Silly Season Self Sufficiency
- Flo
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Silly Season Self Sufficiency
I saw my first reduced from last year Christmas decorations in mid August. It set me thinking. I remember a couple who seceded from the day itself, took a large flask of hot soup and walked one of their local Cornish green ways at Christmas.
I've a freezer with veg from the allotment in and still a few things that will stand for a few more weeks. Might just treat me to some satsumas. But no massive food shops here.
If decorations are required, I'm sure the great outdoors will provide. Free. Presents? Well not all can be home made - the first great grandchild in the family is sort of a problem. A lot isn't being done there otherwise. I usually do homemade food from built up store cupboard items but this year the family is going its own ways (Hurrah) so it's a quiet year.
But what does one do to avoid the silly season that comes around in December?
I've a freezer with veg from the allotment in and still a few things that will stand for a few more weeks. Might just treat me to some satsumas. But no massive food shops here.
If decorations are required, I'm sure the great outdoors will provide. Free. Presents? Well not all can be home made - the first great grandchild in the family is sort of a problem. A lot isn't being done there otherwise. I usually do homemade food from built up store cupboard items but this year the family is going its own ways (Hurrah) so it's a quiet year.
But what does one do to avoid the silly season that comes around in December?
- Green Aura
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Re: Silly Season Self Sufficiency
Having no TV channels (we do have a TV just no licence or subscriptions) or newspapers we, thankfully, manage to miss most of the hype around Christmas.
We're not religious and dislike all the commercialism but do push the boat out a bit, although our efforts are probably poor compared to others'. It's probably a hangover from when the gal was little, to be honest I wouldn't bother - the other two like to do something though.
During the year we buy half a pig, goat or lamb from a local farm and put a joint aside for Christmas. Veg are whatever comes in the box and OH gets a shedload (technical term there ) of brussel sprouts - my present to him . We do rather like a bowl of Christmas pudding with rum sauce though.
I recently, in the last year or so, discovered an Icelandic custom of giving a book on Christmas Eve, which I think is a lovely idea and we've been doing that, but as for presents we don't do much these days. The gal gets something, although often it's something small as she's often had something from us earlier which would be "for Christmas". We don't buy each other anything but tend to do a project on the house that we might not otherwise do.
One, possibly strange, tradition that we have is OH buys a computer adventure game each year which we all play together on Boxing Day. It started back in the bad old days when we'd do the Boxing Day sales but is the only bit of that tradition that has survived! As technology has progressed we've gone from all huddling round a tiny monitor to sprawling out on the sofa playing it through the telly.
The thing I like best about the silly season is that OH gets the week off and somehow it seems fine to just huddle up and do nothing for a few days - any other time off he gets always seems to involve travelling long distances to visit relatives or doing big stuff on the house.
We're not religious and dislike all the commercialism but do push the boat out a bit, although our efforts are probably poor compared to others'. It's probably a hangover from when the gal was little, to be honest I wouldn't bother - the other two like to do something though.
During the year we buy half a pig, goat or lamb from a local farm and put a joint aside for Christmas. Veg are whatever comes in the box and OH gets a shedload (technical term there ) of brussel sprouts - my present to him . We do rather like a bowl of Christmas pudding with rum sauce though.
I recently, in the last year or so, discovered an Icelandic custom of giving a book on Christmas Eve, which I think is a lovely idea and we've been doing that, but as for presents we don't do much these days. The gal gets something, although often it's something small as she's often had something from us earlier which would be "for Christmas". We don't buy each other anything but tend to do a project on the house that we might not otherwise do.
One, possibly strange, tradition that we have is OH buys a computer adventure game each year which we all play together on Boxing Day. It started back in the bad old days when we'd do the Boxing Day sales but is the only bit of that tradition that has survived! As technology has progressed we've gone from all huddling round a tiny monitor to sprawling out on the sofa playing it through the telly.
The thing I like best about the silly season is that OH gets the week off and somehow it seems fine to just huddle up and do nothing for a few days - any other time off he gets always seems to involve travelling long distances to visit relatives or doing big stuff on the house.
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
- Flo
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Re: Silly Season Self Sufficiency
Hmm there's a grandson rather like you gal - his parents (daughter and husband) hired a van to move him from Thurso (north Scottish coast) to Reading for a new job couple of weeks back. His longstanding girlfriend moved in with him whilst still doing PhD in London. They had the essentials but only one chair and a footstool for the sitting room. So before it came home, the van went for a trip round the corner to the BHF second hand furniture shop and transported a 4 seater sofa back to the new rental abode. Father had to take a couple of doors off to get it into the house mind. So that's their Christmas present - grand total of £75.
It's something not having a television at all - a lot of the advertising never gets to me. Papers - well one or two a week.
There seem to be a lot of Christmas events going on locally looking at my Facebook feed and a lot of the classes are struggling to fill places - you know the ones for wreath making and such. Shan't be going to the Christmas lights switch on in small town up road - that's for the children. Can't be bothered to go at look at decorated Christmas trees either in same town - that's the churches trying to raise money for something or other.
It's something not having a television at all - a lot of the advertising never gets to me. Papers - well one or two a week.
There seem to be a lot of Christmas events going on locally looking at my Facebook feed and a lot of the classes are struggling to fill places - you know the ones for wreath making and such. Shan't be going to the Christmas lights switch on in small town up road - that's for the children. Can't be bothered to go at look at decorated Christmas trees either in same town - that's the churches trying to raise money for something or other.
- Weedo
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Re: Silly Season Self Sufficiency
WE are also very low key - Christmas now is taken as an opportunity for the family to gather and re-bond for a couple of days; particulalrly the little cousins. Christmas tree (actually a suitably shaped dead gum tree branch) is decorated by the grandies et al on Christmas eve as a fun activitiy. Don't get into the commercial or religous hype at all.
I have noticed a strange thing about TV's, papers, iPhones etc.and the advertising - you CHOOSE to access them or not; always be prepared to pay the price of your choices (Weedo maxim)
I have noticed a strange thing about TV's, papers, iPhones etc.and the advertising - you CHOOSE to access them or not; always be prepared to pay the price of your choices (Weedo maxim)
Don't let your vision cloud your sight
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Re: Silly Season Self Sufficiency
No TV here either, and no papers... I think I'll be missing Christmas altogether this year - I've spent most of the past 6 weeks in bed, being horribly weak, and since it doesn't look like I'm getting better (and the appointment with the specialist is in February) it looks like I'll be away from all that hassle... I'll have to buy myself a present, though - my washing machine decided this was a good time to give up, so I'll need to get a new one.
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
- Flo
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Re: Silly Season Self Sufficiency
Oh dear Ina that's not good being that unwell at any time of the year. A washing machine is always bad for the savings but a useful present.
- Green Aura
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Re: Silly Season Self Sufficiency
Sorry to hear that, ina. Take care of yourself - Iknow this isn't your best time of year, even without beeing poorly.
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
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Re: Silly Season Self Sufficiency
Thank you, Flo and Maggie. Today I got an invite for a Christmas lunch at the church centre - lunch for lonely oldies etc... Doesn't exactly make me feel any better, only older, although it is of course nice of them to think of me - don't even know how they got my name!
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
- Flo
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Re: Silly Season Self Sufficiency
Yep used to get very kind people wanting to put me on the list for the local Christmas lunch for the old, single, lonely but was quickly dropped when I explained I am vegan and allergic to alcohol - which made me feel better if nothing else
I'm just not good at getting into the seasonal swing of going out with people I don't know and eating too much, giving too much useless tat and generally being "seasonal"
I'm just not good at getting into the seasonal swing of going out with people I don't know and eating too much, giving too much useless tat and generally being "seasonal"
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Re: Silly Season Self Sufficiency
Problem is - I'm almost tempted to accept that lunch. I'm used to being on my own; it's only now that I am unable to go to work or even just out for a coffee somewhere that I realise it's actually quite nice to talk to somebody apart from the GP and the nurse, and my friend who comes and gives me a lift to the health centre or hospital about once every 10 days...
But I have a similar problem: although I'm not vegetarian any more, I try to avoid wheat and dairy and caffeine and sugar, and I am not supposed to have alcohol with the medication I'm on, etc etc... And I'm allergic to canned Christmas musac! Anyway, don't know whether I'll be fit enough to walk that far, so I have a good excuse.
But I have a similar problem: although I'm not vegetarian any more, I try to avoid wheat and dairy and caffeine and sugar, and I am not supposed to have alcohol with the medication I'm on, etc etc... And I'm allergic to canned Christmas musac! Anyway, don't know whether I'll be fit enough to walk that far, so I have a good excuse.
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
- Green Aura
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Re: Silly Season Self Sufficiency
My invite to the Golden Oldies Christmas do arrived today! OH is seriously dischuffed - this year he's been invited too and he's only in his early 50s.
I'm not ready to consider my self an Oldie yet, Golden or any other colour. Plus, like yourselves, dietary restrictions, increased recently due to health problem, and only taking the odd half glass of red wine, would make me stick out like a sore thumb. So although I'm grateful the village considers me integrated enough for an invite I shall, like last year, decline the offer - I'll try to be more gracious than last year though - a neighbour arrived with my invite about a fortnight after I turned 60. I hadn't even got my head round that so I probably could have been more polite in my response. This year he just left it in the vestibule.
I'm not ready to consider my self an Oldie yet, Golden or any other colour. Plus, like yourselves, dietary restrictions, increased recently due to health problem, and only taking the odd half glass of red wine, would make me stick out like a sore thumb. So although I'm grateful the village considers me integrated enough for an invite I shall, like last year, decline the offer - I'll try to be more gracious than last year though - a neighbour arrived with my invite about a fortnight after I turned 60. I hadn't even got my head round that so I probably could have been more polite in my response. This year he just left it in the vestibule.
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
- KathyLauren
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Re: Silly Season Self Sufficiency
Ina, sorry to hear you are under the weather. February is a long time to get it looked at! I hope you are better before then.
We don't do Christmas. We just opted out of it. The available interpretations are either religious or commercial, and we don't subscribe to either. I put up a few lights, because it sure gets dark this time of year, and we sent out a handful of cards to family who require them. That's it
We do like socializing, and we have accepted an invitation to Christmas dinner with one of my wife's co-stars in the play we are doing. There'll be a few other theatre people there, so it will be fun.
We had a bumper crop of apples this year, and we are still eating home-made apple sauce, apple crisp, and similar appley things. We are still getting food boxes from the CSA, right up until the week before Christmas, so we have tons of fresh veg.
We don't do Christmas. We just opted out of it. The available interpretations are either religious or commercial, and we don't subscribe to either. I put up a few lights, because it sure gets dark this time of year, and we sent out a handful of cards to family who require them. That's it
We do like socializing, and we have accepted an invitation to Christmas dinner with one of my wife's co-stars in the play we are doing. There'll be a few other theatre people there, so it will be fun.
We had a bumper crop of apples this year, and we are still eating home-made apple sauce, apple crisp, and similar appley things. We are still getting food boxes from the CSA, right up until the week before Christmas, so we have tons of fresh veg.
- Flo
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Re: Silly Season Self Sufficiency
I did give in to one social event and went to the chat club Christmas party. It was 2 hours long, 5 minutes walking just around the corner so no great hassle.
Also met the local family for a meal halfway between 2 birthdays last weekend. Sort of a celebration I suppose.
Now it's quietly downhill all the way to next year. Have been invited over to the daughter and husband for Christmas day. Suspect they would have gone away to stay over in the Lakes with son-in-law's family had I not been here. Would have been quite happy had they done that frankly.
It's time to opt out, chill out, take advantage of the local film shows once a month in the village hall of an evening and generally get back to the growing - still bits of stuff to do if the allotments soil ever gets dry enough over the next few weeks.
Also met the local family for a meal halfway between 2 birthdays last weekend. Sort of a celebration I suppose.
Now it's quietly downhill all the way to next year. Have been invited over to the daughter and husband for Christmas day. Suspect they would have gone away to stay over in the Lakes with son-in-law's family had I not been here. Would have been quite happy had they done that frankly.
It's time to opt out, chill out, take advantage of the local film shows once a month in the village hall of an evening and generally get back to the growing - still bits of stuff to do if the allotments soil ever gets dry enough over the next few weeks.
- Green Aura
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Re: Silly Season Self Sufficiency
My gal is off to stay with her new fella. It's the first Christmas my OH and I have had alone together - before she came along we entertained friends.
I can't wait, to be honest, although I'll miss her we can just please ourselves.
I can't wait, to be honest, although I'll miss her we can just please ourselves.
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
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Re: Silly Season Self Sufficiency
Yep - I've managed to keep the festivities to a minimum... One friend will pop round tomorrow morning for a cuppa - another one on Boxing day for another cuppa - and that's it. I've stocked up on books from the library, and am looking forward to seeing the librarian again on the 27th. My kind of Christmas. :)
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)