What are we all up to this xmas?

[Benner]

This Christmas I'm just doing the usual, which is just trying to keep everyone happy  by visiting everyone. Infact, this year we are pretty much going to have 3 Christmas days, one on Christmas eve with my Mum, Nan, Bro and the wife and kids, one on Christmas Day (just staying at home that day) and then again on Boxing day round the inlaws.  It does make a nice change to be off over the whole Christmas period though as usually I am stuck working.  This will be the first Christmas that I have had Christmas eve, Christmas day and Boxing day all off for about the last 6 years.  I am getting lumbered with working New Years though. 

So what plans have you guys got?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Well Xmas day I'll be pining as it's my ex's turn to have my boy , so I'll be having my Xmas on Boxing day when he's with me

[J-sews]

I'm at home Christmas morning with the she-devils, then we all go to my parent's house for Christmas Day dinner. It makes for a full day, but that's okay. I get Fri-Sat-Sun to recuperate before going back to work.

[Leatherman123]

On Christmas Eve, my parents do the famous Italian tradition "The Seven Fish". So, she cooks seven fish, and she makes various other things.. Christmas day I am also going to be at my parents house.. I don't my gift's going to be as good this year..

[Benner]

On Christmas Eve, my parents do the famous Italian tradition "The Seven Fish". So, she cooks seven fish, and she makes various other things.. Christmas day I am also going to be at my parents house.. I don't my gift's going to be as good this year..

What you get last year then?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

On Christmas Eve, my parents do the famous Italian tradition "The Seven Fish". So, she cooks seven fish, and she makes various other things.. Christmas day I am also going to be at my parents house.. I don't my gift's going to be as good this year..

What you get last year then?

Yeah what was it again

[Leatherman123]

Last year, I got the Bear Grylls knife from my parents.. It is still residing in my gun safe unused.. This year, I think I am getting a new firearm.. But, I can't be sure..so I'll fill you guys in!

[Benner]

Last year, I got the Bear Grylls knife from my parents.. It is still residing in my gun safe unused.. This year, I think I am getting a new firearm.. But, I can't be sure..so I'll fill you guys in!

Oh yes, the knife that you left at home the day after.

You know it's a year later and we STILL don't have any pics.

[Roadie]

Christmas Eve, we are off to pick up my sister in Bradford then down to Barnsley to have supper with some friends then back home. Christmas Day we are at home in the morning then off to see my mums side of the family for food and merryment till Boxing Day then that evening we are off down to Derbyshire to see some more friends then back up home the day after. Sunday will then be at home, then on the 29th off up to Northumberland to see some more friends, then New Years is back down to Derbyshire! Think thats it.....bloomin busy!!! Should be fun though

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Last year, I got the Bear Grylls knife from my parents.. It is still residing in my gun safe unused.. This year, I think I am getting a new firearm.. But, I can't be sure..so I'll fill you guys in!

Oh yes, the knife that you left at home the day after.

You know it's a year later and we STILL don't have any pics.

Oh he's got some pics, he just likes to build a years worth of tension first

[Leatherman123]

So, what are you trying to say, Ben? I don't have a digital camera, you should know that by now..

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Christmas Eve, we are off to pick up my sister in Bradford then down to Barnsley to have supper with some friends then back home. Christmas Day we are at home in the morning then off to see my mums side of the family for food and merryment till Boxing Day then that evening we are off down to Derbyshire to see some more friends then back up home the day after. Sunday will then be at home, then on the 29th off up to Northumberland to see some more friends, then New Years is back down to Derbyshire! Think thats it.....bloomin busy!!! Should be fun though

Mate that is a busy few days

[J-sews]

Christmas Eve, we are off to pick up my sister in Bradford then down to Barnsley to have supper with some friends then back home. Christmas Day we are at home in the morning then off to see my mums side of the family for food and merryment till Boxing Day then that evening we are off down to Derbyshire to see some more friends then back up home the day after. Sunday will then be at home, then on the 29th off up to Northumberland to see some more friends, then New Years is back down to Derbyshire! Think thats it.....bloomin busy!!! Should be fun though

Sounds like you have a full schedule Ryan! Any other time it would be a headache, but somehow at Christmas time its not so bad. Isn't Christmas wonderful?

What do the rest of you guys have planned?

[Benner]

So, what are you trying to say, Ben? I don't have a digital camera, you should know that by now..

GET A DAMN CAMERA!!! 

[Roadie]

Mate that is a busy few days

Yup! It is a bit of a crazy week or so, but people just kept asking us and we kept saying yes

Sounds like you have a full schedule Ryan! Any other time it would be a headache, but somehow at Christmas time its not so bad. Isn't Christmas wonderful?

Yeah we really aren't gonna get much time to stop and think! But as you say Christmas just makes it all ok in some strange way

[DaveK]

Right....

Christmas day (am) at home with family, playing with pressies etc.

Christmas Day (pm) at my mother's for dinner, playing with pressies etc.

Boxing Dave - Villa v Arsenal with son - missus and daughter at her mother's darn sarf.

27th (early) travel to join SWMBO and family, drink and eat lots....

28th - 29th chillin' maybe some shopping

30th - Hull City v Villa

31st - Eat and Drink

New Year's day - Sleep.

Quite a busy itinerary there, but I'll struggle on through

[eodtech]

Staying @ home with the family AND getting psych about the Shot Show in Orlando, FL next month  with some of the MTorg group.

[duckman1975]

Will be waiting for Santa for my darn cybertool! I don't have a chimney hope that won't be a problem 

[Dunc]

As from today I am on holiday and go back to work on the 5th of Jan 

Christams Eve I'm up early to buy my two Girls presents , we always leave it to the last minute for them incase they change their minds pluse my wages don't go in until tommorow 

Christmas morning at home opening presents ect.

Christmas Afternoon at the inlaws which is a 3 minute walk away . There will be ten of us there for dinner  Father and Brother inlaw and myself will just pop into the pub for a couple while the women get dinner ready   

Boxing day will be just relaxing at home and maybe a walk on the beach .

not sure what day we are visiting my Mother yet but it will be before the new year .

New years eve evening will be at a family party in the Village hall 

I'm just so happy I'm not at work .


Dunc

[Pacu]

I usually go to my parents house for christmas. There , as is tradition, we have an Airing of Grievances in which each person tells everyone else all the ways they have disappointed him or her over the past year. After the holiday meal, the "Feats of Strength" are performed, involving wrestling the head of the household to the floor, with the holiday ending only if the head of the household is actually pinned.

We usually put up an aluminum pole instead of a tree. It has a very high strength-to-weight ratio. It requires no decoration. I find tinsel distracting.

Anyway that's about it.

[NutSAK]

 

Happy Festivus!!

I'm glad there's a holiday for the rest of us!

[BIG-TARGET]

I'll be going to my wife's family in Wildwood, down at the Jersey shore.

I like my wife's family, and they like me.  BUT!!  they all originate from south Philly.

If you have ever seen the film BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING??  If you have, my wife's family is the ITALIAN VERSION.

They're fun to deal with, but it ain't for the faint of heart

"...if you doubt your courage, come no further....."

[eodtech]

This story from a brother LEO says it all ....

In 1974 when I first joined the police department, I new there would be special occasions my family would spend without me. Knowing that fact didn't make the task any easier. The celebrations I missed those first year's depressed me and sometimes made me feel bitter.  Working on Christmas Eve was always' the worst.

 On Christmas Eve in 1977, I learned that blessing can come disguised as misfortune, and honor is more than just a word.  I was riding one man patrol on the 4 x 12 shift. The night was cold.  Everywhere I looked I saw reminders of the holiday:families packing their cars with presents, beautifully decorated trees in living room windows and roofs adorned with tiny sleighs. I all added to my  holiday funk.  The evening had been relatively quiet; there were calls for barking dogs and a residential false burglar alarm. There was nothing to make the night pass any quicker. I thought of my own family and sunk further into depression.

 Shortly after 2200 hours I got a radio call to the home of a  elderly, terminally ill man. I parked my patrol car in front of a simple cape cod style home. First aid kit in hand, I walked up the short path to the front door. As I approached, a woman who seemed to be about 80 years old opened the door. He's in here she said, leading me to a back bedroom.  We passed through a living room that was furnished in a style I had come to  associate with older people.The sofa has a afghan blanket draped over it's back and a dark, solid queen Anne chair say next to a unused fireplace. The mantle was cluttered with an eccentric mix of several photos, some ceramic figurines and an antique clock. A floor lamp provided soft lighting.   We entered a small bedroom where a frail looking man lay in bed with a blanket pulled up to his chin. He wore a blank stare on his ashen, skeletal  face. His breathing was shallow and labored. He was barely alive.

 The trappings of illness all around his bed. The nightstand was littered with a large number of pill vials.An oxygen bottle stood nearby. Its plastic hose, with face mask attached rested on the blanket.  I asked the old woman why she called the police. She simply shrugged and nodded sadly toward her husband,  indicating it was his request. I looked at him and he stared intently into my eyes. He seemed relaxed now. I didn't understand the suddenly calm expression on his face.

 I looked around the room again. A dresser stood along the wall to the left of the bed. On it was the usual memorabilia: ornate perfume bottles, a white porcelain pin case, and a wooden jewelry case. There were also several photos in simple frames. One caught my eye and I walked closer to the dresser for a closer look. The picture showed a young man dressed in a police uniform. It was unmistakably a photo of the man in bed. I knew then why I was there.  I looked at the old man and he motioned with his hand toward the side of the  bed. I walked over and stood beside him. He slid a thin arm from under the covers and took my hand. Soon, I felt his hand go limp, I looked at his face. There was no fear there. I saw only peace.  He knew he was dying; he was aware his time was very near.  I know now that he was afraid of what was about to happen and he wanted the protection of a fellow cop on his journey. A caring God had seemed to it that his child would be delivered safely to him. The honor of being his escort fell to me.  When I left at the end of my tour that night, the temperature had seemed to have risen considerably, and all the holiday displays I a saw on the way home made me smile.

 I no longer feel sorry for myself for having to work on Christmas Eve. I have chosen an honorable profession. I pray that when it's my turn to leave this world here will be a cop there to hold my hand and remind me that I have nothing to fear.  I wish all of my brother's and sister's who have to work this Christmas Eve all  the Joy and warmth of the Christmas Season.

Merry Christmas to all ................
 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

No that is a really great story

[BIG-TARGET]

No that is a really great story

brought a tear to my eye.

[MultiMat]

No that is a really great story

brought a tear to my eye.

+3 

[DaveK]

Nice story Andrew, quite sobering too.

[MultiMat]

Xmas day: Brunch with the outlaws our place & then dinner at my remaining OZ bound sister's place , with my folks. My 3 remaining sisters are OS 2 in the UK & 1 in Canada , it is a bummer at christmas with family spread around the world . We are giving Skype via web cams a go this year.
My 2 boys have been crook the last 3 days which is a concern as they hardly ever get sick & normally come good after a day or so. 

[Leatherman123]

Excellent story, EODtech! I work on certain holidays too..

[WH867]

At My parents on Christmas eve.   The wifes family on Christmas day.      Then next week we are going to vegas for a couple days .