Merry pre Christmas eve! What are you up to today?

[Plussizejumpsuit]

I'm off work from today, which I massively appreciate as I have worked in retail. We've done our big Christmas shop. I'm going to make my nut roast and a few other bits. A little bit of cleaning then watch Christmas films and start a new box set. I had a really busy day yesterday and weeks in general with work and Christmas prep. So massively ready for a rest! I always enjoy the what are you up to chat so thought I'd start one today.

Collect turkey and ham from local butcher. Clean bathroom. That's about it. All the rest is done. I'm smugger than a smug thing from smugsville!

Job centre virtual appointment, wrapping up things from former job and shopping if we finally find out what people are here for Christmas and how long, dealing with an adult care situation so allowed.

Making some more figures for my new nativity set. With any luck I'll actually have them all made in time. I suppose the wise men don't need to be finished yet so actually only a donkey, sheep and angel to finish by 25th. The main 3 characters are made though.
Tidy and clean the lounge.
Making soup for lunch and pie for dinner.
Mum is popping over so need to wrap presents for nieces and nephews as she will drop them on their doorstep for me.

Making a tiramisu, wrapping a few last presents, going for a run if it stops raining.

Browsing the job ads,

Nothing and it's great. Presents all wrapped and sorted, food shop done yesterday. Cards and parcels posted, shopping delivered to vulnerable relatives.
Tier 4 and it's raining so wont be going outside, DH at work.
So DS and I are in bed he is drinking hot chocolate and he is watching CBeebies whilst I drink coffee and read MN.
Heaven. The dog is with us too.

Out plans today are to do very little, relax, eat, watch films and repeat.

Nothing. Am alone because of the tier rules. No tree or decorations up, have thrown away all my cards. Just a normal week for me.

Just going to walk the dog in the pouring rain then I will ponder tonight's dinner, DD is coming tonight to babysit for us tomorrow.

DP is off getting his COVID swabs and bloods done before starting chemo tomorrow (chemo is why we need a babysitter, it is DP's first session and they have asked that he is dropped off and collected the first time, the hospital is an hour away so dragging there and back small baby would be a mission).

Hoping for a normal, peaceful, uneventful Christmas Day for DP.

I've made cranberry sauce, still need to do apple sauce, ham in coke and pigs in blankets (there's only 5 of us but we like eating!)

We also moved house last weekend and have no washing machine and had no washing machine for a fortnight before that. So I'm listening to DH struggling to find a connecting waste pipe, getting cross and talking to BIL about it.

There's always a stressful drama in our house . When me and the kids are dressed I'm taking them to Matalan for some new knickers to tide us over and quietly getting on with it.

@bloodywhitecat

Just going to walk the dog in the pouring rain then I will ponder tonight's dinner, DD is coming tonight to babysit for us tomorrow.

DP is off getting his COVID swabs and bloods done before starting chemo tomorrow (chemo is why we need a babysitter, it is DP's first session and they have asked that he is dropped off and collected the first time, the hospital is an hour away so dragging there and back small baby would be a mission).

Hoping for a normal, peaceful, uneventful Christmas Day for DP.

I hope you get that @bloodywhitecat

Wash on, going to get me and Ds dressed in a bit for a wet trip to the park - caught him trying to climb the bookcase this morning!

Then have a look at the Xmas food, work out what little bits (butter, garlic) etc I need to grab.

Nap! Maybe decorate a gingerbread house, probably go to another park. Tonight I think we'll take Ds to look at some Xmas lights.

I'm going to be cleaning the kitchen while DH goes to pick up the fresh turkey. He has just told me I need to sort out the freezer so he can put the turkey in. WTF!

We celebrate tomorrow so its really Christmas Eve for me. Busy busy day, boiled a massive pot of potatoes as soon as I got up for the potato casserole which I'm going to make and cook later, along with swede casserole. Need to make a strawberry sauce as well. Then there's the last of the cleaning to do, and need to move the presents from my room to the basement without the children seeing. Try and fit in some time outside as its snowing and who knows if it'll last til tomorrow.

Film and pizza night later, sauna and clean sheets on the beds. Then drink port while putting some of the presents out.

I might make my cranberry sauce and bread sauce but like to leave it until Christmas Eve as the smells get me in the mood. I think a long dog walk is in order to give uni DD some peace to work, no rest for her this holiday.

Got to pick up my food orders later which I'm absolutely dreading.

Going to make cupcakes later as I have probably 60 quail eggs currently 🙈

The usual clean and tidy, take care of animals, make tea. Feeling quite down so it feels a lot more than it is, but nearly there.

@Originalyellowbelly I wouldn’t freeze the turkey today. It will need a day or two to defrost! Presuming you want it for 25th!

We are off to the local farm shop to buy carrots for Rudolf and the other reindeer...it is a family tradition to do this...we get a huge bunch with all the foliage. We’ve also got to make a pumpkin pie for Christmas Eve. Later we’ll watch Christmas films...can’t wait! X

Setting up kitchen today and cleaning. Asda due any minute with fresh food. Presents all been arranged under the tree.
Bar area sorted and then tomorrow is about a sleep in, gingerbread house making , collecting dsd and eating Chinese before all prepping dinner table and playing games

Cleaned house yesterday and we have all the food we need for Christmas. We are having a lazy morning which is unlike us. Just pottering around doing the ironing etc. The weather is dire so hoping that dries out or at least lightens so we can go for a wonder. Got to sort some presents out but can’t do that while DD3 is about so that will need to wait for tonight. Hope everyone finds some moments of joy this Christmas time.

Done M&S click and collect. About to start work until 4.30 then a hair appointment. Was in 2 minds about cancelling it at the start of the week but as it seems likely we will be in tier 4 from Boxing Day I am definitely going as this might be the last chance until Easter. Then dinner followed by Sainsburys delivery and wrapping the final presents. Can't wait to put my out of office (ha ha) on later.

Benjispruce2 ha ha, I have no intention of freezing the Turkey, I just don't know how DHs mind works, sometimes I think I have another child.

I'm pottering about- house is a mess as we're having building work done , so pretty pointless trying to make it look too tidy. Going to catch up on some TV later then DH and I are off to pick up the grocery shop. I might have to do a late night Asda dash as it looks like quite a few items are out of stock

DH is doing the food shop (Germany traditionally closes down from the 24th to the 27th and as the 27th is a Sunday shops will be closed then as well). We - well me and DD - DS is still in bed - take turns in going down and carrying the stuff upstairs.

Nothing. Am alone because of the tier rules. No tree or decorations up, have thrown away all my cards. Just a normal week for me.

I am sorry to hear that @fairydustandpixies.
I am WFH today, same as every weekday.

DH is away to visit his dads grave which is afew hours away. Unfortunately covid hit our family hard a couple of months ago. So the plans today are doing some tidying (big clean complete), arts and crafts, baking and Christmas movies with the kids and copious amounts of tea. Merry Christmas all 🥰

Nice reading what everyone is up yo. I've made my nut toast, peeled some sprouts, done abit of wrapping and cleaning. I'm now watching Christmas university challenge. Paxman is talking really slowly. I'm wondering if he's OK?!