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Would you make your family pay for Christmas dinner?
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blueblade
24-12-2016
Originally Posted by flashfiction:
“Ha.
And I'd definitely be complaining if they served me quiche as a starter on Christmas Day!

Unreal that she seemed to admit that the guests paid so she didn't need to.

I appreciate that it can be very expensive, especially if the guests are in double figures. When I have been flush I've done it many times, but intentionally never added it up.
When other family members have volunteered, especially if they're on a budget ( or it's a big workload), I've always made a course/sides/loads of booze or at least stumped up for a really good turkey. (It can work really well as often someone else will suggest they'll make dessert etc. and often enjoy doing it.)
Even simpler as others say - rotate hosting it each year or just don't offer.

woman in that article reminds me of the the wife character, Monica, in Mike Leigh's Secrets & Lies.”

Also breathtakingly, arrogant, conceited and self important. It's pretty much akin to thinking your company is so compelling, that guests are willing to pay so they can sit in your house and be hosted by you.

Sheesh, some people.
Grafenwalder
24-12-2016
I'm not interested enough to read about their greed and selfishness but the couple in the op's article sound really horrible.

I wouldn't dine among company like that even if paid to!
ianradioian
24-12-2016
Originally Posted by flashfiction:
“This one's a characteristic Daily Mail article about a woman, (primary teacher, combined annual household income of £85,000. ) from South London who require that any family member who wants to attend her Xmas dinner has to pay up front, set amount. It claims that this is "a growing phenomenon. "
None of the guests are unemployed and none appear to be low-waged.



Husband is , apparently, an executive chef.

For the cooks out there she is worrying that her "signature dessert- pavlova" turns out OK and serves a quiche option as a starter as an alt to smoked salmon.
Apparently it's "restaurant quality."

Where do the Mail find these suckers, so lacking in self-awareness? Cue her in-laws sniggering about her press..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...es-profit.html”

Lol how the winter nights must just fly past in their households
molliepops
24-12-2016
Even when really hard up I've never thought to do that, I did one year ask if everyone could bring something if I provided the turkey, we were really near rock bottom at that point and no one minded I found. It actually started a tradition who ever hosted provided the meat and everyone coming brought the rest, it's meant we get to have a less frantic time cooking each year who ever was hosting.
ianradioian
24-12-2016
Originally Posted by blueblade:
“Also breathtakingly, arrogant, conceited and self important. It's pretty much akin to thinking your company is so compelling, that guests are willing to pay so they can sit in your house and be hosted by you.

Sheesh, some people.”

Hahahaaa I bet the foods kack , too


Hahahahaaaaa its well funny
Pam_Kerr
24-12-2016
I can't help wondering how many 'guests' do attend. I certainly wouldn't, family or no family. Is her name Hyacinth Bucket?
flashfiction
24-12-2016
Originally Posted by blueblade:
“Also breathtakingly, arrogant, conceited and self important. It's pretty much akin to thinking your company is so compelling, that guests are willing to pay so they can sit in your house and be hosted by you.

Sheesh, some people.”

Indeed. That's Timothy Spall's mrs in the film! Plus very materialistic.

And I am compelled to be a bitch here and add that if she is stressing about making a pavlova, as she says, she is def not providing the "restaurant quality meal" she is claiming. (Her words. )

ETA - yes ^ a touch of the Hyacinth Bouquet perhaps too.
RobinOfLoxley
24-12-2016
Will it be tiny-portion, poncey, Nouvelle Cuisine too? (please excuse my non-PC terminology)
flashfiction
24-12-2016
Originally Posted by RobinOfLoxley:
“Will it be tiny-portion, poncey, Nouvelle Cuisine too? (please excuse my non-PC terminology)”

( ^ That's another M Leigh film, Life is Sweet , before he made crappy ones. )

Anyway yes -
- will the guests be allowed to take a doggy bag home?
- what happens with the left over turkey- do they split a carcass at home time and she throws a cold sprout in each or do her guests get a refund?
skp20040
24-12-2016
Originally Posted by RobinOfLoxley:
“Will it be tiny-portion, poncey, Nouvelle Cuisine too? (please excuse my non-PC terminology)”

Don't get me started on Nouvelle bloody Cuisine, I have been in the hotel and leisure industry for years and one of my closest friends is an Exec Head chef who was very much into it and we have argued many a time about it . I cannot abide the version of Nouvelle Cuisine most of us saw , I know many chefs loved to take the time to make art on the plate and people liked to look at it, but at the end of the day it was an excuse to charge more money for less food in the name of snobbery ( and real Nouvelle Cuisine definition did not mean tiny portions it was just meant to be healthier, fresher and light of hand which many places totally and often deliberately misinterpreted ) , and the poor sodding customers whilst stating how lovely something looked then needed to stop for a bag of chips on the way home.

You don't need to pile a plate full but you can still make it look attractive whilst making sure a client feels that they have had the food they have paid for
mrsgrumpy49
24-12-2016
Originally Posted by Dix:
“What your mother did was gross Ma and I shared what we had, and if she didn't have it and I did, I'd give it to her. I'd never in my wildest dreams charge anyone for anything.”

She was terrible. I couldn't bring friends home for tea because she resented any outlay. She did once agree to a boyfriend coming last minute but we didn't have enough for him. Rather than her fork out for a bit of something extra from the nearby Spar, he was asked to bring his own pork chop. Never forgot that!
My father would come home at lunchtime - while she was at work - and we had secret meals. When she thought we were eating a packed lunch, we were living it large on a bit of steak. Afterwards he would burn any suspect wrapping paper on the compost heap as she used to check the bins when she came home.
sarahj1986
24-12-2016
When I've been invited somewhere for xmas dinner I've always taken something with me as my offering. The year my aunt did it I took the pudding as I really wanted the Black Forest gateaux from M&S. It's like going to a house party I always ask if I need to bring anything with me, always take alcohol though. Similarly when the ex and I did our own xmas dinner and people came they usually brought or offering to bring something.
Zeropoint1
24-12-2016
I once went on holiday with a group of friends and one of the lads actually charged somebody for 2 rashers of bacon. I think it was something silly like 14p each!

He was the type of person who would always go for the buy one get 2 free offers on drinks even if he didn't like the drink.
francie
24-12-2016
Originally Posted by SaddlerSteve:
“I've known people be like this even at "normal" times of the year.

Last year a friend was invited over for a catch-up by another mutual friend. He'd cooked a steak and ale pie and offered her some whilst she was over which she gratefully accepted. They had a chat for a good hour or so then when she was leaving he said "You can pay me back for the pie when you've got the money, it's only about £3-4!". She laughed thinking he was joking but it turned out he wasn't.
She got a text message a few days later with him saying he'd worked it out and it'd be £3.16 and she could drop it over when she'd got it.

Despite invitations no one from our friend group has been there for dinner since.”

Tight arsed git. I'd be tempted to buy the cheapest pie available and present that in lieu of payment.

I can't believe the tightness of some people. By all means, if strapped for cash, everyone mucks in by bringing bits and bobs towards the meal but to charge people is just
francie
24-12-2016
Originally Posted by sarahj1986:
“When I've been invited somewhere for xmas dinner I've always taken something with me as my offering. The year my aunt did it I took the pudding as I really wanted the Black Forest gateaux from M&S. It's like going to a house party I always ask if I need to bring anything with me, always take alcohol though. Similarly when the ex and I did our own xmas dinner and people came they usually brought or offering to bring something.”

That's why I automatically do, just seems like good manners to me. I never turn up empty handed.
netcurtains
24-12-2016
I've gotta say that I do find it baffling really so I'm going to assume it's one of those Daily mail made up stories.
Turkey is cheap as are vegetables and a Christmas dinner is one of the easiest meals to prepare so I cannot believe anyone that says it's exhausting or need to charge their family.
WombatDeath
24-12-2016
Fantastic idea, don't know why I never thought of it myself. I will present Mrs Wombat with an invoice for her half of the meal.

Do you think it would be cheeky to invoice her for her Christmas presents too?
francie
24-12-2016
Originally Posted by WombatDeath:
“Fantastic idea, don't know why I never thought of it myself. I will present Mrs Wombat with an invoice for her half of the meal.

Do you think it would be cheeky to invoice her for her Christmas presents too?”

Only if she can submit her own invoice for washing, ironing, dusting, hoovering, cooking, shopping, child rearing etc etc throughout the year

Good luck Wombat, I think you're going to need it. Merry Christmas wherever you may end up spending Christmas
skp20040
24-12-2016
Originally Posted by WombatDeath:
“Fantastic idea, don't know why I never thought of it myself. I will present Mrs Wombat with an invoice for her half of the meal.

Do you think it would be cheeky to invoice her for her Christmas presents too?”

You could try but don't be surprised if you see her taking a sudden interest in those funeral plan adverts
WombatDeath
24-12-2016
Originally Posted by francie:
“Only if she can submit her own invoice for washing, ironing, dusting, hoovering, cooking, shopping, child rearing etc etc throughout the year”

Well, we split that stuff more or less evenly. However, you've raised a good point - she's going to be cooking the Christmas dinner, so it's only fair to deduct a labour fee from the invoice. What's the minimum wage these days?
scottie2121
24-12-2016
Originally Posted by flashfiction:
“This one's a characteristic Daily Mail article about a woman, (primary teacher, combined annual household income of £85,000. ) from South London who require that any family member who wants to attend her Xmas dinner has to pay up front, set amount. It claims that this is "a growing phenomenon. "
None of the guests are unemployed and none appear to be low-waged.



Husband is , apparently, an executive chef.

For the cooks out there she is worrying that her "signature dessert- pavlova" turns out OK and serves a quiche option as a starter as an alt to smoked salmon.
Apparently it's "restaurant quality."

Where do the Mail find these suckers, so lacking in self-awareness? Cue her in-laws sniggering about her press..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...es-profit.html”

Interesting that the emphasis is on the decision being the woman's, not the man's. Weren't the OH's involved in the decision or is it another 'bash women' story from the Mail?
flashfiction
24-12-2016
Originally Posted by scottie2121:
“Interesting that the emphasis is on the decision being the woman's, not the man's. Weren't the OH's involved in the decision or is it another 'bash women' story from the Mail?”

Yes and yes.
( I hadn't read it properly, it wasn't just one family but 3 separate ones that were practising this new custom. No idea where they find these people. )
1fab
24-12-2016
No, I would pay them to eat it.
Fizzbin
24-12-2016
I'm sure the mother will be adjusting the daughter's inheritance accordingly downward.
Patchbuncle
24-12-2016
Well, considering that her husband's an Executive Chef and the food comes from his 'preferred supplier,' - translation: a freebie/heavily discounted; I think that it's pretty tacky.

We spread the cost by each leg of the family preparing and supplying a course with the host doing the veg. Everyone takes a bottle or two.

If someone offered me a bill in advance, I'd be having Christmas lunch somewhere else. I cant see how anyone gets to £60 quid each anyway, so if there's five eating the food (only the food, no booze) the meal costs £300!!! What the heck are they eating ( and at mates rates at the most).
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