Countdown to Christmas 2017

[SideOrderofSprouts]

365 to go

Great idea Kitty save on the wrapping!
Hope the cat boxes come for you
I didn't order them did I ?
I can't rememberbloody menopause

312

I was "back home" yesterday and visited DM for the first time since taking her back after Christmas. She was worried that she had ruined it for us

I told her she hadn't and invited her again for this year I haven't told DH. I don't think she'll come but she's getting old and frail and I want her to feel welcome and loved even though it is hard work keeping everyone entertained. I admire you Biddy - you seem to juggle a multi generational Christmas most years without completely losing your cool - hats off to anyone else doing it too. MIL would actually be much easier to host - she adores her GC and is happy to be in their company and be fed and watch tv - but SIL got first dibs on her! Shame, as she knows all the best family gossip and can be persuaded to spill over a glass or two of wine.

Horace it's DMU.

That's great. Will she commute or live there? I used to love shopping in the city as an 'alternative' youth!

.311!

Stopping at a service station today on the way back from am spa break withDH I resisted Christmas pudding beanie hats even though they were half price (polishes halo).

Well done Constant ! I have been trying my best today to stop scoffing , been ok today till I came home from work and ate 4 perle au lait yogurts (they are incredibly small pots mind )and a banana and a punnet of blueberries ! Hope all ok

Well done ConstantlyCooking, don't know if I could have passed that up!
Are you watching your weight Mrsmadevans? Or trying healthy eating? I'm trying to cut out all the chocolate, cake and crisps. I lost 9lbs last month. For some reason this month seems so much harder!

310

Aw Kitty its a nightmare my dear I can't seem to stop eating rubbish ! My ds is the worst to stress me out and I just eat to de stress madness I know !
Nice day here today sun shining and warmer its 11c yay! Hope all ok

No, it is hard Mrsmadevans. I have such cravings! I have found though, some popcorn from Asda, 51 calories a bag. I don't know how big the bags are but I am trying one later so will let you know.
It was a lovely day here too, supposed to be up to 18 on Monday!

Well, I tried the popcorn and it was delicious! Sweet, but not overly, 11g but about the same size as a packet of crisps. If anybody is interested in them here's the link: groceries.asda.com/product/all-sweet-savoury-popcorn/metcalfes-skinny-popcorn-cinema-sweet-multipack/910002489378

309

I've been MIA , been to see DParents .

I went at N/Year because I didn't want them travelling at Christmas (after DMum winding up in A&E after a fall at the 2015 Christmas) and its a good 10 hour drive to us.

So, we all (DH, DD,Ds and myself) landed on them for Half Term

I saw some Christmas Barginz (which I was tempted by) in B&M until I saw they were Cat/Dog Stockings, of which I have neither.

I bought Easter Bags though for the DC which I'll fill with chocolate eggs. Too old and sophisticated now to do Egg Hunts, they reckon.

Hello everyone - 1st post of here.
I was googling things like "missing Christmas already" when I stumbled upon this thread. Nice to know there are others who love the festive season as much as me.
Worst day of the year for me? Boxing Day. Because it really is the beginning of the end of everything xmassy. I hate NY so that makes the week even worse.
We are Xmas MAD. We start putting decorations (mainly fairy lights at first) up around the house and conservatory as early as late October. This year we had a Firework night in our back garden and I'd put a 3 foot tree up in our conservatory just for the occasion - so it was a sort of pre-Xmas/firework night mixture!
From November 1st - Movies 24 on Sky turns into Christmas 24, and we normally have this channel on everyday. We also watch Sky Cinema Christmas but I personally like Christmas 24 better because the films are what I would call "made for TV" but often feature once famous actors. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year starring Henry Winkler (The Fonze) is my personal favourite! We love curling up in the dark nights with a few nice candles/lights for effect and enjoy watching all the Christmas films.
Speaking of candles - oh my god. We've RUINED our entire house because of them and are now having to re-paint everywhere. Last summer Home Bargains were selling a load of Yankee Candle's so we stocked up on everything that smelt Christmassy. We bought LOADS (about 20 jars) and for the last 6 months we were burning one everynight in the front room, the hall and the conservatory. It wasn't until I was taking down some decorations that I realised soot damage along the top of every wall downstairs, and even going up the staircase to the landing. We are now using wax-melters and candles are banned. However we might risk the odd tea-light here and there come next Christmas.
Does everyone have a countdown app on their phone like me then? lol. I actually have a countdown app to the 1st November - because that's when Xmas fully kicks-in for us. All three Trees go up the 1st week of November followed by the decs and fairy lights. This year I bought some 5 meter fairy lights from Ebay. 3 sets in white, green and red. I wound them around the stair bannisters and they look fantastic!
Anyway - I'm looking forward to reading this thread over the next year and helping keep everyone looking forward to Crimbo as much as me!

Welcome blacksmiths

The Countdown threads usually take a year to fill, but the past couple of years have gone onto Thread 2/ Thread 3 and this one looks like it'll need 4+ the way its filling

I love candles (Yankee especially) I'm burning some 'All Is Bright' tealights right now, but they do leave their mark ( you must've been going some to burn 20 jars worth )

We start Christmas bedding after Hallowe'en (well winter bedding really) and the Christmas fleeces go on late December.
I put Christmas toilet paper, Christmas towels and the Advent Calenders out on Dec 1st , DS Birthday is early Dec so we don't do more before his day.

I miss the Christmases we had when the DC were little but our Traditions have evolved over time.
DD and I go shopping in London, we go to a ballet or theatre.
We all go for a Carvery (DS choice) for his birthday.

My DParents can't travel now so last year was just DH,DD,DS and me.

I like to spend most of the day faffing about in the kitchen, I set the table, watch the soaps and chat with whoever is lurking (they're allowed to lurk in the dining room, not the kitchen )

We don't get the 5am wake up now, listening to the DC trying to open their stockings quietly.
I did stockings last year, most of their presents are tiny but £ now. Things like an Urban Decay lipstick for DD or an XBox game for DS. Cost loads but not the impact of the big Lego sets they used to love.
And we did Dec 1st hampers rather than Christmas Eve Hampers so they could use the things for longer beforehand.

Oh, forgot to add...
All the people who come onto Christmas Threads (in the Christmas Topic) to say Oh, FFS its June are the ones who panic and run about like Blue Arsed Flies on the 23rd Dec that they have so much to do and I haven't got my turkey because, yes, it springs up without warning.

While us Countdowners are serene and organised (lies) only wafting into town on Christmas Eve to buy a crusty loaf for breakfast .

Hi, blacksmiths!

70 I've never knowingly wafted anywhere! 😂 I shall have a go at practicing so I'm ready to serenely waft about on Christmas Eve!

The 70, I almost bought some bargain stockings too! They were also for cats...I'm not a cat person, I'll never own a cat, never had a cat, don't even know anyone who owns a cat...The logical side of my brain kicked in!!
Hi blacksmiths :)

Hi blacksmith! Yes we started earlier with the bargain thread this year too due to popular demand.

It's almost it's own little community on this board now

And welcome back 70 I had wondered where you had gone

Welcome blacksmith!
Hi 70.
I am planning my Rudolph days so:
November write Christmas cards and letters ready to post on Dec 1st
October make Christmas cake. Check out Costco
September check make up Advent calendars for DD ( and meeeee)
August check cards and wrap
July make Christmas vodka and other infused spirits
June put addresses on computer so I can print labels, look at bargain threads and place orders for Christmas from China etc
May DC have big birthdays so nothing Christmassy
April
March
February

Still need ideas for earlier months.
I am planning family get togethers for Easter to recreate the atmosphere and also plan to buy spring and summer candles

308
Still eating panettone 😁

Welcome Blacksmith
'Speaking of candles - oh my god. We've RUINED our entire house because of them and are now having to re-paint everywhere. Last summer Home Bargains were selling a load of Yankee Candle's so we stocked up on everything that smelt Christmassy. We bought LOADS (about 20 jars) and for the last 6 months we were burning one everynight in the front room, the hall and the conservatory. It wasn't until I was taking down some decorations that I realised soot damage along the top of every wall downstairs, and even going up the staircase to the landing. We are now using wax-melters and candles are banned. However we might risk the odd tea-light here and there come next Christmas.'
YES! we did this I can't tell you the state on the house it is stinking and needs me to lose about 2 stone in weight to be able to do the decorating !
I have been told that Wilkos candles dont make sooty marks but I not tried it myselfmust try it out asap
I too love Christmas very very much it's almost an illness
I am amazed you start the decs just after Halloween my hubbs would never let me do that spiteful miserable Scrooge
Hope all ok on here
love Pannetone Constant almost as much as stollen
Kitty will look for the popcorn thank you my dear

Sweeps in to swipe Post 600

I had some Lemon curd Panatonne that one of my workmates brought in, it was lush .

I was almost tempted to buy an icing Snowman cake decoration in Tesco today .............................. in the Reduced Aisle of Tat.

I ordered two more presents for babychips today...