You guys, a miracle happened! My husband and I went to Bristol for Christmas day, as usual, and...
the food was good! A perfectly moist turkey, they had pan drippings in lieu of gravy (which was amazing by their standards!), my MIL apologized repeatedly for "burning" the veg, and I was all, "NO! They're perfect! The dark colour is where the sugars in the veg caramelized and that's the best bit...!"
My only regret is, as I was eating, I kept in the back of my mind the knowledge that every meal there is followed by dessert, which I always have to make a polite showing of eating, so I saved room (I don't do normally do desserts, except when my husband starts to feel too deprived). Then after we finished our meal, I realized that Christmas day meant the dessert would be Christmas pudding. *sigh* What is it with this country and their dense fruity globs called "pudding"? I could've had more potatoes.

But, still.... good food, apart from the traditional Christmas pudding. Yay!