Healthy bodies

Surviving Guests This Christmas Season   by Brenda Dutch

If you have relatives coming to stay for Christmas the best idea is to plan well in advance. Organising everything can be very stressful so give yourself plenty of time. Check how much space you have available before you start inviting people to stay. Do you have extra beds, inflatable beds, sleeping bags or bedding? If not, and you have the space, ask your Christmas guests if they can bring their own bedding. I am sure they won’t mind. Otherwise they will just have to stay in a local hotel or B&B. These will need to be booked well in advance as they tend to fill up at Christmas time. Usually the kids don’t mind sleeping on the floor in sleeping bags, it is an adventure for them.

Once you have invited people, take some time to plan a list of the things you will need to buy and the jobs that need to be done beforehand. Don’t leave it until the last minute. If possible delegate some jobs to other members of your family and give them a deadline for getting them done.

Be Prepared -
Try to make time each weekend for a few weeks before the Christmas season and make some food and nibbles that can just be defrosted and heated with the minimum of supervision. This gives you more time to converse and socialise with your Christmas guests and less time on your own in the kitchen slaving away. Supermarkets have plenty of ready-made buffet snacks and dips at Christmas which will make for an easy evening for you. Have a drink and relax – it’s your Christmas celebration too.

Try to make your guests as comfortable as possible. Have plenty towels and spare toiletries available. Just in case they have forgotten something. Think what you would like to find in your accommodation if the roles were reversed. Clear out a little bit of space for them to hang their clothes up.

Just before your guests are due to arrive get out some suitable entertaining games and activities that they might enjoy. Monopoly, Scrabble, Pictionary, Cards, Jigsaws – something for all ages. Card games and dominoes can also be enjoyed by everyone and make for a lovely traditional christmas season.

Make sure you are organised and have done all your housework long before your Christmas guests are due so that you are not running around at the last minute. If you have small children coming don’t forget to cater for them. Have plenty of DVD’s for them to watch and toys or jigsaws to keep them entertained and occupied.

Christmas Day -
To make Christmas day go smoothly from the start have a list of your timings for everything. On Christmas morning after you have all opened your Christmas presents and tidied the mess away, get all hands on deck to help with the preparations for lunch. As the saying goes ‘Many hands make light work’. But also beware ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ the call is yours! If you have children, let them entertain their grandparents or other guests while you serve the lunch. Let someone else wash up – you deserve a break. Instead of slouching in front of the television, get everyone together and go for a nice walk, weather permitting. Come back and have a hot drink and play some traditional board games. Plan for an easy night by serving buffet food – that is if anyone is still hungry. Usually in our house everyone is still full with dinner and then chocolates that they don’t want any more food!

Boxing Day -
Hopefully everyone had a good time on Christmas day without making a fool of themselves. Play some traditional family games that everyone can join in. Again, try to delegate as many chores as possible so you can have an easier life and spend more time with your guests. If you do have to leave the room to prepare food or anything make sure your guests are comfortable and have everything they need. Give them a cup of tea, a magazine, or a jigsaw to do or give them the remote for the TV. Try not to make your Christmas guests feel that they are in the way or a bother to you. Always treat people how you would like to be treated. After all it is only for a couple of days.

When they finally leave, wave them off with a smile and don’t let out a sigh of relief until they’re well out of sight!
Happy Christmas.

About the Author

Brenda Dutch is a mother of one Son and owner of a website http://www.purelytots.co.uk – which provides personalized gifts and toys for under 5’s and also covers various topics on parenting, together with recipes, humour, hints and tips. Check out our website for other articles and information to help you cope with family life. If you are looking for a special gift for a baby or toddler then check out our Personalised gifts section at http://www.purelytots.co.uk
How to Make Betty Crocker’s Dutch Chocolate Frosting

Mauviel M’Passion 2191.26 Copper 10-Inch/4.6L/4.9-Quart Egg White Bowl with Ring $79.90 Mixing eggs and ingredients is a snap with Mauviel’s M’passion egg white beating bowl. Made of the high quality copper and workmanship Mauviel is known for, the bowl is specifically designed for beating eggs, and the copper reacts with the whites to make them more stable. The rounded bottom makes it easy to thoroughly stir, and you can mix other ingredients besides eggs in it if desired. When not …

3D DUTCH SHOE (HOLLOW) 2 Mold Set Dads and Moms Candy Mold Chocolate $4.99 …

Staub Cookware Mini Chocolate Fondue Set with 4 Forks $81.99 Staub Cookware Mini Chocolate Fondue Set with 4 Forks Create a different type of atmosphere to your home and prepare a creative dessert with this Staub Cookware Mini Chocolate Fondue Set. This set includes one fondue pot, a stand, four fondue forks, and a candle. The pot is constructed of cast iron and has multiple layers of enamel coating for even heat distribution. It also comes in the color of …

All Night Long A1 All Night Long (Dirty Version) A2 All Night Long (Album Version) B1 All Night Long (Brand New Heavies Remix) B2 All Night Long (Instrumental Brand New Heavies Remix)…

SO YOU WIN AGAIN 7 INCH (7 45) DUTCH RAK 1977 VG/EX…