There are no better reasons to day-drink than a) Christmas and b) family gatherings. Keep it classy with a champagne breakfast and then just keep going through food prep and into lunch. Take it easy on the refills of Nanna\u2019s glass or she might snooze her way through the seafood spread.<\/p>\n
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If your family Christmas brekkie isn\u2019t as messy as whatever this is, you need more champagne.<\/p><\/div>\n
Survival tip #2: Fake a work emergency<\/strong><\/h3>\nPlan ahead for some time out during the eternity between arriving and any food being served. Warn your family that you might get a work call. When your phone rings (actually an alarm you set earlier), try to look annoyed. Congrats \u2013 you can now slip off to an empty room for a solid 20-minute break from family chatter. And you\u2019re the favourite child for being so hardworking (when really you’re just mastering your power nap. Ready for round two of Christmas eating!).<\/p>\n
Survival tip #3: Break away<\/strong><\/h3>\nSure, your family has that unspoken rule that everyone sleeps over. Even if it means sharing a bunk bed with three of your cousins. But this is the year to go full adult by booking a luxe (or at least private) hotel room nearby<\/a>. Your own space. Your own bathroom. Bliss! Just don\u2019t tell your tighta** uncle how much you paid. Even if you get an amazing deal (like, oh, on lastminute.com.au \ud83d\ude1c), you\u2019ll never hear the end of it.<\/p>\nSurvival tip #4: A neutral location<\/strong><\/h3>\nOkay, Switzerland might be out of the question. But if there are warring factions within your extended family, having your Christmas meal at a restaurant instead of someone\u2019s house means no-one has the home-field advantage and will (hopefully) force everyone to stay on their best behaviour. Book one with a non-refundable deposit and force both sides to chip in. That\u2019ll guarantee they show.<\/p>\n
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Christmas lunch at a restaurant: A neutral location with an almost bottomless supply of wine.<\/p><\/div>\n
Survival tip #5: Live to give<\/strong><\/h3>\nSick of mad last-minute shopping for gifts you\u2019re not even sure people want? Skip it and make a donation to a charity in your family\u2019s name instead. It\u2019s easy, meaningful and much more useful than a personalised knick knack (although we\u2019ll have one of those personalised Toblerones if you\u2019re offering).<\/p>\n
Survival tip #6: Steal a day away<\/strong><\/h3>\nWave goodbye to your family when you leave to go \u2018home\u2019, then duck into the nearest resort<\/a> for some blissed-out spa action. But be warned: This tip requires stealth and the ability to maintain a complex web of lies. Tell no-one. And definitely don\u2019t post any social pics. Even if you\u2019re certain your fam doesn’t check your Instagram, they do.<\/p>\nSurvival tip #7: BYOF<\/strong><\/h3>\nBringing a friend to family Christmas is a master stroke. The oldies will jump on the fresh meat and your mate will be the one quizzed about their love life, job and haircut. Which would suck for your friend, except that in exchange they get an up-close look at where all of your craziness comes from. But a heads-up \u2013 your family will assume that your \u2018friend\u2019 is really your girlfriend\/boyfriend. When Nanna wakes up, she\u2019ll almost certainly drop some unsubtle hints about weddings.<\/p>\n
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If your \u2018friend\u2019 happens to be your cat, so be it. But your cat will NOT be impressed.<\/p><\/div>\n
Survival tip #8: Give in and enjoy the chaos<\/strong><\/h3>\nFeed lollies to every kid you see. Crack open the good wine your mum wanted to save. And kick off some karaoke with Aunty Sharon. If you can\u2019t beat em\u2026<\/p>\n
Sure, your family has that unspoken rule that everyone sleeps over. Even if it means sharing a bunk bed with three of your cousins. But this is the year to go full adult by booking a luxe (or at least private) hotel room nearby<\/a>. Your own space. Your own bathroom. Bliss! Just don\u2019t tell your tighta** uncle how much you paid. Even if you get an amazing deal (like, oh, on lastminute.com.au \ud83d\ude1c), you\u2019ll never hear the end of it.<\/p>\n Okay, Switzerland might be out of the question. But if there are warring factions within your extended family, having your Christmas meal at a restaurant instead of someone\u2019s house means no-one has the home-field advantage and will (hopefully) force everyone to stay on their best behaviour. Book one with a non-refundable deposit and force both sides to chip in. That\u2019ll guarantee they show.<\/p>\n Christmas lunch at a restaurant: A neutral location with an almost bottomless supply of wine.<\/p><\/div>\n Sick of mad last-minute shopping for gifts you\u2019re not even sure people want? Skip it and make a donation to a charity in your family\u2019s name instead. It\u2019s easy, meaningful and much more useful than a personalised knick knack (although we\u2019ll have one of those personalised Toblerones if you\u2019re offering).<\/p>\n Wave goodbye to your family when you leave to go \u2018home\u2019, then duck into the nearest resort<\/a> for some blissed-out spa action. But be warned: This tip requires stealth and the ability to maintain a complex web of lies. Tell no-one. And definitely don\u2019t post any social pics. Even if you\u2019re certain your fam doesn’t check your Instagram, they do.<\/p>\n Bringing a friend to family Christmas is a master stroke. The oldies will jump on the fresh meat and your mate will be the one quizzed about their love life, job and haircut. Which would suck for your friend, except that in exchange they get an up-close look at where all of your craziness comes from. But a heads-up \u2013 your family will assume that your \u2018friend\u2019 is really your girlfriend\/boyfriend. When Nanna wakes up, she\u2019ll almost certainly drop some unsubtle hints about weddings.<\/p>\n If your \u2018friend\u2019 happens to be your cat, so be it. But your cat will NOT be impressed.<\/p><\/div>\n Feed lollies to every kid you see. Crack open the good wine your mum wanted to save. And kick off some karaoke with Aunty Sharon. If you can\u2019t beat em\u2026<\/p>\nSurvival tip #4: A neutral location<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Survival tip #5: Live to give<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Survival tip #6: Steal a day away<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Survival tip #7: BYOF<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Survival tip #8: Give in and enjoy the chaos<\/strong><\/h3>\n