve though!
Not looking forward to the expense though - her birthday is on the 20th so it all comes together and makes it a very few weeks.
Every cloud, eh Mike?
i'l say.Last year, I tried several different whiskeys, had some really nice wine, and the belgian chocs were to die for. wasn't too enamoured with the weird pastry/pie type thing though; some obscure poultry in some obscure fruit sauce. tasted like turkey in jam.
Looking forward to it, flying in on xmas morning and straight to my Mums for breakfast, a sleep, and then the dinner with all the trimmings.
Lucky I will not see all the usual commercial tat running up to the event as their into it here but not that much, probabley helps me enjoy it a little more.
I look at Christmas as a bit of time off, and quality time with my wife and son, and family
My sons only 2, so don't have the pressure of the commercial aspect of it, yet.
An entire day having to listen to and for the most part be polite to racist, homophobic and xenophobic relatives, eating over cooked nigh on mushy food and then having to suffer my sister in law drunkenly shouting utter nonsense and repeating it continually until she's acknowledged or until they have a fight and an awkward silence takes over.
It is ****ing purgatory and I can't wait for the 26th December.
An entire day having to listen to and for the most part be polite to racist, homophobic and xenophobic relatives, eating over cooked nigh on mushy food and then having to suffer my sister in law drunkenly shouting utter nonsense and repeating it continually until she's acknowledged or until they have a fight and an awkward silence takes over.It is ****ing purgatory and I can't wait for the 26th December.
Maybe find somewhere else to go on christmas?
Yeah, hate it in its current form with a vengeance. All this false bonhomie and the overt commercialism really hacks me off. I get quite depressed this time of year and being 'forced' to have a good time does not help. I am a Christian so should enjoy it, but, for me, the message just gets drowned out by the noise of the marketplace.
Why can't you just ignore it all? Christmas has not impinged on my life at all yet, and it's already late Nov. I'll put some decorations up late Dec and go and see the folks for some social time. No problems that I can see.
An entire day having to listen to and for the most part be polite to racist, homophobic and xenophobic relatives, eating over cooked nigh on mushy food and then having to suffer my sister in law drunkenly shouting utter nonsense and repeating it continually until she's acknowledged or until they have a fight and an awkward silence takes over.
So you have a shitty family who can't cook and drink too much. How is that Christmas's fault?
It's all balls in my opinion unless you have young kids, which I don't, but that can also add to finacial pressure. Best part of it for me is that I get two weeks off of work. 😀
meh not too fussed
our 2 yr old is still too young to know what its all about yet
on the plus side i get 2 weeks off work and the inlaws are visiting so i can go off for plenty of bike rides with mates who are also off work
its an excuse to buy some nice cheeses too
of course being made redundant on 1st of jan is a bit pants
I get quite depressed this time of year and being 'forced' to have a good time does not help
That's another thing that gets me too. I've just been informed at work, that I need to shell out £35 for the privilege of going for a meal with the people I work with every day, plus drinks, plus taxi's home. Erm....Nothing personal, but I don't think I'll bother, thanks. In fact, I'd rather stick needles in my eyes than go into Manchester City Centre in December. Its like a vision of hell!
Bah! Humbug!!!
Sadly, your post seemed to only be about the commercial and financial aspects of Christmas.
Why not think of it as a few extra days off work to spend with family and friends when they're off work and school as well? (Well, hopfully they are).
Think it's a bit of a shame that we don't have an equivalent of Thanksgiving here, where we can celebrate people a bit more easily than things- might take a bit of pressure off of Christmas
Many people forget that Xmas brings all sorts of difficulties for part of the population. KINGTUT is an example, his post is very sad.
Try not to judge those who don't share the enthusiasm, after all you really have no idea of the reasons behind it.
Here endeth the lesson. 😉
I doubt they are excited at the prospect of spending the evening with you either binners.
Detest the commercial side of Xmas.
Jr's reaction on the day will be the highlight.
Going out for lunch will be nice enough.
Those no longer with us will be missed, greatly.
Indeed! That's really my point! Yet, all in, they'll be shelling out £50-£60 each for the pleasure. Why? You wouldn't do it any other week
Right now I'm looking at a Singletrack advert with falling snow etc
Has no effect on me.
I will have some time off work, hopefully it will be cold and crisp for near perfect riding conditions.
Then on Christmas day I will be all alone sobbing into a bottle of whiskey dreaming of the family I never had.
What's not to love?
TBH - we don't do it much, the kids are grown up now though
Sometimes we're not at home but when we are it's fairly low key
I don't go to any works dos at all [I can't be trusted]
The family buy each other a token gift only, £5 max this year, nothing useful allowed.
We eat and drink a bit more but only to the tune of maybe another £100 or so.
I do enjoy it though.
It'll be the first Christmas for 24 years that me an Mrs TJD are home all day together with the kids,so looking forward to it.Money's tight, so the kids will get the presents,but what the hey.
I get sick of the commercialism and listening to how much some people at work spend on their kids, then complain they r skint!! Have one 6 yr old quite excited and the other one is 3 on christmas day, best bit is i finish work on the 12 and we fly to Nepal on the 13th and come back early Jan, sunshine, meeting old friends, visiting old work places, trekking, elephant rides should be a very enjoyable and memorable christmas holiday 😀
Binners, if it helps, I find the solution is an easy one. Remember Christmas is a religious festival and a time (hopefully) to be with family/friends. Lovely in that context 😉 If neither of those strike a chord, just ignore the whole razzamattaz that goes with it. Secular, bloody nonsense the rest of it!!
(Now where did I put the flame suit from the dog thread?)
