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

No snow here, just chilly. I'd love some snow for the kids.

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Is Martha sleeping better now, MrsD? Nothing worse than broken sleep! 💤💤💤

I've developed a cold which I imagine is as a result of plane germs and explains why my blood didn't flow amazingly well when I gave blood on Tuesday!

I could do without the snow. No more forecast now though. Just cold and occasionally wet.

I'm so glad it's the weekend soon. I'm knackered this week! I need a holiday to get over my holiday!

We had a rainy day on Tuesday - yuck. I'd forgotten what that can be like.

I echo Hungry's hopes for Martha, Mrs D - sleep is sooo precious. (I somehow managed to not only sleep 8 whole hours last night, I turned off the alarm this morning and added 1 more so DD was 10 minutes late to school and had a shop bought lunch and breakfast rather than home stuff). But I feel much better for it! I need another few nights like that though.

This weekend, we are focused mostly on DMIL. But I have a few things to organize while down "home" as well - DD needs runners (and has no free time at weekends to go shopping normally!), and tops (she is sprouting like I don't know what at the moment!). I want to go down to the cottage we're renting for Christmas and see if I can see into it. I want to get a few things in the farmer's market. And I want a walk to collect sloes for sloe gin. And see my DSis's.

There's no point in sending anything down yet - I may have a bag or 2 that DH can bring down in a few weeks, rather than taking everything with us on 23rd. But I'll need to see if someone (probably DMIL as DH will be too busy to go elsewhere) is OK with that idea of minding them for me.

Martha is generally a brilliant sleeper - she's slept through from 12 weeks apart from the odd occasion, and she's sleeping better during the day which is very helpful!

Having said that, since the clocks changed she does wake up at about 5.00am. Now, I'm a HUGE fan of sleep. I like at least 8 hours otherwise I stomp about like a bear with a sore head and currently I am managing around 6 hours. This is not good hence the fact I have taken to joining Martha in her afternoon nap!

Have been into Morrisons this afternoon. I don't go in very often, and if I do go in its for a few bits and bobs as opposed to a weekly shop but they have got some lovely decorations, cards and foodie bits. I finished off the ingredient list for my Christmas cake - the fruit will be measured out tonight ready to bake on Sunday 🌲🌲

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My DD (now 14.6) slept through from a tiny baby (literally as soon as she came home [smug] )

Over Guy Fawkes weekend she has three of our guinea pigs in her room and complained that the male kept waking her up with his constant prattle and lost 2 nights sleep.

I told her it's good prep for sleepless nights if she gets a DC like her brother (Got the Death Stare )

My DD slept through at 8.5 months (the night before I returned from mat leave!). DS is 2.3 and after a brief false dawn a few weeks' ago, still wakes up once to come in with us! He doesn't stay awake though, do it could be worse.

DD2 was my latest to sleep through at 6 weeks. DD1 was a tiny ninja though - at about 3 she went through a phase of getting out of her bed sometime through the night and getting into our bed without waking either of us up. We came to the conclusion that she must be crawling up from the bottom of the bed - the first either DH or I would know about it was her little face beaming at us in the morning as she lay between us.

Horace did you buy DD a doll? I may have some knitted clothes if it is small enough.

Ah, that's so lovely! I actually quite like snuggling with DS, though I don't let on to DH! DS actually slept through last night though apparently. 😀

I haven't yet, but I'm going to get one, possibly this weekend. Knotted clothes would be lovely if they fit, thank you. I'll let you know the size once it's purchased!

Knitted, even. Sodding autocorrect! 😂

I bought THE THING

It is not THE TWITCH

The Thing is what I base my table on. Might be crackers, a plate, last year a robin milkjug.

This year a red/green paisley tablecover , so rich and opulant but not just for Christmas. Love it.

DD keeps asking me "Have you planned your colour scheme yet, Mother?"......... now I have

Ah my sister just had to practically restrain me in TK Maxx this morning. Their decorations are so pretty, and has Spode Christmas serving dishes that were beautiful. I had to leave them as DH would kill me I have lots, but I did mention them to dm who basically likes to copy my taste but always buys 2 of things so I can have one

It is bloody freezing here today (s wales) so I feel very Christmassy - am continuing on with crocheting DHs blanket.

70's do you have a pic of the table cloth? It sounds lovely!

They had SPODE Christmas tree table cloths in TK MAx, I also had to restrain myself on that Spode Christmas set, I have some but need more.

Handbag I got the tablecover in HomeSense (the Homeware bit of TKMaxx) , I have a sage green one as well (big fan of paisley ) that I bought a couple of years ago.
I'll try and techy up a photo .

Yes - Spode, Portmerion, lovely Victorian Christmas street/shop plates.......and red tartan covers that I was this close > < to buying but the paisley won .

I've just sent for DD Nutella name label (I saw the jars in Sainsbury today, ) they take up to 21 days to arrive.

I'm going to sell one of my (non-xmas) Portmerion sets as I've gone all minimalistic having just watched some TED talks on reducing clutter. Having a major dejunk, and rethinking what we actually need. Still not bought the xmas duvet sets, now as much for minimalist reasons as financial, but I think I will still get them for the kids as I think they will enhance the feelings of magic. But not until I've earned the money for selling off other stuff, and made space.

In the true spirit of the countdown thread I am happy to send fellow Christmas devotees some beautiful Christmas writing paper that I designed a few years ago along with envelopes for letters.

Dh and ds1 watched a Christmas film while I was out. They got a big telling off. No Christmas movies till 1st December. I was out buying stocking presents in Tiger and looking at the grotto that was about to open so I'm quite the hypocrite.

Ooh me please, CC!

42

Ultimate answer!

Ooh Constantly that would be amazing

I am going to see a show today and am planning on squeezing in a wander around some Christmas displays and avoid TK Maxx to save me overspending

We have a lovely white tablecloth with a satiny snowflake pattern which I'll stick with this year - but will get a new runner, napkins and centrepiece.

If it's only the two of us I'll go simple with gold chargers, a small wreath with a pillar candle and a bit of greenery. Probably give the table confetti a miss this year as dh moaned a bucket last time - looked pretty but dear god it got everywhere!

I've ordered some new champagne flutes too - I seem to have to get some more every year, we get through them like no bugger's business. I love going to bed with the table laid out on Christmas Eve.

Woolly, I've bought the Emmi doll for DD which is 35cm tall. If the knitted clothes will fit I'd be very grateful for them (as will DD!). 😀