It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas Off Topic Chat

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120985218#Comment_120985218

I have one colleague in here who would fit the second type you mention, i.e. profess to have a love of Christmas but don't want to entertain talk of it outside the month of December, & I mean even casually.

He also has made clear on an occasion that he likes the idea of getting back to work ASAP afterwards though and according to him would happily come back into the office on the 27th and never takes any extended leave around the Christmas break. Whilst I personally love the period between Christmas & New years. I dont mind coming back to work from the 2nd Jan or whatever way the days fall but the thoughts of only taking 24-26th off through choice would be unusual for a person who 'loves' Christmas I'd have thought?

Either way, I just do my own thing nowadays and dont really care what folk think of me at this stage.

antimatterx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120985317#Comment_120985317

That's sad. I'm been building up leave more and more over the years to extend Christmas break. I took 3 weeks last year and it's looking like 4 weeks this year

freshpopcorn

Getting through August.

Smell the glove

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120985317#Comment_120985317

No way! I couldn't even imagine going back to work so soon after Christmas these days. I did it when I was very young and working in a meat factory. It was horrible. Nobody who loves Christmas could talk like that person. Hes a bag humbug for sure!

ClaudeVercetti

I can only speak for myself but Christmas is a great comfort for me - if the year is particularly difficult having that to look forward to and reminiscing of nice memories from the past always makes the hard times feel a bit more manageable.

I think to begrudge someone that little bit of respite throughout the year is unfair particularly as you don't have to pay attention to it.

freshpopcorn

These are making a return this year to the UK and maybe here.

I can't remember from before.

BK5

I've always said it, anyone I know who loves Christmas is always a positive person by nature, they love the glow, sounds, smells and feeling that it brings.

People who don't like Christmas? Well let's just say they tend to be the glass half full type.

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120985317#Comment_120985317

I love the 27th to 1st of Jan period. It gives you time to soak the season in without the pressure of it.

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120985918#Comment_120985918

Terrifying how quick time is going this year.

Smell the glove

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120988342#Comment_120988342

Yes, I tend to do all my meet ups and drinking/parties in the run up to Christmas and the 26th. 27-31st is time spent at home on the sofa doing nothing but watch the darts etc and stuff my face!

Mystery Egg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120988311#Comment_120988311

I absolutely love Christmas, but I do have sympathy for those who don't. For some people it's a reminder of what and who they don't have, it's full of lonely or sad memories from childhood. It can feel very hollow and like a performance. It's not as easy as glass half full thinking.

I've had to redeem Christmas for myself and make it something to love. I'm very lucky in my adult life with friends, partner, kids etc., but it wasn't always this way! I enjoy it 100% now and love the build up all year but it's because it's something very real for me to look forward to. Not everyone can say that.

freshpopcorn

I always love hustle and bustle of the days before Christmas.

Then there's Christmas Eve it's self.

There's a point on Christmas Eve evening when the shops are closed and most people are home there's a great feeling of excitement.(It must be great if you've kids around). There's also great smells of hams cooking.

The days after Christmas are also great but you've got to have food.

Sheep Shagger

Itssssssss back!

Footage today of the top floor of BTs.

Edit: Can't get the Instagram reel to work, it was posted by Discover Dublin

limnam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120988342#Comment_120988342

100% I think this part of the season is often underrated.

Curling up with a book,blanket and a hot chocolate with no pressure. xmas bliss!

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120972988#Comment_120972988

Just get Southern. Express is never worth it

freshpopcorn

I'm tempted to look before I see the real thing.

https://www.brownthomas.com/home/the-christmas-shop/shop-all-christmas/

tscul32

Growing up, I had sibling birthdays on Dec 23 and Jan 7 so that was our holiday period. Coincided with school hols too. Now my own all have birthdays in the season too so it's always a bit hectic, last one on Jan 8.

Have to do my brothers's wedding cake for the end of next month, then I'll get cracking on the Christmas cakes and the season can become real for me. Cookie doughs and pastry in the freezer and menus drawn up, although I think this year we may be invited elsewhere for the main event, and myself and the OH are beyond excited!!

Always chaotic until the 25th then chilling until kids are back to school.

A cup of te

Wow, that must be a busy period having birthdays mixed in with Christmas!

You know I prefer the build up really than the week after and I prefer a week off beforehand than during Christmas. In work, we have to try work it out amongst ourselves in terms of leave planning so i nearly always end up off beforehand. I don't have my own house so i dont mind too much being in the office with my decorations! It tends to be a great time to catch up in work also. One year I did have it off though and I absolutely loved it.

I am v curious about the vintage BT stuff too. I must have a look. I hope they don't suddenly make my cheap retro type decorations dear though! I doubt they'll be having foil bells in there though somehow.

I just logged on to say that it was so dark this morning. I'm working from home so didn't have to get up early but woke at 7.30am thinking it must be 5am or something because it was dark! The evenings are drawing in too even on bright days. Love this time of year. Mid Aug to end of Dec I'm happy.

CheerLouth

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120993289#Comment_120993289

We are the same, we have a birthday on December 27th so the Christmas period is busy between getting ready, Christmas Eve is all prep, we normally do Christmas dinner in our house with my parents, then go to my parents on St. Stephen's Day with my siblings & their families, then home to bake a cake & prep for birthday party the next day. By the time the 28th comes around, all we want to do is sit on the couch & stuff our faces - even though we do be a bit sick of food by then lol!

pigtail33

https://lovindublin.com/lifestyle/brown-thomas-christmas-shop-2023

A few pics from the Christmas Shop in BTs. Loving the look of the colourful tree, it's like a high-end version of the tree in my parents house, lots of colour and a mish mash of all sorts of decorations. I wonder will it make a comeback.

Just found a short video of it on their Twitter feed too

https://twitter.com/LovinDublin/status/1692147263802425841?ref

tscul32

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120994053#Comment_120994053

That's what ours always looks like. Just a mix of whatever decorations we've got ove the years, all different shapes and colours and nothing matches. Wouldn't have it any other way 😁

Miserable weather today. I've a cubs camping trip in Cavan this weekend and looks like it'll be a wash out. Lots of spare socks coming with us.

Loughc

Anyone got a spare ark they can borrow? Need something to battle this rain.

ClaudeVercetti

Some night out - I'm dying to get the fire going only it's not quite cold enough yet!

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120997694#Comment_120997694

Literally thought the same thing myself!!

antimatterx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120997694#Comment_120997694

I'm staring at my unlit stove and it's causing me pain

Posy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120997136#Comment_120997136

Isn't it atrocious. 😒

freshpopcorn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120997694#Comment_120997694

That's my problem also. When we light ours it's great for heating the water and you can have a nice bath with candles and listen to the rain hit the widow. I find it very relaxing. i haven't had a bath since late April/early May.

Please note I have showed.

antimatterx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120997863#Comment_120997863

Wow

ClaudeVercetti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120997863#Comment_120997863

Haha sounds like you need the colder weather more than any of us, FP 🤣

BK5

Work do last night, in other words. Session. Just starting to come to life but great night. Weather was unbelievably bad last night though.

DvB

We're camping in Fermanagh, a tad damp is all I'll say.

Loughc

Some weather over night. Lots of damage done in Dublin. More damage done in this storm rather than other ones we had in the past.

SCOOP 64

Home Alone on Film 4 at moment, anyone seen it before ,anygood?

Posy

Never heard of it- let us know if it's any use. 🙂

Smell the glove

Question for everyone. Our child will be 14 months old at Christmas. The room we put the tree in is small enough and we are afraid that she will either rip it apart or get her hands on something small and swallow it. So we are thinking of getting a guard for the tree. Question is have any of you done this before, are they worth it and can you recommend any? The ones I've seen on Amazon look quiet small. Maybe that's all you need? Any help would be appreciated 👍🏻

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121001221#Comment_121001221

From experience at 14 months I think you’ll be fine. 26 months you may need to consider the guard then.

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121000686#Comment_121000686

😂😂😂😂

Smell the glove

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121001492#Comment_121001492

She's walking with aid of a stroller already 😮

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121001221#Comment_121001221

Ours always ignored the tree. They did not like the feel of the branches (fake tree) .

We had no need for a guard. Each child is though.

You could always (if a fake tree) put the tree up early minus decorations and see how they react and decide then if you need a guard before decorations go up.

Smell the glove

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121002849#Comment_121002849

Ours is fake so hopefully be the same!

Smell the glove

Thanks for the replies by the way!

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121003428#Comment_121003428

I was supposed to say "each child is different though" 😂

pigtail33

Bit of a disaster of a day for me yesterday. We were one of the unlucky ones to be left with no electricity all day. It was gone for 22 hours and I felt every one of them! Thankfully I have a gas hob, so I could cook and make coffee but I didn't realise how much I'd miss the radio. I always have it on in the background. Power went on the local phone masts too so there was no phone reception or data signal. It's amazing how many times a day we pick up our phone without realising. It came back overnight, so playing catch-up today.

A cup of te

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121003748#Comment_121003748

I cannot survive without music and have a big cd collection so I have a supply of those big batteries to keep my ghetto blaster (as they used to call them) working if the power goes out ;-) also, bought a power bank recently and have that charged up just in case for the phone but if your mobile data was gone it'd be feck all good anyway. I swear I'm prepared in case they ever cut those cables in the sea! You have my sympathy. Our electricity was always going so I said I may prepare! We got a gas camp cooker thingy too in case.

Messaging from sunny Tramore and not feeling a christmassy right now ;-) I'm roasting! I said I needed to see it at least one more time this summer before the nights close in.

Edit: I should add I only bought those batteries for the ghetto blaster last year because they were on about rolling blackouts and I was determined that I would be playing my Christmas CDs no matter what! Got lots of battery powered Christmas stuff too. Safer!

pigtail33

I got a powerbank for Christmas last year as we've had so many power cuts in North County Dublin. Some of my neighbours even switched to a gas hob it was happening so often. I have a wireless lamp and plenty of torches, so I thought I was well prepared. It's never been gone for that long before, so I didn't realise how much I'd miss the radio. I just use Google Homes as a radio, which are obviously useless with no internet or power. Might have to get a small battery powered wireless next.

No-one knows why the phone signal goes too, surely the masts should have battery backup?

Heroditas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121003914#Comment_121003914

We haven't managed to get down to Tramore at all this year. Spent two months every year there in my childhood during the summer. 🤗

Smell the glove

Just back from Tramore. Went out there for a few hours. I recommend the burger shack that is next to Brooklyn restaurant. Cheap and absolutely delicious.

PTH2009

Had a great few days in London, Done Twicekenham stadium tour and World Rugby Musuem, went too see a few Ted Lasso sites in Richmond and tried a 'real pork pie' from Borogh Market. Wembley Stadium is such an amazing place and The Weeknd was amazing. Back for round 3 next Sunday for AEW All in at Wembley Stadium again. I know a good few Boardies are making the trip over too

Reckon ill go for a OFAH xmas jumper this year, also will try watch all the xmas specials again this season

Hope youre enjoying the deise @Smell the glove

freshpopcorn

Well I went to Brown Thomas.

BK5

Took a spin over to the Range in Maynooth today and picked up a couple of the first decorations of the year. They didn't have tons of stuff out yet but they did have plenty of cushions, duvet sets and fleeces out.

They have the usual area cleared where all the trees and bigger items go and had about 12 undecorated trees out so in the next week or two the place will be fully lit up.