there are bits I like, but all the crappy commericalism & false love I try to avoid. Ya gotta buy everyone expensive presents & get dressed up in Christmas finery & party & drink & eat, & party & eat & drink & spend, spend, spend. Then ya gotta visit & love all your disfunctional family & everyone lives happily after. Bah Humbug.

My preference is to contact the family members I want to contact; give money to a few charities; make small pressies that mean something to the people I want to give pressies to; spend the day by myself unless I decide to have brekkie with a group of friends; go to lunch with my section, rather than attend the noisy whole-of-office party; eat & drink the foods I normally have, except for my annual prawn (shrimp) feast which I eat at most meals over several days (yum); listen to my music & get on with crafty stuff.

sandra