Countdown to 2016 - A whole extra day to wait...thread 2!

[MrsDilligaf]

Well hello avid countdowners....

A shiny new thread for us

Link to the last thread here

My mother despaired when I told her I would like a vintage drinks trolley! I swear she thinks I am off my rocker.

71

What a miserable wintery start to the day!

Another mad day for me today, but I must remember to organise my cards as I travel on Sunday for 2 days and I'll do most of my cards thempn.

Not too bad here, rained a bit on the bus on the way to work, it is my "baby" brothers 18th this weekend! He makes me feel so old then its my sisters birthday next weekend!

We are banned from mentioning the "C" word in front of my father until these events pass so after next weekend it is full steam ahead to Jingle Town!

Last child's birthday in the family for the year been and gone now so Xmas here I come!
DH is getting a bit antsy about my purchases as he'd like us all to be more minimalist. I do too, except re Xmas. I figure we've only got a few more years to make it all magical, and I want to make it count.
Not managed to do any RL shopping or browsing without the kids in tow, hopefully soon.

Lolly my ds1 is 3.5 and wants a scateboard and a peppa pig suitcase!

I have done a few Christmassy things this week.

Been to IKEA and bought shit loads (sorry, not very festive!) of wrapping paper. Their long rolls come up to my chest, I bought 4 and had lots of funny looks on the bus on the way home.

Also braved Westfield today - Lego shop, Smiggle and Accessorize. I might as well take out bloody shares in Smiggle at this rate. I also went to Benefit and bought my teenage cousin the 12 days of Christmas advent calendar thingie as I think it sold out quite early last year.

Ordered from Amazon the Christmas emoji bedcovers from the bargain thread.

I have a Halloween party to plan now so Christmas planning will probably take a bit of a back seat until after that.

Bless him. He has been talking about a skateboard for months. I wasn't expecting the peppa lunchbag though.

Did my son's Christmas hamper in one go today!

Cadbury's snowballs
Christmas activity pack
Elf pjs
Christmas jumper - with jingle bells on!
Ceramic Santa mug filled with marshmallows and hot choc
Giant Christmas pencil
Musical Christmas pens
"Grow your own" Snowman kit
Chocolate gold coins
The Elf Story dvd
The Night Before Christmas book

Have got all of his stocking fillers and bike... Also organised his Letter from Santa.

Doing his Christmas list tomorrow!

Same here, he doesn't even really watch peppa! I don't know if 3.5 is old enough for a skateboard.

70!!!

Mummy- I got the Tree Fu Tom skateboard for my son at 4yrs and it was perfectly suitable for him.

Other than that, this skateboard is in at Argos at the min at a reduced price. 3+

Thanks Layla, I'll get my mil to oblige him :-)

I've just whipped up a batch of smoked salt fudge. Haven't made fudge for years so hoping it's ok! If it is it'll go in people's Christmas gifts.

No problem.

I was planning to do fudge this year for family gifts from my son. Would you let me know if it's easy to do please? I was hoping to do a trial run about November time. Thanks!

I used the carnation ultimate fudge recipe but didn't take it to 118 degrees as I think that makes it too brittle. I took it to 115 and I'm waiting to see how firmly it sets up. It's lots of stirring and then beating (I use an electric hand whisk) and you have to be very careful as it's molten sugar but really it's just melting and heating.
www.carnation.co.uk/Recipes/Recipe.aspx?RecipeId=67&

It's delicious.

Thanks Mummy. Looks lovely and I'll definitely give this recipe a go!

69

Into the sixties

Yesterday felt like Christmas, DD and I went to Lakeside (there is one junction on the M25 from when we join at the A127) and it took us over TWO AND A HALF HOURS to get there.
An Incident , no idea what.
The traffic going into Lakeside was chokka (I didn't want to turn back, having sat there all that time and the traffic on the way out looked just as bad )

Car Parks though, had loads of space

I reach a turning point in winter when I say "No Lakeside/Bluewater during a weekend unless its late night"
I think it has arrived.

Blimey 70 I like being organised about Christmas but it makes me unreasonably cross if everyone else has the same idea

Present buying is coming along nicely. DMum done yesterday, DS and DD1 sorted for main presents and a few bits and bobs picked up too. DH is researching his (tech stuff) so I only have to hand over the dosh and he's getting DD2's main present.

Food wise I've started my stash of non-perishables and I will be soaking my fruit for the Christmas cakes this week. It will soak for two weeks and then I'll bake them when the schools go back after half term.

69 days and counting...

Contemplating putting my Christmas countdown calender out today hubby gives me a sideways glance

Food wise, apart from fresh veg for on the day, I'm all set and good to go! Chocolate, cake, nibbles...✔✔✔

Starting writing my Christmas cards (bought last year in the Sales!) end of the month. Free's my time up in December for Christmas Do's and Christmas markets!

I need to dig out my Christmas cake recipe and get the rest of the bits and a big bottle of brandy so I can make it next weekend.

I also need to be brave and go up into the attic to get a few bits down so I can start wrapping.

Does anyone have a nice Christmas pudding recipe? I've never attempted one before I generally buy one but I fancy giving it a go.

I have also reached the no shopping at the weekend stage. In fact, I think I might just keep that a permanent feature all year.

I was going to a concert in Knightsbridge last night so I thought I would have a quick look-see in Harrods food halls on the way. I usually buy hot chocolate from there for the DCs from the elves as it comes in a posh-looking tin and a few bits and pieces to put in the hamper I make for my parents.

But they didn't seem to have ramped up to full Christmassy mode yet in the food hall - no hot chocolate for instance. And it was absolutely rammed. Nothing like dithering indecisive posh people on a rainy Saturday night to lighten the mood .

MrsD I started a thread about 3 years ago asking for a Christmas pudding recipe. It's still here in the Christmas section if you search for it otherwise I'll post a link either when I get home tonight or tomorrow morning. I'm currently away from home visiting DMum and I'm about to descend into the lowest circle of hell or DanTDM on tour as DS calls it. Wish me luck ladies

Oooo Woolly - let me know how it goes - I am currently watching and considering whether or not to spend silly money on EBay for DanDTM tickets.

Hello all, what a lovely thread.

In terms of present buying, I'm nearly there - just need a couple of bits for my mum and dh. Oh and DBil. Aiming to be done by the start of December.

Ordered the meat last weekend, picking up on the 22nd.

Spending today looking at recipes for side dishes even though I do the same thing every year...I just love reading Christmassy recipes. Found one for a spiced toffee apple cider served hot so may make some of that for when we put the tree up.

Also have a batch of Atholl Brose on the go which will be ready by Christmas time.

Have invited DM for Christmas dinner but, as usual, she 'doesn't know what she's doing yet'....which she says every year....although I can't see any other options for her. Anyway the invite's there for her and db. I'd like to know though so I can plan the day as if she's coming we'll have to factor in picking her up or if not at least popping over to see her as we will want to see Dhs family too. my cries of dismay that she was ruining my spreadsheet based timetable were met with utter indifference, I'm afraid to say. Hope she does come though.

I think I may be down to stockings and making things now. I need to open all the boxes and check.

I agree with avoiding shops at the weekend, glad of late night shopping ramping up as it means I can nip in once dh has finished work.

Have just found out the DP can't take any days off other than the bank holidays, so it's really put a spanner in the works RE: what we are going to do for christmas, I have two weeks so I might spend most of it at my mums like a child. We live v close to DP's parents so he might stay there and go to work from there.

It is all up in the air now though!