Fairy we havent actually "spoken" to any of my husbands relatives for 12 years now, long story, to be honest I wish I hadnt bothered to make the peace all those years ago.
Christmas lights are up and lit, much to the kids' delight, and advent calendars are filled and hung up, much to my wife's delight. I can't believe it's December already
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
I received this gift for Xmas last year, a "useless box" (mine is wooden). Yes, it only does exactly what you can't quite believe it pointlessly does. I love it.
(If you can't figure out what it does: every time you flick the metal switch up to turn it on, a hand pops out the top and physically pushes the switch back off with a satisfying clunk. It's like there's an angry fairy trying to sleep, and you keep turning its light on).
"Make a donation to charity." One stuffed animal and a mug from the guide dogs lot, and a toilet roll in a very expensive box from the dig a toilet in Africa lot. By the time the postage, expensive box, stuffed animal etc are taken out , not to mention the chief executives pension, the charity get about 5% of what is given.
We are down to stick some money in the lifeboat tin or a sally army tin. At least that way most of it gets where it is intended. I don't want a receipt, gift card, stuffed animal or requests for money every year from then on in.
 I have my stash of Hotel chocolat to last this year out, and a nice bottle of fizz for xmas day. Bah humbug.
The only thing that matters this xmas is that everyone is safe, and have food to eat, and a roof over their heads.
Dream on @fidgetbones!  Did you see the Beeb news last night and the reports from Burnley?
I have so ar resisted the urge to make a regular donation to charity on my or anyone else's behalf precisely because I don't want them wasting resources on a cuddly toy or calendar or other. It's not where I want the money to go.
Nice one. We adopted 6 battery hens thru a French hen rescue charity at the end of September.  Supposedly free range but half bald, presumably from stress and crowding, and very shy and frightened. However, they have settled in well and have lovely new feathers and tails and even their combs are perking up.  Very chatty, curious, lively, busy chooks now and only one is still looking a bit tatty.
In another fit of Xmas cheer I've swapped the pin badge on my hat from a poppy to a robin wearing a Santa hat and scarf.
It's been very hard to try and wean people off physical Xmas presents, especially when it comes to grandkids. No one will accept that second hand things also make great presents either. It doesn't help that last year we asked for money for the kids to have zoo membership, days out and things like that which have all been put on hold by the pandemic. Apparently it's not Xmas if kids don't get a noisy plastic gift that will grace landfill for 1000x times longer than its useful life. And don't get me started on the grandparent who bought them the massive ball-pit that takes up half a room and takes up even more of our time herding the balls back where they belong every day.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Useless-Machine-Leave-Alone/dp/B00PHFQ85Y
(If you can't figure out what it does: every time you flick the metal switch up to turn it on, a hand pops out the top and physically pushes the switch back off with a satisfying clunk. It's like there's an angry fairy trying to sleep, and you keep turning its light on).
I have so ar resisted the urge to make a regular donation to charity on my or anyone else's behalf precisely because I don't want them wasting resources on a cuddly toy or calendar or other. It's not where I want the money to go.