Well I’ve agreed to host a party

A pie party

All friends and family

The house is big

But is it big enough ?

Friends, family

My kids, their kids, alberts brothers wives and children

And their grandchildren too

And all have accepted the invitation

I guess I’ll be cooking pies

But the shock of Alberts bowel cancer, and the knowledge of our nieces bowel cancer

Made us realise

Time is short

And we have those we love around us now

And I swore never ever to do another huge party

And last year I didn’t

This year

It seems I will

Sandra

I have just booked our Christmas Dinner at a hotel we used for two years running and loved it.
I did it to stop my wife having to shop, prepare, cook, serve. consume, clear up and wash up. Being considerate as I am.
So she said "I will just have to do it all Boxing Day"...………………………………. just can't please some people.

Ray.

Love it

Christmas Day

Just the four of us

Lamb because young Albert only likes lamb

And me I couldn’t care les

If he wants lamb

It’s good enough for me

I’ll cook a turkey

Well you have too don’t you ?

But I’m happy to eat it later

Sandra

Get the apron on Ray and surprise her.

Terry

I'm a lousy cook Terry. I can feed myself but cooking is an art I have never mastered. I do a packet from the freezer and into the microwave with no washing up. To me thats efficiency.

Ray.

Pie party sounds a good idea. Perhaps guests could all bring one?

Ray, Boxing Day is not as pressured, I don't think, than Christmas Day for the cook. We always used to go out but then others wanted to join us and they moaned about silly things and spoilt it. We now share the duties with our daughter. It is her turn this year. Phew! I don't mind cooking but hate entertaining.

And what's wrong with a boiled egg and toast dippers for Christmas lunch ?

The egg of course, represents chicken and the toast all the veggie bits, the butter is the fat content, if you put it on thickly enough.

Job's a good'un, problem solved, everyone will be happy and relieved (except Waitrose, M&S, Tesco, Ocado, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Coop and any others I've overlooked).

Yes Pat, Boxing Day is to me leftovers and bubble & Squeak. Less pressure as I tend to get anxious before any big event which spoils it for me and probably my wife.
Little annoyances can get blown out of all proportion in the height or discussion and can cause festering for ages.

I like to see and analyse the menu well beforehand and my wife hates to know. Leaving her choice until the waiter is hovering. We are both Geminis but so different in many ways. She likes dressing up and I hate it. She likes a crowd round the table and I like a select few.
Yes Dave, eggs anyway with toast and for a real treat crumpets.!

Ray.

Our Christmas Day will be very low key this year

An evening meal, people can pop in and out informally during the day as they wish , I won’t be cooking till evening, when basically it’s a lamb roast dinner, which I’ll enjoy cooking and eating

We could go to family for Christmas lunch but I’d rather relax at home , pop to the pub at dinner time to meet up for an hour or so with whoever gets there without worrying about the meal

Christmas Eve I’ll cook the turkey and a ham ready for butties over the festive season, watch TV and relax

Tins of chocolate assortments, boxes of chocolate biscuits, that’s the grandkids sorted when they drop in

My busy time will be Fri/ Saturday and I shall be well rested by then

Sandra

The days of 20 + forChristmas dinner are over now

But memories remain

Some not so good as families get together and air their grievances

Always we will have the mashed potatoes incident

A small bowl of mashed potatoes

Left over from Christmas Eve , for young Albert , who only likes mashed potatoes

Who in the eyes of his cousin he was too mean to share

Disrupted the whole meal as he walked out upset

And yesterday she said, you remember that incident, I was right wasn’t I ?

Well no

But the young are so sure of their righteousness

The party this year, far to many people to air any grievances

Sandra