Am I alone?

I hear all the time on QVC from the presenters that I should take something more interesting to dinner parties than a bottle of wine. That got me thinking....I haven't been to a single dinner party this year. Am I missing something? Am I alone in that I don't get invited to dinner parties? Are my friends having them behind my back and I'm not invited? Should I be having them? Just think of all the interesting gifts they'll all bring...it will be soooooo worth it :cheeky: Right, off to plan my menu....6 meal deals from M&S it is.

I agree. Just like all the wiffle waffle about the 'party season' and all those Christmas parties we'll be going to so we'll all need glittery things. I avoid going out over Christmas at all costs. :tongue:

Lol Huggles!! The presenters seem to live in a Stepford Wives world don't they? It would be interesting to see how many of them actually do have guest bathrooms and little gifts stashed in their knicker drawer and any available orfices throughout their houses :tongue:

We haven't been round to friends for dinner for a couple of years now actually, thinking about it. And we haven't had any round either. Oh dear, what's going on?! Do you think it's global warming? Or maybe the recession, or even the volcano dust...?! It does seem though, in all seriousness, that hardly anyone goes out or socialises these days. When the words 'night out' come up in work, I think "I would rather be cwtched up at home under my Catherine Lansfield Faux Fur throw than throwing some moves in a trendy bar". Are we getting old, mean or wise?!! :sad:

And as for xmas....don't get me started on that one.... :angry:

I've never had this sort of lifestyle.

When all the presenters talk of office parties, going out with the girls after work, taking along a present for your hostess or people coming round to dinner, well I used to chuckle but not anymore. Instead I think "shut uppa your face".

I have just never lived that life at all. I didn't go to work on the tube or train (we don't all live in London you know). There weren't loads of colleagues to go out with after work. We only had two invitations out as a couple in the whole of my married life and that wasn't to a formal meal but just for a quick curry. I used to dream of big family Christmases but things don't always work out the way you want them to do they?

I'm not a killjoy and I adore Christmas but this fun filled Christmas (the holiday season as they say in the States) is just not the way my life is. I love my Christmas films on the telly and I go to Church on Christmas Eve but then as fas as I am concerned, Christmas is over as Christmas Day is lonely and painful thinking of people who I loved and are no longer with us. I remember how hectic and busy my home used to be but that is all gone now.

I don't need to liven up or count my blessings. I am not being miserable. This is just how it is so I do wish they would remember this sometimes on the television not just QVC and spare a thought for the people who are alone most of the time but just want to celebrate the Christmas period in their own quiet little way.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one, it's quite reassuring as QVC seem to assume we're in a frenzy planning all these activities building up to the big Christmas day dinner. We're not even having a works night out this year, nothing has been organised and nobody seems in the mood to go anyway as we're all broke.

broke now i can identify with that one....i have my daughter round for dinner does that count as a dinner party.

Phew! I'm not alone. But the choice between going to a dinner party, office do etc with The Stepford Wives (you're not alone in calling them that) comparing LG handbags and the like, and staying at home with the cat, I know which I'd go for!

I have friends round for dinner and vice versa but it's informal, relaxed and fun. And a bottle of wine or a box of chocs is always gratefully received! If I gave one particular and much loved friend a QVC inspired "dinner party" gift she would be wondering where the hell is the wine.

I work in London (sometimes) and I go for coffee, drinks and to lunch with the girls. But I don't flap about what handbag to take or which dress to wear.

QVC presenters do use a social life as a selling point but I'm just enjoying life and I don't need QVC to help me spend money to glamourise my after work dash to the pub.

Mind you I am just as happy curled up on the sofa with the cat as out for drinks with the girls.

And I thought the QVC customer was constantly going out for cocktails, or attending 'events', in a little Kim & Co number, be-decked in Tova diamonique and with a Bobbi Brown 'smokey-eye' (and of course, if it's a daytime do, a wide-brimmed hat, as modeled by Goody). :hi:

Personally, on the rare occasions I do have someone over for dinner, I would not be impressed if they didn't come armed with booze :clapping:

Me and the Mr are not doing xmas this year. We say it every year, but this year we really aren't!! There is just the two of us, no children, family live in same country but just that too far away to pop and visit. We both regularly buy the things we want for ourselves (but you probably already knew that, me being a member on here!) so we don't need/want gifts off each other. We are not religious, so don't get involved in anything that perpetuates the whole 'Christmas' thing - so we thought "what's the point?". So this year, we will do the usual thing of buying a load of series and films on dvd, drink, good food and will spend the 'holiday season' relaxing, eating, cooking and drinking - and will be in our element too! It's so amazing to be walking around shops (unfortunately I train in retail so I can't avoid them) and know that I don't have the stress of buying gifts. We stopped buying for the family (apart from the two nieces and one nephew) a few years ago, so there are no worries there. Ahhhh....looking forward to the break with gusto now, especially as Mr C had a very bad motorbike accident last month:-(

I take nothing away from those who wish to celebrate it though. I am very much an 'each to their own' kinda gal! So for those having religious, happy family gatherings, down to those spending it just as any other day - hope you all have a happy time :angel: but whatever you do, don't forget the gift for the binman will you?!! :tongue:

Well it's a relief I don't have to adjust my make-up routine to take me from the office to the cockktail lounge with a slick of mascara and gel eye liner, a swap of my footwear, a slipped on MH sparkle nylon shirt over pre thought out LBD. Home, jim jams, cosy chat with DD about our day over tea and bun running round our feet. Oooooohhhhh, I'm missing out, not.

These people who really live their lives constantly 'going from day to evening, from coffee to cocktails, and keeping that pair of pumps and evening make up' in their vacuous handbag must be exhausted!!! It's all I can do to take my make up off some evenings, let alone lock myself in the bathroom and give myself a pampering session!! Aww bless them, I know it's a sales pitch, but I bet some of the poor saps (JF maybe?!) genuinely believe this is how we all live our lives!

And all that 'school running and shift work' - sheesh, I get worn out just hearing about it all!! :sleepy:

I'm with most of you. A few grunts in the husbands direction, dinner and a night on the sofa with the cats - am such low maintenance! :angel:

:happy:

Huggles said:

I hear all the time on QVC from the presenters that I should take something more interesting to dinner parties than a bottle of wine. That got me thinking....I haven't been to a single dinner party this year. Am I missing something? Am I alone in that I don't get invited to dinner parties? Are my friends having them behind my back and I'm not invited? Should I be having them? Just think of all the interesting gifts they'll all bring...it will be soooooo worth it :cheeky: Right, off to plan my menu....6 meal deals from M&S it is.

Click to expand...

Well. you're in luck Huggles as its a Dine In For £10 weekend at M&S so the wines (and the puddins) will be taken care of! :clapping: But if you're missing the social occasions you could always have a big virtual dinner party on here? :tongue:

So what's your preference......the Yandle candles, a bit of Veronese or those fake flaaars as gifts for the hostess
(with the mostest)? :happy:

Sacha said:

So what's your preference......the Yandle candles, a bit of Veronese or those fake flaaars as gifts for the hostess
(with the mostest)? :happy:[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

Click to expand...

Well to ensure you never get another invitation that you can't refuse take 3 boing boings if it's Christmas, a But and Wil rabbit ring if Easter, anything QF if Halloween or Bonfire Night and the rest of the year Kirks Folly. All credibility will be lost and people will imagine you have decor like Blackpool Illuminations but it will be worth it. Bring on the jim jams.

What IS interesting, is that the presenters aim all their inane 'dinner party, after work socialising etc etc' comments to an audience QVC DON'T HAVE !

Listen to the voices of the telephone callers, and there is'nt one that is under pensionable age, so thats a good indication of their core viewing public.

I do coffee mornings with friends and meals at friends occassionally but certainly not the way QVC try to get you to emulate. Me at Starbucks or Nero with my extra strong huge cappuccino, no LG bag, diamond jewellery or Kim and co style etc, just my pals and a good natter. Or sitting down to munch with great friends, I don't give QVC gifts (or wine as a lot of them don't drink) but something well thought out or they come here and I return the favour. Christmas, this is my first year I am not buying for friends and some family, I just cannot afford it. My children come first, struggling big time with them this year as well and I actually find it quite difficult to not buy for others but just can't Every penny watched with eagle eyes.

I LOVE this forum and this thread is such a breath of fresh air. Every Christmas i end up having a little weep as the frenzy mounts as I think of all the dear people I have lost, the struggle I had as a single mum (one Christmas when my son was 3 I could not afford to buy him any presents and I felt such shame and guilt) and I long for a retreat from the commercialism.

Actually I do have lovely Christmases but they are nothing like the QVC fantasy.This is what I am doing this year: on Christmas eve one of my very dear friends plus partner and 6 year will be coming to mine, I am serving snacks and drinks all laid out on the kichen work top and there will be paper plates to save washing up. They will bring drink, we will lounge around and have a laugh. I will wear jeans! On Christmas day itself son and i willl slob around in dressing gowns and have a lunch of our fave food which is not a traditional meal as we don't like turkey and all the trimmings. We just have a laid back day and enjoy being together.

For the record I have never bought a Christmas party outfit all bedecked with sequins,never been to an office do as I have never worked in an office, I do not give or attend dinner parties, me and my mates do cook and entertain each other but it is so relaxed and often consists of all us clubbing together to get a take away. My pre Christmas weep came on early this year when I was in Asda yesterday which is early this year so I hope I have got it out of the way!!

I too am in awe of QVC presenters lifestyles.Spare bedrooms,cloakrooms,£70 bedding for postmen and teachers :cheeky:

I do have a "Christmas" do to go to,as my colleagues have kindly arranged it.But its one my "party" of the year,unless any weddings/christenings come up.I don't have dinner parties and I don't get invited to them.....but the DH and I do love a Chinese takeaway on a sat night for strictly and x factor :rock:

My kids were in primary,I did buy teacher gifts....but they were never ever over a fiver.I've even found in recent years that Next and M&S have had very suitable little gifts for a fiver.

As for Christmas - well we do have family,but can't say over the years,they've really bothered with us and we've learnt to love life just as our little 4 as a unit.Its only been in the last year (since I got rid of my credit card - remember that post??!!) that my DH and I have even been able to afford a present for each other!

Huggles said:

I hear all the time on QVC from the presenters that I should take something more interesting to dinner parties than a bottle of wine. That got me thinking....I haven't been to a single dinner party this year. Am I missing something? Am I alone in that I don't get invited to dinner parties? Are my friends having them behind my back and I'm not invited? Should I be having them? Just think of all the interesting gifts they'll all bring...it will be soooooo worth it :cheeky: Right, off to plan my menu....6 meal deals from M&S it is.

Click to expand...

I can think of nothing worse than having to cook for a dinner party, (o k there are much worse things in life but you catch my drift) as I absolutely hate cooking-I'm getting panic stricken already at the thought of Christmas Day lunch. As a result we never have, or are asked to dinner parties. Come to think of it, I don't really know anyone who does do this kind of thing nowadays. I'm just an anti-social old fart I guess!

Huggles said:

I hear all the time on QVC from the presenters that I should take something more interesting to dinner parties than a bottle of wine. That got me thinking....I haven't been to a single dinner party this year. Am I missing something? Am I alone in that I don't get invited to dinner parties? Are my friends having them behind my back and I'm not invited? Should I be having them? Just think of all the interesting gifts they'll all bring...it will be soooooo worth it :cheeky: Right, off to plan my menu....6 meal deals from M&S it is.

Click to expand...

Maybe you are not invited because you don't turn up with anything "more interesting" to give them. Sounds like you (unlike a few of the presenters I've heard) do not keep a cupboard full of Yankee Candles at the ready to take to dinner parties.