Hemmed in at Christmas?

[Bantam]

The Grauniad had an excellent article on Saturday about those of us who volunteer for christmas work as an excuse to say 'sorry, can't do Xmas, have to work' even though it was our choice

I have to say, given the choice I would much rather pull on a wetsuit and go out into the sea Xmas day vs sat at home watching shite telly eating sprouts.

However I do it for my kids now. Although next year will be massively different as i won't be in England for Christmas

[Steve S]

Originally Posted by gerbil

Sorry if this bums any one out its not meant to (and mods if you feel its inappropriate please feel free to delete).

My dad passed away earlier this month so christmas this year will be 'different'. Tommorow i'm heading south to be with family and will spend christmas morning in the pub with my bro toasting the old bugger. The family will then have a christmass meal with all the mashings. Every one has agreed to enjoy the day come what may; tears, laughter, arguments and all. He was a much loved stropy old goat but his approach to life was live it.

Christmass comes in many forms for each of us, and thats as it should be, but what ever you do make sure you enjoy it with a passion. Come out to play with all your shiny stuff and make sure you all have a safe diving year.

An excellent post mate, and I totally agree about the Christmas coming in many forms, and I hope you have the best one you can.

Safe diving,
Steve

[hogen-deifar]

Originally Posted by Diving Dude

Miserable git.

Oh shut up will you!!! We can't all be happy! I lurve you to bits but for many of us Christmas is a sad time! You try spending the day on your own. Then you may think twice!

Next year I promise to NOT be a grinch!!!

Originally Posted by Scubee

All the shopping is done, the presents are wrapped and the tree is twinkling. Master Scubee is poorly so we had to call off the trip to the cinema but he will be better by Tuesday, i am sure!

the scubee family came for mince pies and presents yesterday so now I feel very christmassy.

Yummy... Turk..........oh pooh.... not quite all the shopping done

Glad your getting sorted! I bought the Turkey for Boxing Day and I can't believe how expensive it was! Wanted to get the £32 Chicken/turkey/duck ensemble but my Dad wouldn't have it!!!! He's paying so gotta go with that!!

Originally Posted by Paul Oliver

Personally i am looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow, and roll on the nightshift on Xmas day

Here here! Need a hand? I'm billy no mates until Boxing Day so if you're short staffed................

Originally Posted by dry suit diver

will be out at Tesco at 00.01 in the morning to do all the veggie shopping

Couldn't believe it when I was in Tesco yesterday and they said they opened at 12.01 on Monday morning!!!!

Originally Posted by gerbil

Sorry if this bums any one out its not meant to (and mods if you feel its inappropriate please feel free to delete).

My dad passed away earlier this month so christmas this year will be 'different'. Tommorow i'm heading south to be with family and will spend christmas morning in the pub with my bro toasting the old bugger. The family will then have a christmass meal with all the mashings. Every one has agreed to enjoy the day come what may; tears, laughter, arguments and all. He was a much loved stropy old goat but his approach to life was live it.

Christmass comes in many forms for each of us, and thats as it should be, but what ever you do make sure you enjoy it with a passion. Come out to play with all your shiny stuff and make sure you all have a safe diving year.

Not got a lot to say about this apart from So, so sorry to hear your news. My Mum was diagnosed with her brain tumour on Christmas Eve in 1993. She died Feb 22 1994. And there's another reason I feel sad at Christmas but too personal to post here. It's a time you remember who's no longer with you. Mini-me more than makes up for what's lost but she's with her Dad this year. When I left him I said it'd be VERY selfish of me to not share her at Christmas. So this year I'm on my own! At least the dogs will get a really good walk!

Please forgive my rantings! I've been at a wedding all day and I'm VERY drunk! Far too much vodka and wine!

[mattward]

I cant imagine anything harder to share , hope you can still manage to have a little fun over christmas

[Diving Dude]

Originally Posted by gerbil

My dad passed away earlier this month so christmas this year will be 'different'. Tommorow i'm heading south to be with family and will spend christmas morning in the pub with my bro toasting the old bugger.

Good post.

Christmas for me is all about family, those that are with us and those that arn't.

Both my parents had died by the time l was 19, leaving my 12 year old sister who came to live with the 'High Dudess' and l, we had been married a year.
My mother in law had been ill for years and the HD had been cooking for her mum, dad and bothers for a while so it seemed natural that at christmas everyone came round to my house.

So now my in-laws stay for a couple of weeks, my brother and his family (allthough not this year) usually come over from Holland, my sister and her family come over, my brother-in-law, my sons GF's family have emigrated to Australia and my daughter's in-laws live in South Africa, so they come to us, my house is hectic over christmas. It's real hassle and causes me mega work, but l wouldn't have it any other way.

My house looks like a bomb's hit it at the moment, the HD has to go to work tomorrow and l'm left to clear up and get ready for the next round.

In essence what l'm saying is that my house has been the center of both mine and the 'High Dudess's' family christmasses (sp) for nearly 30 years and we both love it.

[purple vonny]

I've been a Christmas misery for the last 15 or so years, having endured family feuding and drunken nastiness each year. I felt duty bound to spend Christmas with the in laws when I was married and my own family were invited but didn't really want to go and everyone always argued. After my divorce, I was mostly on my own at Christmas and that suited me fine.

However..... this year has been and still is... the best Christmas since I was a child.

Weymouth is such a party town, the whole population has got into the spirit and it has rubbed off.

I am working as a bank nurse in a hospice at the moment and that puts everything into perspective. I love the job and leave each shift glad to be alive and healthy. My sons arrived home yesterday and I have a lovely new man in my life. We've spent very little on presents but put lots of thought into them.

At the risk of sounding sickly, I am counting my blessings every day and loving the fact that there is so much potential joy during the bleakest time of the year.

For anyone going through a tough time - hang in there and work towards doing what you want to do with your life. It doesn't have to be a bad time of year, the days are getting longer, the sales will soon be on, summer will soon be here and Dr Who is on the telly.

A happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas to everyone.

(I was a Christmas misery a month ago!)

Right, I'm off to do my sprouts now and then we are going for a very long walk.

[frosty the snowman]

Well it's obvious that christmas is a time excess, overindulgence and commercialism. I have no religeous beliefs so that side of things doesn't interest me. Apart from my children and partner I have no close family. But yesterday, whilst walking through Exeter, I saw a man walk up to a homeless person and give him a carrier bag full of presents. That's good enough for me and it will certainly be my best memory of this christmas.

[purple vonny]

Originally Posted by frosty the snowman

Well it's obvious that christmas is a time excess, overindulgence and commercialism. I have no religeous beliefs so that side of things doesn't interest me. Apart from my children and partner I have no close family. But yeterday, whilst walking through Exeter, I saw a man walk up to a homeless person and give him a carrier bag full of presents. That's good enough for me and it will certainly be my best memory of this christmas.

Our local radio station has been encouraging people to do "random acts of kindness" around Weymouth and Dorchester like the one Frosty describes. It does counter-balance all the spending nonsense. And it makes you feel good too!

[Scubee]

Christmas means such different things to each of us. When i was growing up, I always wanted the sort of Christmas the Dude describes, but it wasn't. It seemed to be the time of year everyone rowed too much and it was never really the sort of 'chocolate box fun' that it was built up to be. We were often at some or other relatives that one of my parents didn't like or Dad was working. As he did shifts in those days, he very often did a split shift or worse, he worked all night on Christmas eve so had to sleep all day, as he would have been working on Boxingday morning.
This year is the Ex's turn to have Master Scubee. It is fair - he was here last year, and will be here next year. He needs Christmasses at his dad's just as much as Christmasses here. However, Mr Scubee will be here, as will my sister, and we will have a good day, for sure. I cook... the other two can clear up the mess

Oh... the wine rack is full, and there is plenty of Vodka

Merry Christmas, everybody. May whatever you choose to do bring you happiness.. failing that, a good hangover.

[hogen-deifar]

Originally Posted by Scubee

Christmas means such different things to each of us. When i was growing up, I always wanted the sort of Christmas the Dude describes, but it wasn't. It seemed to be the time of year everyone rowed too much and it was never really the sort of 'chocolate box fun' that it was built up to be. We were often at some or other relatives that one of my parents didn't like or Dad was working. As he did shifts in those days, he very often did a split shift or worse, he worked all night on Christmas eve so had to sleep all day, as he would have been working on Boxingday morning.
This year is the Ex's turn to have Master Scubee. It is fair - he was here last year, and will be here next year. He needs Christmasses at his dad's just as much as Christmasses here. However, Mr Scubee will be here, as will my sister, and we will have a good day, for sure. I cook... the other two can clear up the mess

Oh... the wine rack is full, and there is plenty of Vodka

Merry Christmas, everybody. May whatever you choose to do bring you happiness.. failing that, a good hangover.

Here here! I've got the hangover today! Hope that counts??? Blimey my head is pounding!! Worth it though!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone.

Dude, you're very lucky you've got good family around you!!!!!