How many days till Christmas 2015 then.............?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Brace yourselves and form an orderly queue.

XMas clock.com says 357 (plus 14 hours)

Happy New Year to one and all. Hope 2015 is a good one

I was sure I had posted a smiley pic as well!
Meanwhile I would welcome your advice - should I be ConstantlyChristmas or ChristmassyCooking ?

ConstantlyChristmassyCooking - why skimp at Christmas

forgot the Countdown........................ 8 days.

I could be 70isaDon'tLimittheAmountofFoodYouEat@ChristmasYouCanGetBacktoYourTargetWeightinJanuary

That rolls off the tongue eh (even though my NN is about motorways not food)

7
This time next week it will be
Christmas Eve
Eve
Eve
Eve


Bit too optimistic last week - doc signed me off for a week and I am having troubles accessing MN at home. But today, I only feel like I was hit by a 20 tonne truck, a BIG improvement as it felt like a 40 tonner on Tuesday!!

Making some progress. Bought for all the Kids now (DNs), and have ideas for a few more. I'll get there.

Started the local cards. They're taking longer than usual with nice messages, but I'll get there.

Tree is up, and a few other decorations. A lot stayed in the boxes this year, and DH hasn't put up any lights outside, but it looks nice. And the boxes are back in the storage unit, out of the way.

I am going to my office night out tomorrow, babysitter is booked as DH also has his night out. But I reckon I will be staying sober and heading home by about 10 or 11, to maintain my energies. DH has to go down to MIL again on Sat overnight - she hasn't let him have a proper weekend at home since his dad got sick, but I am going to put my foot down about the latter part of Christmas being for us to hunker down in our house and that he will not be able to travel as much in January (he's travelling internationally a lot for work at the moment so he is absolutely shattered).

Played Kringle Radio on my way to work this morning which was cheerful.

1 week to go!!!

6 days.
This time next week will be Christmas Day or on this thread.

Oooouchhh Biddy sounds like you've been walloped with a reet nasty lurgy.
40 tonne truck to 20 tonne truck sounds like progress.
Milkfloat tomorrow then you should be ok for your Work ShinDig.

I;m watching QVC whittering on about coats. Thinking about what christmas present DH can buy me but I don't need a coat, I cannot wear one at the moment with my flushes (what a catch eh? )

I'm aiming to hear The Pogues out in the shops , it's the anniversary of Kirst MacColl's death so a fitting tribute if I do . And I'll sing along, I don't have shame.

5 days
…………….
………..
,,,,,,,

i have broken up from school.
I have written and posted cards.
i am reading Christmas books
and I have my Christmas user name

Later than I'd normally do it but all the cards are written and posted. DH has just two to write... I haven't checked his progress.

I'm spending today getting the laundry done, dried, ironed and put away. I have got to pop out and get some photos printed and a few odd bits from Tesco in between loads as well.

I am hoping that I can stick to my plan of jobs to do otherwise I'll be up all night!!

Jesus christ on a bike, I went into town this morning it was so busy I left after just over an hour. I wanted a couple of new tops to wear, I managed to get a couple of sparkly things as H&M and Primark were selling off all the Christmas clothes. I have no idea how busy it would of been this afternoon! I am now done apart from the bulk of the food shopping. Cant wait

4

(how on earth is that even possible )

DH and I went shopping very early on Saturday (the DC were still asleep )
It was fairly quiet when we got to the shops (maybe 8.15) but it got busier. Not as bad as I thought it would be for the last Saturday.

I know 70. Christmas is this week! After all the months of thinking about, Christmas is here. I am trying to relax and enjoy it. I need to buy a few last minute gifts and then do the food shop. Other nice tasks include wrapping presents.

3
How come I still have some presents to buy?

OK, progress is being made (good) but not enough (bad).

I mopped the floor yesterday, and hoovered.

I cleaned the downstairs bathroom for a change (I usually only remember upstairs so ignored that one - DH might do it, or I might during the week).

I changed DD's sheets to the Christmas ones (finally!). I also set up her stuffed animals having a readathon of her Christmas books, tiger and big bear sharing the Horrible Histories under a rug, baby snowman reading the Snowman, and Max (her Build-a-Bear) changed into his Elf costume reading to 3 small teddies. DH was "meh" about it, DD was wondering why they were all reading her Christmas books, but wouldn't let me tidy them up!

We did some shopping on Saturday before DH and DD went down to MIL overnight, so DH and I are OK for Christmas itself but still need a few things for immediately after that (wider family). Everything that has been bought (from DH and I) is now wrapped. DD still has some wrapping to do, but bought the last of her presents over the weekend.

And I did take it easy while DH and DD were away - I watched 10 episodes of the West Wing on Saturday in front of the fire, and stayed in bed yesterday morning until I felt like getting up. And while I then worked constantly all day, I went slowly and had nice Christmas music going as well.

But I haven't yet finished the cards. Last posting day is today, officially. I have a long session tonight to finish writing - about 25 to go. I do have a bundle going in todays post.

I also have to get either 2, 3 or 6 chocolate Santas for my office - and can't find any. Boss bought wine for everyone so can't get that, but this is for my own staff, with boss, or with everyone in the group.

M&S is almost out of wrapping paper. I have just enough for this year, but need to restock for next year and reckon I'll have to get it in the early release next Sept rather than in sales.

Left to do for this year though:
Write cards
Write cards for teacher and resource teacher in school (Afterschool club done and sent)
Make chocolate truffles (for school (5 bags) and family gifting (exponential numbers available))
Make packing lists
Pack suitcases
Parcel up presents by destination household
Find Chocolate Santa figures for work

Ring my parents about Christmas and NY arrangements
Ring DSis 1 about DD birthday party
Ring DBro2 about Christmas travel

Finalise mince pies and Irish coffees in the office (Wed)
Go see Star Wars tomorrow (end of school treat)
Sleep (lots needed)

And yes, I have slowly been returning to near normal - so I did go out (and even had 2 G&Ts rather than complete sobriety) for work shindig, but I was home for 10.30. DH rocked in about 12.30, which annoyed DD as 10 minutes earlier she was begging to sleep in our bed as he wouldn't be home until much later!! (Her annoyance was that I had said it could be 5 minutes or 4 hours before he arrived, so I was almost right).

Am beginning to doubt I'll get all the jobs done on my list. DH is working stupid shifts this week so he can't pitch in (but then he wouldn't clean properly so I'd just re-do it)

I am fannying about doing silly things instead of the things that need doing....

2

I need to do some tidying and shopping .
Absoluely k-nackered . Need to get to sleep now,

Nearly Christmas

The Christmas cake is marzipanned but naked of icing and looking judgy.

I know what you mean about Christmas paper and chocolate figures disappearing from shops. I finally went to buy last presents yesterday and found primark had NO Christmas stuff left and low stocks elsewhere. I think lots of shops reduced things heavily at the weekend so they wouldn't have much for the sales.
Biddy I think you're in Ireland if so this tip might not help wh smiths had lots of Christmas santas and snowmen yesterday.
Now to marzipan the Christmas cakes and make choc covered marzipan and fruit slices.

Last night, DH went for "1 drink" with a friend/colleague after work, and got home at 11.30!! (Fell in home would be more accurate - he was talking on the phone to his DM as he walked home, who was already in bed at that stage). So I had him in rhapsodies about the spiced beef dinner (which he nuked at that stage - I had long since eaten!). While I tried to finish the Christmas cards (last posting day yesterday, the last big bundle got into the postbox this morning).

DD was unsettled for the evening, although she did write cards to ALL the girls in her class (I was only letting her do it if she had 1 for them all, not leaving out 2 she's not great friends with). She didn't want to do any for boys even though she's good friends with a few. But she has gone in to school despite mutinies this morning (routines changing and lots of uncertainty over the next few days because of wider events, we usually have a better idea, so her aspie traits are on overload, and then the only thing she could control was torn away from her as, between DH and herself, they left her DS lite down in DMILs house at the weekend so it couldn't go to school today after getting permission yesterday - we'll get it again on Thursday, but that didn't help today). My aim, over Christmas, is to teach her DH's mobile number to be able to ring him, not always me on the train, trying to sort problems!

Then when I was done with the cards (I was mostly laughing at DH's antics, although him tickling me when I was writing was not allowed!), he wandered off to bed (cos I was no fun!!) while I rolled out and covered the choc truffles for school teacher and resource teacher. I only did those 2, the minder will be done tomorrow so we can drop them over then. I gave up at 12.30 and went to bed.

I have no idea where I am on my lists anymore. A full day at work today and tomorrow, and need to come in for a bit on Thurs. Bought the crisps DD was looking for this morning in M&S, although they had no nice lunches (all turkeys and collections instead).

But we are going to Star Wars tonight together. And I have Irish coffees and Christmas cake in the office tomorrow afternoon (so can't go shopping in the car later).

No packing done yet. Realised I need 2-3 more presents to bring with us - DH's uncle who has been very good and a cousin same, and a stocking filler for my DBro. Need to buy the veggies for DSIL dinner, will prep in MIL's house. Should bring flowers to MIL as well.

Oh, God, there's only 2 days left!!! Don't panic, Mr Mannering, Don't PANIC!!!!!

Actually, looking at yesterday's panic, I am not as bad as I feared.

I DID ring DSis1.
DD DID wrap her presents.
I did write and post cards.
Made truffles for school (but didn't write cards )
DD sorted all the presents into bags by destination house.
And I did text DBro about his address and spiced beef, so hopefully he will respond to that and we can discuss travel arrangements.

MUST ring my parents today though, and forgot I need to ring DSis3.

Yup, I'm in Ireland, but thanks for the thought Constantly
M&S were down to 3 boxes of paper, none of them full, this morning - on the main shopping street! Definitely either less stock ordered, the pre-Christmas sales have worked, or the economy is actually in recovery and people are buying again.

70s and Constantly, enjoy the decorating of cakes today!!

And a few

I forgot about the "interesting" conversation DD had with me last night, while I was cooking dinner and she was wrapping and looking at the 2 cards that arrived for her yesterday. 1 of which was an answer from Santa via the Post Office (well, An Post). They didn't use her SAE which she'd enclosed with her own letter. They sent her the printed standardized card (lovely, really not knocking it and much nicer than the postcard sent a few years back). But with An Post branding all over it. So lots of Qs about that and why it said An Post when it was supposed to be from Santa and Mrs Claus......

She's a right cute whooor - we reckon she hasn't fully believed for at least the last 2 Christmases but hasn't asked the question formally, and lets on that she does believe. But she was telling her BFF all about what she was getting from Santa, for definite!!, back in October based on 1 suggestion of something she might like to ask for from DH (BFF is a neighbor and the Mom told me on the Q T ).

1 (and 23 hours according to xmasclock )

So............

Shopping (food) done
Need to get beer but I need to go to Tesco/Asda for that
Cake iced and decorated
Baked cheesecake done
Steak for pie cooked , will put in freezer later

Bed for D Parents made up.
Need to put the non slip grips in the bath and attatch the handrail we bought (to help DMum get in/out the bath)

Towels all washed
Taking DD shopping tomorrow, last minutes things
Hair dyed (haven't looked at it yet)
Presents wrapped
Bathroom cleaned

I need to run all the glassware through the dishwasher and have a run round with the vacuum.

Collapse in greasy heap , will have a nice bath tomorrow night , facepack, early night .

Both DS and DD have finally mentioned all the little things that they would like that make stockings funand I lost my definitive Christmas shopping grocery list and had to use a replacement yesterday meaning that I forgot some stuff. Also DD has requested a Christmas Eve hamper (she is 16 and wants the whole pjs and hot chocolate thing) so I will put that together. However, I think I am on track for being on schedule for tomorrow.
I still need to wrap, but having teens means you can get up early to do it instead of staying up late!

I have to go out and get an international stamp for DCousin's card - DSis only JUST sent his address, and all my stamps are at home (I am at work).

My massage, to get knots worked out, has moved but at least is still on.

I have been doing lists this morning, and I think it's manageable. Mostly. But I may be rolling sodding truffles again at midnight tonight to get it all done. (I am not making mince pies - I will buy ready roll pastry and bring a jar of mince meat to put them together in MILs and Mums' houses). But I have to put mince meat into jars.

Star Wars was great though last night, and DD really enjoyed it too.

And I did find choccie Santas for my 2 staff, and smaller figures for the others in the office, so I delivered those this morning.

Getting there...and may get there before I go round the twist!!

About to depart for parents.

Wishing all on countdown a lovely Christmas .