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General Category => Everything Else => Topic started by: Rusco on December 19, 2014, 06:41:44 PM
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Okay, just thought to ask how you're doing it?
A Year ago I wrote here about being and ski'ing in Lappland with my wife and her family during Christmas. We had a seitan barbeque in a middle of 40 cm's snow, skied (how do you say that: you had been ski'ing, in imperfect?. Is it skied or ski'ed?)
Well, last winter wasn't nice in its all details; actually ridiculous. But I hope this time it would bring a bright, shiny and snowy winter. I have to say I like Christmas, if there's time enough for pauses. Exactly; pauses to get your head clean about everything when it's silent. It might be silent, or peacuful because everyone here in Finland tend to go to their summer cottages every holy day. No people around in cities. I'll think we just see the family and that's it. Bring some gifts and enjoy some good food.
So, how you're doing it now this time?
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Alone... cue the violins... :'(
Just kidding. I used to work for the NHS and worked every Christmas Day for years (so the folks with little kiddies could have the day off), so I haven't had an Xmas Day dinner in ages... when I got laid off, it co-incided with my Grandfathers death (he passed away on the 23rd two years ago), so my Mum couldn't face it and got into the habit of going away for Christmas... my Dad also goes away with his wife, I don't have any brothers or sisters so, yeah, it me on my tod...
I'm OK with it. Gonna cook up some food, watch a couple of movies and get stuck into a couple of books I've been meaning to read... big snooze in the afternoon, then it's DOCTOR WHO and a bit of time with my close personal friend Mr Daniels (first name Jack... any of you know him?)
A nice relaxing day...
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Spending a few hours with my mates mum and dad in Glasgow. I've done this the last few years. They are really nice people and make me feel so welcome.
I've only ever spent one Xmas day on my own and it was actually alright. Made myself a good alternative meal and had a big trifle lol. Rounded it off with a few beers, jagermeister and a smoke.
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At home with myself probably. I have a bottle of Cinnamon Whiskey to keep me warm and will drink until intoxicated and tired.
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Just packed some gifts at my working room. Some handcrafts I bought to my wife, sister, mom, dad and his wife.
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With my two sons who will spend their first xmas together. Mind you the youngest has only had two xmases. First xmas with my eldest in 5 years. He'll be gutted I havent got him anything ;D
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I just found out, i am scheduled to work the entire holiday so it will not be alone. There is no rest, in fact i no longer want to be a chef. It's ridiculous, because it's busy, i don't get off until some time in 2015.
In other countries this bullshit would be illegal.
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I finish work on Christmas Eve and will have Christmas Day and Boxing day at home with the the family.
I'm working 12 hour night shift on sat 27th and then have the in-laws visiting for 3 or 4 days.
The rest of the holiday I have booked annual leave so won't be back to work until 5th Jan
In my line of work I used to work all through Christmas including Christmas day, Boxing day and sometimes new Years Eve and New years day but not required to this year.
(Have already been told that we will most probably be working all through next Christmas though)
Whatever and wherever you're all spending Christmas hope you all have a good one and hope to see some of you next year :)
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simple and straightforward. in me Ma's for Christmas dinner, they only live over the wall, so will spend the late evening at home. nice a relaxed with a bottle of lousianna liquor and a smoke
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Off to my local Indian restaurant with family and friends!
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I'm at a funeral tomorrow, then on xmas day I'll visit my 3 kids at their mums house in the morning. Then spend the rest of the day with my girlfriend and her family. It's my first xmas since I left home. Feels weird :'(
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A meeting with some members of the family - now listening "Seal" as a present for one of them and fine as background music (dinner, talking later)
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spending a lot of time with family. Always a good thing. Then my kids and I are off to see the MIghty Bosstones in their annual christmas show! A jolly good time for all.
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It's interesting to see how different kinds of ways being social is everywhere there with us all, whether we live in different countries. Some have different situations at the moment in their lives. However, something special there is still.
We've been preparing things for a lunch. Then my wife's sister arrives with her family. We'll go to a sauna which always lasts nearly 3 hours, until everyone are ready. Then it's the lunch and time for gifts.
I wish you all merry Christmas and hope peace to the earth.
Ps. Mighty Bosstones are great.
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Would like to wish everyone on the nma forum a excellent holiday. Make the best of what you have. A special thanks to everyone i met in Nottingham and made my feel so welcome It's good to know that the nma crew are really one big family. A massive thanks to band for a brilliant year, can't believe that they keep getting better and better. A shout out to Viv for keeping the board up and running.
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Seeing as it's now December, thought I'd resurrect this one...
What you lot doing?
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Well. As the good lady is now in my part of the world, Im cooking the first Xmas dinner for us, the littlun and her daughter. Which is the first dinner I'll have cooked since splitting up with my ex some 6 years or so ago. So its my first Christmas at my home with my loved ones. Quite excited, as it feels more like a Christmas should be. Previously Ive spent Xmas over in Norfolk. As littlun is nearly three he's starting to understand it, so Im excited forvhim.
I'll shut up now!! 😉
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Prolly not a lot.
Watching telly I guess and taking it easy after the cancer op.
Got a brain scan on 20th Dec.
I'll have to buy most of my prezzies on line because I can't get put and about yet.
My kids are 21 and 17 so the excitement has gone. They will both be spending Christmas with their dad ,but I suspect the older one will be working (he works in the local 'Spoons, and they never close).
It's the run up to Christmas I enjoy, especially working in school. This week I would of been doing Christmas crafts so I would be covered in glitter and cotton wool everyday making something festive. Teaching all the kids songs for the nativity and getting the costumes made, I love all that stuff !
I'll be singing to myself with a tea towel on my head this year !
:D
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My grandmother is paying for me to fly to America and back. If not I would be spending it in Morocco or Turkey.
In a mostly muslim county because I find that time to be very depressing.
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My grandmother is paying for me to fly to America and back. If not I would be spending it in Morocco or Turkey.
In a mostly muslim county because I find that time to be very depressing.
Hope you have a nice time, A, and your problems related to 'home' / family don't upset you.
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I will. I will only be there for a month and a half. Enough time to make a bit of money for longer travel.
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Think I'm spending time with my mate this year, haven't finalised it yet but we spoke briefly about it today, there cooking thankfully for us both
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Two week holiday in Thailand, nice. Full moon party on Xmas day.
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i'm going to think about homeless migrant people freezing and no one grasping the nettle and actually engaging in what looks to be one of the most ridiculously and inexplicable humanitarian situations ever created. they've been trying to close the borders for ages. and yet the refugee or asylum seeker or misplaced person is everywhere in the world and 95% the world is third world.
stupid questions?
dopey bastards
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For the first time in many years, it looks like I'm actually gonna be having a proper Christmas dinner on the 25th... my Mum and her husband usually go to a hotel in Keswick, but after recent weather events... it's not happening.
Sounds a bit awful to be kind of happy about such bad events (I do feel terrible for those poor folks who got a tidal wave in their living rooms, honest!) but... I haven't had a proper Christmas Day dinner with family in years... does this make me a bad person? :(
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Every cloud ray ( no pun intended well maybe a bit) enjoy your meal
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I'll be working all the way through which is fine. Christmas is mid-summer here and as I'm from the northern hemisphere I find it hard to feel sentimental when it's 25 degrees and sunny.
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A bit of "business as usual" at first:
seeing NMA in Cologne is definitely part of the holidays for me - so that is on tomorrow
On Christmas Eve, which is kind of the main thing here in Germany, me and my parents are visiting long-time friends of theirs for Christmas dinner
On the 25th it will be dinner at my parents' again, this time my aunt and her wife are coming over for the first time in forever. Not looking forward to this one but I hope it will be ok and will make my mum happy.
On the 26th there will be a couple of friends over at our place, I thought it would be nice to have a get-together with friends who, for various reasons, aren't overly keen on Christmas and dread the holidays.
So it should be quite nice, all in all and I hope everyone on here will have at least o.k. holidays (nice would be better :) ), whatever you are up to.
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On Christmas Eve, which is kind of the main thing here in Germany, me and my parents are visiting long-time friends of theirs for Christmas dinner
On the 25th it will be dinner at my parents' again, this time my aunt and her wife are coming over for the first time in forever. Not looking forward to this one but I hope it will be ok and will make my mum happy.
Oh, Stephanie, that reminds me about how damn excellent the German, traditional(?) restaurant food is. When we went to Berlin on the 30th anniversary gigs in 2010 one of the best part besides the gig was a perfect cookery you lot do over there in Germany: casserole, potatoes, cheese... :) Althouh I'm not quite sure how "traditional" these ingredients are but they were really good!
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Definitely a typical dish - glad you enjoyed it. :)
Every region here has, of course, a set of dishes that distinguihes them from other regions - but a nice casserole with potatoes and cheese is something you'd be served about anywhere in Germany.
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Today I packed all the three or four gifts I'm going to give. There's a hand crafted carpet, two mugs and some kitchen tools that I saw at a local hand crafts shop in a small town called Yläne.
Then, later on at my work room I found a pair of security gloves and yukon hi-vis trousers for loggers that I had to give to my wife's father. Almost forgot them.
At Christmas eve we're going to my wife's parents house. Driving 200 km's. There will be ten people. This time my mum will also participate, for the first time. Earlier we used to go to her place... We will have a sauna and Christmas lunch.
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A sauna with your family and then lunch wow so different from here. Your gifts sound cool rusco , have a good one
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A sauna with your family and then lunch wow so different from here. Your gifts sound cool rusco , have a good one
Cheers, thanks Pol. Wish ye all good times there.
There's a sauna nearly in every house in Finland. There are millions of them. A Finnish sauna is heated approximately to 80-100c°. Men and women have their own turns, although a couple may go together, or a whole family who have little kids. It's a moment where you may rest and have a wash. Talk of ill things and quarrels are not allowed there.
Here, the traditions of sauna are in very early pre literate people's history. It has served as a birthplace, and a place to prepare for the dead, a way to heal diseases, and had mythic origins. The dead and spirits were considered to join you there.
Nowadays it's of course a convenience to have it but you don't have to go so long time to past and f.e some of our elders may have been born in a sauna. ;)
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I'm working from tomorrow morning until Monday evening
12 hour day shifts on the railway around Doncaster station.
The money they're paying makes it all worthwhile :)
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Respect to all those who work over xmas to keep things ticking over. You deserve your extra pay.
I'll be at home with the wife and lads as usual tomorrow. Meet my brother this evening at my local to get drunk and silly first.
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i'm going to think about homeless migrant people freezing and no one grasping the nettle and actually engaging in what looks to be one of the most ridiculously and inexplicable humanitarian situations ever created. they've been trying to close the borders for ages. and yet the refugee or asylum seeker or misplaced person is everywhere in the world and 95% the world is third world.
stupid questions?
dopey bastards
Whilst I agree with your sentiment, isn't the problem that too many people "think about them" rather than do something about it?
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Christmas dinner over Skype - ain't no miles can keep us apart :-*
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BuMp!
:)
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Last year I was in Thailand. This year im flying into London for a week on my own minding my buddy & his wife's dog while they go on holidays! Gonna do plenty of muesem ventures to keep me busy. Hit a couple rock bars at some stage, chill out, walk the dog. Stuff.
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Last year I was working on the railway at Doncaster, this year I'm working at Leeds from 25th-28th and New Years day at Doncaster.
As again the enhanced payments help :) :)
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With the same mate as last year with another mate joining us this year. I'm the least festive person ever (bah humbug) but will brave it out for a day n say thank fck when its done lol
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Alone. I was going to spend it working In Jericho but Israel did not allow me in the county due to plans to visit the west bank. It certainly ruined me christmas and i am quite heartbroken. I am in Budapest. I will spend it with my laptop and possible walk in the old part of the city. Not so bad. Though working in a hotel in the desert would be 1,000,000 times better.
Just be carful of posting political opinions online. It could ruin your dream of seeing Jerusalem. At least for ten years.
Worst Xmas ever. I hope The US citizen services in Tel Aviv can get the ban shortened. Probably not a chance in hell though.
IT is a shame as I have really liked every Israeli person i have ever met.
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With the good lady, my kids and her kids. And lots of mess probably
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Alone, as I have done for the last few years, holding back the tears in my cold lonely home and...
Nah, don't give a shit. ;) Fridge full of goodies, check. Plenty of booze, double check. Entertainment lined up, triple check, looking forward to catching up with stuff I haven't gotten around to and a rewatch of favourites (bought a Terry Gilliam triple-bill on BluRay, Time Bandits, Brazil and The Adventures Of Baron Munchhausen, might do all three of them on Christmas Day) and I've still got a big Christmas meal on New Years Day to look forward to when my Mum gets back off holiday and what little family I have re-convene... plus I can buy their presents in the sales! And a couple of great nights out planned between Xmas and New Year.
I'll probably be on here Christmas Night if anyone is a bit low or really happy and wants a chat or whatever... :)
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A sauna with your family and then lunch wow so different from here. Your gifts sound cool rusco , have a good one
Cheers, thanks Pol. Wish ye all good times there.
There's a sauna nearly in every house in Finland. There are millions of them. A Finnish sauna is heated approximately to 80-100c°. Men and women have their own turns, although a couple may go together, or a whole family who have little kids. It's a moment where you may rest and have a wash. Talk of ill things and quarrels are not allowed there.
Here, the traditions of sauna are in very early pre literate people's history. It has served as a birthplace, and a place to prepare for the dead, a way to heal diseases, and had mythic origins. The dead and spirits were considered to join you there.
Nowadays it's of course a convenience to have it but you don't have to go so long time to past and f.e some of our elders may have been born in a sauna. ;)
Or in fact conceived!!! Pays to check the water first ;D
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Stuffing my face
The one week of the year you can eat as you would like to eat - and not feel bad about it. Big slice of pork pie, then get another one "but its Christmas", followed by cakes, sweets, beer. Top end :)
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Me & Keren had a nice walk with dog, big fat roast beef dinner, now tucking into a bottle of Baileys :)
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We went to my wife's brother's place, and had a very nice lunch there. Others joined too. And later on met my mom and sister which was very nice.
Now I have couple of holidays and I'll continue fixing the sauna back wall. Then on Thursday I'll go to Kangasniemi which means driving 400 km's. We will spend the New Years eve there.
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Sat on my arse doing f*ck all except watching telly and shoving chocolate into my facehole.
Oh,I went to Halfords to treat myself to a new pair of windscreen wipers this morning.
(http://www.4smileys.com/smileys/christmas-smileys/santysmiley.gif)
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Sat on my arse doing f*ck all except watching telly and shoving chocolate into my facehole.
Oh,I went to Halfords to treat myself to a new pair of windscreen wipers this morning.
(http://www.4smileys.com/smileys/christmas-smileys/santysmiley.gif)
ROCK 'N' ROLL!!!!! :D
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Sat on my arse doing f*ck all except watching telly and shoving chocolate into my facehole.
Oh,I went to Halfords to treat myself to a new pair of windscreen wipers this morning.
(http://www.4smileys.com/smileys/christmas-smileys/santysmiley.gif)
ROCK 'N' ROLL!!!!! :D
Innit !
(http://www.4smileys.com/smileys/vehicle-smileys/smileycar96.gif)
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Bumping this up!
At Christmas we will be visiting our families again as usual. My sister will be skipping the Christmas Eve traditions and she will be travelling with some of her workmates.
The financial boss in my work grants the workers with a 50 euro gift/person and I'll have to choose something to invest to. So I chose this:
(https://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/540/lrgob.10yov1.jpg)
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I a hostel in London alone searching for some sort of arab or anything to eat since the UK shuts down mostly. If only Nottingham gig did not run so late. I got stuck.
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for the first time in a few years, I'm not spending the day alone... although I shouldn't be too gleeful seeing as it's only because my mums husband just got out of hospital for a bad urinary infection so they don't feel like going away for their usual Christmas getaway! He's fine. so it's a nice dinner and prezzies and that. Makes a change from my usual
drinking heavily and weeping whilst cursing the gods chilling out thing... ;)
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Bumping this up!
(https://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/540/lrgob.10yov1.jpg)
Excellent choice!!!! ;)
I am spending Christmas Eve (which, in Germany, is actually the main day) with my parents at their friends' for dinner, as we have done in the past years.
On Christmas day it's dinner at my parents' and on Boxing Day my friend's mum is cooking lunch at our place and my friend's granny is coming over as well.
So...lots of good food, some wine...and time with family, friends and pets.
I hope you'll all have a lovely time. :)
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Enjoy that bottle Rusco ;)
Back in the UK untill the 3rd January at my parents. Hopefully catch up with a few friends whilst here, other than that will enjoy mum fussing over us both :) :) :) :)
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With the good lady and her son, and our little fella. My oldest is coming round on the night. After last nights show and now back home, it feels like I can relax now.
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Quiet one in Blighty this year...... Wont be able to fly for a few months yet, so missing my missus and daughter and the confused/chaotic/surreal/wonderful madness that is Christmas in Jakarta.
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Doing F*** all !
;D :D ;D
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living in a muslim country Im not much in a christmas or new year environment like we used to have much more at our more secular times.They banned some street parties also due to security reasons but still we have the national lottery on new years day thanks to god :) the belly dancing on tv that night was legendary and don't know if it still exists or not.Well I will be on duty that day in a plane from Tokyo to Istanbul and will reach home about 4 in the morning.Wishing everyone here a happy christmas and a new year with their families and loved ones.Hope new year brings you all good luck,happiness,health and whatever you're looking for.Peace&Love
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My Christmas was the same as usual
I worked at Derby railway station from 3pm to midnight on Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Now having a few days off then back at work on 1st Jan as I'm working nights for a week in Newcastle, then up to Glasgow for 3 days for a union meeting, then 2 days in Carlisle and then back to Newcastle for another 3 nights at the station.
I'll be away from home for over 2 weeks, at least the missus will have some peace and quiet :) :)