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

Mummy when I went for my first scan with Martha the sonographer said "come on then, let's go and see if there's one, two or even three babies in there" Mr D's face was a picture.

He is completely head over heels for Martha so if/when No 2 arrives I'll be waaaay down his list of affections (as I should be ❤)

Biddy you are the busiest person I know. Please tell me how you do it!! I used to be organised but these days I need an extra 4 hours in the day.

Handbag hope you feel better soon. I think you have done the right thing...relax!

Have been cooking up a storm today - Martha has got a choice of Parsnip, pea and pear or Carrot, sweet potato and apple. DH has corned beef hash - nowt posh for him

65

Closer!

Bought my Christmas jumper today. A tasteful pink/white sparkly snowflakes number. Hubby has refused to wear one and my son's has bells on!

Saw a great deal on Wowcher earlier, too. £19 for a ladies hamper - 2 Yankee candles, Prosecco, Milk Tray and a cuddly toy. I'm tempted to buy it for my Sis-in-law.

Layla Where is your chrismas jumper from? I am looking for a nice "tasteful" one to wear with a grey tulle skirt to the ballet!

This one was from M&S outlet at Cheshire Oaks HairsprayBabe.

Oooh that is lovely!
I was tempted by the snowy Paris jumper in Bonmarche, I know I know, in my defense I was in there with my mother! But it didn't look like it had a nice fit so i didn't bother, I may have to go try it on now and all of their christmas tshirts

A quick hello to all as I whizz past!!

MrsD, I hope you are feeling better! Another cutie like Martha would definitely be something to aim for

Woolly, you sound well sorted. I really love the idea of no shopping in December (some year, I may actually achieve that!).

Layla, that looks soft and cosy, and perfect for curling up beside a fire with a glass of wine and a book. Or a tramp around outside with some furry boots. Pink and grey would go well together Hairspray?!

MrsD - me, organized? Hahahahaplonk (that last was me falling off the chair laughing!). My desk is currently piled high. I never did the paperwork last night as jet lag caught up with me (well, overseas trip lag - only 1 hour difference but those meetings are all day and very intense!). My accounts are in a mess. The house is scattered with piles of clutter. But I am trying to get a hold of things again - it's pretty busy right now (school start was always busy, and quite a lot on at the moment - but late November should see a few quiet(er) weeks/weekends, and I am expecting to do a lot to pull life back into a more normal mode in January/February).

I was going to bring home DH's present from under my desk, to wrap over the weekend while he's away - but we're sharing the car in the afternoon. And he told me last night of something he wants that is not the cheapest (so he may end up with 2 presents). But I need to get a few more things organized soon, I had got some and then hit a plateau with no buying at all for weeks! So I need to start again.

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Thanks Layla, I'll be near a Home Bargains at the weekend so will take a look :-)

And if I get anything I'll remember to hide it straight away as DD found one of her presents yesterday...

I've just realized that we are at 63 tomorrow - which means only 9 weeks to go people!!!!

AAAGGGHGHHHHHHH

Please tell me not to panic, it will all be alright!!

I bought a book as part of DH's present this morning. There was a cyclist who spent 3 months cycling the length of the iron curtain, who was interviewed on radio yesterday and sounded like something DH would enjoy.

But I am so far behind where I normally am. Life is just going too fast at the moment and I cannot see it slowing down much - maybe in mid November there will be a slight lull but DH and I had a meeting with school yesterday which implies that it won't...I think I need to have a mini-breakdown to myself...day to day though is still going on ok, and I am going to a party tonight, and a hike in the mountains tomorrow morning (slightly counterintuitive - but if the 27 Cubs are all walking in a straight line, they can't all be screeching and shouting at us Leaders too much and we can all be hungover together in relative peace!).

I'm ahead of where I normally am, I think. I need to do a stock take when I'm back at home next weekend (we are all up in Glasgow for half term week, as this is where I work during the week). I also need to assess the wrapping paper situation so I have 'mummy and daddy' paper and 'Santa' paper (3 yo DD saw one of DS' presents, so we now have to wrap things differently!).

We are doing well at hoarding Nectar points to pay for stuff too as we are up to £113 today! Don't think I've ever had that many before. Has the November double up been confirmed yet? I need my free booze! 😂

I think I'm ahead. Ordered a neck warming thing from wowcher for my mum.

Dh just goes to town sometime between the 20th and 24th and does all his then. Although last year there were road closures so he went to the nearest shopping bit, which consists of a tescos, matalan and Argos.

He has been told never to do that again.

Does anyone know when morrisons Christmas slots become available? Is it just the standard three weeks? I know Sainsburys and tescos are around the 26th.

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Clash I was in our local Morrison's yesterday and thought they were being very restrained about Christmas. The Halloween aisle was in full swing but apart from tubs of Heroes and Quality Street there wasn't any visible Christmas stuff. No doubt if I pop in on 1st November it will look like Santa's grotto . I usually prefer Morrison's festive food range - we always order their bakery chocolate chip panettone.

Tesco on the other hand looks like the tinsel fairy has visited.

I read somewhere online that Morrisons' slots are already open, Clash. I've no idea if that's true or not, however!

We've been to Asda today and it's Christmas and Halloween in full swing in different aisles! 😂

Off to investigate!

We were in tescos this morning, still only one Christmas aisle here.

I do wonder how much short-dated stuff they actually sell. Still, must be enough or they wouldn't do it, I guess.

Much prefer morrisons to tesco though.

Ah I've just been on live chat with morrisons, it's 2nd November.

Think I'm going to go for the 22nd in case there's stock problems. It's the first time doing a delivery for the Christmas food but I am dreaming of a lovely stress-free run up to Christmas and avoiding the supermarkets,. Last year it felt like I lived in tescos during the week before!

At least you found out today so you're prepared for it, Clash. 😀

I'll get a delivery on 23rd. We are also collecting our Booths (fancy!) order that day. At least I'll have time to fetch anything that's missing on 24th. Though last year the delivery on 23rd was delivered in full without substitutions, so hopefully this year will be the same.

I've already got my Christmas shopping trolley full!! I move my Tesco delivery date every day or so and will get it delivered on 23rd - like you say it'll give me time to whip out and get anything that's out of stock (to be honest Tesco have been pretty good in the past)

Have been out hunting for a Halloween Costume today and been into B & M. They have got loads of stuff in and some really nice decorations which I shall pop back in for next week. Martha was having a mega grump so I wasn't hanging abut.

She's been a pain in the bottom all day and at the rate she's going she's going to end up on the naughty list. She's had around 30 minutes sleep today since 10.00 so she'll either be sparko by 7.00 and not stir until tomorrow morning OR she'll have me up and down like a fiddlers elbow all night.

Me too, MrsD...I've moved it to 12th Nov today.

That way I can just shift it to 23rd as soon as the slot opens on 2nd rather than faffing to get a whole order done!

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Fiddlers elbow.....

Oh dear MrsD - you have my sympathies. I vaguely remember those days. We had visitors overnight including a toddler. My youngest is nearly 10 and it shocked me how quickly I have forgotten about things like plastic plates and high chairs. I had to go scrabbling in the cutlery drawer for a small fork and a very faded barbie spoon.

DH and DS have just taste tested the Christmas chocs I may have helped a bit and we are having a lovely cozy film afternoon.

61

Good weekend everyone?

Hi
I've spent the weekend making decorations and gifts (crocheted my dad a hat and made some mini wreaths and snowflakes). Also managed to do a secret shopping trip to the local craft shop with my nephew as we're going to make some gifts for dsis that he can give her on Christmas morning (she has recently separated from ex and won't get much to open). He seems to want to make a giant card and a snowman.
Does anyone know of any easy, cheap gifts we could make please? He's 7

I had to come looking for the thread it had fallen of my "I'm on" page!

Not got any xmas shopping done this weekend as planned, I am a big bag of trash!

Did finish making my halloween costume and some jellies for my hampers though!

Well, this weekend flew by!

(Although, I had a fair amount of social activity included - Scouts party for adults - leaders, parents, former members - which ended at 2am!, followed by bringing Cubs up a mountain at 10am!, neighbours came in for a glass (or 3) of wine on Saturday night, and I was doing other Scout-y stuff while DD was sailing training on Sunday).

But I also managed to get the laundry under control (only a half load of darks in the hamper now, and everything already dry is folded away). I bought some nice bulbs for the front garden to replace the tulips and anemones that seem to have died off, planted out the leeks that have been waiting 5 weeks at least, cleaned out the ashes and washed the glass door of the stove (and we lit the fire, cosy!), and I got the worst of the housework done too like emptying bins, hoovering sitting room, sweeping floors etc. And I cleaned out the old candles from the bathroom, and had lovely new ones that worked, making lovely dancing flames for a nice relaxing bath last night.

I need to concentrate this week on tidying a few more "hot spots", finishing emptying suitcases, and repacking for a weekend trip, and paperwork - that is falling sadly behind. And I have every intention of spending at least 2 lunchtimes on shopping related duties!

I need some help please. DMum has confirmed that she will be here for Christmas and I am a bit stumped for a few stocking fillers.

She has already had her main present as it was something she wanted and needed straight away. Coming from a big family with lots of siblings I was securely sat in the smug zone having got in first BUT we do stockings on Christmas morning and I don't want her to be sat here like a lemon while we open ours.

So our usual format is
Pants & socks
Toiletries/make up
Chocolate or sweets
One or two useful bits linked to a hobby or interest
Something to read.

She's mid 80's.

I'll probably buy tights instead of pants and socks as I'm sure neither of us would be comfortable with me purchasing her new Sloggis
I can get her hand cream and maybe some nice shower gel
I know what sweets she likes
And then I'm stumped! She doesn't knit anymore. Only likes one particular author (who I think may be dead so no hope of a new release for Christmas). No interest in gardening.
No interest in film, theatre or concerts.

I did see the "What can I buy my 84 year old mother?" thread but that was for main presents. Help me, please.

Trying to think of what we used to do for DHs gran who was a bit tricky to buy for.

Scented/nice candles
Mini teapot with tea leaves and strainer
China teacup
Photo frame with nice pic from the year
Nice scarf/gloves
Microwavable neck warmer thingy (yup, that was the year we ran out of ideas!)
Smelly drawer sachets thingies
Bed socks
Crossword puzzle book
An autobiography (preferably of someone who didn't have a drug and sex fuelled past - we made that mistake one year!)
Diary
Calander (spelling?!)
'Vouchers' for a trip to her favourite cafe/restaurant
DVDs - lots of older tv series on DVD now
CDs - there's some great 50s/60s ones out there if she's into that.