Christmas When You Were Growing Up

[Arran]

Turkey with the trimmings roast potatoes sprouts with chestnuts roasted carrots or parsnips red cabbage pigs in blankets sage and onion stuffing gravy.Xmas pudding served with cream or custard

There is the big question whether Christmas dinner has to be a roast meal? Vegetarians get nut roast, but few would actually choose it themselves. Does anybody fancy a curry on Christmas? Or maybe fish and chips?

I would like to know what sadistic bar steward decided that sprouts should be eaten for Christmas dinner when hardly anybody likes them or would eat them on any other day of the year. Do sprouts actually pair with turkey or is it some syncretic combination few chefs have even dared to question? Christmas pudding really is a bad dessert. A stodgy concoction full of treacle and spice, more often than not, drenched in alcohol that gives you indigestion after eating it is the worst thing to serve after a heavy main course. Nobody seems to eat a similar pudding on any other day of the year - which is probably an indictment to how unappetising Christmas pudding really is. There are much more enjoyable classic British puddings served with custard.

[George 1978]

I did eventually put my Christmas tree up on Christmas Eve - I feel that one needs to be in the mood for doing that.

I don't think that I would fancy a curry on Christmas Day or on most days of the year either.

[George 1978]

I wonder what people think of that "bridge" between Christmas and New Year, notably 27th to 30th December? The January sales are on (advertised like mad during Coronation Street and ITV films), and I often use those few days to travel on the bus to the City Centre and buy items that I wanted for Christmas but didn't get for some reason. I use it to go to WHSmith (sometimes if I have vouchers) and get an autobiography of some celebrity, as well as probably get a new calendar or diary in those pre-Calendar Club days. And then get a McDonald's takeaway before catching the bus home where it would be after 4.00 pm and so it would already be dark. And the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures would be on TV later.

I know that a few years ago, I was in Tesco shopping on one of those days and overheard someone say how relaxing those days are.

[Richard1978]

It looks like I'll be working between Christmas & New Year due to someone in my department is going on maternity leave & the temp covering her will still be picking up the ropes.

[George 1978]

Just think of the extra loot, Richard - they will always pay you extra when working shifts on days when most would like to stay at home.