But is it any wonder that we all get stressed...Christmas has been celebrated on the same day the world over for centuries and we're all perfectly capable of doing a bit of simple subtraction so why do we need to be constantly bombarded with reminders of how many days there are left to get all those Christmas jobs done and why is that every publication you open at the moment will have the "How To Cook The Perfect Turkey" article and according to all those chefy gurus this is not going to happen unless to stick to their minute-by-minute Countdown To Christmas Menu Planner...a timetable of when exactly you should be preparing your sprouts...making your mulled wine or roasting your chestnuts by an open fire to make the stuffing...what a load of baloney...I've been doing it my way for 40 years and touch wood haven't had any complaints so far...apart from the year the stuffing was left in the oven and was only discovered as we were tucking into pudding...
And not content with interfering in the food department...it's on to "What The Hostess With the Mostest" should be wearing...well excuse me but I have no intention of dashing around the kitchen juggling hot plates laden with Christmas fare in anything other than comfortable...definitely slippers and if I thought I could get away with it...I'd be wearing my jammies. So take heart from this Christmas prep person who's taken 40 odd years to work out that it's all down to chilling out...ignoring all that perfect Christmas nonsense and doing your own thing...buy what you don't have time to make...after all Messrs M&S do a great job saving you lots of time with their ready prepared delicious bits and pieces...why bake your own mince pies when a nice man at Costco is only too willing to do them for you and yummy delicious they are too...
Christmas Day will come and go whether you're ready or not and I'm sure your Christmas will be just the same as mine...organised chaos but FABULOUS AND LOTS OF FUN....DING DONG.
I'll be back tomorrow with my last "Christmas With Fiskars" Project.
Hugs Kath xxx
Hal E. Lula and Amen, darling! How great it is to be old enough not to get our panties in a twist anymore?!
ReplyDeleteI've brought my own mug, but you'll have to lend me a fork ...
Goodness Kath from the title to the sign off I was laughing out loud! So funny, and I do agree!
ReplyDeletexo, Kristina
teeheehee I agree about the bombardment of being perfect. I too cook a Christmas dinner mostly the same way every year. That is the way my family likes it. I have tried the turkey brined and it was delicious...but I never change our stuffing recipe or my homemade canberry relish or my family would revolt.
ReplyDeleteThe last couple of years my daughter have done the dinner...but then DH grumbles that we have no leftovers for sandwiches! teehee
I am a fan of dressing up for supper though. I get everything ready in slacks and a nice top and then just before it is to be plated, I slip into my dress or skirt and sweater or whatever. We all get dressed up for Christmas Day!
Love it and it is all so true. My motto this year is - This day shall also pass!
ReplyDeleteI love being older and wiser!! It's almost automatic now! Merry Christmas and thanks for the joy your blog brings me all year long.
ReplyDeleteAh yes Kath, older, wiser and definitely more chilled - I don't have to cook at all this year so I am a very happy bunny! Hugs, Anne x
ReplyDeleteThis year is the most chilled I've been I love your rant. Caroline xxx
ReplyDeleteKath, I love your blog post today. It's amazing how commercial Christmas has become especially with the home decorator/cooking side of things. What happened to just chilling out with loved ones - family & friends. Great post & I can't wait to see what you create tomorrow
ReplyDeleteVery true Kath and this year my DH and I are going on holiday to Las Vegas so I don't have to lift a finger apart from bringing the cocktail to my lips lol!! Have a great one xx
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ReplyDeleteSo true Kath, It will happen anyway and will be wonderful ready or not!!! Lets all enjoy!! Hugs May x x x
I couldn't agree more, I have only been doing Christmas my way for 20 years so still a lot to learn lol.
ReplyDeleteMy whine is being told how much you should spend to say how much you love/like a person. I still think it is the thought that counts but that may just be me.
I must be the lucky one as I do get to prepare dinner in my jammies and just get changed as the guests arrive, sometimes after if I am running late lol.
Hugs, Amanda x
ReplyDeleteKath. You are so right to have your rant. I think the meaning of Christmas has all gone. It is only one day and as you say " it's the same date every year ". Life is to short to get stressed over cooking a meal that you know how to do, like you I have been doing it for 40 yrs with no problems how it was prepared, cooked or served. As for what you wear again be yourself be comfortable. This time next week it will be all over and we will all have had hopefully a good day. Hazel
Oh Kath ,just loved your post ,you sound like Janet Streetporter, who I love. I watch all the cookery programs on tv but purely for entertainment. Nigella is beautiful but totally barmy.
ReplyDeleteOne year I worked in an off-licence I was tired and had had a few drinks ,so early to bed ,my husband a postie came too. We put the lovely fresh turkey in the oven on the timer ...or so I thought...awakened at 4am with the smell of really really well done turkey. There was only 3 for dinner so I defrosted a chicken and cooked that . Christmas was lovely and my little Sam 3 at the time ate his in a spiderman outfit. When I told the tale at work the customer who owned the local B&B said it made his Christmas he laughed so much , and he bought me a bottle of red wine. The turkey wasn't wasted, my dogs ate some and the birds (the canables) ate the remains.
Have a super stress free Christmas. janex
Definitely!!! A few years back my husband watched me deboning the turkey & himself spent a couple of hours washing up the dishes after I'd made him Christmas lunch (with a faulty digestion I stick to bread & Marmite). He just said - not again & he's had a turkey joint instead which is so much simpler to cook & deal with.
ReplyDeletePaula (PEP)
Thanks for an early morning laugh...we had our family Christmas on the 16th, 20 kids and 14 adults, and was I ready..heck no...but it went well, and no one knew I didn't get the ceiling fan blades washed, the bathroon cleaned, it was chaos and went perfect....now on acutal Christmas day its just the hubs and me, and my Mom if I can pry her out of her house!!Have a Merry Christmas...only 6 more days...lol...just kidding!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post Kath, I am poorly at the moment and have been getting in a panic that it won't all get done. Once I read your post, I am feeling very chilled out and it will all get sorted evenutally. Thanks for waking me up lol! Happy Christmas! hugs Heidi x
ReplyDeleteYou had me in agreement all the way until you mentioned mince pies from Costco!! You're going to have to go and wash your mouth out with soap now!! We've always done our own thing and to heck with the world and as there's just the two of us we've often spent the entire day in jammies! Such luxury, lol.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Brenda
i agree with every word you say Kath.There is only the 2 of us every Christmas so not much to get stressed about.
ReplyDeleteWe really enjoy our Christmasses in our comfy clothes n slippers too.Thanks for you fab blog,it really has cheered up no end this year,YOU ARE A STAR,oops not forgetting the BIG STAR "BUDDY".
Wishing you and all your family a wonderful Christmas and a Happy Peaceful n Safe 2013.Hugs xxxx
Sorry lol,missed out a couple of words there and no I had not been on the wine.xx
ReplyDeleteam trying very hard to not be so stressed this tear. most of the cards were posted yesterday, have to clean and decorate, box/bag/ wrap prez and that is it. have a great one x
ReplyDeleteOh Kath, thankyou so much for your no nonsense and sensible approach to the big day. It's definately the 'way to go'. I always get really panic stricken around now till after Christmas, so I will try to keep todays post in mind and keep calm. Happy Christmas to you, Buddy and the rest of your family. Love Michele xx
ReplyDeleteHi Kath, you have certainly hit the nail on the head, what a farse Christmas is turning into. It's great to be older and wiser, I just wish some of the younger folk would listen to what we say. I go round the supermarket watching people filling the trolleys to the brim and wonder what do they do with all that food? that's when I start thinking about all the starving babies in this world and hate the thought of wasting food. We will be having a lovely lunch at my daughters, which we will help to prepare for 18 of us. The kids love it when all the cousins meet up, I hope we can keep doing the same for many years. Merry Christmas to you and all your bloggers out there, take and make time to enjoy yourselves...Trish
ReplyDeleteWell said. I totally agree, BUT... umm, Wellll........ Since you seem to have so much time on your hands, do you think you could help out an old timer that is a procrastinator? LOL
ReplyDeleteCan you believe I just did all my card making today.lol
Hope you have an awesome Christmas.
Hugz
Tonniece
Oh Kath your rant did make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteI was only just ranting about the same thing the other day to my hubby and daughter.
Mad bat that I am though I still keep buying the magazines with the annoying articles.
Have a fab Christmas.
Hugs
Sheila
So well put Kath in your own brilliant style - we love ya!!!
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Tina
xxx