Well, that's just fantastic (tesco / Christmas rant)

Bah. I'd send out the OH for the christmas shovathon ?

It could be because they released some slots a week ago to regular customers. There has been lots of ranting about it on MSE.

Could you get a Sunday or Saturday slot?

They released them early to regular customers

Why not get the main shop a few days earlier and then just get OH to go out late one night and get the fresh bits last minute

I would do as Ice Queen says and get all but the fresh stuff a little early then send out oh for the fresh stuff.

Thats what I'm doing. I've already started buying up the usual non fresh related stuff and then on xmas eve at about 3am when the delivery is just in H is going to get me all my fresh stuff. However as he works nights in tesco he's at an advantage as its his job to pack it all out!

I can't believe they all went so quickly!! Some people go a bit mad at Christmas, the shops only close for a couple of days not a fortnight, but yet people still buy everything and anything in sight!!

H loves working Christmas becasue he says its amuseing wartching people fight over a jar of cranberry sauce at 4am in the morning on Christmas eve!!

I love Christmas but its just madness now!

Hmmmm...I'm a long-term regular, but not been offered any preferential options to book slots early. Bah ?

Maybe send in a complaint to Tesco, never know it might make them feel obliging to help you out as you will be heavily pregnant.

Then again, it may not! But it doesn't hurt to try.

Ocado slots went in a flash too, here.

Can your H not do the shopping for you?

We'll be doing our 'big shop' at about 6am on 22nd and my mum will nip out on Christmas Eve for fresh stuff.

It's worth getting up very early as the shops are quieter and then you can have a sleep when you get home. I'm not pregnant but I'm not exactly mobile so understand your concerns. This really is the best way.

Maybe keep trying. I got an Ocado slot quite late last year as they added extra drivers.

That's pretty rubbish. I was going to suggest trying Ocado or Sainsbury's but it looks like they're the same.

We're do little bits of non fresh shopping with our usual weekly shop , then H is going to get the final veg and milk etc on 23rd early in the morning.

Can you go shop somewhere else?

Last year we did all our shopping around Christmas at Costco and Makro and both shops were delightfully quiet compared to normal supermarkets.

Thanks ladies. I'd love to buy stuff in in advance but we only have 2 drawers in our freezer and a small fridge so it's not really feasible. I may well end up sending H on his own, although Mrs Magic's idea of going at silly o'clock is a good idea - as I don't seem to be able to sleep these days could be a good solution.

As for releasing early to regular customers, I get a home shoppin delivery every 1.5 weeks and have done for 3 years - surely you can't get much more regular than that !

I think I may do what someone said and complain about it and see if they can miraculously find me a slot. Well it's a pain for me it's my choice to be pregnant, but I really feel for elderly or disabled people who would struggle to get around the shops through no fault of their own.

Not being funny but the shops are only shut for 1 day they open again boxing day.

I guess you are much more organised then I!

We buy enough stuff to do us so we don't have to leave the house for three days. Most of the food we buy is needed for Christmas Day really as we eat leftovers/normal stuff on the other days.

6am really is the only way I can cope with it JB. If I need my wheelchair or have to use a buggy thingy, it's the only possible time I can actually move. ?

MBK, I know they are only closed for one day but I need the stuff for Christmas Eve / Day / Boxing Day morning as we have 10 people coming.

I've just rung Tesco to see if it's true that they released slots early to "regular customers" and how these regular customers were selected. It was fairly obvious that they have had a lot of complaints as he was chatting normally until I raised this question when he effectively read out a statement to me along the lines of you can book earlier in the week, but not answering the question. He then said he couldn't help any further.

I have emailed their customer service department to see if I can get any more info from them. If it's true that they released them early to some people then I would just like them to admit that.

and that day is a pretty big feast day when most people cook for more people than usual and need more supplies! i find it really sad that the shops are open on boxing day - its horrible that so many people have to work over christmas because of it.

I completely agree, it's really not fair. Why one earth do shops open on Boxing Day anyway? Money, I guess, which is really sad. I love closing the door on Christmas Eve and knowing we have a few days where we don't have to do anything, it's the best feeling. It's only been the last two years as Mr M used to work shifts so it's even more of a treat.

Fair enough If you have loads of people round and stuff.

Of course I understand that you have a big meal to prepare Christmas day and possibly Boxing Day.

I do find that everyone round here goes mad though there tends to be people stockpiling ridiculous amounts of bread and milk liek the shops are never going to open again for a month.

JB - I hope you get the situation resolved and you get a slot that suits your needs.

Ex

WSS - my father was (by complete accident of a new staff rota) off the 24th, 25th and 26th December last year for the first time in something like 40 years of working in retail. It was amazing having a father who wasn't exhausted on Christmas morning and who could drink more than a glass of wine and relax without worrying about getting up the next day. We won't get that experience again until he retires.

I wish people could just plan a little ahead and enjoy two days of consecutive holidays without the need to spend yet more money.

For all you bargain hunters out there, just so you know, Boxing day shopping frenzy = my father working to 8 pm on Christmas Eve and back at work 8 am on Boxing Day to get the store organised. Merry Fecking Christmas to you all.

Bah humbug.

Zebra, this is the first time in 25 years my mum won't be working Christmas Eve (she retired this year) and I really can't wait to spend it with her. Christmas Eve is my favourite day and it's going to be brilliant making mince pies and watching the snowman with her. Things I had to do on my own the whole way through my teenage and adult years. I'm welling up thinking about it. ? It's going to make Christmas so much more special for me, especially after the year I've had. I appreciate those close tome more than ever.

I know exactly how you feel ?

? right back atchya.

I sympathise, I used to work in retail and had to do the same...in a card shop no less and the abuse we used to get on those days was terrible tbh. Especially one christmas eve I worked we closed at 4pm due to trading laws but had to stay til 6pm clearing up and restocking for the sale on Boxing Day. They could see us and basically tried to kick the doors in for a card they had forgotten to buy...totally ridiculous!!!

I refuse now to go out and shop on Boxing Day, it should be a day off for all to enjoy whatever it brings them.

Hear Hear! Me too, Boxing day is for a brisk walk, turkey soup and relaxation, not fighting your way round the shops. Ugh.

We tend to do the none perishable items a few days before Christmas, then for veg and bread etc, we sit outside Morrsions waiting for it to open on Christmas Eve Morning (about 7am). As they dont open 24 hours, they are fully stocked up, and everything seems fresh. It is generall fairly empty then too, as you know you are only going to get Veg & bread so not wandering about. We then go into the cafe for a fry up as a treat, then home by 10 everything done, and enjoy the day.

I would not trust Home delivery to choose my veg at this time of year, and would not chance substitutes.

Big hugs to you both. I worked in retail for eight years so know the pain of only having Christmas Day off (on top of working longer hours than usual in the run up). I was in my teens/early twenties though, it must be so must worse when you've got children/it's your parent ?

I think from posts on MSE they considered 'regular' to be someone who had had a weekly delivery for a specific period which I believe was the past 3 months.

I am glad this year that we have a milkman. They will deliver milk for us to last us over Christmas, along with cream and bread etc. We'll go to the shops the saturday/sunday before for the non perishable stuff and then go on Christmas Eve very early for other bits and bobs. We're getting all of our meat from the butcher this year. I only get enough for a few days, but I am amazed at how much some people buy and how nasty people can be if they think you're trying to take something they need. I had a woman slap a jar of cranberry sauce out of my hand and onto the floor last year because she had seen it first. I very nearly slapped her onto the ground as well. I'm making my own from the Nigella book this year anyway.

My mother bless her insisted on going to the shops last year at 5pm on Christmas Eve. Never.Ever.Again. I have never come quite so close to murder before.

H is taking Christmas Eve off this year and I'm really looking forward to it. We're going to sit in, make mince pies and the chocolate pudding for the next day. I'm going to brine the turkey and then we'll sit down and watch our standard christmas films (Scrooged, A Wonderful Life and A Nightmare Before Christmas) while eating too much. I love Christmas when we just have it ourselves.

Jellybaby - just a suggestion but I know when we spoke to our farmer about collecting our turkey he also mentioned he is selling fresh veges, fruit, milk and butter. We worked out we could get bits from him rather than fight our way through the supermarket etc. Do you have anyone near you that does that?

Another one who's parents work Christmas. ? My father is a taxi driver my mother a paramedic. I've never spent Christmas Day with them. Boxing Day is our Christmas Day, always has been. So for those who say the shops are open Boxing Day, doesn't help me. Boxing Day is an important day to us so we'd rather stock up for a few days and not have to leave the house.

I will get the bulk of my stuff on the normal shop on the thursday before (18th) , i am buying the meat which is sorted but my sister is doing the veg so I haven't got to worry to much. Ill stock up on milk/bread etc on that thrusday and should be fine until the day after boxing day - when we go on our holibobs anyway. I will stock up on a bit of fresh stuff before we go for my friend who is house sitting.

I hope you get something sorted, even if it is sending your H out at stupid oclock on christmas eve morning ?

I hate the scrum at supermarkets on christmas eve, I really don't see the need for it. OK people like stuff fresh but I cooked for 6 adults and 3 children last christmas and that shop was done about 3/4 days before, the stuff doesn't go off THAT quickly.

JellyBaby is there any way you could do the shop early in the morning a few days before?