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

Nods in agreement - Constantly if you need virtual hugs they are always available on here.

Clash York is a beautiful city, the minster is breathtaking and I love to go and visit. Haven't been for a number of years so I might have to rectify that.

We're going to the Bath Christmas Market this year. My parents are having Martha for a week while we decorate and we're having a sneaky day out. We went to Bath on our honeymoon so we're going to have a little reminisce and absorb the festive spirit. (I've also got a romantic vision in my mind; snow, carols, mulled wine, twinkly lights etc...)

Aaaand I'm back! No Internets for a week (was awful! No online shopping! No Xmas chat!) then took me a week to catch up on various other stuff.

Sorry things in RL are as they are, CC, hope they improve and you are ok.
Happy Belated Birthday, shortlegz.
MrsD, good luck TTC. How old are you? I had mine late too.

I hate having no internet. My Glasgow place hasn't got it yet. Thankfully my work mobile can be used as a hot spot, so I've been utilising that while I wait to be connected!

Me too. I'm all for being at one with nature and time off from tech, but I've stuff to do online!

thank you all for the hugs and good wishes.
Christmas is definitely a welcome distraction this year and my escape.
i have been reading all my Christmas fiction early so that I can wrap myself in warmth and hugs.
xxx to you all.

55

Don't forget your clocks! I am sure I won't have a bloody clue what the time actually is for a week or two...

Good morning all!

We are having the excitement of figuring out the correct time as half the clocks change themselves automatically and half don't.

constantly sometimes curling up with a festive book is so comforting. Do you have any recommendations ? I need to sort out a festive reading list!

woolly and mrsd I am very lucky to live in York, I love it. Going to the Carol service at the Minster this year too, with DM, so really looking forward to that...I love a proper Carol service but feel guilty going to our local church when I don't attend regularly .

Think I will get all mine done in advance and then just nip in for a low-pressure mooch nearer Christmas. We have a Christmas market most of December and the smells are fantastic (the products, less so - £120 for a yak hair jumper, anyone?)

I am looking forward to hallowe'en and bonfire night being over as that really signals the start of the Christmas season to me.

Just did a massive double take reading through - Vegangelist asked MrsD how old she was and Mrs D started her post with '55'

8 weeks today! Eek! After next Saturday, that's it, it'll be all systems go! I was looking at Christmas films on Netflix last night, but talked myself out of them.

Clash we're only an hour away from York, but have never done the market there. Is it worth doing early evening with a toddler? I've got a carrier, so I wouldn't need to be fighting through with a pram, but don't want us both getting squashed!

Early evening is the best time, I reckon, as it's quieter than during the day and of course you have the lights. I think they stay open later on Thursdays, as do many of the shops...so it's bustling enou to have a bit of atmosphere, but not uncomfortably so.

Sooooooooooooooooooooooo who has missed me?
No-one ?

I've been in Tenerife for Half Term ( DH and I turned 50 this year, we didn't have a Summer Holiday and wanted to be sure of sun after a disaster week in Devon last August where it pi**ed with rain 23 hours a day)

So, I am a bit tanned.
My bowels are bloaty because I thought "I'm on holiday, Diverticular do your worst". It did.

We were right opposite the shopping centres, they had lights, a Nativity scene, Father Christmas lifesized models, Christmas tree in the centre, the whole nine yards In October

Now back to CountDowning and planning.
I'm going to my DMum and DDad after Christmas , last year the travelling was way too much for them (and a load of driving for DBro) and we spent Christmas Night in A&E when DMum fell.
So, this year I'm lowering the key and doing more travel, less time off over Christmas, more over New Year.

Welcome back!!

Well 70 I did wonder where you had got to!!

Firefly & Vegan I'm 42 (43 in April) so not quite 55 (but feeling very much like 55 today)

Clash I read a very silly but sweet Christmas book by Trisha Ashley called "The 12 Days of Christmas" its on my kindle, and so I tend to read it every year. I think I have read a couple of other christmassy books so I'll have a look for some that are escapist fluff.

Speaking of books I've started buidling Martha's collection of Advent books. I can't wait to start reading them to her.

My mum gave me a stack of Christmas themed paper backs. I must dig one out.

Wilf brought me his pop up Christmas book the other morning and was asking about the soldier. I realised I know nothing about the nutcracker. So I've ordered the tom and jerry version.

Good choice Mummy

I read the story for the first time last year with DS. It was his first Christmas - we have 17 Christmas books

I don't think I've ever read a Christmas themed adult book. Don't know if I'll get time this year!

Thanks for the tip, Clash. I really want DS to experience a Christmas market with all the lights and smells, and had never thought of York!

54

Welcome back, 70. Sounds like a well-earned break there.

I like a good Christmas market. Not so much with two toddlers though. Think I'll give that a miss!

Happy Halloween!
I love Halloween because its officially the start of Christmas in this house.

Our house is all decorated and we are having a big party today, but then tomorrow the decorations get put away in the loft and the Christmas boxes come down to audit they are all in working order and no new lights needed there will be ready to go up on 1st December

can I join?

so far I have been really good re buying presents and have staggered them throughout the year.

so far for SIL I've got from Monsoon and bought with points (sign up to their points card if you haven't done already) a very similar box to one below but square for £1!

uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_14.1/1419031200

coasters (similar to some Anthropologie designs)

uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_14.1/1419206000

a necklace for SIL will go in box.

wooden box - could be for SIL's MIL (we always do presents)

Got this gift set in Superdrug for similar price for friend plus diamante hearts necklace on Ebay:-

www.gordonsdirect.com/dove-duo-ever-blossom-collection.html?gclid=CjwKEAjw19vABRCY2YmkpO2OzTsSJAAzEt8s4_ugbLzVl3Fxb94cI2WQ1o3xI0dIHMCCe6rWMDJRkRoCJ8jw_wcB

Got stag duvet cover for DB and SIL and pug throw for SIL's DB and his wife.

going to make christmas cake from recipe online

I do have more presents I think but forgot them - in cupboard but earmarked for people.

Poor little Martha... she was all dressed up Halloweeny and we didn't get one trick or treater.

She's desperate to eat a lolly but nasty mean Mummy has said no...she has just cut her first tooth and so I am determined that her teeth will be sparkly clean and filling free!

Sorry!! I meant to say of course you can join us Super welcome

DS is the Gruffalo, but wouldn't turn round to have his picture taken. Spoilsport! We only had one lot of trick or treaters, and they were after he had gone to bed. We still have quite a lot of sweets left, I think. DH answered the door, and from the chorus of 'thank you's I think there were only about half a dozen of them! I ran out last year so bought quite a lot. Maybe I need to put some decorations out next year to lure them in...

Clashcity- there is a thread (I started about Christmas reads) recently.
I will try to link later.
Hello 70!

Evening all. Hope you are all having happy halloween. Pics of kids look lovely.
I sadly came home this evening, was in for about 5 mins. Doorbell went and thought it was trick or treaters. There were two ladies who had been jogging, they found my cat. He had been hit by a car and nothing could be done. I have been sobbing. I've had to tell my Ds' who have had such a lovely afternoon at childminders- they had a party. Ds1 is gutted and has been crying in bed. He keeps getting up for cuddles.
He was such a sweet and lovely cat. I'm going to miss him

Sorry for putting a downer on thread. Not sure what to do with myself.
Reading that back makes me sound like crazy cat lady.

I am so so sorry. We've lost a couple sadly and it is so hard. I send you a picture of my cat who I shall give extra strokes to in your catty honour. Happy hunting puss cat.