A beekeepers christmas day

[Arfermo]

'Er indoors likes to rake out our artificial tree and put lights on it. I put a timer on the plug as I don't see the point of illuminating it during daylight or after we've gone to bed. She tells me I'm a bah humbug merchant

We have a 'toilet brush' type Xmas tree that was my mother-in-laws. Had it for over 30 years now and lights on it still work.

 

[Nannysbees]

We have a twisted willow twig decorated with Icicles. We do put our Christmas cards up on the ceiling beams. As for outside lights, no none.
View attachment 29377

I love that

 

[Curly green finger's]

Well the talk of house lights, hmmm... ours got left out on the house ready for this year, and they still work, they are battery powered, rechargeable batterys get used.

 

[Finman]

About covid cases...

In my home area in Helsinki there was couple days ago top numbers of new covid. School schildren become sick in mass numbers. Over 12 year old has been vaccinated in autumn, but now under 12 y old in schools have gotten the disease.

 

[Wilco]

Not sure how ours will go...

Not got round to any decorations yet but children are already buzzing. Been in a bit of a spin with life recently so need to finish getting presents and sugary treats sorted (I'm a feeder). Suspect at some point I'll need to comb Amazon and various local shops for gifts to suit each person but probably end up winging it while vainly hoping my wallet doesn't get too stung with hefty prices. On the day itself we're theoretically due to swarm the in-laws' and spend a fair chunk of the day clustering under their roof. After we've made our entrance I'm sure at least one person will drone on about various things just because we've all congregated there and they'll think it's super to have a captive audience. I'm hoping that my honey is so pleased with what I give her that she waxes lyrical about it rather than giving me thinly veiled dark, brooding looks and the silent treatment across the dinner table. Turkey crown can be a bit dry but she may end up cooking it- and if so will likely work her magic rather than burning it and emerging from the kitchen having smoked the place out. As usual we'll eat too much so I'll need to burn off the extra insulation in the New Year. The children will probably be wired with excitement whatever gifts they get but I sometimes struggle to stand the rampant capitalism (although am also floored by people's generosity to me), so before it brings me out in hives I hope we'll get some time to reframe our perspectives and reflect on the fact the day's really about celebrating the chap who is the foundation of my faith. Early evening I'll probably take the girls back home while the queen of my heart stays behind to play board games with her siblings and eke out as much fun from the day as she can (shame for me to be excluded though). New covid variant may be a slight issue... It'll be a national disaster if Christmas gets cancelled again.

 

[E&MBees]

About covid cases...

In my home area in Helsinki there was couple days ago top numbers of new covid. School schildren become sick in mass numbers. Over 12 year old has been vaccinated in autumn, but now under 12 y old in schools have gotten the disease.

Very similar here. My teenagers secondary school was badly affected in the autumn pre vaccination, now it’s moved onto my youngest primary school.

 

[E&MBees]

Not sure how ours will go...

Not got round to any decorations yet but children are already buzzing. Been in a bit of a spin with life recently so need to finish getting presents and sugary treats sorted (I'm a feeder). Suspect at some point I'll need to comb Amazon and various local shops for gifts to suit each person but probably end up winging it while vainly hoping my wallet doesn't get too stung with hefty prices. On the day itself we're theoretically due to swarm the in-laws' and spend a fair chunk of the day clustering under their roof. After we've made our entrance I'm sure at least one person will drone on about various things just because we've all congregated there and they'll think it's super to have a captive audience. I'm hoping that my honey is so pleased with what I give her that she waxes lyrical about it rather than giving me thinly veiled dark, brooding looks and the silent treatment across the dinner table. Turkey crown can be a bit dry but she may end up cooking it- and if so will likely work her magic rather than burning it and emerging from the kitchen having smoked the place out. As usual we'll eat too much so I'll need to burn off the extra insulation in the New Year. The children will probably be wired with excitement whatever gifts they get but I sometimes struggle to stand the rampant capitalism (although am also floored by people's generosity to me), so before it brings me out in hives I hope we'll get some time to reframe our perspectives and reflect on the fact the day's really about celebrating the chap who is the foundation of my faith. Early evening I'll probably take the girls back home while the queen of my heart stays behind to play board games with her siblings and eke out as much fun from the day as she can (shame for me to be excluded though). New covid variant may be a slight issue... It'll be a national disaster if Christmas gets cancelled again.

Nice to see that another family remembers the other part of Christmas.

 

[Nannysbees]

I love Christmas. So is it going to be turkey or sandwiches????

 

[Erichalfbee]

Three bird roast here. Already made and in the freezer.

 

[RichardK]

When we arrived in France nearly 20 years ago now, Christmas only started to happen mid December which was so refreshingly nice after the commercialism in England at the time (I can only imagine what it must be like now!). This year I started seeing things Christmas in the shops late November - the kids love it, I just find it disheartening. Still, for us Christmas day? Here Christmas is a family thing, as as we don't have any family here it will be the 5 of us. Weather dictates a bit what we'll do.

Sunny?

• Present opening throughout the day if we can reign the kids in to not do it in 5 minutes
• BBQ lunch kicked off with something alcoholic for those old enough (2.5/5) or, hit the beach & perhaps go fishing
• dog walk if we're feeling guilty (too much eaten / drunk)

Not sunny?

• head off early to get a days skiing
• picnic Christmas lunch on the slopes
• present opening in the evening

And maybe a phone call or two to relatives.

And yes we will have a Christmas tree (bought Friday) and lots of light up inside and out.

 

[Nannysbees]

Three bird roast here. Already made and in the freezer.

Oooo that sounds beeutiful

 

[Nannysbees]

When we arrived in France nearly 20 years ago now, Christmas only started to happen mid December which was so refreshingly nice after the commercialism in England at the time (I can only imagine what it must be like now!). This year I started seeing things Christmas in the shops late November - the kids love it, I just find it disheartening. Still, for us Christmas day? Here Christmas is a family thing, as as we don't have any family here it will be the 5 of us. Weather dictates a bit what we'll do.

Sunny?

• Present opening throughout the day if we can reign the kids in to not do it in 5 minutes
• BBQ lunch kicked off with something alcoholic for those old enough (2.5/5) or, hit the beach & perhaps go fishing
• dog walk if we're feeling guilty (too much eaten / drunk)

Not sunny?

• head off early to get a days skiing
• picnic Christmas lunch on the slopes
• present opening in the evening

And maybe a phone call or two to relatives.

And yes we will have a Christmas tree (bought Friday) and lots of light up inside and out.

Think I'd choose not sunny, wow skiing sounds a fab way to enjoy Christmas

 

[RichardK]

Think I'd choose not sunny, wow skiing sounds a fab way to enjoy Christmas

What's lovely too is that here the ski resorts are pretty dead for the Christmas week - New Year is completely different. We are talking Pyrenees resorts rather than Alps but still. Our nearest are Les Angles or Font Romeu. Unfortunately I am the weak link in our skiing family.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Three bird roast here. Already made and in the freezer.

you could have put the squirrel in the middle!

 

[Erichalfbee]

you could have put the squirrel in the middle!

I could make a six squirrel roast now.

 

[Repwoc]

Think I'd choose not sunny, wow skiing sounds a fab way to enjoy Christmas

I think I'd choose skiing AND sunny!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I'd choose apres ski doesn't matter whether it's sunny or not - as long as the bar's open

 

[RichardK]

Three bird roast here. Already made and in the freezer.

I don't even know what a three bird roast is.....unless the clue is in the name of course? Either way, sounds fantastic to me. What are the 3 may I ask?

 

[RichardK]

I think I'd choose skiing AND sunny!

Weather dependent, just about possible. 45 mins to the coast and 1 hour to the lifts. Sounds a bit greedy though!

 

[RichardK]

I'd choose apres ski doesn't matter whether it's sunny or not - as long as the bar's open

Now that is some very good thinking. Best of both worlds and no broken bones.