The Christmas Battle

toexpress

So the battle has started within my family already. My mother wants us all to go to her for Christmas as usual. I said after last year that I would not be doing that again. My sister and her brood are pretty hard to take after two hours so I would really rather just stay at home in my own house. I have been saying it frequently for the last 12 months to get the message across. I seem to have failed.

So will you travel to family for Christmas or stay in your own place?

Rabies

toexpress wrote: »

So the battle has started within my family already. My mother wants us all to go to her for Christmas as usual. I said after last year that I would not be doing that again. My sister and her brood are pretty hard to take after two hours so I would really rather just stay at home in my own house. I have been saying it frequently for the last 12 months to get the message across. I seem to have failed.

So will you travel to family for Christmas or stay in your own place?

Go to family for christmas if you can.

You don't know what its like when you can't go.

I haven't had a family christmas since 2005.

Fly home for weddings each year, and as a result can't afford the price airlines charge for flights over Dec-Jan period.

Do it while you can.

My youngest brother is in Christchurch, came over a few weeks ago. So he'll spend christmas with me this year.

toexpress

I'd rather spend it handing out food to homeless than with my crew. The three day hangover after last year is still emblazoned on my mind and that was just what I drank to deal with my sister

TwoShedsJackson

You've pretty much answered your own question there.

Gummy Panda

I thought this was going to be about Mohammad vs Jesus.

I think Jesus would win in a fight

FatherLen

spending it with family definitely. cousins, aunties, uncles, grandparents, brother and parents. it's great!

CruelCoin

Poll needs some more options OP.

Add a "at the other halfs place" or something similar.

Thats where i'll be.

OneArt

I'd rather not have Christmas in my own place. If I did, it'd just be a sad little tree in the corner and me crying into my soup.

WesternZulu

Family.

It's what Christmas is all about.

toexpress

CruelCoin wrote: »

Poll needs some more options OP.

Add a "at the other halfs place" or something similar.

Thats where i'll be.

Anyone provide any pointers on how to edit the poll??

.jacksparrow.

WesternZulu wrote: »

Family.

It's what Christmas is all about.

Says who?

Miguel_Sanchez

.jacksparrow. wrote: »

Says who?

Holy God. And his sister Therese.

WesternZulu

.jacksparrow. wrote: »

Says who?

Santa somewhere in the New Testament.

fishy fishy

your mother won't be around forever, and when she is not there anymore you will be WISHING you had went to her for Christmas.

You can stay in your own house for every day for the rest of the year.

Make an effort. :cool:

dan1895

OneArt wrote: »

I'd rather not have Christmas in my own place. If I did, it'd just be a sad little tree in the corner and me crying into my soup.

Bread and water not good enough for ya?

Moved from After Hours because some of them there mods are bah humbugs (not me though).

Christmas Forum now applies.

Delirium

Will be spending Christmas day at the family home as it will be the last there most likely. The dad is moving out of the country next year so myself + siblings are planning to be at home at Christmas day to celebrate all the good Christmas days we had in that house

I'm doing both!

Last year for the first time, I had dinner in my house and all of my family came. 15 people. This year I'll have 17

star-pants

toexpress wrote: »

Anyone provide any pointers on how to edit the poll??

You should be able to click 'edit poll' up the top right of where the poll section is? If you can't - PM me with the additional options you want and I'll see if I can edit it for you.

mashedbanana

I used to have the same problem Op, So i started my own tradition of having our Chrstmas dinner at home in my own house, with hubby & kids. If family wish to visit then by all means do! I even invite them for dinner, but when it's in my own home it's less stressful, especially if you are dealing with family that are all about 'me,me,me,me,me,me'. It works for me :-)

toexpress

mashedbanana wrote: »

I used to have the same problem Op, So i started my own tradition of having our Chrstmas dinner at home in my own house, with hubby & kids. If family wish to visit then by all means do! I even invite them for dinner, but when it's in my own home it's less stressful, especially if you are dealing with family that are all about 'me,me,me,me,me,me'. It works for me :-)

I'm thinking of drawing the curtains and pretending I'm not in!!

hdowney

Apart from the fact I still live at home!! There has only ever been me and the mammy and it'l be the same this year. I go as all out as possible to make Christmas big and fun. For years my best friend used to gripe and grumble at me that I was far too ott with the whole Christmas thing, but last night told me it was cos he was jealous. He has a big family but as they got older (he's the youngest) they just didn't have the big 'wow' of Christmas anymore. He said he loves how my house is always sparkly and the tree is always lit up (his mam doesn't often bother), how games are always played, a big deal is made of everything. He loves to come down and spend time with us Made me so happy

toexpress

hdowney wrote: »

Apart from the fact I still live at home!! There has only ever been me and the mammy and it'l be the same this year. I go as all out as possible to make Christmas big and fun. For years my best friend used to gripe and grumble at me that I was far too ott with the whole Christmas thing, but last night told me it was cos he was jealous. He has a big family but as they got older (he's the youngest) they just didn't have the big 'wow' of Christmas anymore. He said he loves how my house is always sparkly and the tree is always lit up (his mam doesn't often bother), how games are always played, a big deal is made of everything. He loves to come down and spend time with us Made me so happy

But Christmas doesn't have the same sparkle to be honest. It's as plain as day. Sad but true!!

miamee

I will be packing my little bag as usual and heading to my parents house on Christmas morning for a couple of days.

They only live a 3 minute drive away but it feels more Christmassy to stay over

hdowney

toexpress wrote: »

But Christmas doesn't have the same sparkle to be honest. It's as plain as day. Sad but true!!

Not in this house. Christmas sparkles in this house. I still get so excited I can't sleep Christmas Eve, even though I know there is no Santa, I still can't sleep. I still get excited about Christmas, I think I always will

Princess Peach

hdowney wrote: »

Not in this house. Christmas sparkles in this house. I still get so excited I can't sleep Christmas Eve, even though I know there is no Santa, I still can't sleep. I still get excited about Christmas, I think I always will

I can never sleep either We still all get up at about 7am for presents!

Its a family thing in my home. One of my brothers and his dog will come sleep over for a few nights, as his girlfriend goes to her family home. And my other brother and girlfriend come pretty early in the day with their 2 dogs and stay till late. Can't leave dogs home alone on Christmas!!

OP I can understand where you are coming from. Sometimes I dread all the time spent with them, and there usually is a drunken Monopoly row at the end of it all. But it would break my parent's heart for me not to be home on Christmas, even if it would make me happier to stay away.

For me Christmas is what is best for everyone, and I know it wouldn't be the same for my family if I wasn't there. They'd all feel a little sadder. So I'll grin and bare it, and try make the most of the day with a positive attitude!

Milly33

OHHHHH man I would hate to spend Christmas without my family.. Id be crying all day...

My parents do the house up beautifully, my sister and husband and two kids come back from Holland. And well my brothers used to join us at some stage but one has well, we just say nought he does what he likes and pants the other will not be here till Christmas day but he is still making the effort to come down...

Christmas is nothing without family even if ye are at odds let it be for the day and enjoy... Must say i have a fairly rocking family and love them all to bits so consider myself very very lucky..

My mmm manfriend goes to his parents place for dinner, he would be the only missing link but then it is his christmas too... would love one year for us all to be together for the excitment but for now we still have all the other days

Posy

toexpress wrote: »

But Christmas doesn't have the same sparkle to be honest. It's as plain as day. Sad but true!!

You can't judge what other people's Christmasses are like though! You can't really assume somebody's day doesn't 'have the same sparkle' just because you feel your day doesn't.

Hdowney, sounds like you have a lovely time at Christmas!
You sound so excited about the festive season- you are definitely one of the boardsies I'm dying to meet in 'real life' and I hope you have an amazing Christmas Day!

Bring on Sunday- then it'll only be a month to go!! \o/

hdowney

I try my best I can't wait to meet you too. Hopefully we'll be at the same beers soon

MistyCheese

hdowney wrote: »

even though I know there is no Santa

What??! :eek:

Bubblefett

This Christmas is the first time we'll ever have both my sisters, their partners and all their kids and dogs over! I'm excited and dreading it at the same time- I'm forseeing christmas fights.
I tend to only stay with my family til about 8pm though and then I run to my boyfriends family for 2nd Christmas dinner and epic wii tournaments!

hdowney

MistyCheese wrote: »

What??! :eek:

Um... Ooops, never mind!!!!! :P


Christmas lights went on in town here yesterday and they splashed out. Last few years we just had gacky icicle lights and the town didn't look festive at all. It's sooo much better now. There is a nutcracker and a ballarina as you come into the town, a fiddle on one of the pubs, candycanes and bows all over the buildings, santas sleigh all lit up in the square, lots of pretty lights strung through the town and then you get to the gaol, 8 Christmas trees all lit up, a lit up garland round the door and horn playing angels lit up and massive on the walls. So pretty

Posy

Sounds lovely.

downey2003

Until the Snowman went missing!

Posy

I heard that! Who would do such a thing!!? :eek:

gidget

I live at home anyways so i'll be with my mam, dad & brother in our house that day. My nana's house is the place to be each year though. Every year we go to my nana's for christmas dinner. I love it! These are the years i cherish the most with my nana. Sadly we lost my other nana in March this year so all the more reason to spend as much time with my only remaining grandparent while she's alive & kicking. My aunt used to come over with her brood but now that her lot are starting to have kids of their own she's starting to do her own dinner but still makes time to drop in for an hour or two with the brood as does another aunt & a few cousins will drop in with presents for my nana. Apart from funerals or weddings it's the only time of the year we're all together as a family & i love it - we do have some laughs when we get together.

Shivers26

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm doing both!

Last year for the first time, I had dinner in my house and all of my family came. 15 people. This year I'll have 17

Ditto! Staying in my house with the husbag and kids and my mother and her husband and my sister, her husband and their mob of kids are coming to us. 11 in total.

hdowney

downey2003 wrote: »

Until the Snowman went missing!

Ah mammy. Poor Snowy.

Posy wrote: »

I heard that! Who would do such a thing!!? :eek:

He was bloody amazing. Whatever happened him it is bloody sad He was a real focal point.

(also note to self, re-read everything before posting in future!!!!!!)

WoollyRedHat

Posy wrote: »

I heard that! Who would do such a thing!!? :eek:

He probably just flew away for a while, you know how snowmen can be.

WoollyRedHat

An update on Snowy, he was found in Fitzwilliam Square in Wicklow, deflated with a note saying "sorry". See, he went walking in the air like all snowmen do, and obviously got delayed. Those snowmen and their crazy sessions ey.

hdowney

There was talk on facebook this morning that he is gone again!!! I haven't been up the town to look yet!

Emeraldy Pebbles

Bubblefett wrote: »

This Christmas is the first time we'll ever have both my sisters, their partners and all their kids and dogs over! I'm excited and dreading it at the same time- I'm forseeing christmas fights.

Yeah, getting a pile of dogs all together in one house - fights will most definitely ensue. :pac:

Emeraldy Pebbles

Posy wrote: »

I heard that! Who would do such a thing!!? :eek:

There was rumour it was a publicity stunt:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1204/breaking46.html

Who knows?