The 'C' word..........

[ROD]

Well,like it or not we're all going to be affected by Christmas in some way! As usual about this time of year the family are asking me what I want for Christmas,and as usual,I tell them I dont want any junky ornaments or stupid stuff. I like practical stuff that I would otherwise buy cos I need it .Having said that ,they do sometimes come up with an interesting find like a book or summat. This year Ive made it simple for all concerned and asked for money! I figure that if everyone gives me £20 each(far less than they would spend on other tat) I can put all the cash together to buy my front suspension re-furb kit for the latest project.So thats me sorted....
  

[Manky Monkey]

  I hate Christmas. Always have. I just don't see the point of it. It's the relentless commercialism of it all that kills it stone dead for me. They've been playing Christmas songs on the radio for weeks now -by the time it finally gets here I'm thoroughly fed up with the whole thing.
A nice meal with my family or friends & nothing more would be great.

[andbolt0]

i have asked for money this year instead of the clothes people buy me that i dont/wear  bah humbug to the comercial side of christmas

[trev]

I hate Christmas. Always have. I just don't see the point of it. It's the relentless commercialism of it all that kills it stone dead for me. They've been playing Christmas songs on the radio for weeks now -by the time it finally gets here I'm thoroughly fed up with the whole thing.
A nice meal with my family or friends & nothing more would be great.

totally agree,i hate it.

[Mendalot]

I agree it all starts way too early    This year I've given the wife a list of part numbers to distribute to the family, for Billet aluminum switches and warning lights for the dash of my kit car from CBS, so hopefully I will get what I want

[ROD]

...........or someone thought they would save money,cos theyve seen it 'cheaper ' elsewhere,and it turns out to be a load of rubbish!
 
 I could quite easily treat christmas day the same as any other day,food,routine etc,but I can also see SWMBO's point that it is a time for families to get together. So we're off to our sons house on the other side of town ,where we will get together with the inlaws on xmas day.By about 8 or 9 pm we'll all be ready to go home!..then its Boxing day in the workshop....I hope!

[hunter]

Well i think we should all get together somewere in a locked room and stay there until it's over,  
             (A MANKY CHRISTMAS)

[Cabman77]

Every year the kids ask me what I want for christmas and I always say "nothing". But they keep on with "there must be something you want" so I always reply with "yes there is something I want, but you can`t afford it so there is nothing I want from you".

This year there really is nothing I want because the Electraglide Sport that I`ve always wanted is sitting out the back now 

[BikerGran]

I hate Christmas. I just don't see the point of it. It's the relentless commercialism of it all that kills it stone dead for me. They've been playing Christmas songs on the radio for weeks now -by the time it finally gets here I'm thoroughly fed up with the whole thing.
A nice meal with my family or friends & nothing more would be great.

I feel the same, but I didn't when I was a young mum before it all got so bad - when Christmas stuff wasn't in the shops or the streets till at least December, and the tv adverts weren't so relentless.  It's completely spoiled the whole thing for me - but I do like the fact that families make an effort to get together.  It's one of the very few times in the year (although not Christmas day itself) when I can get all my kids, stepkids, and grandkids together at the same time in the same place!

And we've made a rule that presents for adults should not cost any more than £10 - it's surprising what useful things you can get people for a tenner!  I buy clothes for the 11 and 13 year old girls cos that's what they want, and come to think, I've done the same this year for the 15 year old lad as there was something he particularly wanted.  Haven't yet solved the problem of the 6 year old boy but it may well be something bike-related - that's pedal cycle cos he's very keen very good and goes to track sessions.

So no buying of rubbish just for the sake of a gift, and I don't spend a fortune on food either except for Christmas day when I buy a lump of local lamb which is better than any turkey!

[Cabman77]

Even as a kid I found Christmas to be an anti climax. With 6 kids and nan and grandad we always had a house full all year round. Certainly never much of a religious thing for me after a radio news one christmas morning about Christian fundamentalists attacking a muslim enclave on christmas day morning, in the middle east. That was the day that all religion died in me as I couldn`t reconcile so called Christians doing such a thing on Christmas day.
One year I did meals on wheels on christmas day, I was on my own so no need to stay at home, and I did it all dressed as santa. It was actually a lovely day, all the drivers sat down to a massive spread when we`d all finished.

[Manky Monkey]

Haven't done it for a couple of years but always used to attend the local bikers' toy run to a Dr Barnados kids home. A thousand Father Christmases, elves, reindeer, snowmen etc, all on bikes & carrying presents -like the North Pole light armoured division rolling into town. A real feel good event.
Taz & I are in the process of breaking up, (nice timing hon), so I'll be in lodgings on my own this year. Going out with a bunch of workmates for a Christmas meal at a local Chinese restaurant in a couple of weeks. Not usually my thing, but I need to get out & do stuff instead of sitting on my own.
Back in the workshop every afternoon after the day though, as soon as Loony's up for it.

[kapri]

I hate Christmas. Always have. I just don't see the point of it. It's the relentless commercialism of it all that kills it stone dead for me. They've been playing Christmas songs on the radio for weeks now -by the time it finally gets here I'm thoroughly fed up with the whole thing.
A nice meal with my family or friends & nothing more would be great.

X2  

having grown up in a pub ( which means we were open instead of having Xmas together ) I've never seen the point. People build themselves up to this idealised view of a wonderful family time together ...which invariably goes tits up and ends in rows that linger...or is that just me?

When I was at work all the false bonhomie from people that couldn't stand you ,nor you they , all because " It's Xmas time" , 2 weeks later and they are back to being total twats and back stabbing at every opportunity ...ho bloody ho.

[Olds]

Each year I feel more like Ebeneezer did before the ghosts got to him and ruined it all.
Stopped listening to the radio at the first Christmas jingle, should be able to turn it on again about mid January.
Never felt the need to visit extended family much, less so at this time of year.
Only thing i need at this time of year is my immediate family [plus a space heater for the garage and a lot of co-codamol, the arthritis really plays up in this damp cold weather (mother in law has moved in with us) and I'm going to be spending a lot of time out there. Might try to find room out there for a sofa and wood burning stove   ]
Seriously though I know a lot of folk will have a real tough time of it this year. Me I'm a very lucky guy. Yes I have some health probs but nothing I can't put up with. To offset this I have a great family that I adore, a roof over my head and food in the kitchen.

[NeilG]

Am i the only person left that actually likes Christmas..

No argument with the starting too early or over commercialised  though..

[Manky Monkey]

Am I the only person left that actually likes Christmas?

Yes. Yes you are.