Christmas

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People are always getting rid of old decorations in the run-up to Christmas, there is a new 'reuse' community on Facebook which sees local areas listed so you can give away and receive usable items that are no longer needed. Simply type into Facebook's search bar your 'area + reuse' for your local group. Free Christmas Events Look for local offers or events. Local organisations, such as charities and community centres, may have free or low-cost events for Christmas. Or they may be able to offer support with things like gifts or food.

The Salvation Army has a 'Toys and Tins' appeal every year that enables them to provide food hampers, brand new toys & gifts for children, teenagers and older people in need. You can be referred by an agency such as social services or you can refer yourself. Can't afford Christmas this year, and looking for what help is available? Whether you're on a low income, or have had some sort of financial disaster such as a loss of job and are struggling to afford Christmas this year, there are some wonderful organisations out there that can help you. It can be tough to cope with the financial pressures of Christmas. This can be especially difficult if you're already struggling with money. And for many of us, rises in the cost of living will have made things even harder. Our presence IS a present. Creating memories is free! Whether it's going to see the lights, cooking a budget roast dinner together, playing board games or watching Christmas movies, there is nothing children love more than family time. Everyone wants to shower their kids with gifts and of course, children love to receive them but there are so many ways to create the most magical day for absolutely nothing. Be turkey savvy. Turkey is a healthy, low-fat meat which is high in protein and B vitamins. However, to keep the fat in your Christmas dinner to a minimum, opt for the white breast meat and avoid the skin. If you are making gravy from the meat juices, first spoon off the fat and include vegetable cooking water for extra flavour and nutrients.Christmas Cards: if you receive Christmas cards, hang them over string and use these as bunting-style decoration. After Christmas, cut out the images and use to make decorations of gift tags the following year. (Store them in a tin.) The event will also see the return of Ghost Caribou, towering above the audience at more than 13ft tall, these impressive caribou are sure to immerse guests in tales of lost homes, impossible migrations, and seeds of hope. Goods that are faulty or sent in error must be returned to Crash Records Limited, 35 The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 6PU within 7 working days of the item being received by the customer. Just Enough: Probably the biggest challenge at Christmas, when we want to have extras and be prepared for unexpected visitors. Meal planning can help with this. Be realistic about how much people will eat.

Mix in the lemon and orange zest, then carefully fold in the flour, spice, sunflower seeds and fruit. Solar lights: if you want to light the place up, solar lights might be an option. Candles (beeswax or soy rather than paraffin) add a Christmassy glow to things and are a more natural alternative. Decorating the Furniture: instead of having a tree, use your furniture to make a shrine to Christmas, and decorate that instead.You don't have to justify yourself to others. But you might feel pressure to, especially if someone asks a lot of questions. It could help to let them know that certain situations are difficult for you, and tell them what they can do to help. It might also help to tell them that you understand they may see things in a different way. Think about whether you really need to do things if you're not looking forward to them. It may that you can do them for less time, or in a different way.

And tip for familes for advent instead of an advent calendar. I wrap up all the Christmas books (and dvds) we have- nativity stories and others. In newspaper or fabric wrap and one gets opened every day during advent. 12 year olds are thrilled to rediscover favourite picture books from when they were 3. We don’t have enough for every day…some years the kids re wrap them but mostly after the first week we forget to open one every day so 10-15 covers the whole period. I know other people have wrapped up non- Christmas books as well for littilies. There is a whole lot of careful discussion about which parcel to open and guessing which book in might be. If you can't be with the people you want to see in person, you could arrange a phone or video call to catch up with them on Christmas day. Or try to arrange a visit around Christmas, if there's a time when it's possible to meet. Like so many, we were deeply affected by the passing of Low’s Mimi Parker. Everyone touched by this music has an origin story with Low. Their music is often played in hushed spaces, revelling in reverence, sprinkling the corners of whatever room you hear it in with a warm, sometimes desolate, human glow. For me it was hearing their breakthrough record Secret Name on the recommendation from a friend but for many it was their revelatory take on festive songs that make up their “Christmas” album. Reusable Decorations: avoid anything with this year stamped across it, because less than a week later we flip over to a new year, and those decorations are instantly worthless. Whilst most of us intend to use decorations again and again, that doesn’t always happen. If buying new, pay attention to what they are made of, and avoid anything that looks like it will break easily. How would Low treat perhaps the most recognisable Christmas song of all time? Straight to the heart. Silent Night makes you a believer whethe you’re religious or not. It’s a quietly stunning rendition seemingly performed off the cuff, recorded using one mic, possibly in a wooden cabin, candle light scintilating in the evening darkness. Taking Down The Tree is a hymn of hope, all slow burning instrumentation and powerful melody. Rounding off with Parker’s solo vocal and guitar on One Special Gift, “Christmas” ends with an uncertain yet beautiful tone. Parker and a guitar, completely commanding the space and the listener’s emotions.

If you want to do away with the cards altogether, you can make a donation to charity in lieu of gifts, and tell everyone that is what you’ve done. How you cope with the costs of Christmas will depend on your circumstances. You might not find all of these tips realistic. But it may help to try some of them: A Real Tree in a Pot: a real tree in a pot can (in theory) be used again and again each Christmas. For the most sustainable option, don’t restrict yourself to the “standard” pine Christmas tree, look at what is suitable for growing in pots, and what is suited to your local climate. Different pine trees will suit different conditions. Choose things that will keep for at least a week, or tell people that you’ll be making dessert as their Christmas present in advance so they can plan around it. Alternatively make a “voucher” and say what you’ll make and when (e.g. a chocolate cake in the first week of January). Oh and if you’re running short on time you you only need to wrap a couple at the start and do the rest as you go along. Reply