Surviving Christmas 21st Dec 08

[Aled]

This week's topic is surviving Christmas. The boredom, the family, the presents and the cost.

I have issues with ALL of these!

(Sorry posted so late, the early shift and the flu have wiped me out this week!)

[postie]

Im gonna join in on this one for sure

[Aimee]

me too, its like i haven't even started my xmas shopping but i get paid next tues and have that day and wed off so i'll be doing it then.
I get bored at home over xmas because im not in town and i dont drive, but this hopefully will be different :)
Will be tuning in and hopefully on the shoutbox.

ps hope your feeling better Aled! x

[Andrew80]

Yeah, hope you are feeling better.

The magic of Christmas needs to come back I think this is half the issue.

[bbb]

The magic of Christmas needs to come back I think this is half the issue.

the only magic there ever was at this time of year came from pagans and yule
it is from pagans the whole idea of a xmas tree came from and the kissing under the misaltoe and the hanging of holy over the fire place or on your front door came from and the spending time with loved ones many christains now agree that the 25th of dec was not the day jesus was born

small rant over i enjoy yule/xmas tho spening time with the family does do my head in and it can be boring and spending so much on gifts is just grrrr

oh and sorry aled i wont be able to hear the show live or be in the caht room i sahll be busy doing stuff for yule

blessed yule everyone

[Yudster]

I think the key to surviving Christmas is to have a clear idea of what YOU want from it, and stick with that, not be influenced by the expectations and demands of other people. I know this is hard when the people making the demands are people you love and don't want to upset, but here's a scenario - when I married Mr Y, there was the absolute expectation that every Christmas we would up sticks and drag the family (kids were then 11 and 9) up to manchester with sleeping bags and stuff, spend Christmas with whichever set of grandparents' turn it was, and spend our entire Christmas either camping in someone else's home or driving. Well, I didn't want to, the kids didn't want to, and when he thought about it, Mr Y didn;t want to either - so we broke the tradition. It felt revolutionary at the time, but honestly, no-one died, and they are all still speaking to us!

Of course this is only a scenario from one of the many issues that affect people at Christmas - how you survive the season will depend largely on what your problem with it is. But to be clear about your own needs and expectations is still the key to finding a way forward in most situations.

[s4b]

I'll be there. I am soo fed up of Christmas. People should remember how hard it is for those of us who work in retail! I am home before 10 tonight for the first time in weeks.

[postie]

im online now i should not forget

[bbb]

good luck Aled
again sorry i wont be online

[postie]

good show aled i liked the bit when the caller had been a bit too fruity at a party

[Aimee]

I fell asleep im sorry, i will try to listen again, sounds like it was a good show :)

[Hannahbee]

it was a good show, and the best turn out in the chatroom we've had in a while :D