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 was going to break the back of it last weekend but was v poorly with sickness. Had a moment of panic and POAS but am not incubating was just poorly!

I still need to buy 25 gifts, mainly small and novelty things though, and stockings! One for DP and DP and his siblings all contribute to a stocking for MIL and FIL. Am tempted to force this tradition on my own family, but we will see!

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(I think that's right?)

Morning all,

Mummy, I hope the 2 weeks goes quickly for you and there is good news at the end of it. At least there is plenty to distract you at this time of year.

Woolly I haven't read that thread - but that's what we called it too growing up! (I HATE swede/turnip, so never make it anymore the advantages of controlling the kitchen and food shopping!). "Potch" is an interesting word for it though - I might adopt that.

Clash - a NAP on Christmas day?! I cannot imagine ever finding time for that!

I have only bought 1 Christmas mag this year, and haven't had a chance to read it properly yet. But I wasn't as impressed as usual - so I intend going into the basket beside the bookcase and resurrecting my stash from previous years instead (it goes back to 1998 - not every mag from every year, but probably about 10 overall!).

I bought a couple more presents over the weekend, and tried buying lego but need to get the parcel motel details from DH (for this and another order) as they don't have the free gifts for Ireland!! Bah Humbug!! DH chatted in the car on the way home (from a weekend "down home") so I now have ideas for most people and he has organized the bits he needs to as well. He is doing an Amazon order for a few things to go to his DMs house, so I will add the paper plates etc for DD's party to that - 1 less thing I need to worry about transporting and organizing!

I DO need to get to M&S this week though, for nice wrapping paper before it disappears. I only had 1 roll left in my stash when I went to check!! And no labels - although plenty of ribbon....

I've bought gorgeous stamps to do the tags I just need to order some Manila luggage tags and get stamping.

Today I am going to go and buy vegetables and do as much prep and freezing as possible. I'm trying to cut down on the Christmas Day work.

I have spent this morning going through everything I have so far.

As usual I seem to have bought more for DD than DS. I have more than enough for stockings now (which are always my weakness ) but am going to have to get a move-on with Father Christmas/tree presents. Am kind of out of ideas though as every time I mention anything to my DM about what they would like for Christmas she buys it, she also asked them to write a Christmas list last time we were visiting and she has bought everything on it. First world problems I know but it does mean that I am out of ideas now and I hate just buying stuff for the sake of it.

Ho hum. I also can't find a box of Lego which Amazon says was dispatched a month ago and now am starting to wonder whether we ever received it.

My parents are coming to visit next week and we are exchanging gifts then. This means that everything for the family has to be bought and wrapped by then so that they can take it all back in their car.

DS is still off school today (48 hour rule) but judging by the volume of food he's eaten and the volume of stampy coming out of the iPad he will be fit for school tomorrow. I plan to go and get my Christmas cards tomorrow so I need to write a list tonight.

I'll do my present audit on Wednesday and hopefully start wrapping. I still need to get a book for DM and socks and pants for DS. I've bought the Alder Hey socks for the DC so they'll do at a push but I've got more Christmas socks for the DDs too so I'd like things to be equal.

I know I've still got to buy for DH but he's mad busy at work and hasn't really had time to think

DD's doll has arrived at our little local Tesco today so I'm going to fetch it while DH gets everything down from / out of the wardrobes for us to establish exactly what on earth I've bought! 😂

Then we are going to get wrapping. Exciting!! 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

I Got all my prepping done! Yorkshire/ potatoes / parsnips / stuffing / red cabbage / mashed potatoes all in the freezer ready for the big day.

Top prepping there Mummy

I've got the first Monday in December booked out to do all mine. DS has a long day at school on a Monday and I need a couple of weeks to work my way through the stewed apple mountain in the freezer and create a bit of room. My parsnips and carrots for roasting are already done and I have a stuffing loaf in there already but I'm going to add more stuffing, shredded blanched sprouts, carrot and swede purée and mince pies.

I speed-wrapped 16 presents in an hour tonight, so that's all of the kids' presents from us done. Just need to wrap 2 each from Santa and that's theirs sorted. 🎄🎄🎄 Not too many more to do after these really either. Yay!

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I have 14 more gifts to get! That is a Damn sight better than yesterday, lots of deliveries arriving this week!
Anyone know where I can get cheap unicorn stuff, the stuff in paperchase is nice but eye wateringly expensive!

0 gifts wrapped though!

I did remember that I failed to wrap the talking Ubercorns last night. That's a job for next weekend!

How many gifts do you buy in total, Hairspray? Loads more than me by the sound of it.

I've got to get a box of coco pops for wilf's stocking and check Gabriel has enough. I've then got dh to do and dh's stocking. I've got soap, truffles, scarves and personalised salad servers / wooden spoons / coasters and personalised blankets to make.

I had to go to the chemist this morning (sinus infection is settling in - ugh) so I also popped into M&S for fruit, a medicinal mince pie, and my wrapping paper/tags while it was quiet. I also picked up the things I wanted in Molton Brown yesterday as well as a top/jeans for DD in H&M. So I am making some progress.

Last night, not unrelated to Christmas, ish, DD and I went through the treats cupboard. She had a shedload of sweets there, and we had popcorn to go in from the online shopping delivery. At least that is now organized. We threw out a few things, although not a lot - but we can now find everything so hopefully we'll start to eat them all.

I forgot to get the parcel motel account off DH, so I need to wait until tonight to do 2 orders (1 of which he can't see).

I am very impressed with people already wrapping!

Well the spreadsheet says 32 for friends and family but I think it could be a few more that i have forgotten!

It varies for DP but this year he has got 10ish so far, that includes stocking stuff but I still have more to buy, and I do 13 christmas hampers as well.

We don't have kids yet so I can afford to be slightly less organized and have my house look like the elves workshop full of ribbon and wrapping paper.

Horace Ribbon found and press stud sewn on. It is a very traditional set of dress, bonnet and bootees will be drummed off MN for reinforcing stereotypes

If you want them PM me an address to send them to.

Nar Woolley thats super cute, and unisex IMO 😂

That is a bundle of festive cuteness Woolly.

I have been to IKEA again today and also to the big Tesco which I hate going to as I find it really depressing but they have nice little chocolatey things for stockings so I forced myself.

Not feeling particularly festive as I have toothache and I am about to go away for 2 days with work on a bloody hideous 'team-bonding' exercise [shudders]. Last week I was hoping that a shed load of snow might fall and then it would be cancelled. But no, it's actually quite mild now, dammit.

And I can't even drink to ease the hideousness as the dentist has prescribed me Metranidozole(sp?) which is an absolute no-no with alcohol.

Maybe I can spend some of the time doodling festive plans....

Ah, they're so cute, Woolly. I've PM'd you!

DD will adore them. 😊

I've got your PM Horace and will pop them in the post tomorrow.

Poor you Guitar - toothache and a bonding exercise

Can I direct you all to the Woolly Hugs Facebook page where they are gearing up for their Christmas craft sale starting next week. There is an auction too - I think this is through the Woolly Hugs website. I've made a couple of things - a wreath which is on the Facebook page and a tree skirt that isn't which leads me to believe that will be part of the auction. Although I don't do Facebook and can only rely on DD2 patiently showing things to me.

Found the page, wreath is gorgeous!

😢😢 oh God. Am in floods of tears looking at the Woolly Hugs Website. I will definitely be bidding on a number of items.

Not sure if this is allowed but this is the Facebook link:

www.facebook.com/events/185395838566687/?ti=cl

That wreath is very sweet!

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I daren't look at things that are likely to set me off crying (in work!).

Mummy, have you received an appointment date yet? How are you doing?

Got my appointment date through for Monday. I'm fine apart from the middle of the night when I spiral horrendously into a pit of fear and despair and imagine my children growing up motherless. Thanks for asking, really wishing this week away x