Xmas

[Katzenjammer]

It remains for me all about family, friends and mostly the children for whom some magic still remains. The commercial element of course is surely and steadily destroying that with Christmas displays and goods being displayed earlier each year.
over here the main meal is Christmas eve, typically commencing post oysters and foie gras (or which ever regional speciality is relevant) at around 9pm, several fish, meat, cheese and sweet courses but, sensible portions and never too heavy.
Christmas morning is all about the children present and then a simpler, lighter luncheon.
Have to say I like it a lot, especially given the quality of my father in laws wine cellar
I have more of an issue with New Year's Eve (except in Scotland of course) where I find expectation never marries with delivery, these days we tend to have a nice dinner with close friends and usually retire to bed well before the dawn arrives... a sign of chronological advancement no doubt!

Done in many parts of the North of England with equal panache eg my home town. The Scots do not, despite the myths, have a monopoly on this nor on whisky or porridge or haggis. Did you know that at one time there were more distilleries in England than there ever were in Scotland . Porridge is and was eaten all over Europe as were stuffed sheeps stomachs.

We party as hard but recover quicker - those wimps North of the border have to have an extra days holiday We go to work the day after New Years Day and when I started work in 1972 there was no public holiday on the 1st January in England!

[zippy]

Well, me and Michelle have for the last 11 years gone away for Christmas and or new year.

We never bother Buying each other presents/gifts or any Christmas TAT, our present to each other is the holiday it makes so much sense being wined and dined on a stunning cruse ship visiting wonderful locations around the world rather than have the stress and bother of buying Gifts we don't need or really want. The holiday is just amazing and the best gift both of us could ever want spending time with each other in wonderful surroundings been wined and dinned without the stress of cooking and trying to make everyone else happy ect. We just go away and it is very nice indeed. We have been in Rome on Christmas day outside the Vatican with a bottle of bubbly WOW!.
In the Austria in Innsbruck on top of a mountain with views to die for. The Caribbean wile everyone is frozen here in dark, cold, England. Paris next to the Eiffel Tower on new years eve with champagne, we manage to get some great bargains and had a incredible time. I just think this is so stress free and is our treat we love doing this and been to some astonishing places around the world we are not interested in the latest new phone or TV, there is bugger all on the TV... traveling the world is more appealing than a PlayStation or Ipad. The wonders of the world and seeing the stunning places is our passion not all these pointless things....

Happy Christmas....

Some telling comments in there mate "wined and dinned" eh - try stopping talking for a while and give me a chance I'm not sure we will be frozen here on Christmas day this year. I was out in shirt sleeves yesterday! Xmas dinner on the patio may be the order of the day?

I think most of us actually want to make as many friends and family happy tbh even if it means we are not totally ourselves. Was not that the moral of A Christmas Carol? To care and think of others rather than self? I do agree that the latest phone, tv, playstation, ipad, sako or steyr is not necessary really as there are other ways of making others happy

So where you off this year zippy? The Greek isles? Sharm el Sheik? I see Turkey, Greece, Croatia etc are advertising their tourism a lot at the moment!

Firstly. hope you have great xmas Steve.

I'm not bragging just telling the truth. Michelle's family are sadly not with us, her mother.Father were taken by the dreaded Big C, and here brother was taken by a drunk driver wile on his push-bike. so michelle has no! family. We normally take my mum away in the summer and my sister understands why? we go away as do's our friends.
So all is well. we always meet lovely people wile on holiday Steve. I just love traveling and enjoy new locations and fantastic views and scenery.

We once went to the Black-forest in Germany and it was stunning this time of year,,, we get these holidays cheap as we have friends in the travel shop.
Austria, is breathtakingly beautiful and one of my most favorite locations.

I was in Monaco, Monte Carlo in the summer we visited Price Albert's place, he married Grace Kelly, and then enjoyed the most expensive view in the world of the bay... and the most famous rally. (it cost's 150,000 euro, for a square meter for property in Monaco, and Monte Carlo... WOW!)

We, also went to the leaning Tower of Pisa, very interesting we arrived there by luxury boat it was a stunning experience, and also visited the famous Italian composers House Giacomo Puccini, this Gentleman composed Madam Butterfly.

Rome was our nest port of call... Rome is just incredable. The history is astonishing.

We also visited Portfolio... stunning place indeed and inspired the famous Architect William Clough Ellis, this gentleman was the designer and Architect and had built by his own money the rather incredible Portmeirion in north wales.. a place I encourage everyone to visit, astonishing place indeed.

The list go's on and I'm absolutely, amazed by these stunning locations.

[Katzenjammer]

I don't think I suggested you were bragging zipster when I reread my post. We've heard your stories at the club mate, you're lucky to have the opportunity and freedom. Never had the salary and money for that kind of thing myself, mortgage, divorce, children to launch into the world etc. My sister a bit different though and my brother. No kids makes a big difference. That's why I encourage my daughter to travel and help fund it when they want to push a bit further. Chile, Patagonia and Terra del Fuego next year she hopes. Wasn't impressed with Hong Kong. Costa Rica was amazing for the wildlife and jungles. Korea was a blast, clean, modern, great food, nice people.

Happy Yule to you - I don't do Christmas

So where are you and Michelle heading off to this year then?

[wastrel]

That's why I encourage my daughter to travel and help fund it when they want to push a bit further. Chile, Patagonia and Terra del Fuego next year she hopes. Wasn't impressed with Hong Kong. Costa Rica was amazing for the wildlife and jungles. Korea was a blast, clean, modern, great food, nice people.

Happy Yule to you - I don't do Christmas

So where are you and Michelle heading off to this year then?

+1 my two toured Europe this year, 10 cities over 12 days, me `n the boss were sooo jealous, just not the 6am roll call every day for the bus mind you, daughter (& boyfriend) sat in Berlin as I type, not a dicky bird from her, must be having a ball! hang on, where`s facebook, she`ll be on that no doubt!

[Raj]

We also visited Portfolio... stunning place indeed and inspired the famous Architect William Clough Ellis, this gentleman was the designer and Architect and had built by his own money the rather incredible Portmeirion in north wales.. a place I encourage everyone to visit, astonishing place indeed.
The list go's on and I'm absolutely, amazed by these stunning locations.

Oh Zippy !!! The Spellcheck monster strikes ..... again. I am sure you meant Portmerion

[Kwaka]

Usual sort of family christmas for us I guess. The daughter is now a little over three so geting excited about it all. The local rotary club snowmen escorted Santa around the estate yesterday and that always starts to make it feel like Christmas. We stood outside to donate and wave to Santa with the next door neighbours and their three children.

It's our turn to host this year (We rotate it round every year). My parents and the in-laws. The Chirstmas truce with the mother-in-law starts when they arrive on Christmas eve, (I swear all we need is a football and some no-mans land and it will be complete ) and runs until they leave on Boxing day.

We decided that when we had Katy that wherever we were on Christmas eve, thats where we were staying, no moving around until boxing day; when we will go to my parents for an afternoon buffet. If it was anything like last year Katy started opening her presents approx 07:00 had to stop for lunch, then opened some more. Its not like we spent a lot on loads of presents, its just that when she opens one she just wants to play with it there and then.

Standard run of the mill Christmas I guess but I just love watching Katy's face on Christmas morning!

However you decide to spend it; Merry Christmas one and all.

[zippy]

I don't think I suggested you were bragging zipster when I reread my post. We've heard your stories at the club mate, you're lucky to have the opportunity and freedom. Never had the salary and money for that kind of thing myself, mortgage, divorce, children to launch into the world etc. My sister a bit different though and my brother. No kids makes a big difference. That's why I encourage my daughter to travel and help fund it when they want to push a bit further. Chile, Patagonia and Terra del Fuego next year she hopes. Wasn't impressed with Hong Kong. Costa Rica was amazing for the wildlife and jungles. Korea was a blast, clean, modern, great food, nice people.

Happy Yule to you - I don't do Christmas

So where are you and Michelle heading off to this year then?

Well, we did ponder on Austria, However, we have toured the best of Austria.. Michelle wanted The Caribbean although we have done it...

Turkey, we have been there, we Went to Istanbul and some very unusual sights in Istanbul Its also has the famous Palace bellow.
The Palace were? the (allegedly) oldest, genuine, authentic book of the quran is held,,, see here.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topkapi_manuscript
and here...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topkap%C4%B1_Palace

also wile in Istanbul we visited the... Basilica Cistern, HERE... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_Cistern
The Basilica Cistern was also used in a James Bond movie, From Russia With Love.

Somewhere warm with nice views me thinks... all the best for Crimbo.