Countdown to 2016 - a whole extra day to wait.

[AbbyCadabby]

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[santa]

Woo new countdown thread! I took part in the Christmas bargains thread last year but want to get properly excited from now! Ds us 16mo so hoping by the next time it rolls round he'll enjoy it [santa][santa][santa]

I drove past a house with an outdoor tree festooned with lights (all lit up)

Either they love the look , CBA taking them down and changing the timer, or they are hyper prepared for next Christmas.

Cold here too with the threat of snow about three weeks late

Can I gatecrash? I'll admit I usually lurk.

I have terrible post-Christmas blues atm. I hate seeing all the bargain bin Christmas reductions next to the shiny, ostentatious Easter crap.

I'm not ready to move on. I need to grieve.

Showy I have a bad case of the January Blues too.

There is a house around the corner that is still fully decorated and lit up. I tutted so loudly driving past it yesterday that my DH thought the car was making a funny noise

Ooh, look at so many new people.

Tesco had some more bits in the sale, I just bought a foil hanging thing reminiscent of the 70s, a bit like this, for 38p!

Hello and can I join you?

I love, love, love Christmas. We started celebrating on 19th December and our last celebration meal was on 1st January when we welcomed the new year in.

I've bought a Christmas present for my BiL and some crackers too. DH was so thrilled to find some 'fill your own' crackers reduced, so I will definitely need help with suggestions to fill them.

Last Christmas was very special as it was DGS first Christmas. He was only 11 months, but loved all the lights and wrapping paper.

This Christmas was a bit flat. My darling grandma went into a home last year (against her wishes, I mean she begged and cried) and she was too frail to come home for the day. She wasn't at the head of the table where she belonged (we spent all afternoon with her though ), my brother's dc were with their mum and I started a new job in Nov after 8 years of being a SAHM. I was so busy at work, juggling the youngest starting preschool and dealing with some other Stuff that I feel like Christmas 2015 was suddenly here and I'd chased it down without time to appreciate it. Like I'd shoehorned in all the traditions but failed to appreciate them.

It's silly to be so upset about it but Christmas is my favourite time of year. It's such a joy usually.

I'm determined to lay the foundations early this year and plan better. It's not about things and money and stuff but the little things like being late or too busy to go to light switch ons, not fitting in a carol service.

I need you to make me do it right this year.

Got some bargains today so I am V happy. Good old M & S

V posh cards £1.00 so I bought 2 packs, Christmas cards for Mum & Dad and one for sis & NIL £1.00 each and crackers reduced from £29.50 to £6.00

Got to go and pick up an order from Boots on Thursday so may see what they have left and re-stock the pressie cupboard for the year!

Thanks biddy I love the Christmas season and already have lists !!! Will thoroughly enjoy this thread

Showofhands Oh it must have been hard fitting it all in with starting a new job, but you can learn from your mistakes of Christmas 2015 to make Christmas 2016 the best ever. Are you full time or part time? I'm freelance, and this year i'm not going to take much on in December, if anything.

Think i'll start picking up presents from beginning March for family members. Will start on DD beginning October, after her Birthday. I've started saving already, put my first £3 on my Asda card yesterday, and planning on putting £10/£20 a week away in an online saver. I still have £350 left in it from last Christmas

ShowOfHands I had the same kind of Christmas in 2014, that I think you had in 2015. My dad was sick, had surgery, treatment to be organised, my youngest was in nursery school, all of a sudden it went from 1 November to 21 December in what seemed like 2 days . The Christmas just passed (2015), I made a real effort to do things with my time instead of just shoehorning events in. It worked out really well, we had a lovely Christmas, it was still a bit aaggh - 3 kids at primary, 3 different nativities, all the usual lifting and laying but it was definitely more "Christmassy".

I hung about on the bargain threads - got presents bought early and just put them away, no second guessing after the event! I picked a few important things to me that I wanted to do and just let everything else slide a bit. I know what you mean Christmas is my favourite time of the year and when it just passes it's a bit soul destroying.

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Wigglesrock and ShowofHands, I am definitely in the same boat after this year. DFIL got sick in early October and died early November, so we spent the entire autumn traveling up and down to "home", while juggling school and work as best we could. DH was still doing some travelling for work, so I barely saw him. DMIL found it really really hard, so we've had to be down most other weekends since, even apart from "events" weekends (month's mind, another family funeral etc). And we had intended staying at home for Christmas, but went "down home" instead without our usual backup of a rented cottage to sleep in (only at Christmas but vital then normally to escape - both our families live close together!).

So Christmas this year was: Both had to work Christmas Eve morning (DH usually off), DD came in with me, drove "down home" after. Slept in 1 house that night, overwhelming family stuff, turkey dinner, drove to other house, major underlying tensions of some sort (never enquired to avoid bringing it out but never found out either), another turkey dinner, slept there, into DSis house for DD birthday celebrations, back to 1st house for tea and more overwhelming family tensions, POURED rain the whole time so no chance of a walk to escape (usually much needed after 2 turkeys!). Drove home and followed by DSis that same night, her DH arrived following night, had 1 family day )went to climbing walls and actually did have fun) before travelling across the country for more family stuff (and underlying tensions again in both groups), get home late Saturday, do fast food shop, spend all day Sunday doing child protection training, go to work Monday. And the run up was so uncertain that we didn't manage to do anything we normally do (I had been out sick so didn't even have Christmas lunch with my office, and DD missed every single one of her many Christmas celebrations with clubs - meanwhile her DCousins were going to all of theirs and DSIL was being snarky about not understanding why we were so exhausted and unseasonal - having not done a lot at all and all her family still completely in their normal routines).

So next year, will at least be different. I WILL Be taking some time out for ME. And we will take time out for OUR FAMILY.

I am also not putting thought into lovely and meaningful stocking fillers for my siblings, when I literally got tat and freebies and regifted rubbish put into mine. So the stocking fillers are already done as I just bagged up what I got for next year's regifting! I know, so Grinch-like, but a couple of DSibs annoyed me in particular about even doing them this year (lastminute.com jobs so I'd already bought decent presents for most that were no good!).

I did do something last night. Well, 2 things.

I wrapped the last of the presents for my DAunts and DUncles (I hadn't yet seen them but hope to at the weekend, so finished buying earlier in the week).

And I sorted the wrapping paper corner - I had loads more ribbons than I thought, and older paper saved to reuse (in good condition), threw out some not so good condition paper, and put all the tissue paper and labels together in separate bags as well.

I know I need to get more Christmas paper (I have a single roll of a silver pattern, and enough for probably 1 toy of a children's pattern left), but I will wait until M&S bring theirs out in Aug/Sept as I really like the cutting grid. And they had no nice paper left 10 days before Christmas (and only 1 box left on Christmas Eve!!) to stock up then.

Sorry, this wasn't meant to be an essay

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What a busy, and slightly rubbish, week it's been. David Bowie's death really floored me (and DD) - I feel daft, I never get upset about famous people dying. But he was my lifelong hero (same with DD) and I couldn't stop crying on Monday. Also DD and I have both been ill (d&v), the foot I broke in September has been playing up and the weather has been foul. And to cap it all, it's three weeks today since Christmas Day... Three weeks ago now I was preparing Christmas dinner

What a ray of sunshine I am! It's not all bad though. On Wednesday I ventured out for the first time in days (cheers, d&v) and got so many festive bargains - wrap for 10p a roll in Waitrose, yet more lights for £2.50 in Tesco (100 indoor/outdoor microlights, much nicer and less WAAAAAAAH!!!!-bright than LEDs I think), family Christmas cards for 29p and fleece Christmas lounge pants for £1.99 from M&S and of course, it was Boots 70% off day. Many a bargain was had - pretty much all DD's stocking fillers and makeuppy bits bought. I spent about £40 but saved about £120! Best of all, it's a whole load of presents ticked off the list already. Even by my own standards I'm super-organised this year!

VillageFete your Christmas Eve sounds magical! Carols from Kings is a massive part of our Christmas Eve - it signifies the magical part of Christmas where everything switches over from being a bit panicky and chaotic to the time when Christmas proper begins - everyone's in the house and the door is shut on the outside world, the house is calm and twinkly and smells of wonderful things cooking, and there's a lovely hum of excitement. I always think that late Christmas Eve afternoon, just as it's getting dark, is the most magical part of Christmas. Sigh. Only eleven and a half months to go!

Btw there's a house on my street with all its decs - lights (indoor and out), tree, the works - still up. I'm torn between thinking they're crackers/envy

Off to celebrate my calm tummy with the last of the leftover cheese and crackers - there's and unopened hunk of Wensleydale with my name on it

Ophelia Glad to hear you are better. Soooo many people were left devastated after Bowie's death, he was an incredibly talented man, same with Alan Rickman I just loved "little drummer boy" with Bing & Bowie. I also loved the beginning of the Snowman were Bowie narrated.

Oh Christmas eve was magical, it's just the best day of the year by far. Carol's from Kings encompasses everything that Christmas is truly about to me.

I was driving home from a work thing at 1am last night, radio was crap so I put Shakin Steven's "Merry Christmas everyone" on

Wensleydale and Fruit Cake My innards would not speak to me again

I thought that , about The Snowman film when David Bowie died. The lovely narrative bit where he's in the attic (though the DVD I have has the author talking)

I haven't had a look for any bargains (nowhere to put them )

When the DC were little , Christmas Eve was lovely, they were so excited and we had our Traditions .
Now they're teenagers, it all goes by the by.
Though last year DD and I went to London on the 23rd , it was quite quiet surprisingly.
That might be a new Tradition for us

Got a few present ideas lately. Might use them for the summer birthdays instead though.

DD went ice skating today, it is one of those temporary ones (Brighton Pavilion). Definitely making it an annual tradition :)

Christmas Eve is certainly magical with DD, she's 6 and is really in to it, but in a few years I know quite a bit of the magic will be lost. She probably won't believe, won't want to track Santa and listen to Santa update etc, but we'll continue with watching the Snowman, baking on Christmas eve morning, sprinkling reindeer dust whether she likes it or not And i'm hoping i'll have one more child sooner than later so will hopefully have many more years of these traditions.

I often think in years to come, when she's grown up, what will Christmas eve be like? I think it will involve prepping for Christmas day, baking, Christmas music, Snowman on in the background i'm obsessed with it then a trip to the pub for lunch and festive drinks with friends or family, home for carol's from Kings, a little buffet and prosecco and then midnight mass. I'll still make it magical. It's just the best day of the year.

Village my two DDs are both quite grown up (one over 20, one late teens). On Christmas Eve they are more excited than their little brother who has just turned 9 and I wonder if we have had our last Santa Christmas with him. The girls are the ones that track Santa once they get up at the crack of noon and they are the ones that insist on Christmas movies and music and any of the other traditions that have built up over the years. DS just loves that DH is home for 2 weeks and he can play Mario kart with him.

Christmas Eve in this house sees any last minute prepping followed by the children's service at church. We come home from church and have party food and champagne/appletise and watch Elf. The girls then help with the presents before they go to bed.

I am looking forward a bit to not having to "do Santa". I think I'd love to see all the presents beautifully wrapped in coordinating papers I'm looking at you DH all stacked up under the tree.

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Picked up a few bargains in the Boots sale so am feeling very impressed with my haul. I was hoping I'd find a few Christmas bits for the baby but nothing doing.

I finished off the last of the Christmas biscuits yesterday. I'm tempted to crack open the after eights but I'd better share them with DH.

back to normal name again now!
I was very pleased yesterday I got some crackers in M&S reduced from £19.50 to 1.99! They are now sitting in my Christmas cupboard alongside the foil roasting trays for 10p.
This year I did a Christmas Eve hamper at the suggestion of DD (16) and it went down very well and will now become a feature.

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I might have a nosey in M&S tomorrow (I need to buy some underwear anyway) .
I usually buy my Christmas Crackers to match the table theme .....cream and gold at Christmas, still sitting in the blinking cupboard

I liked the look of the triangular ones (no 'bang' ) so if they have them, I might buy some .
I needed 8 so I wasn;t going to pay for 2 boxes of 6 (I'm very tight fisted )

Christmas Eve Hamper is a rule in our house, even DS (16) secretly appreciates his .

I'm watching Walliams and Friend, that David Walliams Christmas special, on iplayer. I think it was on Christmas Eve, but I missed it. The Christmas-themed sketches are making me all nostalgic for Christmas, especially with the snow we had today! DD1 built her first snowman this morning! ⛄

Ah, Woolly, that gives me hope. I, like VF, wonder how Xmas will be once DC don't believe in Santa. Hope ours will continue to be magical forever.
Can't believe Xmas was only just over three weeks ago. Feels like ages.

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I managed to get a nail varnish set (a fairly posh one) in Boots for a DNiece on Saturday, and 4 nice big Santa gift bags for 75% off in local stationary shop as well. So I don't need to rely on having a few large shopping bags next Christmas for going to visit the various households.

Otherwise, just tried to keep up with DD's punishing schedule, didn't even get to the storage to put away the rest of Christmas. But DH and I did get a walk by the harbor while DD was at a birthday party, so that was a bonus!

Aah Wooley that gives me hope! Christmas Eve is just so magical and I so want it to stay that way.

Can't stop thinking about Christmas, I really want to make thus year's the best ever. I am going to be so organised and will then have time to do countless festive activities. The Christmas tree in my village is still up, although they have taken the lights off it. I have movies 24 on in the background at the moment and it's a Christmas film [santa]