had a loverly christmas

this year i decided not to do Christmas dinner for the family. for the last ten years i have had an open house, and all were welcome, nobody had to bring anything at all, just themselves. but every year i put up with, this one not talking to that one, ill come when that one leaves, don't talk to my kids like that, all the normal family problems with family.
So this year i told them all I'm not doing anything this year.
What i did was just invited my parents for Christmas lunch, asked them not to give presents to the wife and i as we are not buying them any. We are going to donate to the RSPCA instead.
We had a quiet little lunch with healthy food that lasted over four hours. a few drinks and some time to just relax and talk. No stress and No kids. It was the perfect day and the best Christmas i have had in over ten years.
Sometimes we forget about the simple things in life, things that don't cost much but give you that lift and makes the not so good bearable.
happy new year to all
cheers Shane.