Good Morning Mumsnet! What's everyone up to today?

[lucysmam]

I'm just finishing my first cuppa of the day then I'm off up to wrap the last couple of small presents for the girls. Two haven't arrived but never mind; they're not important ones & I'll wrap them when they do.

I've got the washer going, and another load waiting, so there's as little as possible to do over the Christmas weekend. I also need to pay a couple of bills online.

We're popping to Lidl for a couple of things we prefer from there, and hunting down a Galaxy selection box that was missing from my shop yesterday.

After that, I've something to drop in for a friend then it's home to make the gingerbread house, and some mulled wine, with the girls (wine for me, don't worry!).

Frozen pizzas for tea, probably while we build!

What about all of you? 🎄

No plans for today or tomorrow. Just scrolling through MN , looking at the rain coming against my window, and thinking to myself, it’s almost 12 years since i joined MN, & the same things crop up on a regular basis. It’s good to see AF still giving short rift answers.
I often wonder what has happened to the MN Royalty of 11 years ago, when lots of fun was had observing the banter, it made me feel part of something special, even though we never knew much about others lives, meet-ups were quite common back then, I did attend one, & was made very welcome by the group of MN ladies. So to all MN persons around the world, I wish you a safe Christmas & New Year.

The last few hours of work for me here as well. Trying to power through it or muster the energy to care! I'm going to crack on for an hour, take a shower and get back to it before a lunchtime meeting. After that, possibly a bit more work then start relaxing by cooking a chicken curry for dinner.

Off to the park, first day of holidays for dd and she's like a coiled spring. Then to tesco to get last few things as I'll be working (hotel) most of the next week. Then just some cookies to make and we'll be set.

'Damn that house, sure looks good!'

Love NL Xmas Vacation in this house!

It's a firm favourite here too. I've been holding out to watch it 😂

My 4yo was laughing all over the place at him getting stuck in the loft this week

Morning @lucysmam and all.

Hugs to those feeling poorly and sending good baby wishes to @PopsicleHustler

We all aren't long up, infact my teens are still in bed.

I've stripped all beds, always need fresh sheets for Christmas it's tradition here, DH will make them again later.

DH taking DC out for a blast of fresh air at the park this morning while I tidy round and finish a few bits off.

I need to pop out to get some cream as it was missing off our online shop.

Then late afternoon is film time we are thinking polar express, I'll make my famous slow cooker hot chocolate station everyone can help themselves too and then an easy tea probably frozen pizza.

Then when dc in bed it's final few bits of wrapping then an early night as busy day tomorrow!

Im watching the rain. One dog went out for a wee but the other flatly refuses so I'm wondering just how long he can hold it! It should let up by midday for a walk.
My daughter is bedridden with this flu going round. She's never felt so awful and it's rotten luck to get off school then get hit with this. I got a flu jab hope that saves me!
I need to vacuum and tidy for my son arriving tomorrow. And I think I've got a relative dropping in later - we have been invited to a small drinks thing at yet another relatives place - not that enthusiastic at all as I haven't seen them since my husband's funeral over ten years ago but feel pressured (by the one coming to me as she doesn't want to go alone). She lives an hour and a half a way and I'm hoping she changes her mind!
And I'm scheduled to collect the Christmas shop! Which requires cleaning out the fridge first!

I just caught up on lots of missed sleep so feeling a bit more energetic in myself.
Today is cleaning day, strip the beds etc.
finish off my wrapping.
DH is off to get the last bit of Christmas snacks that we forgot. Or need replacing
Just a nice simple day really as both dc are tired.

Just finished my third brew, tea, then coffee, then tea. Still sat in bed though.
I had to wake early as off sick, possible covid, and needed to send files across etc.
Way too busy to be ill and argued all week with DP for not being organised and doing much to help. All I want to do is chill and watch Xmas movies and instead I need to go the marks for fresh veg, get Xmas eve party food, go home (at DPs) for loads of things, sort pets, clean. DP is working but I plan to outsource as much as I can so as not to spread germs.

Lazy day here, I'm still in bed, DH has gone for a run.
Still need to wrap a few presents, then a movie this afternoon followed by a really simple dinner and a carol service this evening. Hopefully reasonably early to bed having had a few mulled wines at the carol service.

I am so busy today, this is the first time I've sat down with a cup of tea all day (its midday where I am). Tomorrow is the big day for us so today its last minute preparations all day.

So far I've popped to the shop to get buttermilk because I forgot to buy it, made dough for the Christmas bread and now its rising nicely, changed and washed the sheets, fed DS breakfast and lunch, kneaded the star bread dough that was resting overnight in the fridge, hung up washing and put another wash on.

Now I've set a timer for 30 minutes and informed the children that no one is allowed to talk to me until the timer is up!

After that I need to knead and shape the Christmas bread and bake it (requires basting with syrup water every 10 minutes), iron the Christmas tablecloth and placemats, write labels for the fudge present bags , take fudge to the neighbours. At some point I need to move the presents from my wardrobe down to the basement, probably once OH is home and can take DS outside so he doesn't see. Need to make the star bread ready and put it in the fridge so I can bake it in the morning.

Then its pizza and nuggets for dinner and watching a Christmas film, then we go to sauna. Once the children are in bed I can put the tree presents under the tree and fill the elf hat "stockings" and sneak them into their bedrooms and have a glass of sherry or two.

The tree still needs decorating too! But that's a job I delegate to the children and OH, I just put something on and I already did that when I made a very crappy straw jule goat decoration yesterday.

Was going to go to the gym but not really feeling it, as have just had a bath.
Going to pick up the turkey and gammon once dressed, and get some hay for the guinea pigs.
DS remembers that last year we did a walk around the neighbourhood to see everyone’s trees and lights and wants to do that again, so we will, if it ever stops raining.
Also want to clean the bathroom, do a last clothes wash before Christmas and set the digi box to record all the things I’ve circled in the Radio Times

Good morning! I'm at work today, finish at 7:30 then off until Boxing afternoon. I'm a nurse so feel very lucky to have time off.

Reading @Natsku ’s post I had to double check it wasn’t Christmas Eve today!

Congratulations @PopsicleHustler! Your day sounds lovely with gentle prep and exciting expectation 👶 💕 Not long now. Best wishes 🌼

Hah! It basically is for me, we celebrate on Christmas Eve in Finland

Last half day of work this morning. My afternoon will be spent cleaning and tidying getting everything sorted for my parents arriving tomorrow.

Was up and out 5.30 to do the food shop with DD15 at Sainsburys. We got there at 6 just as it opens and it was still busy!

We had a Maccy breakfast as our reward. Then home to put away food and log onto my work.

Finish at 2 so then need to pop and do few little errands locally and fetch my turkey crown from DF who ordered it for us.

Teen DD's in bed one with a cold and the other who was up to come shopping with me. This evening I need to cook my pavlova and sausage plait and then we are watching the Glass Onion on Neflix with a Bucks fizz. My eldest will have a glass or 2 as it's bucks fizz it's less alcohol!

also why does mumsnet suddenly keep making these line spaces on my posts?

Get well soon @saltedpretzel2 💐 🍫 🫖

Set of bedding in the washer. Just about to hoover, dust and do dishes. DH is going to make cooked breakfast brunch for lunch. Take kids out in car late afternoon with blankets to Starbucks drive through for hot choc/festive drinks then drive around and home to look at lights in town and villages. Steaks out the freezer for steak and homemade chips dinner. Probs a movie and snacks evening after a game of something for the youngest. Chilled.

@sunlovingcriminal
Maid Marion and Robin Hood is the panto
DD already seen it once but enjoyed it so much that we are all going tonight 😊😊

Hopefully a quiet day mostly at home, as it’s pissing with rain, though I’m going to have to drag myself to Asda at some point for some final bits needed for Boxing Day.
We’ll probably have pasta for lunch, as I need to preserve my culinary energy for the big day.
Once DD’s in bed, DP and I will put some music on and have a wrapping marathon.

Big Clean here this morning for me. First load of washing just finished, and there's one if not two more to go. DH is at the shops picking up most of the last bits of shopping apart from the turkey which needs collecting from the butcher tomorrow morning.

DDog is recuperating after surgery on her foot earlier this week, so at least we don't need to do long walks in the rain.

This afternoon, DS and DH plan to record their annual silly carol with various instruments and harmonies stitched together. They are both musical and technical geeks, so this is something they love doing every year. I'll keep out of the way with a festive film and some chocs.

Then pizza and either a board game or another episode or two of His Dark Materials this evening.

Also a household full of illness too here. Day 5 for me.
was also my birthday yesterday.
house a tip, panicking re Christmas.