Is anyone else here not doing Christmas ?

Emp_Fab

I haven't sent a card, haven't bought a present (and not expecting any), haven't got any food in, haven't got a tree or decorations and only last night invited my mum over for lunch on Christmas day.  Both Mrs F and I have been working our arses off for the past few weeks so time has been very scarce, but either way, we still haven't done anything about Christmas - and it's only four days away.  To be honest, it's all a load of bollocks, everyone running about dancing to the christmas tune like crazed marionettes.  It's like some cult where everyone becomes brainwashed that they must run about buying gifts and sprouts and advocaat, and wear stupid paper hats and get pissed and fight with family.

Why the hell does anyone do it ?  It's bizarre how we all perform this same dance on the same day each year, and god forbid anyone that speaks out against it, as they will be tarred as a killjoy, even though the accuser will undoubtedly end up pissed and calling Aunt Mabel a nosey old cow and roll their eyes at the crap present they've been given and be glad when it's all over with.

Are you in the same situation or are you one of those that feels some kind of peer pressure to go the full hog ?

Bogwhoppit

Xmas is for hippys.

 

chillidoggy

I was planning to drop in over Christmas, but I've suddenly realised I've got to wash my hair.

EricTheWeary

It is a bit more minimal this year but I have not done Xmas at all in the past. In my early 20's I spent Xmas day on Buddhist retreats or up a hill somewhere. It was only really with the arrival of Eric Jr that it became a big deal at all. Which was lovely but soon turned into a cycle of visiting people I didn't want to visit, buying stuff I didn't want to buy,etc,etc. Lot of pressure there.

Emp_Fab

chillidoggy said:

I was planning to drop in over Christmas, but I've suddenly realised I've got to wash my hair.

Oh hang on....  you're the nutter with twenty eight christmas trees in the house aren't you ?

GuitarMonkey

Despite Mrs Monkey and the young troop being mad keen, Christmas is something that happens around me.

chillidoggy

Emp_Fab said:

chillidoggy said:

I was planning to drop in over Christmas, but I've suddenly realised I've got to wash my hair.

Oh hang on....  you're the nutter with twenty eight christmas trees in the house aren't you ?

No, I'm the poor bastard married to the woman who has four Christmas trees in the house!

axisus

I have to admit that I do less and less each year. 

Lets see ....

Didn't go to the work Xmas dinner for the 23rd consecutive year

Kids put the tree up

Mrs A put decorations up

Kids open cards

Mrs A writes cards

Mrs A buys ALL the pressies for friends, relatives AND to herself from me.

wow, I really don't do Xmas!

DiscoStu

I wasn't going to bother this year. I got dumped by my long term partner this year and live on my own now. I was just going to make a curry and get pissed watching films.

But then I met a new woman and she is ace. She's got kids and LOVES Christmas so I'm spending Christmas at hers. Who am I to refuse food? And wine! Lots of wine!

chillidoggy

EDIT for the above: The delectable Mrs C has just realised that she hasn't put up a tree on the top floor of the house. That's right, the floor where no-one lives, or generally ventures to. FFS!

octatonic

DiscoStu said:

I wasn't going to bother this year. I got dumped by my long term partner this year and live on my own now. I was just going to make a curry and get pissed watching films.

But then I met a new woman and she is ace. She's got kids and LOVES Christmas so I'm spending Christmas at hers. Who am I to refuse food? And wine! Lots of wine!

Brilliant.

Really pleased for you Stu.

Emp_Fab

You have such a large abode that you have an entire floor that you rarely use ????!!!

I think you and I should become closer friends as I now suspect you have money.

ourmaninthenorth

A long walk in the woods holding hands with the Missus, saying good morning to neighbours, who spend the rest of the year ignoring each other. Nice and simple, just how I like it. 

viz

I've just bought some guitar strings on Amazon and sent them to my grandparents - they'll wrap them and give them to me on Christmas day. That's about it.

chillidoggy

Emp_Fab said:

You have such a large abode that you have an entire floor that you rarely use ????!!!

I think you and I should become closer friends as I now suspect you have money.

Yes, I have an entire floor that I rarely use. No, I haven't got any money, because I spent it on building the entire floor that I rarely use.

Emp_Fab

chillidoggy said:

No, I haven't got any money, because....

Sorry... do I know you ?

chillidoggy

And there's me thinking it could have been the start of a wonderful friendship.......

Emp_Fab

Only kidding matey....  You've got enough money to buy several christmas trees and a holiday in Floridia.  You can still be my 'scrub' as I believe the ethnic minority youth refer to them as.  Yo.

ROOG

viz said:

I've just bought some guitar strings on Amazon and sent them to my grandparents - they'll wrap them and give them to me on Christmas day. That's about it.

LOL, that sounds familiar, only change the word  grandparents to "my 20 something kids", no wonder I can't really be bothered.

Couple of other comments here ring true, like the neighbours  saying hello when they usually ignor me and the fact that Christmas just seems to happen around me, I mean we have a tree in the house and some tinsel hanging, but I don't remember how it got there.

I love the idea of a calibration, but why do we need all the other stuff? I listened to some young, not so well to do mum on telly the other day saying how its not fair that her kids may have to be deprived of a new PS4 or some such while little jonnie down the road has one, and that her kids shouldn't be ridiculed for this. 

Commercialism ruins what is otherwise a neat idea.   

>:D<

ROOG

LOL, I meant celebration, not calibration, dam that automatic spell checker! 

Deadman

I know what you mean Emp, I kinda feel that way too. I still do it mind and just try to enjoy it. I definitely steer clear of the crowds though and just enjoy the time off by going for walks with my missus and the dog, playing boards game with the kids etc.

Today I'm enjoying some free time by souping up my Rick copy. I just love the down time to do things I enjoy.