Christmas 2022 moan thread…

Better a leftie than spending Christmas with a Tory

Though 4 days of moaning and listening to his so far left wing views I’m sure he’s a communist from the 1950s.

Won't be asking to watch the King's Christmas Message then?

Better a leftie than spending Christmas with a Tory

Amen. I'll swap you a brexity DM reading gammon FiL if yours is up for a change of scene.

I've decided I actually like Christmas (well, a festive winter holiday - baby Jesus can do one) - it's presents, the buying of and receiving, that ruin it for me. And in particular the pressure that seems to build up right about now to think up ideas to give to other people and to buy yourself......that nobody needs. And if they do need, they could just go out and buy. I've not managed to get a unanimous "lets just not ****ing bother" sign off and there are limits to the unilateral refusal to participate that's politically acceptable. It truly sucks.

Won’t be asking to watch the King’s Christmas Message then?

Ooh, forgot about that. I usually don't bother with the queen's speech, but might watch this one, then never bother again...

Looking forward to it. Not working for 2 weeks and spending 8 days in Ireland, what's not to like? My dad can be a bit awkward though or maybe it's me.

What I hate about Christas is how it starts in November. Even the moaning.

Luckily as I am backshift 24th - 26th December we have cancelled it this year.

So when will Whamageddon officially start? Already heard it on a tv advert about 2 weeks ago so hopefully before the official start? just CBA with it all

So when will Whamageddon officially start? Already heard it on a tv advert

From a marketing perspective, using that song is a very risky strategy for a brand to take, surely?

Looking forward to it, two weeks off, bit of cycling (if covid after effects fark off), and we're hosting Christmas Day.

Got both SIL's which makes about 9. Planning on sticking the hot tub on for Christmas - one thing wife and one of the SIL's are looking forward to, until said SIL's invited her daughter and two little kids to ours on Christmas Day evening without checking, so they can dive in the tub. MrsF wanted piece and quiet, not two little kids diving in and out ! Ah well.

Hopefully both nephews will turn up too, one is a top chef (works for Gary Usher), so I've got some work cut out - be nice for him to have a break for a change.

One of the benefits of single life.
I buy presents for my son and my mum, that's it.
Some time with my son over Christmas, dinner at mum's and a few days on my own to potter as I please, only real downside is new years eve on my own but am not too bothered about that as plan to be up early and on my bike first thing in the morning.

I'm quite looking forward to this year.

This Black Friday thing has extended the relentless, deafening barrage of unapologetic and cringeworthy advertising for at least a month extra.
Which absolute weapon started it anyway? 😡

Absolutely 'kin hate it.
Completely horrible time of year to be around.

Love a few days off, love a wintery Christmas ride, love spending time with others free of work.
Hate the commercial side of things with a passion.

Also, please stop spoiling perfectly good food by insisting on putting a blummin orange in it or something. 😂

Usually it's like herding cats trying to organise our kids but somehow managed to arrange all them and their partners plus grandkids to be here Xmas eve, so Xmas day with the in laws will see it all done and dusted in two days, thank god.

Just refuse to partake at all. Thats what I do. token pressies for immediate family otherwise they ge huffy. I have refused to join them at all over christmas and will not be doing any other celebration and will not have christmas lunch

Looking forward to it.  Me and Mrs bloke have had a fairly rubbish year healthwise, but we both enjoy Christmas.  Got my grown up kids, their partners and my elderly parents coming to us.  Yep, it's a bit of a challenge keeping everyone sweet and the cooking, cleaning etc.  My dad can be a bit grumpy and cantankerous and my mum is getting very forgetful and anxious. On the other hand, despite my best intentions we never see as much of them all as we'd like during the rest of the year, so it will be great to catch up.  I'm also conscious that I probably don't have too many Christmases left with my parents, so plan to cherish those that I do have. We've set a small limit for token presents to prevent a spending/tat arms race! Sorry to be so positive and upbeat!

Practical presents or concert tickets for us this year, minimising the spend.

Two weeks off. Bizarrely contemplating the Rapha 500....

Will be our first Christmas just the immediate family (other half plus 3 month old plus 3 year old who is very excited) in our new house this year so very much looking forward to that. Then, because we're nearer these days and don't need to rely on the delights of Christmas trains, it'll be a day at each set of grandparents and that'll be that instead of a 5 day extravaganza of sitting around and getting gradually more fed up with in-laws of various types and associated children.

Arrrrrghhhhh

MiL has been phoning daily just to remind us how she’s panicking about everything from what she’ll eat to what time I’m collecting them etc

I’m neither happy nor sad this is happening, my wife on the other hand isn’t impressed in any way. It’s adding unnecessary stress to an already stressful life !

Can’t wait to spend 4 whole days with them !

And today my dad who’s 89 phones and asks if he can come with us as he decided he doesn’t want go with my brother and his family to the alps skiing(he’s as fit as a fidel/looks about 65 but completely bonkers) said noway matey ! You’re on your own or go to my sister! Lol he said he’d be happier at home and will get a self invite to his lady friends family !

4 whole days of insane 1950s communist views/ 4 whole days of Mil moaning.
Shame we don’t live in the Netherlands if we did I’d be buying a massive bag of coffee shop special brew and let the time float over me !

The only one potential thing that could really annoy me is if I don’t get a good phone signal !

LOL the joys of Christmas. Working Xmas & NY so no awkward situations!!
Tbh, for a few years now we've told friends/family that we're not doing presents and we now donate to charities.
It's a win win in my eyes. We get no tatt now and charities need money now more than ever don't they...
We also send a lot less xmas cards now, instead txt xmas wishes message and inform them of what charities benefit.
Some still send us cards, some don't. Those that don't send cards don't txt either 🙂

We managed to get out of the presents circle some years ago though I have managed to get Santa to drop of a bike at my nephew's son's house. Presents are for kids. The rest of us can just eat too much and get pissed.

Presents are for kids. The rest of us can just eat too much and get pissed.

This plus 1000% It's great giving gifts but the over-indulgence on food and booze is just sublime 👍

I will be with my late wife's parents for Christmas. This is a good thing 🙂 They also said don't feel the need to stay too long.

This is also a good thing as I love them dearly. But I have started a relationship with the most fascinating beautiful woman I could have ever hoped to meet!

There I've said it online and its not a moan 😀

Nice one MrO 👍
It (almost) makes me want to start a 'Good Times at Christmas 2022' thread,but that wouldn't be very STW now, would it.
😆 🤣

Cheers fasthaggis 🙂 I'm on cloud 9

Not sure where it is but if you start a good times 2022 Christmas thread then I'll be there with you 😉

Overshoot - that's really great!!

Charges Dickens view of Christmas is on the idiots lantern shortly.

MrO! That’s great news to wake up to, very happy for you. Enjoy it!

This is the first Christmas I’ve had with my kids since I got divorced. Previously I’ve only had them briefly in the morning. Which means this is the first year I get to take them off to stay with my family, and I’m actually looking forward to it. Though not as much as my mum, who is super excited.

Youngest has just developed a really sore throat… let’s hope being ill isn’t going to spoil my uncharacteristic festiveness. (Though I’m still not festive enough to put up a tree).

But I have started a relationship with the most fascinating beautiful woman I could have ever hoped to meet!

There I’ve said it online and its not a moan 😀

that’s fantastic! Internet high five, hug or handshake for you. Cheered me up this morning to read that

I have managed to get Santa to drop of a bike at my nephew’s son’s house.

Cheers! 🥂

There I’ve said it online and its not a moan

Cheers! 🥂

Hannah, keep an close eye on him, loads of kids have strep A. Lady at work boy got scarlet fever, and his brother has jusy strep.

Having agreed to stop the pointless present buying we have regressed to another level of hell.
The fun, jokey present buying, because everyone loves unwrapping presents......
The rules, less than a tenner, from a fricken charidee shop.

Ok so the charity get a few quid but tbh, receiving someone else throw out is unlikely to be anything i really want or will use.
Howevet, this years foray intp mothball hell has yeilded, strap yourselves in..

Brand new, wrapped box set pf Downton abbey dvds, the first 5 series for £2

Some actually quite good noise cancelling AudioTechica Acb7 corded headphones for £8

A brand new wrapped jigsaw puzzle of some snowmen, for £2.

So thats mum and bro covered, just need sis and bil. Almost want to buy the most god awful thing in the shop to make the madness stop.
I will be booking a slot at the tip fot the 27th.

My only gripe so far is e-Bay scalpers.

My 5 year old daughter wants this particular toy that it turns out every other 5 year old seems to also want. There was loads of stock the other week, now there's nothing. RRP £79.99 but there's loads on e-Bay upwards of £200 with more than 30 odd bids!

I know it's the result of capitalism & supply/demand but when you actually come across it it's bl00dy annoying!

I'll be waiting until January when there's more stock and nobody cares, pretty sure I never got all the things I wanted when I was 5 lol

We have a proper 'grown up' Christmas coming - this weekend sees grandparents briefly gathering for eldest_oab's 21st.

Then all three lads are working various shifts through Christmas. We are not visiting family down south until end of January.

And so we have a couple of weeks to fill with walks, rides, canoes and I think we may even see if there are a few friends fancy an evening in the pub...

No moaning from me.

Chef nephew is definitely coming, better get my game face on. TBH he'll be glad for the break, and he usually makes something to bring along.

Shut my online shop on Monday, just standing by for the onslaught of ‘where’s my stuff’ emails even though they’ve all got tracking details…

Postie strike on 23rd and 24th means I’ve got a whole week off - hoping for dry weather for nice walks, bike rides and stuff.

Being on an island a long way from family means there’s zero risk at being bothered by them 🥳

I started typing some things I like about Christmas but then remembered the theme of this thread so to stay on target: I hate all the perfume ads. They start around mid-November and ramp up the frequency until Keira Knightley is all you see on the TV. And I fracking hate Keira Knightley. And if anybody wants to know why, it is 1. the daft fantasy floaty princess flowers tacky dream of women's lives they portray. I mean I am constantly wandering about in a field with my four teenage model friends or on a 1960s Italian motorbike in empty Parisian streets, or having a bath in my gold dress in a weird-ass motel swimming pool with a bunch of male models looking at me 2. the horrible misogynistic male-chicken tease element of them all - who buys that perfume? Incels? And I mean YOU Keira Knightly for special mention in that regard 3. the perfume is ludicrously expensive for what you get, due to all the horrible expensive ads. If you have a football field sized perfume section at all major airports with many thousands to choose from, you are not a glamour product. So just shut up and F off Keira, Charleze and all of you!!

I started typing some things I like about Christmas but then remembered the theme of this thread so to stay on target

Good point - I am off to the positivity thread now 🙂

Oi! Leave Charlize alone. Her ads are a TV highlight.

I normally dread the actually day as my daughter spends xmas day with her mum and comes to me for boxing day. So xmas day itself is too quiet and flat (me and Lady Blackflag just go to the pub). But this year she is spending xmas eve and xmas day with us (well till 2pm) so i get to do a proper xmas morning. Plus parents are coming over and my mums alzheimer's is getting worse so this may be the one of the last ones. Its defo time to push the boat out. Even bought a proper tree.

Blimey the usual complaint on here is that people shift to the right with age and have helped deliver an awful tory government. I'd be delighted to chat with an elderly gent who'd stuck to his right-on principles.
As for moans, our 1yo LG fridge freezer has packed up. The engineer wrote it off this morning and after 2 hours on the phone to JLP clearly nothing's going to happen in a hurry. Soggy Christmas food will be hitting the bin over the next few days.

They start around mid-November and ramp up the frequency until Keira Knightley is all you see on the TV

I don't really watch telly but if it's wall to wall Keira I might have to start....

I greatly enjoy the annual christmas moan thread, but don't you think it's starting earlier every year?

Moan? It's raining up to 2000m and doesn't look like snowing properly before Christmas. 🙁

got the wife's mum and dad with us this christmas day. 2 weeks ago we had a proper ding dong barny about brexit. he was voted out i voted in. every single thing wrong with this country is due to immigration according to him.
he is the most racist homophobic angry man i have ever known.

But i love xmas, and to counteract his miserable guts attitude i will have the sheer joy and happiness of my nearly 3 year old grandson with us on xmas day too. him and my daughter live with us.
so me and joshua are gonna be very very loud and party party party on xmas day, just to annoy the hell out of the wife's dad.

ton - good on you!

so me and joshua are gonna be very very loud and party party party on xmas day, just to annoy the hell out of the wife’s dad.

Might I suggest emphasising the joy with a blue Christmas party jumper adorned with stars perhaps in some kind of circular pattern?

Ton,how about a bit of Reggae or ska to get the party going?

And instead of boring dry turkey you've cooked a lovely turkey Biriani using the recipe your new best friend Mrs Singh shared with you.

Re perfume ads....totally agree, except now they're so bad they're good and I stop what I'm doing to watch them. If it was still video times I'd have a compilation. Favourite is the Marc Jacobs one set to a great Suicide song where the four models all then say Daisy Daisy Daisy Daisy slightly out of time with each other and then giggle. WTF was the ad exec on that day?

WTF was the ad exec on that day?

£250K per year?

And instead of boring dry turkey you’ve cooked a lovely turkey Biriani using the recipe your new best friend Mrs Singh shared with you.

I was going to suggest something similar. I’m cooking Tandoori turkey tonight for some work mates, I’ll report back.
Alternatively you could try Jerky turkey, a recipe from your West Indian neighbor?

I don't know why, but I find something really sinister about that Marc Jacobs Daisy advert. Really freaks me out.

Daughter is home from university over Christmas, so I'm pleased about that. Have Brexity relatives to contend with, but not until Boxing Day.

if I was more savvy I'd just loop the end bit and have them saying Daisy Daisy Daisy for ages, that would be dead good.

I'd then send it to my friend, who's eldest daughter is called Daisy so he can have it as his ringtone and really piss her off.

Oh, and. I think this is a specific variant for Binners. Eau de Sausages

First day of my Christmas leave today and its pissing down, so no riding likely.

Forecast tomorrow is looking spot on, MrsMC has booked tickets for a family trip to the cinema at 12.30, could not have ****ed up my plans to go out for a long road ride any better if she'd tried!

MIL and partner were meant to be flying into Gatwick this evening from Belfast for 10 days with us over Christmas but have had to cancel due to bad fever. Gutted particularly for my partner and his mum who don't get to see much of each other and they are good fun. It would've been our 1st Christmas together in 3 years.

On the plus side I've only just got over being really ill for 10 days so takes the pressure off a little and means I don't have to give up my ensuite or listen to the other half snoring after too much food and booze. Also last night at the pub we ended up inviting a friend who was going to be alone on Christmas day (before the cancellation)so now they'll be plenty of food to go around.

Forecast tomorrow is looking spot on, MrsMC has booked tickets for a family trip to the cinema at 12.30, could not have **** up my plans to go out for a long road ride any better if she’d tried!

My FIL is in his late 70's, but a bloody lovely guy and very open minded and left thinking, mix him with another son in law, Latvian who says he's Russian not Latvian, proper backwards in views on race, sexism and all sorts, he's married to the sister with a trans son. Then the other sister is married to a trader who is I expect true blue but open to discussion. To be honest I think he'd vote for whoever makes him the most cash, big detached house, wine room etc etc, but we get on well. They make for a really interesting mix and I'm the centralist in comparisson to all the other views so as long as the 3 sisters manage not to fall out with each other (reversion to the teenage years when they all shared a bedroom in their ex-council house) we might just make it through.

Forecast tomorrow is looking spot on, MrsMC has booked tickets for a family trip to the cinema at 12.30, could not have **** up my plans to go out for a long road ride any better if she’d tried!

Tell us that your wife hates you at Xmas without telling us. 😀

Xmas itself is looking good. Sunny, temps in 20s, no visiting or weirdness, 9yo getting a new bike so there'll be fun to had there. All grand.

Then it's all going pear shaped, flying into MCR on 27th to visit family, using flights I booked pre covid and can't seem to get refunded. Costs more to stay in a small northern market town than in the centre of Bordeaux,

Tell us that your wife hates you at Xmas without telling us. 😀

Not sure it's just a Christmas thing...🤷‍♂️

The other gem was MrsMC had done the big pre-Christmas shop on Tuesday, so I only needed to pop up to the corner ship for milk today - cue my mother 80 year old mother phoning at 7.30 last night to see if I could pick up "a couple" of things I was heading to Aldi this morning....🤬

To be fair, Aldi was quieter than I expected

I’m working from now until the 27th. Would normally go to see my dad but a fairly major falling out a few months ago means that we haven’t spoken since, so the run up to New Year will be quiet, especially since I’m back to work on NYD.

Haha, after dodging it for three years I tested positive for Covid this morning (bought a test before visiting family over the weekend as I'd felt odd Thursday and Friday). Oh well, enough food to lash together for the next few days, gives me a good excuse to strip down the mtb on the patio. New Year, new bike.

Not looking forward to tomorrow. The good bit is I'm spending it with my parents. Th bad bit is so is my racist, bigoted, conspiracy-theorist, billy-no-mates, gammony, Farage/Trump/Tory supporting bore of an uncle. He genuinely has no real friends and no proper hobbies so all he talks about is politics and as a cherry on the top he refuses to acknowledge anyone else's opinion other than his own. A complete and utter moron of a man who has never fully grown up - lived with his mum all his life until she passed away a decade ago, never achieved anything of note but thinks he's a success as he has a few quid in savings (all stashed in cash round his council bungalow as he doesn't trust the banks) - and is slowly going blind. He has no empathy towards anyone or anything ( literally walked his last dog to death despite our protestations) so sucks the joy out of every situation he is involved in. The only reason he's allowed over is mum takes pity on him (her brother) and lets him come round as he'd have nowhere else to go. He will walk in, start talking (and not shut up until he leaves which will be when he chooses, not when it's a natural time or polite to!) and not help whatsoever, waiting for 'his' food to arrive, take his presents then continue talking again.

I hate the man but for the sake of my mum I'll put up with him for a few hours.

MrOvershoot

I will be with my late wife’s parents for Christmas. This is a good thing 🙂 They also said don’t feel the need to stay too long.

This is also a good thing as I love them dearly. But I have started a relationship with the most fascinating beautiful woman I could have ever hoped to meet!

There I’ve said it online and its not a moan 😀

I hate to be the bearer of more good news but its been a fantastic visit so far with everyone happy for me in my new relationship.

And that has just built & built. Is WhatsApp sex a thing? As so far my underwear is a mess 😮

Happy Christmas you miserable buggers 😀

I generally love Christmas these days however I'm currently being forced to watch that abomination of a second rate private school carol service that ITV are insisting on televising as the wife insisted on watching it rather than Carols at Kings because 'it's all been done by Kate, and she's lovely'

It's ****in' awful and has so far ruined just about every decent (and quite a few bad) Christmas songs while at the same time having ever iota of soul and feeling sucked out of it.

Keeping Up Appearances Christmas Special double bill. I’m going to iron some show tea towels.

Covid still a thing - yes eldest daughter tested positive yesterday back from darn sarf. thanks megabus / London.....Kind put a spanner in the works

Tesco wrapping paper.

hannah - don't forget to polish your toaster...

Rocked up in Pembrokeshire yesterday at a holiday cottage to find the MIL testing positive for covid after feeling ill for a few days and travelling all the way there with a lateral flow in her bag “just in case”. SIL and my wife insisted on staying and carrying on with the planned big family Xmas.

I opted out and drove 200 miles to my parents arriving at nearly midnight in Lancashire to hopefully have a chilled time with my family, and deal with the fall out next week.

Only reason I didn’t go straight home was a broken boiler so would have been home alone with no hot water or heating. Another bit of joy to sort next week.

Is WhatsApp sex a thing?

Don’t think the OP meant that kind of moan.

Starting this year I have promised myself not to engage with energy vampire(s), so I have cut off many people in my life, yes I did. That's the Xmas "gift" they get from me. LOL! Life is short.

Dinner with the in laws tomorrow. Get on great with them except they called tonight to say the beef is cooked already. So it’s massively over done cold beef tomorrow. Best go large with the roasties.

... except they called tonight to say the beef is cooked already. So it’s massively over done cold beef tomorrow.

LOL! Put it this way at least you get fed. I won't complain so long as others are cooking. LOL!

The only thing I’m appreciating about Christmas is having the whole month off, apart from three and a half days. Other than that, there’s nothing really to enjoy. At least I won’t be sat at home all day Christmas Day with a one person microwave meal, I’ll be driving down to Salisbury at lunchtime. 🙁

No close family and currently single, so will be spending the next few days volunteering at a project providing Christmas for people experiencing homelessness which, based on previous years, will be fun and will be a chance to catch up with some of the people I volunteered with distributing meals to the same group during the Covid pandemic.

After all my gloating the dog went for the mother-in-law, twice. She has then not slept through the night needed to pay at 3:45am and then needed to puke at 6:45. So I missed most of the meal last night dealing with her, have hardly slept and my wife wanted to stay for 2 more nights FFS!

I'm tempted to go home with the dog and come back and get her in a couple of days.

I always have a huge amount of sympathy and take a degree of comfort every year when this topic comes up . 1st 20 years of marriage working as a postie by the big day I was knackered and looked forward in vain to a quiet peaceful Xmas day . It never was , FIL insisted on taking over in the kitchen which led to hot and holy rows , every year I pleaded for it to be different but it seemed my voice wasn't heard . Even with the effect it had on Mrs OF she couldn't bring herself to say bugger off .
Then when our son turned 18 he discovered alcohol but not in a pleasant way to the point of violence and having to call the police. Then when he calmed down the normally placid BIL decided it was his turn. Unbeknown to us he was a regular drug user , when he kicked off it came to a head with him being sectioned .During all this I just wished I was a million miles away . In fact Xmas 2011 we did do that . Almost . We spent the Xmas in NZ the farthest we could go before we started coming back .Xmas day was a little hotel right on the beach hardly another soul around 😎 Our meal wasn't until the evening so I went into town found a garage open and bought 2 meat pies. Best Xmas dinner ever 😎
So yep I have every sympathy for people when the day is built up to such high expectations which rarely come to fruition. This year we both tested positive for COVID last week so it's Darby and Joan today with video calls which is fine by us for now .
So try and have a good day one and all but just try and stay calm it's only one day ♥️

Bloody hankies off the MiL!

Don't get me wrong I'm a big hanky user with various nasal issues, but as such I have standards! These are pretty patterns but practically see-through. I'll give them a wash and see what they're like, but I'm expecting bloody useless.

I was looking forward to my usual, predictable, and welcome Wiggle voucher 😂😭

The irony is I'm feeling ****ing awful with sinusitis and back in bed 😂

The Royal family is the best industry the UK has according to MIL...I just laughed and walked off...

SIL leaves back door open when she goes out for a fag, come back in finally shuts the door then complains the house is cold!!!

AA,you could point out that it's pretty useless as they practice tax avoidance.