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

I'm going back for This.

Thanks for the link, constant I'll take a look, really need some festive reading now!

Sorry for everyone who's poorly or having to deal with poorly people.

I'm loving that all the decs are coming out! Dh unilaterally decided after an ahem splurge a few years ago that I can get one, one new decoration a year. This has somewhat backfired as it means I spend ages obsessing over Christmas displays trying to find the perfect one...

Handbag some of the ikea stuff was lovely - very Nordic as you would expect.
They don't seem to have the full range yet - no fake poinsettias yet, but they Christmas elves and robins were tempting (and I gave in to that temptation
I will be back there at the weekend and try to take photos.

I hope all of the poorly people are better soon. No fun sharing a house with sick people! 😷

I've spent a fortune today as we got DH's Christmas / birthday present of a new waterproof from one of the specialist shops here. That was my last one to get though, so I'm now done! 🎄🎄🎄

Feeling poor (but at least not poorly) as we just got hit with a massive unexpected bill, gutted. And it feels like money down the drain. DH has said Xmas will have to be on a tight budget, gahhhh. I desperately want to get a few more magical things, e.g. xmas duvets (The Range looks fab, must try and get to one) before DS (6) starts questioning the existence of you-know-who. I'm going to try and sell some baby stuff and raise some funds, what a palaver though.
Must remember to be grateful for all we do have though.
Sorry for gloomy note! 50 days and counting! Still excited. I know the kids don't need much.

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Hope all of your poorly babies (and DHs) feel better soon. You're welcome to escape to mine, and DS does sleep through, but you would be expected to get up with him at 5am

I'm in the middle of a mass declutter in the hope the house feels tidier by Christmas. Spent yesterday clearing the loft, as DH said there was no more room up there to store stuff. Pfft! I filled my car with stuff to take to the charity shop, and there are 4 storage boxes of DVDs/computer games that have been up there 4 years since we moved in. We don't watch DVDs as we have subscriptions to Netflix and NowTV and Amazon Prime tv and everything else you can think of! So, DH has a week to pull out any he wants to keep then I'm going to send them to music magpie or wherever buys them.

Then use the funds to buy more Christmas decorations!

I'm also on a restricted budget this year Veg. I've enough for some bits from IKEA next week, and have a decent budget for food/drink over Christmas as we are entertaining quite a few times, but other than that I really need to not buy more Christmas decorations. I have enough craft stuff to make quite a few, though

Hah, you obviously type quicker than me Hungry.

Have your Northern Lights taken a holiday? Will you get to see them any other time or was that your only opportunity?

Happy birthday Horace

No Northern Lights??? But I requested them specially for your birthday!

I went to a Christmas decorations party last night. I was under strict instruction from DH not to come back "with a load of inane bollocks"

Is there any such thing when it comes to Christmas?

Vegan oh no... it's horrible when all of a sudden the cash flow hits a mega bump in the road. Talk us through some of the plans you had - between us we should be able to come up with a way to do everything as cheaply as possible.

Mummy as I am not allowed any "inane bollocks" (my DH may soon be under the patio if he carries this on) I daren't go into The Range but they have some great stuff.

We'll it seems that the poorly people are not so poorly now - thank goodness they are on the mend but if they relapse I'm definitely coming to live with one of you!

They've been seen further north than we are, but with 2 toddlers we can't just up and go to hunt them out. 😓

In the last few weeks they've been amazing and viewable from in the city (and specifically from the balcony of the apartment we have). They've just decided to bugger off now.

Ah well, we will keep coming back til we see them! 😂

A Christmas decoration party?! I've never heard of one of those. 🎄🎄🎄

Yes, Vegan, let's see if we can help you out. 😀

Happy Birthay Horace and happy belated birthday wishes to you too Biddy

Vegan I've got time and yarn (all Stylecraft special acrylic). Anything crocheted needed? I can knit too but I'm faster at crochet. I'm finishing off a couple of items for the Woolly Hugs sales but after Monday/Tuesday I'm your gal

I was going to get loads of Chrismas prep done today but woke up feeling so sicky and pukey I don't want to leave the sofa
Im just going to fester watching Christmas films and hope I perk up later

Ahh sorry Horace. What a shame!
not the same but i have been to Barcelona and twice and yet to see the magic fountain.

Put too many ands in there

After a ridiculously busy couple of weeks, am just catching up on the thread.

Sorry to hear about your cat lolly .

Happy birthday wishes to Horace and Biddy. I too celebrated my 40th by going to Iceland - it was fab and the DCs are desperate to go back. Am going to leave it a couple of years I think as when they're a bit older they'll be able to do some of the more sporty-type activities which little ones can't to. It was great though, we went to the Blue Lagoon and on the Golden Circle tour.

Wooly - thanks for the info about the Dan TDM tour - I managed to get tickets and we went over half-term. DS was soooo excited, the reaction from the kids in the audience, it was like watching The flipping Beatles or something...

Life events have taken over a bit the last few weeks or so which means I haven't been very Christmassy lately. I am hoping to rectify that though this week. I need to get out everything have bought so far to do a bit of a stock take. Am planning on getting nice advent calendars for my Mum and Dad this year as part of their Christmas presents. We have had a very sad family bereavement recently and I think they need a bit of festive cheer. I was planning on getting a whisky one for my Dad and debating over a beauty-themed one for my Mum.

MrsD - am loving the sound of a Christmas decorations party! Is it a bit like a Tupperware evening?

I need to try out this Zoflora thing. DD and DS had a grand old time sniffing all the Yankee candles in the garden centre the other day. I need to be a bit careful with scents though. I really like the smell in the Disneyland Paris hotel and I read that you could buy the oil online. I may have used a bit much though as it ended up giving me a migraine...

I went to IKEA a few weeks ago and bought some Christmas wrapping paper which was almost as tall as me. I should check out the Range but am not sure where the nearest one is to us, will have to investigate.

Hope everyone has a good weekend. We have just been to get sparklers ready for tonight - just hoping it stays dry here.

vegan sorry to hear that. If it helps there were some lean christmasses when I was a kid and we never noticed any different - kids don't know how much things cost and even if they did, aren't particularly fussed.

We are having am ore frugal christmas than the last few years - we've falling in the trap of buying waaaaay too much 'special' food and drink just because it's Christmas previously and end up wasting loads, or feeling obliged to over-stuff ourselves.

What is it with DH's and their objection to lovely lovely decorations? We have an 8ft tree and it needs a bloody lot of decorations! I'm stealth buying the odd one and sneaking them in to the Christmas box. I'm fairly confident DH won't notice...

Hello all, as it's now November I feel I am allowed to indulge in the countdown.

I have only read the last few posts, so I hope I don't come across as rude just barging in at this point!

Small budget for Christmas here too (I live in France and all the big tax bills seem to arrive at the same time (November), add refilling the heating fuel tank at the same time and we're left with, well, not much really. Not too worried though as I enjoy crafting and love making people things.

We're having a cosy Christmas, just DH, 7yo DD, 14yo DS and my DPs (coming over Xmas eve, staying until Boxing Day). DM has offered to buy the turkey, so that's a big chunk of cash I won't have to worry about.

I've started to but bits and bobs for everyone, but got really annoyed with DH who wanted to know what on earth I'd spent €40 on in a toy shop last week (amongst other things was something for him) and I tried to act all innocent and dismiss his question, but he kept flipping insisting and I eventually snapped was pre menstrual , went and got the item I'd got for him and chucked it at his head him saying merry bloody Christmas , so yeah, not a great start to my Xmas squirrelling.

Been to The Range, it was glorious, am going to choose some outdoor house decs from there this year.

But what has really put me in the christmassy mood and even moved me to play the nutcracker suite - was Homesense. Its spectacular. I was walking round with a huge smile on my face.

guitar what on earth was DAN saying to keep them entertained

autumn - am not sure, I tuned out a bit to be honest . He did come across as quite sweet! (Although DP reckons all YouTubers are like that bloke from Father Ted who's really nice on camera but turns into a sweary alcoholic once the camera is off ).

DD and I pootled off to Lakeside (her 2nd home)

Theyy had some decorations up (snowflake hanging decs)
Madame pointed out soo many things she had on "Her List"

I saw some Christmas Jumpers that were nice but I'm still hanging on for a black/gold one that is a bit glam, not too gimmicky.

Costco was a bit meh , I wanted some gift boxes but though they were well made and good value, they were very cartoony, better for children .
I did like the prelit tree (about £170) but I decided against replacing ours , I'll use it this year and look in the sales after Christmas to buy a new one.

I need to go back during the week (DH and I have booked a day off next month, I can make him carry everything )

Well done on the dejunking, Firefly.

And bless you all re advice etc.
Well, I have mostly got enough stocking fillers, not got a main gift for either of them but I will see nearer the time what they might like (might change their minds if I get something now - well, the 6yo - toddler too young!). I have wrapping paper I stocked up on in the sales last year. I've also already got our Xmas PJs so at least that is sorted (though I ordered online and DD's look rather large, so I may have to buy her the smaller size or she will be swamped).
I am mainly still wanting duvet sets for all four of us (DH and I have a single duvet each.) DH will consider this a completely OTT and unnecessary expense. I have this idea that it will be just so cute to have a lovely Xmas duvet on (mainly for DS), and will make him feel all magical. I'm worried that he might not believe for much longer, and I want to spoil him while I can.

I'm going to attempt to sell some nice crockery I have, which if it sells for the price others are asking for on eBay, I might justify the duvet indulgence then!

So, help-wise, anyone seen any bargainous single duvet sets please? I've already looked at Asda but not loving their options.

I have not heard of Homesense. Probably for the best!

Oops, LeChatte. How did he react?

No Homesense anywhere near here.

Homesense is basically a big tkmaxx home section - its owned by them. It's fab!

Seriously though, no Xmas shop beats the range!

Ah thanks - sounds right up my street ... except there isn't one right up my street or anywhere close.
I NEED to get to The Range then!

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