FESTIVE SEASON STRUGGLES

[Doolhof]

Season's Greetings everyone.

We have a lovely cheery Christmas and New Years thread started up in the Social Zone. Hope you can drop by there and share some joy and happiness.

This is the alternate thread, where you can share the not so pleasant memories of Christmas or the concerns you may have for Christmas 2016.

For me, my depressive brain decides to hassle me about Christmas in November! That is so unnecessary! I need to break this habit!

So on this thread you can share the negative and hopefully find a positive at the end.

You might like to share what the worst present was that you ever received, or how sad and miserable you are at Christmas.

By sharing, we may well be able to help and support each other through a time that can be very tough for some.

This is the place to vent, the thread on the Social Zone is also waiting for you to add your happy thoughts and memories of Christmas and New Years.

Thinking of you all, hugs from Mrs. Dools

[Shred1106]

Dear Mrs Dools

I am a fond eater of yum cha and have done so for many years! The mango pancakes are amongst my favourites and we try to eat fairly often at various yum cha establishments.There is even one we drive 78klms to get too! (one of my brothers lives close to it).

One of the things we do when we travel at Xmas is try to find a local village with people less fortunate than ourselves and I take all the deflated soccer balls that our club no longer uses (and my pump) and give them out to the children. The look on their faces is priceless. Our family kids collect drawing stuff and colouring books to give out as well. The last time we did this two years ago, the family kids said they got an even bigger kick out of Xmas as a result!

Hope everyone is having a better day today..

Much love and support to all

[Moonstruck]

Go Girl Interrupted! A woman who clearly "gets me" at this time of year! A kindred spirit....hallelujah, you understand how I feel, my sweet little Christmas Elf!

Saw on TV last night I think it was....a current affairs type show in prime time.....and they had a whole segment on discussing HAMS!! Yeah you heard me - hams! Which ones, big ones, small ones , middle sized ones,? which ones to get? How to slice it? What knife to use? What glaze to paint on?

What a dilemma! What stress it is causing people, they had to do a whole segment with this bloke, a butcher or supermarket guy pointing out the pros and cons of these various pink bundles of cooked pig!!

Gimme a break......

[Doolhof]

Hi Panther,

Here on the forum, you just have to be yourself!

I'm still not sure about the chicken feet thought! I enjoy the anticipation at a yum cha feast when all the dishes and containers come out and I curiously wonder what is on offer! Mmmm. I am making myself hungry just thinking about it!

If you want to have a laugh, then google "Cats and Christmas trees". Try to keep a straight face as you watch cats destroy Christmas trees. Some of the clips are hilarious!

Cheers all from Mrs. Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi Moonstruck,

I really am so sorry to read you are doing this season so tough. I'm not really sure how you can get around it when you are constantly surrounded by the season.

Can you take ear plugs tot he shops so you don't hear the Christmas songs.

For your own personal space maybe grunt and walk funny and people will take a wide berth of you. Better still scratch yourself and have fake dandruff an inch think on your shoulders.

Count to ten, take some deep breathes and tell yourself you are breathing in peace and harmony. If you do that often enough it might help!

Other wise I am not sure what else to suggest. Hang in there. Not too many days to go now!

On a serious note, have you been to see your Dr to talk about how you are feeling or to ask if you can take something for a short period of time to help you get through this. Something calming would be good.

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi Shred and everyone,

Shred, I love the idea of sharing Christmas with people you meet along the way. Such a wonderful idea.

There is so much wastage, it is wonderful to know people look out for others like that.

I've heard of people fixing up push bikes and toys so they can be passed on to people who have nothing.

I mentioned in an earlier post for someone to look up "Cats in Christmas Trees". Some of the clips are really funny. Our cats have really been quite good and haven't destroyed anything other than the lounge suit!

All of our Asian restaurants are at least 80 kilometres away, so I certainly understand travelling for Yum Cha!

Hey Moonstruck, I know the incorrect way to slice ham off the bone. Use a blunt knife and cut towards yourself. I sliced a tendon, went to hospital for an operation and had 6 weeks off work! Did they cover that on the show you watched? How not to cut a ham?

Then there is what to do with left over ham after Christmas! How many meals can you think off that you can use ham in?

Take a deep breathe everyone, it is nearly January! Ha. Ha.

Cheers one and all from Mrs. Dools

[Moonstruck]

hey Mrs Dools - Good morning beautiful woman,

I grunt, walk funny and scratch myself all the time when I'm out - doesn't work.People still recognise me, come up, smile, say nice things to me and those of the opposite gender have also been known to comment "Geez you're a sort !" It's terrible - I wear sunglasses so i can hide, ALL the time (even if it looks like rain) and still Christmas jumps out from around corners at me!!

I don't collect recipes for left over ham because I don't have any. I don't have any ham at all...ever...particularly not at Christmas!!

something calming from the Dr you suggest? Oh what bliss that would be Mrs Dools......my GP won't give me Anything At All...no calming pills, not ever - even when it's not Christmas and I am going crazy with anxiety and stress. Doesn't seem fair does it?

Didn't I see that your husband is taking you away for a surprise holiday or something? Is that right? That's lovely for you if so. ....I hope you have a fabulous time and stay well.......luv Moon S

[ekatakekatakekat]

i hate christmas too, just seeing baubals on sale & tinsel around the shopping centres makes me angry. id like to say that it's the fact it's a commercialized capitalist superficial holiday and that's why i hate it, but i think it's just the fact its so amazing and jouyous for everyone else and other people being so happy makes me sad. then again, i hate everything from easter to my birthday so maybe im a just a disgruntled grinch at heart

[Doolhof]

Hi Moon,

I had a laugh reading your post! Some of the people at Church come right up close to talk to me, I step back, they step forward. I have a vision thing as well, the closer they get the harder it is for me to focus on them. Sends my eyes crazy and gives me a headache! Ha. Ha.

Maybe you need a T'shirt that reads BACK OFF.

Shame your Dr. won't give you anything to help you calm down. Have you had a chat at the chemist to see if there is something you can use? Or a health shop? Some people swear by natural remedies. It is always good to check out if they are compatible with your prescription medication if you take any.

Yes, we are going away to Bali for Christmas. My husband has booked us in somewhere for Christmas dinner.

I am curious to see how the Balinese express/show Christmas for the tourists. You probably don't want to know about that though. Ha. Ha. We leave on the 19th and have people here to look after the pets.

Hey, guess what! I put up the Christmas tree!

Years ago I bought a flat pack 2 piece wooden Christmas tree that slots together. I now have it in the lounge room.

My dear husband is telling me I am not allowed to send Christmas cards to family and friends...after he tells me he paid $50.00 postage for a bottle of beer from the USA! Inequality big time in this house.

Anyway, Happy Anti Christmas!

Cheers from Mrs. Dools

[girl_interrupted]

Lol thank you Moon! Happy to be your little Christmas Elf - reminds me of Will Ferrell in Elf. About the only xmas film that cracks me up. Lol highly entertaining if you havent seen it already, check it out. No doubt it will be on FreeTV soon (again). Pleeeeze anything but National Lampoon's vacation or anything with Chevy Chase (nothing against him, just overkill with these films on every year). I tend to avoid free tv most of the time.

Re- ham - really?! OMG when will the madness end! Just taking it too far.... lol. So over the hype. I'm grateful I only have to get a couple of gifts this year. Still a stressful task but somewhat less time consuming. Bring on the festive drinking lol. Actually I don't really drink that much, but what can I say, this time of year brings it out of me. Lol.

[girl_interrupted]

Just read your post. This is me to a tee lol. I agree it is sensationalism and over-hype. I hate most festive events include my own bday. I guess I just don't like being the center of attention. Makes me uncomfortable and more depressed lol. I guess we have to find something to be thankful for. Maybe check out the 3 daily things you're grateful for (one of Mrs Dools threads). I find this really helpful. Do you have any family you spend time with? How do you usually get thru it?