Christmas 2023 - what plans do you have?

[Trinity765]

This will be the second time in adulthood that I've spent Christmas in my own home as I've always gone to my Mum's and the last time and only time I've cooked Christmas dinner in my own kitchen was 20 years ago. I'm looking forward to it as I won't be carrying loads of food around, back and forth to my Mum's house and, if I dare, I can have a drink.

My sons will be here and it will feel cramped but that's ok - it will be cosy. The routine will be the same, Eggs Benedict for breakfast, open gifts, play with gifts, mill around and eat snacks, huge Christmas dinner with all the trimmings (must haves but not limited to - stuffed turkey, carrots roasted in rosemary and honey, chestnut stuffing, pigs in blankets, Yorkshire puds, brussels), more gifts, watch a film while eating Christmas pudding, sleep.

I don't do Christmas decorations or cards, just presents and lots and lots of food

[gremlin]

brussels

You're dead to me....

[Dunxster]

Business as usual for my wife and I. For the past nine years we’ve spent Christmas morning at a local animal rescue, where we do voluntary work every Saturday. So it'll be cleaning the outdoor cat houses first thing and then the fun bit - distributing the gifts that have been donated by the public.

Hopefully, my busted collarbone will be okay by then.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I'm hoping my Xmas treat will be emptying my sack

Sheesh and they say romance is dead.

I'm a silver tongued cavalier

[Trinity765]

brussels

You're dead to me....

No one here likes them but I get told off if I don't do them because "It's not Christmas dinner without brussel sprouts". Seriously! True story!

[636mick]

For the first time in many years I’ve got 2 weeks off over Xmas. The F’s daughter is home for Christmas Day so it’ll be fake Maccys for brekky, veggies version for her, pressys, dinner which is Lamb as usual, then TV and games in the pm, then a few drinks. Christmas Eve will be a Chinese, Boxing Day the daughter is off to her partners so we get to lie in, chill and enjoy each others company.
In the gaps I’m looking for a bike to fettle and fix over winter so I can return to the fold next year, health allowing, and I’m hoping to find a bargain so I can go fetch it, thats my chrissy pressy to myself!!
Mick

[Count Steer]

brussels

You're dead to me....

I honestly do like sprouts and have been buying, cooking and eating 'em since they appeared again in M&S this year. They're just little savoy cabbages. A few minutes steam and they're

(OK some people don't like cabbage either...but I do ).

[Noggin]

brussels

You're dead to me....

I honestly do like sprouts and have been buying, cooking and eating 'em since they appeared again in M&S this year. They're just little savoy cabbages. A few minutes steam and they're

(OK some people don't like cabbage either...but I do ).

I so hate it when people say they are just little cabbages!! It took years for me to like the taste of cabbage (only once I found how to it well!! ) but sprouts?

They DO NOT taste like little cabbages

[Count Steer]

You're dead to me....

I honestly do like sprouts and have been buying, cooking and eating 'em since they appeared again in M&S this year. They're just little savoy cabbages. A few minutes steam and they're

(OK some people don't like cabbage either...but I do ).

I so hate it when people say they are just little cabbages!! It took years for me to like the taste of cabbage (only once I found how to it well!! ) but sprouts?

They DO NOT taste like little cabbages

They're actually sweeter than cabbage. I know people taste things differently, like some people retch at the taste of coriander, but really? Sprouts? They're not like the horrid things they boiled to oblivion back in the 60s and 70s if you get 'em from M&S. They're delish. You can slice 'em up and stir fry 'em too.

Don't understand the sprout hate, at all. I am an out and proud sprout lover and look forward to their annual appearance.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I bloody love sprouts, always been one of my faves ever since I was a child. Always loved Broccoli too.

Which is not a surprise, cause they're the same species.

[Count Steer]

I bloody love sprouts, always been one of my faves ever since I was a child. Always loved Broccoli too.

Which is not a surprise, cause they're the same species.

I'm in on broccoli too. Lordy be...this lot just want chips, burgers and baked beans...they've never grown up!

[Noggin]

I honestly do like sprouts and have been buying, cooking and eating 'em since they appeared again in M&S this year. They're just little savoy cabbages. A few minutes steam and they're

(OK some people don't like cabbage either...but I do ).

I so hate it when people say they are just little cabbages!! It took years for me to like the taste of cabbage (only once I found how to it well!! ) but sprouts?

They DO NOT taste like little cabbages

They're actually sweeter than cabbage. I know people taste things differently, like some people retch at the taste of coriander, but really? Sprouts? They're not like the horrid things they boiled to oblivion back in the 60s and 70s if you get 'em from M&S. They're delish. You can slice 'em up and stir fry 'em too.

Don't understand the sprout hate, at all. I am an out and proud sprout lover and look forward to their annual appearance.

I do accept that some of my dislike is that in my family all veg was boiled to death, and then a little more. It went splat when it hit the plate. Byt the time they all decided that al dente was better, non of us kids liked veg! (Although my little brother hates veg because he remembers it as never cooked - the al dente phase! Weird how memories work!!)

I have tried with sprouts cos my family insisted on them at Christmas. I have cooked them in so many different ways, even with butter and bacon - a combination guaranteed to make anything taste better. But not sprouts!! LOL

After many years I said that if they wanted sprouts, they could bring them And once there were little kids in the family I agreed to eat one sprout with Christmas dinner to help get the kids to have one too!!


I have to admit though, I don't think I've eaten a sprout for over 10 years (can't remember the last time we had a traditional Christmas dinner!! And, given that I am very aware that my tastes have massively changed in the last few years (some bits gone completely ) maybe I should try them again!! MAYBE

[KungFooBob]

The ONLY green things safe to eat are Fruit Pastilles and Jelly Babies... and only as a last resort when you've already eaten all the black ones.

[Taipan]

I love Brussels! They are also really nice grated and stir fried with garlic and chilli and squeeze of lemon!

[Trinity765]

I'm on a few forums and the overarching theme around these Christmas threads is all about who you are spending it with.

I never used to give it much thought but as I get older I realise how important family is, I know it's a cliché but the things that money can't buy really are the things that give the most happiness in life. We had a birthday party for my lad yesterday at our house and it was so nice, the most expensive thing was an Asda cake and candles (£12) but the day was priceless. You can buy things to put a smile on peoples faces, but the smiles you get for free just because they're happy to be there with you are nicer.

Anyway, it's officially December, so it's now not too soon to wish everyone a Merry Christmas

I feel like I've just read a condensed version of A Christmas Carol

[Felix]

I love Brussels! They are also really nice grated and stir fried with garlic and chilli and squeeze of lemon!

Another lover of sprouts here. They are not just for Christmas in my house. Last weekend i had them with roast lamb what was rather nice and i like a little crunch in them. Boiled to feck can do one. I do like a tradition at Christmas though with them being finished in a frying pan with butter and either nutmeg or bits of bacon.

[weeksy]

But yeah, I've had a lovely few days with family and this ultimately is more satisfying in terms of happiness than any new car or trinket.

Can i have one of your motorbikes then ?

[Trinity765]

I feel like I've just read a condensed version of A Christmas Carol

Not far off

I think it's a reasonably common story, I've spent my whole life hurtling through the days and weeks not really thinking about stuff like that, I was too busy, modern life often demands a lot from us and you can't always fit everything in, the kids have their own key and grab their own snacks when they come in from school, you don't get chance to spend weekends with extended family, etc.

Of course, it's all very well knowing this, but if you have to work long hours to pay the bills then you can only do what you can do.
It's like the volunteer/charity work, it's often the case that you only have the spare time to give to others once you've satisfied your own needs.

But yeah, I've had a lovely few days with family and this ultimately is more satisfying in terms of happiness than any new car or trinket.

While I jest, I totally agree and have had a big smile while reading these posts. In a fast paced world where everyone is leading their own best life it's nice to have a day when we're forced to sit down together and feast. I love it for that reason and that reason only.

I found out only recently that when our US cousins are having Thanks Giving dinner they go around the table and everyone has to state something that they are pleased about for that year. And while I hate the idea of adopting anything of theirs, least of all a tradition, it seems like something that would be good for the soul so it's a shame that we don't ever do it. We just wear silly hats and tell cracker jokes.

[Sunny]

My Christmas will be the same as it's been for the best part of the last two decades

Christmas Eve Muz will head off up North to his family (albeit just his dad and aunt now as his mum died last year), and I will go to a mates for dinner.

Christmas Day I'll go over to my parents, go to church with them in the morning (not my bag, but very much theirs), then head back to theirs for roast beef with all the trimmings, followed by no presents - though there's often a chocolate orange and some cheese that makes it's way home with me , and no booze - my parents don't drink. The three of us then sit around and chat. There's no decorations or cards, just family.
It's the most relaxing day of my entire year, and not too much effort for my mum either as I help (though I do keep offering to do it at my place as they get older).

Boxing Day I head over to theirs again and we have leftovers. They can't walk far these days, so the traditional walk no longer happens, but we sit and chat again. Then I head home in the evening to meet Muz when he gets back.

27th me and Muz do 'our Christmas' - have something nice for dinner and swap a handful of presents.

[gremlin]

I suspect there will be nine of us sat around my dining room table....

Did I say nine?

Apparently it's eleven.