Covid-19 Virus

No, as you might have guessed. I do fully understand that if you do, then you’ll probably view things very differently to me.

 

I did guess.

Actually, I don't either. But I do like Christmas. I'm not sure I would like it so much if I was obliged to see family, though, so continued lockdown rules are fine by me!

I work from home much of the time in a normal year so it still provides a reason to have some time off which will make a difference to me.

 

I hate xmas. Crap weather, crap tv, crap music, ****ing Wham "Last Xmas", boring relatives, tedious company, usually lots of driving, having to buy presents, getting **** presents in return, lots of religious twatterage, xmas cards, secret ****ing santa, office xmas parties and having to make polite chit-chat with Ethel from purchase ledger in her make up and finest dress, being pressured to dance to Wham "last ****ing xmas", xmas decorations.
All not helped by memories of happy xmases with my kids who I've not seen for 14 years (and no, not because I ****ing hate xmas as I only mildly disliked it back then ).
The end.

 

I do like Xmas too, however I do find the day itself the worst part and the pressure to see various family members can make it unenjoyable.

My ex wife’s Mums birthday was Xmas day and she used to always start to try and pin us down in June/July. I’d always have to keep her happy and see my own family. Hence why I loved everything leading up to it but generally hated the day itself. If I had kids no doubt that would be very different.

 

A 45 minute "zoom call xmas" would be ideal this year.

 

Blimey. But tell us what you really think...?

 

I would agree with most of this. In my immediate family there are about 10 of us, if I happened to be single that year and as I have no kids, it always meant having to buy presents for each of my three siblings, their other halves and their kids, whereas I’d get one from each family group in return. So basically it was a right pain in the arse, buying a load of different presents for everybody and in return getting about four vouchers.

Thankfully we’ve now dispensed with that system and now just go a secret Santa, whereby one person buys one present for somebody else, much fairer and far less stressful.

 

Re: the present thing I've been trying to set a limit in my family for the past few years.
We're all earning, we buy what we need when we need. Sick of gifts that are a waste of money and resources and generally bought "because I've got to get them something".
Considering not doing cards this year either.

Think I need to set-up a thread so as not to drag this off topic.

 

The 'Bah Humbug' thread?

 

Got any photos?

 

This is a proper rant !
It reminds me of the Mike Diccin "I hate holidays " tirade !

 

I don't send gifts to my brothers but I do for their children and likewise they don't send to me but they do for my children. I give to my parents as they are generous throughout the year. My wife and I don't exchange gifts, we haven't done that for about 10 years.

 

Better for the economy to have another lockdown, if needed, in January than in the period leading up to Xmas, I would suggest.

 

Mrs ZZ has a stupid birthday ritual with her fellow siblings, all five of them. Someone decided about 20 years ago that they would give someone a £20 birthday present. Ever since then, they all give each other £20 on birthdays. So effectively the same £100 has been passed around for the past 20 years. No one wants to be the one to stop it.

Madness.

 

I’m the absolute opposite. To me the day itself is fine and even fun if you’re with the right people, but it’s the interminable build-up from October that I object to.

 

As a family we decided on no gifts three years ago (kids all grown up & no grandkids around) and it has been so liberating! Thoroughly recommend it.

 

Agreed. Including - why are Christmas jumpers a thing these days? Too hot, expensive and tw@ttish. Although I do like this one:

 

Yeah, it’s daft. Before we ended up doing the secret Santa thing everyone was running out of ideas of what to get people, so it mostly ended up being vouchers. I’d just end up buying M&S, Boots and some other crap vouchers for people only to end up with a lower value Amazon one or such like in return. Utterly pointless.

 

No no no no no.
People are depressed enough in Jan once Xmas has gone. Add in a month of lockdown after a dismal Xmas and suicides will go through the roof. Seriously.

 

More likely off the roof?

 

Yes I was tempted with that low hanging fruit but felt it would detract from the serious point I was making

 

So you were trying to highlight the gravity of the situation?

 

In most cases they can see old relatives now if in their bubble or certainly can when lockdown ends. Just can't get big family all together in one place. For gawd's sake, it's one Xmas and will probably mean another month of lockdown. It's really not worth it.

 

Same idiots who said stuff like ‘Oh, I can go on nemesis Inferno with my nan but I can’t hug her, these rules are ****ed, I’m so confused’

If you want to you can hug your Nan or whoever else you want whenever you want mate.

 

She won't, being a good'ol Tennessee girl'n'all.

 

Dilute it with cheap mouthwash and call it a twin-acting agent.

 

Tell them to watch out for when the notes get withdrawn from circulation....

 

The Covid "long haulers" are starting to get more coverage, and it doesn't make for pleasant reading. Lots of survivors are looking like they're going to be carrying long term effects for the rest of their lives, up to and including brain damage.