What's your plans for Christmas?

Torricelli · 14-12-2015 12:06am #1

I'm heading to my Mam's for dinner on the big day, probably have a few drinks and watch awful crap on TV as well. Christmas Eve will be spent in the pub most likely.

Working everyday except Christmas day and the following Monday. I'd die of boredom otherwise.

So, good folk of AH, whats your itinerary for Christmas?

MilesMorales1 · 14-12-2015 12:12am

Family start arriving next week, so my younger sister will be moving into my tiny room so they can fill it up. It'll be fun I guess, even though we'll get on each others nerves pretty quick. On christmas eve we always go and see a movie every year, don't know what movie we'll be seeing yet, then we always get KFC and eat it at home watching its a wonderful life. On christmas morning I'll get up with the young un early so she can do her presents, then the rest of them will slope out of bed at various times of the morning before mass, mass, rest of the presents, go for a good long walk, come back and eat rubbish food while watching bad tv, christmas dinner, more bad tv, bed.

Stheno · 14-12-2015 12:15am

Ohs children (22 and 25) arriving Christmas Eve for a week.

They will be tasked with cleaning their rooms, then taken to the off licence to ensure they have booze.

Xmas day, the OH will go to church, then we will put dinner on, turkey, goose, duck and ham, and everyone apart from me will eat themselves stupid for several hours.

I'm doing a thesis so I will probably do some work on that.

Geoffrey Dalton · 14-12-2015 12:15am

Get up.

Spanish Eyes · 14-12-2015 12:16am

Walk to our lovely local pub Christmas Eve about five, meet with friends, home about 8 or so before the place gets mobbed. Great atmosphere altogether. I love that bit of Christmas, because it's really all over Stephen's Day. Everyone is knackered.

Christmas Day it is just me OH and my Mam this year, too many offspring and various babies and poor Mam is just not able for all the noise and mayhem for a full day anymore. So we all gather in our house about 11am, bedlam for an hour or two with all the gang. Then peace. And food. And drink. And general slobbing around.

Mam has to see the Queen's speech, so dinner is after that. She is not very well so we always think every Christmas this is her last one. But she is a tough old bird, probably like my turkey!

After that it is kind of boring really. But in an enjoyable kind of way if you get me.

rodge68 · 14-12-2015 12:17am

Thailand. Poor me...

Dunny · 14-12-2015 12:18am

14-12-2015 12:18am

Finishing work the 21st and not back until the 4th of Jan so will head home on the 22nd and spend all Christmas and New Years at home and drive back on the 3rd probably for work the following day. My siblings will also be home for the full Christmas so will be the full family in the house which is great.

Christmas will be a mixture of relaxing at home, bit of farming and a number of nights out. Mass and pub Christmas Eve and dinner with the family Christmas Day then of course.

I'd hate to have to work during the Christmas luckily it's not something I ever have to do.

Torricelli · 14-12-2015 12:19am

rodge68 wrote: »

Thailand. Poor me...

Excuse my ignorance but does Christmas exist over there?

Crumpets · 14-12-2015 12:22am

Usual routine with the family! Christmas Eve shall be spent in the pub. Christmas Day shall be spent eating and drinking. Maybe the odd game of Scrabble aswell if we're feeling wild.

NachoBusiness · 14-12-2015 12:23am

Avoid arguments, eat lots, drink a little, see The Frames, twice.. and a surprise from Santa.

Spanish Eyes · 14-12-2015 12:26am

Torricelli wrote: »

Excuse my ignorance but does Christmas exist over there?

Don't think so, not a Christian country I believe.

But that is probably why s/he is going there in the first place, and the weather can be good too!

I'll be really good now, and I won't mention all the other kind of things one can get up to in Bankgok. lol.

McChubbin · 14-12-2015 12:26am

I'm off to me auntie's gaff this year, along with 11 other relatives. My aunt is making turkey and ham but the rest of us are bringing along a dish each. I'm still trying to decide what to make- either brownies, chocolate Guinness cake or toffee apple loaf. Regardless, I'll be baking up a storm on Christmas Eve.
In me own house, we're about to put the tree up tomorrow along with the decorations, as per tradition. My mother hates premature Christmas decorations so we usually do it around the 14th anyway. Might need to go to Lidl to pick up a pudding but generally, everything is mostly done.

kowloon · 14-12-2015 12:30am

Eat.

Spanish Eyes · 14-12-2015 12:30am

I don't know if it happens to anyone else, but I get cabin fever if I am in someone else's house for Christmas Day.

I hope I am not odd or anything (probably am!), I enjoy the dinner and the craic and all that but I get very restless when it's two hours or so after dinner and I am not in my comfort zone at home.

So glad I'm spending Christmas Day in our house this year. First one for five years. Yay

14-12-2015 12:32am

I'll be working during the day Xmas day.
Someone has to look after ye!!
Working Nights St Stephens night!

So Xmas day evening relaxing after a big dinner is my plan!

Howjoe1 · 14-12-2015 12:32am

get pissed as quick as possible and off to bed.

Wake up groggy but glad it's all over for another year.

rodge68 · 14-12-2015 12:33am

Torricelli wrote: »

Excuse my ignorance but does Christmas exist over there?

Erm not really. .. they put up decorations and Christmas trees etc ( anything for business, I guess)...

KatW4 · 14-12-2015 12:33am

I'll stay in my mums house on Christmas Eve. Myself and my sisters usually get up early and open our presents. Get ready for mass then. (I couldn't be bothered but my mum would never forgive us if we didn't go). Come home and help with dinner. Have dinner where someone will have an argument!

After dinner we usually watch TV until the evening. We then go up to my cousins house and spend the evening there. I'll go home to my boyfriend (and cats) then for the night.

We do the same thing every single year and I don't think I'd be happy if it changed!

Turtyturd · 14-12-2015 12:35am

Hopefully everything will be done by Christmas Eve and it will be spent sitting down with the kids for a take away and to watch some films.

Christmas Day will be spent putting toys together, enjoying the hell of a feast my OH puts together and probably some TV once the kids are gone to bed.

Stephens Day is a repeat. And then will probably head up to my parents the following day.

rodge68 · 14-12-2015 12:36am

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Don't think so, not a Christian country I believe.

But that is probably why s/he is going there in the first place, and the weather can be good too!

I'll be really good now, and I won't mention all the other kind of things one can get up to in Bankgok. lol.

It's warm and cheap and great food and should be fun..I hope..no I'm not going as I sex tourist !! Honest.....

Spanish Eyes · 14-12-2015 12:38am

rodge68 wrote: »

It's warm and cheap and great food and should be fun..I hope..no I'm not going as I sex tourist !! Honest.....

Now you know I was only stirring it!

Hope you have a great trip.

lazeedaisy · 14-12-2015 12:40am

No different than a usual Sunday dinner ?.. But with gifts.... No one notices its Christmas really......

..... Except me, at least as regards usual Sundays I will be off work,

rodge68 · 14-12-2015 12:50am

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Now you know I was only stirring it!

Hope you have a great trip.

Thanks..Will try my best !!

Heroditas · 14-12-2015 12:55am

I finish work on Friday until the 4th. Can't wait because my wife has the same time off and we'll make the most of it with the kids.
Christmas Day itself - head over to there in-laws and stuff ourselves silly and stay there the night. My wife's brother will be back from America with his wife but her other brother is going to France with his girlfriend.
The whole week kicks off with a massive family event next Sunday with all the family and relatives for Kris Kindle.
Can't wait, I absolutely love this time of year.
I used to be a Christmas Cynic but my wife's family are all incredibly close so it's a great time of year and it's really all about the kids.

ardinn · 14-12-2015 1:01am

Will spend the day watching my aul fella to see how pissed he gets and throw him dirty looks, he will start an argument at some point that may or may not end up in a huge row which would end up with my ma balling and christmas dinner either not made or had in bedrooms.

14-12-2015 1:03am

ardinn wrote: »

Will spend the day watching my aul fella to see how pissed he gets and throw him dirty looks, he will start an argument at some point that may or may not end up in a huge row which would end up with my ma balling and christmas dinner either not made or had in bedrooms.

Jaysus!
Don't go, even Xmas day on your own somewhere is better than that!!

RayM · 14-12-2015 1:04am

I plan to eat until I lose the ability to walk unaided. And then I'll eat some more.

St. Stephenseseseseses day is my favourite - quieter and more relaxed than Christmas Day.

ardinn · 14-12-2015 1:33am

bubblypop wrote: »

Jaysus!
Don't go, even Xmas day on your own somewhere is better than that!!

i live at home -

Spanish Eyes · 14-12-2015 1:38am

ardinn wrote: »

Will spend the day watching my aul fella to see how pissed he gets and throw him dirty looks, he will start an argument at some point that may or may not end up in a huge row which would end up with my ma balling and christmas dinner either not made or had in bedrooms.

That is so very sad, but not unusual in many households everywhere at Christmas either I would think.

Are there other family members with you at home that day besides yourself.

I hope it will be OK this year for you all.

FalconGirl · 14-12-2015 1:44am

ardinn wrote: »

Will spend the day watching my aul fella to see how pissed he gets and throw him dirty looks, he will start an argument at some point that may or may not end up in a huge row which would end up with my ma balling and christmas dinner either not made or had in bedrooms.

That resonates with me. Except on my case it's my mother. Every Christmas she gets obliterated drunk and makes life a misery for us. She bullied the **** out of my dad who was too meek to say anything back. Now he's 6ft under because of her. Christmas will be especially different this year. First Christmas without him cutting the Turkey. She's a witch and I think this will be the Christmas I keep away from her.

14-12-2015 1:54am

ardinn wrote: »

i live at home -

I think I would volunteer somewhere else for Christmas day

Wompa1 · 14-12-2015 3:50am

I try to go home every second X-mas...this year is not one of the going home years, so, I'll just hang out. I've volunteered a couple of times when over in the US. While it's good to do, it's pretty demanding. Starting the day at 4am, feeling wrecked for the rest of the day. X-mas also happens to fall on a Friday this year, which means 3 days off in a row.

Time off in the US is like gold dust. I might take the chance to drive to California and maybe up to Utah for New Years.

Novella · 14-12-2015 6:36am

This will be my daughter's first Christmas. I have bought way too many presents for her which was silly because she is only two months old and doesn't have a clue, but I'm so excited. I will make dinner, eat too much and spend the day on the couch watching movies.

I hope to make it back to Ireland at some stage too, maybe on Stephen's Day.

hairyslug · 14-12-2015 6:45am

It will be my first Christmas without my parents so it will be a little odd.
Takeaway on Christmas eve and then of to the in-laws

Witchie · 14-12-2015 6:55am

Christmas in my parents house. They get home next Wednesday from Florida, my sister arrives from Scotland on the 21st, my aunt and uncle from France the same day. So then its Christmas when they are all home.

Christmas eve we prep the veg, I boil the ham, I go to hairdressers and late afternoon we all head into town for a wander and grab any forgotten bits before repairing to a local restaurant for our dinner. Home to drink mulled wine with cookies and mince pies while watching a Christmas movie (usually Elf these days) and early enough to bed.

Up reasonably early now the kids are adults it's less fun, open presents, I cook a big fry for the meat eaters and quesadilla and eggs for the veggies (my sister is now vegan so not sure what she wants this year) and then chill for an hour or so before starting dinner.

Dinner is at 5ish followed by board games, charades, animal families etc and enjoying each others company. We used to have usually about 20 to 25 of us on Christmas day (biggest was 27 but included 4 month old twins) but my cousins and their kids aren't coming this year. So it's only my immediate family, 2 aunts and 1 uncle making 12 in total.

The tv is never on in the living room but my son and I slink away and watch Doctor Who.

It's my most favourite bestest day of the year and I am shaking with excitement typing this. Eeek!!!

Shenshen · 14-12-2015 9:53am

I'll be working from home on Christmas eve, so after I finish (around 3pm, I hope) I'll be putting up the tree and decorate it. While trying the keep the cats from chewing through the cables for the lights.

I'll have a nice selection of cheeses, crackers and chutneys and pickles, so dinner will be lots of nibbles, followed by lots of home-made christmas biscuits for dessert nibbles. Haven't decided yet if I should buy a bottle of wine, or just craft beers, but leaning towards the beers right now.
I expect my mom will call us at some point from Germany, and I'll have to nag the OH into ringing his own parents, too. Then it's just relaxing in front of the fire arguing about what to watch on telly.

Christmas day will be a long lie-in, followed by brunch and pressies. If the weather is ok, a long walk on a beach somewhere. I'll spend the afternoon making dinner (lentil and nut loaf with cranberries, stuffing, roasties, spiced red cabbage, honey-roasted carrots, fried sprouts with orange, lebkuchen gravy). And then we'll spend most of the evening digesting...

Shenshen · 14-12-2015 9:56am

Witchie wrote: »

...my sister is now vegan so not sure what she wants this year...

Grilled flat mushrooms topped with stuffing and chopped nuts?

Witchie · 14-12-2015 10:08am

Shenshen wrote: »

Grilled flat mushrooms topped with stuffing and chopped nuts?

She hates mushrooms and I have a nut allergy so can't be near them but thanks!

Shenshen · 14-12-2015 10:12am

Witchie wrote: »

She hates mushrooms and I have a nut allergy so can't be near them but thanks!

Oops, didn't know that.
But there's loads of websites with vegan recipe ideas. I'd suggest trying http://www.thugkitchen.com/. Bit rude, but fantastic recipes.

Witchie · 14-12-2015 10:15am

Thank you that site looks great!

Shenshen · 14-12-2015 10:17am

Witchie wrote: »

Thank you that site looks great!

If you're still looking for a present for her, they do have 2 books out, too. I've asked my hubby to give me the 2nd one, already have the first.

eviltwin · 14-12-2015 11:33am

Spending it with my husband and kids. Lots of eating, drinking and long walks.

LCD · 14-12-2015 11:49am

Is this really an After Hours thread?? Everyone is being really nice & civil. Someone even mentioned an odd Christmas Dinner & no one saw fit to hurl abuse at them. Christmas really does bring out the best in everyone

P_1 · 14-12-2015 11:22pm

Half tempted to go for a day of Netflix and junkfood but certainly it isn't worth the fallout for not showing up.

fleet_admiral · 14-12-2015 11:39pm

Ill be working til about 10 on xmas eve. I have Christmas day off so its family time then back in work at 11 on stephens morning

kettlehead · 14-12-2015 11:41pm

Christmas was always magic in my gaff. Christmas morning meant you got gifts you were told to "feck off" when you asked. We always got expensive gifts and a lot of books.

My brother was shot in 2003. My da, me ma and grandmother and themselves and reflect on Christmas. Christmas was a big ball of depression. I've worked and lived abroad for Christmases.

But now, modern Christmas; my father is a grandfather and he has half a dozen grandchildren running around with him. The ma has a glass of Buck's Fizz watching the grandchildren opening Santys presents.

Me and my sisters make Christmas as big a deal as our parents did for us.

Ruu · 14-12-2015 11:43pm

Very quiet Christmas with wife, Mam and Dad. We'll eat well and maybe go for a nice walk in the countryside after.

sonny.knowles · 14-12-2015 11:52pm

Take her handy for a few weeks. Eat a moderate amount of crisps / sweets / chocolates / biscuits most days plus a nice Christmas dinner. I've lost a few pounds the last couple of weeks to make space. Watch some films, go see Star Wars a couple of times, build some Lego sets, read, break out my new Xbox One, spend time with family, friends. And probably take a dump every second day, if lucky.

Plus I plan to avoid washing for as long as possible in the middle of all that.

15-12-2015 12:01am

I'm spending it with my parents, siblings, sisters in law, 3 little kids, my Granny and my cousin. I love Christmas with the little guys around.

It'll be the usual over indulgence all round, I intend to eat myself into a coma and make a deep impression on the sofa.

The Backwards Man · 15-12-2015 12:15am

Drink stupidly expensive brandy. Make a balls of making the dinner. Pick at the dinner at give most to the dog. Drink more stupidly expensive brandy. Go to bed.

I love Christmas

What's your plans for Christmas?

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