Christmas..... bah humbug!

[The Moneypit]

Next year I really want to feck off somewhere hot for 2 weeks. SWMBO agrees

That's usually the course I take, but trust me when I say there's no where in the world you can go to escape it.

I've recieved xmas cards in India and had to experience a non stop singing santa in a chinese resturant !

Nice to get away tho. . . . Goa here I come.

 

[GregZ4]

I hate Xmas.
I Manage a very busy Community Pharmacy.
The whole world stocks up with every repeat prescription they can get their hands for the 3 weeks before. We have a 50% uplift in work and no extra staff to cope with it. We work 50+ hour weeks and we only get the actual holidays off IF we are not on rota.
No holidays or time off in December or January allowed so we are totally knac***d by the time we finish at 6.30pm Xmas Eve.

Then I get to run around after all my family, the in laws and various hangers on making sure drinks are topped up, sorting out feuds over TV schedules etc etc, whilst my poor wife runs herself ragged over food for 2 days before we go back to work. :thumbsdown:

At this point you would think it might be quiet. But oh No, the same folk who stocked up 2 weeks before are on the doorstep to do so again

But we love New Year as we can do what the f*** we like!

 

[RubyBlueZ4MC]

I hate Xmas.

+1 same. It's only good if you have a big family who congregate. I spend the day with my only family in this country - 2 parents in their 70s who go to bed at 7ish leaving me to get bored. I can't even go hang out with mates because everyone is wrapped up with their family stuff. Good thing about my job is that I can work Christmas and have chosen to this year and last. I'm happy when it's all over. I guess I like the lead up though with everywhere looking pretty and festive. I'm off to Prague soon and looking forward to the Christmas markets for the atmosphere.

 

[Johnnymiller]

I hate Xmas.

+1 same. It's only good if you have a big family who congregate. I spend the day with my only family in this country - 2 parents in their 70s who go to bed at 7ish leaving me to get bored. I can't even go hang out with mates because everyone is wrapped up with their family stuff. Good thing about my job is that I can work Christmas and have chosen to this year and last. I'm happy when it's all over. I guess I like the lead up though with everywhere looking pretty and festive. I'm off to Prague soon and looking forward to the Christmas markets for the atmosphere.

Prague sounds good, stuff like that is fine, we have the German market here in Birmingham (although it seems more Polish to me!), and its nice to go and have a few beers etc. (mulled wine for the ladies it seems!). I think as i get older (the dizzy heights of 35 last week...) you just get cynical about the transparent unashamed efforts of businesses to ride Christmas as a vehicle to get people to part with money they hadnt ought to part with, rather than it being a time to spend with nearest and dearest. It winds me up no end, which then frustrates me as life is too short to spend 3 months a year having what i can only describe as a cob on over Christmas commercialism.... I will try and be better i keep telling myself! Like you RubyBlue I only have my dad who is 72, he doesnt do decorations at all as just him left now.... we always go around for a shared effort Christmas dinner, or he comes here. As otherwise he'd be on his own and whether or not he likes Christmas, i can imagine him feeling a bit lonely if we didnt make the effort, and i'd feel terribly guilty about him watching the queen spout her annual musings on his own with a ham sandwich....

I mentioned this topic in work the other day, my colleagues with a few exceptions seem to be Christmas lovers, but even they have said it is starting too early this year. Work had the Christmas party last week, not even in December! insanity....

Right, i'm off to construct my luxury underground bunker for next year, so i dont have to put up with Rudolph the red nosed reindeer in the summer......

Ps. i dont even like turkey.........

 

[RubyBlueZ4MC]

I think for a lot of people Christmas makes you feel lonely. Those of you complaining that you have endless family to deal with should count yourselves lucky.

 

[gov]

just in case you misunderstood - I used to be a bit " bah humbug " when I was younger when I thought Christmas was all a bit of a pain with all that forced good cheer and " tolerating " annoying family members who descended on us each year . Now I'm that much older I view things in a different light - I think back on the way I've behaved towards some people in the past and try to make amends. I now realise if , like me, you are lucky to have a big family you should be grateful that so many people care and cherish that fact.

Blimey this is all getting a bit heavy - reckon I am a modern day Mr Scrooge .

 

[ab7]

I'm in the Caribbean this Christmas.. sailing the islands with P&O Ho, Ho, Ho

Did the same in 2010 with Princess cruises, Christmas day in St Lucia 8)

You certainly won't avoid Christmas on the ship itself though lol.

I personally love the whole Christmas thing... but i concede I get a bit annoyed by Christmas music in October.

I think for a lot of people Christmas makes you feel lonely. Those of you complaining that you have endless family to deal with should count yourselves lucky.

+1

 

[tomscott]

Ive been working on Christmas since August, Christmas photography, Christmas advertising.. usually ruins the whole thing. But its been a fairly crap year and ive just broken my hand after starting a new job so that hasn't been the greatest of starts either which also means I haven't been able to do much including drive or take pics.

So this year im being optimistic and looking forward to being home with my family. Very relaxed affair, dont get up until about 11am then have some french delicacies with some champagne then a nice walk on the hopefully white fells. Get home, open the presents together in front of the fire and have dinner with some close friends and family. Then looking forward to saying bye to 2012 and welcoming 2013.

Im usually all about the bar humbug. But when it comes to it, its all about being with the people you love.

 

[Johnnymiller]

Ive been working on Christmas since August, Christmas photography, Christmas advertising.. usually ruins the whole thing. But its been a fairly crap year and ive just broken my hand after starting a new job so that hasn't been the greatest of starts either which also means I haven't been able to do much including drive or take pics.

So this year im being optimistic and looking forward to being home with my family. Very relaxed affair, dont get up until about 11am then have some french delicacies with some champagne then a nice walk on the hopefully white fells. Get home, open the presents together in front of the fire and have dinner with some close friends and family. Then looking forward to saying bye to 2012 and welcoming 2013.

Im usually all about the bar humbug. But when it comes to it, its all about being with the people you love.

Sounds like a bit of a bummer, breaking your hand is fairly restrictive, having done it before i feel your frustration! Walk on the white fells sounds good, my dad has a holiday home/static caravan whatever they're called, near ambleside, which looking at your location i guess would be familiar territory. Lovely place, go up at least twice a month and often wander off into the hills, he's a keen walker. Great place to drive the Z too, although maybe not so in winter! I always want to see the place in winter, but it closes down from November to Feb. They use the park my dad is on as the service area for the Grizedale Stages rally, which i'd love to see, one year i'll make it up there to see.

So back on topic, it sounds to me like we are all pretty much the same view really. That would be, Christmas at Christmas time is great, with your close family/friends, but in October it can jog on! I wonder what percentage of the population would agree? I'm still looking forward to it dont get me wrong, i just wish it was all kept within the week or so that it should be on the calendar.

 

[RubyBlueZ4MC]

But its been a fairly crap year .

+1 yeah same so agree looking forward to welcoming 2013. Working Christmas means I can have New Years off and shall be zipping down a mountain in the French Alps. No better way to see in the new year

 

[Johnnymiller]

But its been a fairly crap year .

+1 yeah same so agree looking forward to welcoming 2013. Working Christmas means I can have New Years off and shall be zipping down a mountain in the French Alps. No better way to see in the new year

that beats paying double for drinks when everywhere has half the staff on new years eve and double for a taxi home..!!

keep threatening to try skiing, but never done it yet..... maybe that should be my resolution for next year!

 

[tomscott]

Thats it, more annoying than painful really. Ye im about 15 miles from there, im north lakes, the roads are fantastic but in the winter awful as most arent gritted so unless you have a 4x4 or live in the town its hard to get around, but means you learn quick. The z can actually be not a bad car in the cold but takes a bit of man handling. The grizedale rally is really awesome, as Stobbarts is a local company and they have a rally team its pretty popular round here, real spectacle.

The walking is fantastic around here the fells always have snow on them this time of year (not my pics)

Striding edge is epic in the winter, especially when its misty in the valley, although I haven't done it in the snow but really want to.

It is possible to drive up and around if you are mad tho


BMW Z4Mc Kirkston Pass by tom_scott88, on Flickr

 

[RubyBlueZ4MC]

But its been a fairly crap year .

+1 yeah same so agree looking forward to welcoming 2013. Working Christmas means I can have New Years off and shall be zipping down a mountain in the French Alps. No better way to see in the new year

that beats paying double for drinks when everywhere has half the staff on new years eve and double for a taxi home..!!

keep threatening to try skiing, but never done it yet..... maybe that should be my resolution for next year!

Highly recommend skiing hols, they are the best IMO. Saw in the new year in the alps last year and it was an amazing time so had to again this year. Spoilt myself and booked a luxury chalet with a pool, hot tub etc. That's the plus side of not having a huge family to buy presents for - can spoil myself a little

 

[Stuart Truman]

But its been a fairly crap year and ive just broken my hand after starting a new job so that hasn't been the greatest of starts either which also means I haven't been able to do much including drive or take pics.

Im usually all about the bar humbug. But when it comes to it, its all about being with the people you love.

Looks like you have a good year to look forward to. New job, new camera (that a lot of us would kill for) and a great place to live with supportive parents

If last year's been sh1t, take what learnings you can from it and treasure those that love you and care for you

 

[Johnnymiller]

Thats it, more annoying than painful really. Ye im about 15 miles from there, im north lakes, the roads are fantastic but in the winter awful as most arent gritted so unless you have a 4x4 or live in the town its hard to get around, but means you learn quick. The z can actually be not a bad car in the cold but takes a bit of man handling. The grizedale rally is really awesome, as Stobbarts is a local company and they have a rally team its pretty popular round here, real spectacle.

The walking is fantastic around here the fells always have snow on them this time of year (not my pics)

Striding edge is epic in the winter, especially when its misty in the valley, although I haven't done it in the snow but really want to.

It is possible to drive up and around if you are mad tho


BMW Z4Mc Kirkston Pass by tom_scott88, on Flickr

Recognised striding edge from your first pic... lovely, also driven "the struggle", although it didnt look like that! Sounds like i'll have to get up there for a winter jaunt when next years grizedale stages is on then. I'd love to see the place in snow too. i've climbed loughrigg fell thats about as far as we've gone on the hill walking, my dad came too, which for a man of 72 was pretty good going. We've done some lovely walks over the last couple of years, the scenery is great, its so nice to get out of the city for the weekend, makes life feel a little more worthwhile than the daily grind!

RubyBlue.... sounds great..... if you can pamper yourself and relax why not! life is for living! for my birthday every year (end of Nov) we do a long weekend in a lodge, and its mandatory now to have a hot tub.... i love sitting in the warm water, breathing the crisp fresh air with a glass of wine.... my friends think im insane.... (they may be correct...). Glad to know theres another human on the earth that thinks hot tubs in winter are a good thing... only downside is getting out!! This year we were near York...... managed to avoid the rain when it was hot tub-o-clock. Spent an age getting back though as got caught up in all the flooding!!

 

[RubyBlueZ4MC]

RubyBlue.... sounds great..... if you can pamper yourself and relax why not! life is for living! for my birthday every year (end of Nov) we do a long weekend in a lodge, and its mandatory now to have a hot tub.... i love sitting in the warm water, breathing the crisp fresh air with a glass of wine.... my friends think im insane.... (they may be correct...). Glad to know theres another human on the earth that thinks hot tubs in winter are a good thing... only downside is getting out!! This year we were near York...... managed to avoid the rain when it was hot tub-o-clock. Spent an age getting back though as got caught up in all the flooding!!

Hot tubs outdoor in the cold are the way to go! Especially with some light snow. When I buy my house next year going to make sure there's space to install an outdoor hot tub!

 

[tomscott]

Ye works both ways tho, pretty isolated up here, 2 hours to major cities/airports. Just means more

72 is really good going! I swear people get younger up here tho see people flying around on the fells. I haven't done that one, but when we had the dog used to do one every once and a while. Its one of those things where you take it for granted I think, because its always there.

 

[RubyBlueZ4MC]

Ye works both ways tho, pretty isolated up here, 2 hours to major cities/airports.

Wow that must make getting away hard. I forget how fortunate I am living 10 mins from Heathrow, means I can nip off to the continent at short notice for a weekend. I've grown up with a lot of travel as my father worked for British Airways. Been jetting off since I was a baby. I guess cities aren't for everyone with noise and pollution but I wouldn't have it any other way. For me the freedom travel brings cannot be matched.

 

[Johnnymiller]

RubyBlue.... sounds great..... if you can pamper yourself and relax why not! life is for living! for my birthday every year (end of Nov) we do a long weekend in a lodge, and its mandatory now to have a hot tub.... i love sitting in the warm water, breathing the crisp fresh air with a glass of wine.... my friends think im insane.... (they may be correct...). Glad to know theres another human on the earth that thinks hot tubs in winter are a good thing... only downside is getting out!! This year we were near York...... managed to avoid the rain when it was hot tub-o-clock. Spent an age getting back though as got caught up in all the flooding!!

Hot tubs outdoor in the cold are the way to go! Especially with some light snow. When I buy my house next year going to make sure there's space to install an outdoor hot tub!

we wonder about having one installed every time we go away for my birthday.... i think for me i like the fact that its not something i have all year around, makes it more of a luxury..... that said, when i've done all the other stuff that wants doing on the house i'll probably get one dropped into the decking...

 

[Johnnymiller]

Ye works both ways tho, pretty isolated up here, 2 hours to major cities/airports.

Wow that must make getting away hard. I forget how fortunate I am living 10 mins from Heathrow, means I can nip off to the continent at short notice for a weekend. I've grown up with a lot of travel as my father worked for British Airways. Been jetting off since I was a baby. I guess cities aren't for everyone with noise and pollution but I wouldn't have it any other way. For me the freedom travel brings cannot be matched.

Totally agree...... i can get to Birmingham airport without using the car in 30 mins (local train station visible out of my back bedroom window!). I love getting away from everything, but then i also love being near the city where everything is on tap.