Like machineman above, no-one in my enormous family is remotely religious, in fact I don't know anyone in my country who is religious in any way. I feel very lucky that I live in a "secular" country, where religion takes little or no part, and has no effect, on anyone's life.. ...!

Christmas, for me is an excuse to prepare and cook a more elaborate meal than I usually cook.

My youngest Son, (36), is travelling from Leeds to Hereford to visit me for one of my special Xmas dinners (to save him from cooking his own) so I have some extra shopping to do, and its always nice to feed someone else for a change (apart from me!).
I have made a list of all the goodies I need, to eat, drink, (and get rat-arsed like machineman), from my local Supermarket.
So that's Xmas for  me and mine... ...!

Good job it only comes around once per year!

Paul... ...!

Decision time:...Turkey or Chicken?... ...!
Roast Pork (with crackling) for Boxing Day.

expat wrote on Dec 18^th, 2011 at 5:34am:


You cant beat a bit of; "Crackling" at Christmas, Matt... .. ..

...and Nurse Gladys Emmanuel fulfils all my desires, (as well as ensuring that I take my daily medication).... ...!

Paul... ... ... ...!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_All_Hours

If you want a scary nurse can I recommend my mum? A terrifying creature who whilst on crutches beat up a builder and chased him out of his own house!
She was kicked out of the SS Waffen for being too scary!!!
She once gave a bloke a bed bath with a washing up sponge using the rough green side for feeling up one of the new nurses. She said he glowed like he'd got terminal sunburn. Needless to say he didn't interfere with any of the nurses again
Now you understand why I fear nowt and no one, when my mum takes the field whole Scottish regiments run-away

Christmas is really a hijacked pagan festival , it has nothing to do with religion more to do with feasting and celebrating the winter solstice, the romans brung it( christmas) to britain yonks ago, Charles dickens has a lot to do with how we percieve christmas these days and coca cola are responsible for the big red fat white bearded santa claus image

Well, for me, Christmas is just too much to name.  You've got religion, family, presents, holiday joy, etc.  All that wonderful stuff you never really find that often except for around now.
It's all just one big, happy family, having a big bunch of holiday joy.  Waking everyone else in the house at 6:00 am to go open the presents, adding the little baby to the advent calender, watching our dog pulling her new toys and bones out of her stocking all by herself center-stage, having a few relatives that didn't stay the night come in with a whole nother' bunch of prents and with a great deal of laughing, hugging and barking dogs with wagging tails.   All of which only increasing the laughing and joy even more.  Pretty much skipping breakfast to play around and have fun with each other instead.

But Christmas is just a big bundle of holiday joy for our family.
Be it on the wrong day or not, I'm still glad it exists, because as far as I know, it's a day where everyone can sit back and have fun and relax.  (excluding some of the regular insanities like holiday jokes and three dogs running through, barking and chewing wrapping paper. )



Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it, Happy Holidays to those who don't!
And a happy new year to one and all!

Fozzer wrote on Dec 19^th, 2011 at 6:29pm:



Will you be trying out this 
Also I have just had a thought, leave a can on your doorstep and it may deter carol singers 

Matt

  Greetings!
   A good Xmas season for me is to once again have avoided hearing Bruce Springsteen sing "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town". Otherwise it's merely a Season Of Greed.
   The wife and I have no kids, we're not religious, and we don't feel like we need special days to give each other things, we do it when we feel it. So, Xmas is a time to avoid shopping for anything, avoid the media, spend a little extra time flying virtually or IRL, and generally avoid the foolishness altogether.
  We're educated adults and have no use for Xmas, but we don't mind if you do, nor do we think any less of you if you enjoy it. We're just tired of the same 'ol thing every year.  Humbug.
  This is NOT intended as a negative post, or to insult anyone, it's just how I/we feel, the same as anyone else posting here. And it has nothing to do with flight simulation anyway.
   So, merry Xmas, happy Hanukkah, jolly Kwanzaa, and have a wonderful Festivus. Ho, ho, ho.
            -@CrabbyAmerikan

What Christmas means to me:

1) Spending time with family and friends...
2) Looking back at the past year and taking stock of the good (and bad)...
3) Making the annual Xmas Eve trek looking for those who are less fortunate and giving them warm clothing if they need it, for it gets cold here in the Big D this time of year...

4) Listening to "Colorado Christmas", and the Peanuts gang singing "Christmastime Is Here"...
5) Hoping the Broncos will win...


Alan Nakamura