MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Been pretty good so far this year for us, and I'm hoping the lack of a thread means the rest of you are doing ok too.
Though if anyone wants yet another bike shaped key ring/bottle opener, I can oblige
The outlaws are not here this year 😆😆😆😆...merry Xmas all
A top notch day so far. Surrounded by the humans that mean the most to me, and just about to sit down for the best meal of the the year. It's amazing how a pimped up Sunday roast can be so off the scale of deliciousness!
Only slightly off stocking filler gift was a coffee stencil set. Does she not know I'm a world renowned latte art meister? She is an actual artist for a living. I told her it was like me buying her a painting by numbers set!
Happy Christmas to all stwers!
I didn't get anything:-( from anyone 🙁
Ps we all agreed early nothing was unlikely to be given . Get a gift when required within the year to come. People get what they want and less waste.
We're at the in-laws for a brief visit. Unfortunately it's not brief enough for my liking. MIL and SIL are incapable of not shouting at each other. I've eyeballed the Mrs several times and tapped my watch
I've checked out of Christmas this year so no stress or crap presents to worry about today!
My mum usually does a decent roast of some sort but since my dad passed away 2 years ago it would only be me, her and my bully, racist, narcissistic waste of skin of an uncle. I hate him so spending any time with him always ruined Christmas for me and this year mum didn't feel like doing anything either so my uncle was informed that there wouldn't be any Christmas meal today and that mum would rather just be alone with her cats. He didn't take that very well as he had assumed he was eating at hers, didn't make any other plans and didn't have any food in stock at home either (he was told a week ago but thought it was a joke until Tuesday!). I've spent the day out in the hills and did plan to pop in to see mum on the way home for an hour but she's called that off too, will do the Christmas thing on the 29th now as it's my birthday and my sister and her family will be there too.
Racist uncle has been telling people round town that he was unceremoniously told that Christmas wasn't happening yesterday so have had to reply to the odd message and set the record straight but other than that it's been a relaxing day with quiet roads, happy people out in the hills and no temptations of a cheeky takeaway/fast food, not even my nemesis of petrol station choccies as everything is closed!
ps: we tried the just me and mum thing last year with uncle told to make other plans but he turned up anyway, pretty much demanded to have food made available for him (we just cooked a basic meal for each of us) and dominated the talking. He has no social skills at all.
We have just finished drunken archery and are now going for more drink before dinner. All going very nicely today. Will probably go up a nearby summit to look at the stars tonight as last night’s sky was amazing.
Very low key this year, just the three of us. The only terrible present was some novelty socks with the hounds head on them, Ms RM was more disappointed than I. They'll make great summer riding socks.
My sister I think got fed up of the overwhelming nature of Christmas with two overexcited girls and our frail Mum, so she's kind of split it up this year by insisting that she gets actual Christmas as a family and once her kids have come down from the mass hysteria of it all, we get a hopefully slightly quieter family "gathering".
I've escaped Christmas by going to Spain where it's pretty low-key, a lot of cafes etc are open etc.
3 1/2 hour solo stomp along the western end of the sdw. Banana for Xmas lunch. Flipping cold wind in my face was biting at times.
Had Xmas lunch with 92yr old mum on Saturday and she was bullied by my sister to go to hers today. The lifts in her block are busted and the stairs are fairly steep hence mum not wanting to go out . But big sis knows best , apparently.
No grief , no dramas , no presents , no phone calls and not even a txt.
Was given special dispensation by my o/h to stay a few days with my late 90s dad. His age not the music era. His usual carers/helpers have all got some bug. He's remarkably still agile but no idea how to cook. But great neighbours in these parts.
Oddly I've been getting 9-Plus hours a sleep each night and lots of cycling. That's my present.
I’ve got a donkey! Best. Present. Ever!
Not literally, obviously, but we went to a donkey sanctuary in Devon in the summer and there was one donkey in particular who was absolutely nuts. He was called Maverick and I fell a little bit in love with him. Mrs Binners remembered him and for my Christmas present I’ve adopted him. I’m so chuffed! 😃
Kitchen based chaos here. At the in-laws. 12 people to cook for but nobody had any semblance of a plan about who was in charge, what had to happen when, or who was doing what to get the dinner ready in some approximation of the right timeline.
SIL and I took control of the situation and pulled it out of the bag - everything ready bang on the same time and cooked to perfection. Quite enjoyed the challenge and the achievement 👍
Now to sit on my arse and get a bit pissed while everyone's tidying up👌
el_boufador - have you watched the Christmas dinner episode of The Bear with Jamie Lee Curtis? It sounds like you might have been trying to recreate it. It’s the most stressful hour of television I’ve ever watched. I needed to lie down in a darkened room when it had finished. It’s utter genius but possibly the most anxiety-inducing thing ever made
I have no interest in Xmas, only me and the wife so we went to the gym for a couple of hours, quite a few people there. Came back did the presents, had dinner she fell asleep after and I am sat editing vids and pics. Might watch some TV later.
Did park run at Dewsbury with one daughter - shout out to the volunteers - followed by big Christmas lunch with the wife and (adult) kids. was great. Now a beer or two
Lovely day with the family. In the middle of a 4 week NZ road trip. 6 year old got up early and opened his presents. A few face times back home while the time difference worked, then away for a swim in the (warm) sea. After that, a family friend cooked us an amazing leg of lamb for Xmas dinner. Wife and I didn’t bother with presents and everyone ‘s happy.
Xmas totally different down here. Very minimal hype, no onslaught of Xmas adverts showing the “perfect” family Xmas and normal supermarkets. I haven’t seen one giant pile of Quality Street! Went food shopping Xmas eve and were 3rd in a queue and the staff were handing out mini Kit Kats as an apology for the wait. I’m going to miss this next year.
Presents? The missus gave me a 20kg kettlebell - who says romance is dead? Kudos to her for finding a gift bag strong enough to hold it.
have you watched the Christmas dinner episode of The Bear with Jamie Lee Curtis? It sounds like you might have been trying to recreate it. It’s the most stressful hour of television I’ve ever watched.
Yeah, that was a hard watch. Quite wearing. I think we viewed it in two sittings, maybe three. If you like your telly stressful, I thoroughly recommend the 'Rishi' episode of Industry. Even if you don't really get the series as a whole, it's one of those horrific, snowballing emotional avalanche things that's just viscerally painful to watch. Brilliant TV.
I've eyeballed the Mrs several times and tapped my watch
Have you tried slapping your thighs with the palms of your hands and saying "right, well.."?
I had one job to do. Just one job. The prawn cocktail for the starters. I was all organised and bought it a couple of days ago. Today when the time came I chopped up the iceberg, opened the prawn cocktail and……….no prawns! I had picked up a tub of Marie Rose sauce! No bother, I will grab a few frozen prawns from the freezer and defrost them quickly in some hot water, no one will know. Bugger, no prawns in the freezer, time to face the music………
I have escaped by heading in a camper van to Assynt. Fab day on some craggy corbets today with it being fine enough to loiter up high for sunset. About to have a shepards pie and a glass of bubbles 
Another Massey is finding its way to the shed. My father stumbled upon his old 1971 MF135 whilst doing his rounds recently. The only picture we have with my grandfather, father and myself together is with this Massey.
Was looking for a bigger project. But the sentimental value will compensate I'm sure.
Merry Xmas all.
Generally don't care about presents, but my brother got me the same Jake Thackeray biography he got me 2 years ago 🙄
Kind of stressful but not in any christmas related way.I have managed to totally sidestep it this year. No presents, no fus nothing. Just treat is as a relatively normal day. Except it has been blowing an ice cold northerly here which almost ripped the side out of my barn. Had to park 2 tractors with their loaders up against it to stop the side blowing clean off (and taking our valleys internet transmitter with it). Then I ran out of welding wire when doing a spot of repair work on my van. Of course no where is open to get any more till the weekend! So went for a nice walk in the hills with the dog and then home for haggis, roast potatoes and mushy peas for tea/xmas dinner. Kind of having a festive relax now though as I just ate a pile of cheese and biscuits while drinking scotch and watching (if you can beleive it) Home Alone for the first time ever in my almost 60 years on this planet!
Happy Christmas everyone...
My middle child is working in Andorra so, for the first time, we didn’t have all of the kids here. I was surprised how much I missed having the whole gang here.
she spent the morning skiing followed by an afternoon in the Irish pub. Thrilled that she is living life and being awesome, but still missed her loads.
Quite one here too, just me and the missus today. Watched films and nibbled on food most of the day, made a nice Curry too. Got more socks to add to the millions I already have, as well as a few books/odds and sods. Busier day tomorrow up at the outlaws for round 2!
Brilliant xmas here, no presents, no extended family. Had to reconsider our choice of location for the xmas paddle as the ice was a bit thick on the first, second had just enough ice to be beautiful to paddle through, bluebird skies as well
https://postimg.cc/wycS8CxF
Lovely Christmas day here, first Christmas with the little one so just the three of us. Got out for a walk in the hills then back for veggie Christmas dinner and some low key presents, she’s still to little to understand whats going on so it was very relaxing.
@binnersthat episode might be the best single episode of television I've ever seen. It's asymphony.
never heard of the Bear. is this episode watchable as a standalone episode or do you need to have invested in the whole series to understand the characters?
Best bit was just hubby and I in the Alps. It snowed all day, light teeny flakes, which didn't settle, but looked so Christmassy. A gorgeous lunch in a mt restaurant, a tiny present for me and a couple of things for him. Skiing a couple of red runs before an easy meal back at our very comfortable apartment. early to bed.
Worse bits, I've been laid low with lurgy for the last 7 days and only just managed to get out and about. Also ringing my elderly mother to wish her merry Christmas to find she's not opening her presents until today (26th December), this sounded strange. A text from my brother confirmed that she did open all the gifts except mine, which are still in the place where I showed her before we went away. Once again I'm looking like a dreadful daughter.
I've been visited by the Manflu fairy all week 😞
It's the gift that keeps on giving 🙄
It's now looking like I'm passing the baton over to Mrs OF as well, how hum 🙄
A nice day for us here in Seadogland. Both the kids (29 and 23) came to us. So just 4 of us for most of the day.
My parents popped in for couple of hours on Christmas morning. We have such differing tastes in foods that a big meal together is pointless. We're all Veggie or Vegan, my parents are hunks of meat and huge portions people. If we go to Mum she gets ridiculously stressed about what to cook that nobody has a good time,. We've kind of come to an understanding it's best to keep the main eating separate.
Nice pressies, despite teling the kids to go easy, they both got me and Mrs Seadog some lovely thoughtful (not expensive) things.
We did most cooking on Christmas Eve, and a lot stuff was reheated or just put in the oven.
A good walk in the afternoon to clear the head and use up a few calories.
@binnersthat episode might be the best single episode of television I've ever seen. It's asymphony.
never heard of the Bear. is this episode watchable as a standalone episode or do you need to have invested in the whole series to understand the characters?
Definitely the latter. S1 and 2 (in which the episode takes place) are fantastic. Didn't enjoy S3 and 4 nearly as much, unfortunately, although still worthwhile.
Definitely the latter. S1 and 2 (in which the episode takes place) are fantastic.
hmmm mebbes have to give this a try then. thanks.
It was just the two of us at home until we went to see my mother late afternoon - pre-cooked most of dinner here then spent an hour finishing it at hers. Pretty low stress overall.
It feels like lots of people have had similar low-stress Christmases - is this a general shift away from massive overconsumption and advertising driven need to have the "perfect" traditional Christmas? Or just a self-selecting STW demographic?
Most expensive presents between partner and I were sponsoring owls at the Hawk Conservancy trust.
For me personally, I'd been a postie for over 25 years with all that December entailed . By Xmas Eve I was done , couldn't care less if I never saw another Xmas card again. 2 whole days off , Xmas day FIL would come round early start dictating to Mrs OF they'd have it hot and holy in the kitchen I just wished I was a million miles away .
During this period BIL and our son started having drinks problems and getting aggressive at the same time.
How we put up with it for so long I don't know . Now it's on our terms and even though I've been rough now for 5 days I wouldn't go back to those times.
We have just finished drunken archery
So relieved to see that it wasn't World Class Accident that had written that post!!!!
The outlaws are not here this year 😆😆😆😆...merry Xmas all
Same here, our kids missed seeing their cousins but with fewer of us here at home for Christmas it seemed a lot easier than in previous years.
This chap has got the right idea
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clydezl4nqeo
Cheers,
Keith
Top presents. Maap shorts to match my jersey and some shokz headphones to listen to the radio whilst cycling. I chose and bought them both. And my MIL bought me this lovely cycling related gift! 
very quiet one as usual. ride christmas day, back for a beer in the pub, cheese sarnies for lunch, picky tea. don't do presents or any of the cards nonsense so no stress. Boxing day, longer ride. No one to argue with over what to watch on the TV, will probably be watching youtube anyway.
only thing that always annoys me is the hoards of people out for there annual walk on boxing day clogging every bridleway or park near a carpark.
I guess you can see why I like christmas how it is for me 🙂
headphones to listen to the radio whilst cycling
please don't, walkers wearing them oblivious to whats going on around them is bad enough
that episode might be the best single episode of television I've ever seen. It's a symphony.
Thats the perfect way of putting it arrpee
It’s an absolute masterpiece. I think it has such massive impact because they talk about the chaos of life with their mother, but it’s the first time you see it and it couldn’t possibly be more intense. Jamie Lee Curtis is phenomenal!
that episode might be the best single episode of television I've ever seen. It's a symphony.
Thats the perfect way of putting it arrpee
It’s an absolute masterpiece. I think it has such massive impact because they talk about the chaos of life with their mother, but it’s the first time you see it and it couldn’t possibly be more intense. Jamie Lee Curtis is phenomenal!
Yep, so much of what we'd seen of those characters suddenly clicking into place, perfectly explained by that one illustration.
Also a great example of "show, don't tell".
Dizzying, hilarious and horrifying.
Generally don't care about presents, but my brother got me the same Jake Thackeray biography he got me 2 years ago
Is it the same one you gave him last year? 🙂
please don't, walkers wearing them oblivious to whats going on around them is bad enough
Shokz are bone conduction so hearing is not affected. I don’t wear my AirPods when riding for that very reason.
As for the donkey sanctuary, you really have to have a bench! There are so many, my kids used to make their way round the memorial field without touching ground. It’s a bit of a standing joke in our family (we’re local to the sanctuary).
On "crap presents,"
The Girl (27) got this year, from her largely absent father, a box of teabags (and not as a joke present). She doesn't drink tea or coffee. OK, he got her a voucher for a tattoo also which was well received, but WTAF?
I got a tea sampler box from my partner, but a selection box of proper tea was something I'd asked for. It was an assorted pack of whole leaf such as what you lot might call 'artisan,' not a box of Twinings from the supermarket.
Got a Bosch multi-tool but needed to use it before Christmas as I was refurbishing daughters bedroom. Handy for cutting out door frames for hinge fitting.
Only crap ones were from both SIL's. Showergel gift packs. I'm a soap and shampoo person. At least it wasnt a singing mug or a random bottle of mango hot sauce (both were binned immediately). Offered the sauce to my other BIL as he is into various sauces, but he wouldnt touch it.
Daughter did get me two bars of shampoo and soap, very handy for camping and bike packing.
I got this from my eldest daughter:
I ****ing hate Clarkson and his pals! 😤