General Chat

When I was a child, each xmas was hosted by one member of mums family. They took it in turns to have the whole family for xmas day lunch or boxing day.
There were 11 grandchildren and 11 adults.

No one had a large house so the lunch was done in 3 sittings with the youngest kids first.
We always had 2 of nana's chickens. Uncle did what he had to do the day before and we were none the wiser! Home grown spuds, and veg, stuffing etc. Loved pulling the crackers and getting a wee toy and a joke.

Desert was always xmas pudding and cream or fruit salad and ice cream.

Later on there would be a cheese board, crackers, pickled onions and xmas cake.
We didn't get our presents til the lunch and dishes had all been done. Then each Aunt would hand out their gifts one by one. This always took ages. But I loved the tins of toffees and a selection box if you were lucky.
We only ever got sweets as a treat either at holidays or occasionally on a sat eve...pic n mix.

At my other grandparents, little gifts would be hidden and on boxing day we spent ages up and down stairs looking for them.it kept us busy whilst the adults had a cuppa in peace. At their house we always had a stocking with a tangerine, some nuts and a few sweeties.


We didn't have much in the 60s and 70s but we never grumbled and never went without.


Thesedays its so hard to buy gifts, because all year round people seem to be able to buy anything they want so xmas isn't that special anymore. Also the amount that some are spending on their children is far too much.I know of some that get at least £500 spent on them. mine never got more than £100, some years only £50 but they never complained once.


I think years ago, xmas was more simple and less complicated, less greedy too. if everyone only bought the food they actually needed, there would be less wastage and plenty to go round for all.


Florence in the hebrides

All our parcels were wrapped in brown paper and string which grandad carefully recycled the following year if it didn't get ripped!
:-)