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4:58 pm
Councillor
Thu 7-Jan-10
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I know many, including my own dear Jelfs, are vehemently against the expansion of christmas this early into the year. but I love it. I've been thinking about it christmas since january.
I'm sure I'm not alone, though suspect I may be in a minority.
With the nights drawing in and the glorious reds and golds of autumn leaves on the ground and red and green berry/foliage combinations leaping out of hedgerows screaming "MAKE ME INTO A WREATH NOW, GOSHDARNIT!" at me my inner 3 year old is already dreaming of a white christmas and hearing sleigh bells just round the corner.
I started making presents in July (seriously), and now i've learned that my mother has sneakily booked a cruise down the Nile (I'm not jealous at all, honest) over December 25th I've starting to plan the finer points of christmas at home (though in a break from his usual hah-bumhuggery the Sam has revealed that he'd been considering a holiday cottage in the wilds of somewhere, which suggests all kinds of log fire based snuggling potential, a guaranteed Raemond pleaser).
So who else goes all misty eyed for frank capra films, fairy lights and mulled wine? what are you planning? what traditions are absolutely central?
Intolerance will not be tolerated.
6:15 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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I'll try that again!
6:22 pm
Councillor
Thu 7-Jan-10
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eeeeeeeeep 
Intolerance will not be tolerated.
6:31 pm
Councillor
New members
Wed 12-May-10
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THINGS REQUIRED FOR 25TH DECEMBER
log fire, cuddly misses, fleecy blanket, smooth drinkies, pickey bits, nice music, candles
SO NOT MUCH DIFFERENT TO MOST SUNDAYS REALY 
mos XX
sit down with a cupa and the urge will subside
7:01 pm
Councillor
Tue 22-Sep-09
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I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas. I worked in retail for a long time, and I think its especially hard for retail folks.
Just as an example, our Christmas started in February, when we would send buyers to the Christmas show to purchase that years decorations for sale. They had been studying the catalogues since January trying to spot trends. So the orders would be placed, and production would be started in China/Taiwan/ wherever so they can get shipped on the slow boats to arrive in June. Separated, tagged, and set up in September, to hit the sales floor the first part of October. I remember some lady asking if we could order her some sort of ornament since we had only a few left. The buyer was called out of his office to explain the situation to the lady and then told her he could order that for her, but she would have it in April. You can imagine the response.
Thank goodness I don't have to do that anymore!
But I do love Christmas, in its proper place and time. I am more of a "White Christmas" or "Look Whose Comming to Dinner?" for christmas movies. I always host Christmas, and between the brother/sisters/in-laws/nephews/nieces/anyone else who wanders by, I have a housefull. Food, games, presents, arguements, music, and several assorted dogs are thrown in the mix.
Rae Mond said:
(though in a break from his usual hah-bumhuggery the Sam has revealed that he'd been considering a holiday cottage in the wilds of somewhere, which suggests all kinds of log fire based snuggling potential, a guaranteed Raemond pleaser).
Now that sounds like a plan! I envy you Rae, I hope you enjoy it!
If you can't be a shining example, be a terrible warning!
7:31 pm
Councillor
Thu 7-Jan-10
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I didn't have quite those problems, though i did work in retail for quite a few years,and christmas was hectic. Especially in the fancy dress shop, as santa suits were at a premium, and the time a guy called Mr Lloyd got the suit intended for the miss santa at Lloyd's pharmacy.
Though in a fancy dress shop in a student town Hallow-e'en is busier.
I've always felt that christmas should be busy and crowded, though being part of a small family I didn't have that growing up. Last year was pretty good, with my new step family, plenty of people and busy-ness and food. Though the idea of a cottage in nowhere with a log fire and a sam does sound pretty magical.
Intolerance will not be tolerated.
8:32 pm
Expert
New members
Sat 21-Aug-10
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Do I need to duck in case of incoming sporks?
I was a book buyer in our local WHSmiths and I did my christmas orders before easter. The run up to christmas was manic and by the time it arrived all the joy had gone out of it. Maybe that was the start of my dislike for the dreaded c.
Christmas should be wonderful but its meaning has largely been overtaken by pressure to buy cards and presents, whether you want to or not. I resent feeling that I should give a card to someone who will scarcely even glance at it. I resent the pressure to spend money I can't afford on gifts that won't be appreciated. Surely thats not what it should be all about!
I have devoutly christian friends who celebrate christmas in its true meaning. I have pagan friends who similarly celebrate solstice. But all of them are still caught up to some extent in the heavily hyped retail festival that christmas has become, and it seems to me that most people only worship the gods of retail and glutony. I hate it with a vengence. Bah humbug indeed! Oh, and nothing will make me flee a shop quicker than the ghastly christmas pop songs they play.
Aaaaggghhhh!!!! 
My day is the Saturday or Sunday nearest solstice when I like to have all my family home together for a special meal. The house is decorated with lights and pretty things, and all the arrangements of decorations all have special meanings for me. I used to decorate for christmas because I felt it was expected of me, now I do it for my own self, as an expression of all that midwinter means to me and I love it.
The cottage option sounds...sigh....wonderful.
Never assume anything - except an occasional air of intelligence.
11:36 pm
Councillor
Tue 22-Sep-09
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A central tradition in our house is bananas in bacon with the turkey.Questions are asked if I don't do them.
I absolutely refuse to buy stuff for Christmas unless it is books or something I cannot make. So presents start being made as soon as they have been given as knitting features strongly in my gift giving and knitting many items takes time! I make my cards, am ruthless about who I send them to, I make crackers....also decorations and ( like my Great Grandma) re-use wrapping paper...and I make the paper hats... I love cleaning the house in readiness and decorating it and making the cards and presents and fairy lights and planning menus- but the commercial side of it you can just stuff along with the turkey. For me christmas is about bringing green and light into the house, snuggling down with a good book or two and seeing family and friends for a couple of bloody good meals, one of which features crisps, which I only buy at Christmas, so we have " crisp night' which features films and dips and CRISPS. Oh yes, and I do a jigsaw between Christmas and New Year, often the same one of sheep in snow, it is quite challenging even on the tenth attempt.
I think the run up to Christmas is the bit I enjoy most.
Kateuk makes things at http://www.etsy.com/shop/finkstuff and sometimes she does this too http://www54paintings.blogspot.com/ and also this http://finkstuff.weebly.com/
1:47 pm
Councillor
Thu 7-Jan-10
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Bananas and bacon?
sometimes you scare me.
Intolerance will not be tolerated.
3:49 pm
Councillor
Tue 22-Sep-09
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Oh yes indeedy- take a banana, cut it in half crossways, wrap each half in a rasher of maplecure streaky bacon, bake....it is really nice,honest- when I was a child a dish called 'chicken Maryland' was v. fashionable and it featured cooked bananas with the chicken, bananas in bacon is thus a hangover from my youth, a Proustian moment....the contrast of the soft cooked banana and the crispy bacon is really nice. One year I didn't do them as I felt we had enough 'trimmings'...there were complaints.
Kateuk makes things at http://www.etsy.com/shop/finkstuff and sometimes she does this too http://www54paintings.blogspot.com/ and also this http://finkstuff.weebly.com/
4:40 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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I've not heard of that one before Kate, I like bananas and I like bacon - no doubt about it, I'd like that dish. I wasn't aware that Chicken Maryland included bananas though! Certainly not in my SiL's house in North Carolina.
I'll try that again!
5:01 pm
Councillor
Tue 22-Sep-09
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TA It certainly included bananas in 'Maxims' of Stanmore c.1964....
Kateuk makes things at http://www.etsy.com/shop/finkstuff and sometimes she does this too http://www54paintings.blogspot.com/ and also this http://finkstuff.weebly.com/
5:12 pm
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
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And it certainly included it in Fife in the 1960s - absolutely delicious. Did you have pineapple too?
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
5:16 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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OK, I give you the benefit of the doubt!
I'll try that again!
9:40 am
Councillor
Tue 22-Sep-09
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No pineapple in Stanmore Danuta, but there were little spicy sweet corn fritters.mmmmmmmmmmmm
Kateuk makes things at http://www.etsy.com/shop/finkstuff and sometimes she does this too http://www54paintings.blogspot.com/ and also this http://finkstuff.weebly.com/
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