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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

The one with the brief glimpse of summer. It’s countdown to Christmas thread 3!

999 replies

SideOrderofSprouts · 22/04/2018 08:56

Here it is!

What were we at 247?

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59
Mrsmadevans · 08/05/2018 08:19

Morning all! Smile
Lovely blue sky here hope the weather is good for all of us too.
Am off up the market in a few mins just for a gander, have a great day everyoneGrin

TheWoollybacksWife · 08/05/2018 09:49

I have finally got WiFi 🎉🎉🎉

Dropped DS off for his school assessment day today after a nightmare journey. I did a trial run at the weekend and it took 20 minutes. This morning it took over an hour - but I did miss the turning on the A road which added 15 minutes on. I came home and cried - a combination of relief at getting him there on time plus anxiety about him not getting a place and having to deal with the panic and feeling of rejection all over again Sad

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 08/05/2018 09:53

Hot enough for us to wish we hadn't bothered with jumpers already!

The deputy head's solution to no separate changing rooms will cause problems, I think. DD has gone to school with her PE kit under her uniform, PE isn't until last period, and she's just started getting a bit smelly under her arms. 😭

I'm having smashed avocado on sourdough toast and a banana today. 😋🍌

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 08/05/2018 09:54

Yay Woolly! You're connected! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

BiddyPop · 08/05/2018 10:04

I was also in bed for that "I'm in bed" chat time last night, but I was reading a book for about 5 minutes before conking out (no screens on purpose last night).

Sounds like everyone got some good from the sunshine. I finally managed to do the gardening yesterday - potted on the tomatoes (2 climbers into 1 large tub, and 3 tumbling ones into a large hanging basket), and the chili pepper (another large pot), sowed French beans, squashes, courgettes and spinach, and tried to get a couple of "free" tomato plants by putting the side shoots I'd pulled off the climbing tomatoes into compost in a small pot - they might make new plants, or might not.

I need to learn to slow down on weekends though, as DD had both of us "on duty" sailing on 3 days (I was on committee boat Friday and shore duty most of Saturday, DH had shore duty sunday - I wasn't supposed to do Saturday but the organizer was stuck) and dropping her to boatwork yesterday. I have already said that on the June bank holiday weekend, we are taking 1 day to go on a family hike.

I managed to lose a knitting needle this morning (one of my nice bamboo ones!) so I couldn't knit on the train and missed 2 trains retracing my steps to the car. But I had made decent progress last week - I think though that I may need to scale back my ambition as I only have 3 scarves complete (and each still have ends to sew in), with another 9 that I haven't even started, along with the 2 still on needles - I don't know that I can manage all that in just over 200 days (I need to allow postage time for a good few, and even those that don't - need to be done the week before Christmas at the very latest as we are not "going home" to hand them over on the day).

Back to work today - and it's already busier than I'd like. So 2 of the 3 doing a joint presentation this Friday have just agreed to seek a postponement until next Friday instead.

TheWoollybacksWife · 08/05/2018 18:31

Oh Biddy Sad is your knitting needle gone forever? It takes me ages to 'break in' new needles. Something to do with transferring oils from my skin to make them run smoother I suppose.

DS liked the school and wasn't too bothered by the tests. We had a call at the end of the day to see what he thought and they said they'd let us know in a day or two. Is that good news? I'm over analysing everything and I won't sleep Sad

HandbagCrazy · 08/05/2018 19:42

Woolly I have no experience but I'll keep my fingers crossed for you / him.
Also, glad you're finally connected!

Biddy you must be exhausted. I think it's a great idea to set aside a family day.

I'm glad you all like my Christmas party idea. It's so hard when everyone has children and you can tell they want to come and enjoy themselves but also have the guilt of not spending the time with their dc.
I think I may do it as a bit of an open house type thing with alcoholic and virgin festive cocktails and some food so people can drop in in the early evening if they want or come a little later and stay for a few.
Did you know there are a gazillion festive drinks ideas on Pinterest? 🤔

NoWordForFluffy · 08/05/2018 19:51

Whoop to WiFi, Woolly! And fingers crossed re DS. Is this W school or a different one? I take it you got nowhere with BS?

Your party idea sounds great, Handbag. Xmas Grin

Biddy, yet again I'm knackered just reading your post! That's a real shame about your needle. Is it definitely lost?

BiddyPop · 08/05/2018 21:47

Just got rid of the (related to school but not school activity) Committee after hosting the latest meeting, so sitting for 10 minutes before bedtime. I literally drove over the needle on my way in home today - it's fine though (TG!) but both DH and DD had walked over it twice each and ignored it!

Hooray for wifi!

TheWoollybacksWife · 08/05/2018 21:52

Yes W Fluffy. I'm switching between it's good news to hear early and it's bad news so they don't need to spend any time considering Confused

Handbag when I was a teenager my friend's parents did a Christmas party every year for friends and neighbours that sounds similar to what you are planning. Some of my happiest Christmas memories are from those parties.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 08/05/2018 22:06

Had sweet potato falafel salad, melon and grapes and cherry bakewell slice for lunch, picked the DC up, had chicken and 4 grain salad and more cherry bakewell slice for supper, DS2 was in bed by 7, DD was in bed by 9.20. 😋🍇🍒😋🍗🍒😴

NoWordForFluffy · 08/05/2018 22:27

I'm glad you found your knitting needle, Biddy! Shame DH and DD had walked over it though!

I think it's a good sign that the school rang; they must've liked him. 😊

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 09/05/2018 04:59

230

It's not even worth going back to sleep, DH's alarm goes off in 10 minutes. 😭

NoWordForFluffy · 09/05/2018 07:04

He needs a silent alarm on his wrist, like I use. I'd hate to wake anybody unnecessarily.

Looks lovely outside again. I did some more snail hunting at 5.45 today. I saw one just outside the door, so did a sweep round the garden! I must've collected about 200 now! 😱🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌

Internaljukebox · 09/05/2018 07:12

Hallooooo! Well you have all been busy Biddy in particular lol.. I’ve just been catching up.. Handbag ..party idea sounds lovely and yes to Pinterest for ideas I can lose hours on there!!
Just shoehorned ds out of his pit to get ready for school , I’m meeting my friend at 9.30 gonna call at the Salvation Army sale. It’s on every other Weds and there’s all sorts and they do lovely home made quiches and cakes for pennies and coffee is free! Lovely people so always donate even if not buying.
Today I need to clean bathroom, and sort all car boot stuff out for Sunday! Fingers crossed it will be nice weather for then! X

NoWordForFluffy · 09/05/2018 07:43

DD is off on her first ever school trip today. She's so excited! 😁

She has swimming later on too, so will be utterly knackered by the time I get home!

I booked our steam train trip yesterday for when we're on holiday in July (and paid the last instalment on the cottage!). We are staying near Pickering, so have booked the full Pickering to Whitby trip, which should be brilliant. Hopefully the weather will be good for it.

Bank holidays mean I get a bit confused as to what day it is! I've got a crappy afternoon ahead work-wise, so I need to be super-productive this morning. The joys!

WreckTangled · 09/05/2018 08:09

Dd has swimming at school today too. She's really grumpy because apparently the pool is freezing but I'm sure it'll be warmer after all the lovely weather we've had.

Mrsmadevans · 09/05/2018 08:56

Morning all Smile
Sounds like everyone is having a great time.
Handbag the party idea sounds brilliant. I want to come lol Grin.
Fluffy good luck with the horrible work this afternoon. Your plans for your hols are coming along great and it sounds like the train ride will be lovely. It is just the sort of thing we would have done. We always do the Paignton to Dartmouth steam train when we go to Torquay then the ferry across to Dartmouth, we love Dartmouth .
Internal that coffee morning sounds lovely. I would love to go and have a cuppa and cake and a gander at the sale stuff , have a lovely time with your friends.
Must go got to take mum to her hair appt and DD1 is going back to uni today Sad but the good news is she is back in just over 2 weeks ....YAY!
Have a great day everyone take care Smile

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 09/05/2018 10:17

Where do I get a silent alarm Fluffy?

I had eggs and bacon this morning. 😋🍳

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 09/05/2018 10:21

DD's on a school trip today too, to the Palace of Westminster. The whole school's topic this term is London.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 09/05/2018 10:24

I know what you mean Fluffy, I was very proud of myself yesterday for remembering 2 PE kits, and to buy stuff for packed suppers for Adventure today. Star to me! 😂

NoWordForFluffy · 09/05/2018 10:44

A cheap activity tracker should have one. You can get them for £12 ish quid. Just check in the description it says about having silent / vibrating alarm. Mine is a Fitbit, but I've had a cheap one which did it too.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 09/05/2018 10:46

Thanks, I'll check them out. 😊

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 09/05/2018 12:39

I've just had a chicken and bacon wrap with caesar dressing, a bag of chilli heatwave Doritos and a 500ml bottle of Fanta fruit twist for lunch. 😋🍗

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 09/05/2018 14:29

I have to take DD's packed supper over to her, as she's got Adventure today and she didn't want to lug 2 packed meals round the Houses of Parliament.

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