Christmas tips - can we get one a day?

wazz42

Hi,

I know many might think it's early but I've already got most of the presents I need and I wondered if we were doing anything this year for Christmas? I remember there were alternative words to carols at some point! Maybe an advent calendar would be good?

I'll start us on some hints and tips

Don't wrap presents, put them in a Christmas bag with something to keep it closed until the day - we have tape and there's a pair of scissors on the table in readiness. Why? Well after Christmas I ask for the bags back ready for the next year, they fold flat so don't take up much space and it makes it quite cheap and good for the environment x

stickywicket

Good idea, Wazz.

My tip would be pacing, pacing, pacing.

After not having anyone staying, and not seeing my US son for two years (shielding) he's coming for a week before Christmas then I'll just have time to change the sheets before my sister arrives for Christmas.

After being last minute for years I've now bought most presents, written Christmas letters and made a start on writing cards as, when my visitors come, I just want to enjoy them. I've even ordered some of the gluten-free stuff for No 1 son who's hoping for 'a real family Christmas' - between 14th and 21st😉

Somewhere in the archives here are several threads of 'Arthritis Carols', 'Arthritis movies' etc. if anyone is interested and has time to search. We used to have fun with them.

I found some carols Sticky and I've put them in Chit chat Yx

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/47355/christmas-carols-for-arthritics

Mike1

Remember to get the cat a tin of salmon!!

sunnyside2

its meant to be fun- don't do madly complicated dinner- get the predone stuff . and no one wants to eat mountains of food- just get smaller amount of nice stuff

MissA

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/687232#Comment_687232

😂Yes, distracts them from the turkey!

stickywicket

😊

OK, here's another. Restful though it sounds for aching joints, I just can't go with @sunnyside2's suggestion of not too much food and mainly pre-done stuff as my family is mainly male and always ravenous BUT both sons are better cooks than their mother (We've already had the discussion "Do you remember when we had pigs in blankets for Christmas Dinner cos the turkey wouldn't cook?") and everyone is willing to chip in and help so...

Do accept all help offered.

Mike1

Normally I do not bother with xmas lunch as it is only me and the cat, I think that last year I had a spag boll done in the microwave as usual, however this year I have ordered a proper xmas dinner from a company that specialises in Chef cooked roast dinners. I have had a couple of meals from Roast Kings in the past, they are not cheap but very good quality and as I do not bother doing full roast dinners just for me and Vixen they make a nice change for special occasions.

frogmorton

You can get a stamper made or stickers to put inside cards if your hands are sore and writing them hurts.

dachshund

Hello Sticky

Toni found you for me have a good time with your family that's a long time not seeing your son ((())) take care

Loggiemod

We wrap presents in brown paper and use paper tape so all recyclable

Lilymary

Our family has banned presents altogether. It felt odd the first year, but we all realised we had a much less stressful Christmas, and no one ended up broke and with a load of gifts with nowhere to put them. so we've kept it up. We just meet up for a meal and have fun. We love it.

airwave

No.1 hint, let someone else do the work!

Like your thinking Mike, enjoy your day.

it’s a grin, honest!

Ellen

Reference @Lilymary 's tip. Remember a good percentage of Christmas presents end up in landfill.....🙄

Mike1

Here's another tip: don't put decorations or trees up then you do not have to take them down again!!

wazz42

Getting hard to think of a new tip!

If you do like fresh veggies then get family to help. Even before I was ill we all had a prep session on Christmas Eve morning, anyone visiting and family all joined in getting a bucket (clean, only used for this) of potatoes/carrots/sprouts and any other veg ready for Christmas and Boxing Day.

I've carried this on - actually teaching g'ch to peel spuds and prep veg, great fun

xx

stickywicket

Some great ideas here.

@wazz42 - yes, we always prep veg on Christmas Eve, together, and have either a take away or very easy meal that day.

@Lilymary and @Ellen - For years, with immediate grown up family, we've just bought under £10 presents and given the rest to charity. No waste and always appreciated.

Anna

Ready made puff pastry for the mince pies and sausage rolls - just as good as home made and so much easier.

frogmorton

Mike!😂

Veggies get prepped her night before too while having a glass of something and a takeaway!

Stickywicket that is great😊 we also do a family secret santa 10 max spend and wish lists ensure it's not (total!) rubbish!

Anna in my case get my daughter to make my mince pies!!! hehehe!

Chris_R

Hi all

always do veg night before family occasion. Then Christmas day everyone brings something for dinner,starters Puddings crackers bits and peices every on has something to bring, they dish it up and wash their bit up aswell. I always do the mains,But i also coordinate what to bring just in case they all bring the same.

It has worked for 3 years now,so not so hard on the person hosting it.We have 12 this year usually have 16.

@Chris_R mod

Loggiemod

Be careful if you have a Roomba! This is a robot vacuum cleaner. We got one (refurbished) a couple of years ago and all was fine until I got a phone call one day at work from my beloved saying I'd not put the tree up properly and it had fallen over smashing baubles and so on. When I got home I investigated as I thought it wasn't me and sure enough the Roomba had been trying to clean under the tree and had gradually knocked the legs together and so the tree fell over.

frogmorton

Ooooh! @Loggiemod that's brilliant! good advice there that would be jus so annoying!

Ellen

Buy frozen pigs in blankets and the same with stuffing balls. Far too fiddly for sore hands....

Shell_H

I love sending cards to everyone, but if writing lots of cards is too much there are places online you can get to send out and write cards for you - just say who they're going to and when to send them and they'll write them and post them for you. Some of the cards are even handwritten.

This would involve either typing or using voice-to-text instead of writing it out.

Loggiemod

One from many years ago. When friends send you cards listing their childrens' names make a note of them, and then next year you do not have to add the "and family" to the card as you know the names of all in the household.

frogmorton

There are a few in this village who have their whole cards printed so they only have to address or name the envelopes! go them!

Poppyjane

Make small posies of herbs, tie with a festive ribbon and give those to local friends instead of cards. They smell nice and could even be used in the cooking extravaganza.

Enjoy

Poppyjane