Round up your broom stick, black cat and cauldron and get ready for Halloween, it's the Countdown to Christmas, thread 7!

[NoWordForFluffy]

Here we go again. I think the last thread was the quickest ever, so this one probably won't even get to Halloween, but we shall see!

Twice!

🎄 68 sleeps? That's nothing, it'll be here before we know it 

I'm so jealous of all of you who have today as your Friday. Would love not to have to come to work tomorrow! Today seems quite steady but tomorrow is going to be manic

MrsMad when my Nan was getting a bit like your parents, I took loads of the charity letters home then called them all and told them I was the new Home owner at that address and requested that they stop sending letters which they did.
It was a bit sneaky but she sometimes sent off more than she was receiving that week as she would be a bit forgetful and I couldn't have her struggling. Could you do that?
I think it's very hard for them to lose their independence, and surely back in their day, having a genuine trade person knock your door for work wasn't a big issue (I know my grandad made a house-painting career doing that for a long time - he would knock, give his details (and details of precious local customers so they could check him out). I was amazed but that's how a lot of things were apparently).

OK - I obviously need more sleep then....

Morning! DS2 commandeered my phone all morning to play with his anti-stress toys app, a brief break to walk to school, then carried on up until the bell rang!

DD's still off, she's even too ill for brass club, so she must be feeling rough! My best friend and our family coach also have it, my BFF says the headache's the worst part.

Looked at Christmassy things again, not buying anything yet, DD wanted me to buy her a Nintendo 3DS from eBay for £40, it finishes in 3 days, but that's double my budget, I don't have spare money until Monday, and my aunt said she'd rather wait until a bit closer to Christmas.

Just had a big breakfast. 😋🍳

I make it 68 too Fluffy. I've just counted on my calendar too!

I get 68 days when I do my calendar, but by countdown calendar says 67 🤷‍♀️

We've had a house of sickness since Tuesday. There has been a lot of CBeebies and Netflix. The Paw Patrol Christmas episode has been on loop this morning. I've obviously taught them well 

I think the calendars only count whole days rather than sleeps, so as today has started it doesn't count.

Biddy, you can sleep more in the extra night we've found for you!

It feels crazy we're in the 60's already! the countdown is going really quickly.

Mrsmad I would do what crazy suggested and call them up on her behalf and tell them to stop writing, I stopped donating to a few charities just because of the sheer number of calls and letters, I can't imagine how overwhelming it must be if you're much older.

Neros DS2 currently loves Frozen. We lost DD's copy soon after she got it, so I had to order it online after DS2 watched it on TV on Saturday.

" The sky's awake! So I'm awake! So we have to play!" 😆⛄

Hi everyone
Hope your all good! And Christmas prep is moving on🎉

I'm off work with a cold and going to use time to get organised for Christmas yay !

Ooh, and another favourite: "Winter's a good time to stay in and cuddle, but put me in summer and I'll be a - happy snowman!"

Afternoon
I’m in a fantastic mood today, absolutely loving life
Been shopping for my wee princess and got her some more things
My 20 week scan is on November the 8th, I can’t wait to see her again, she is the epitome of perfection!

Have a hospital appointment Monday to find out more about the Thalassaemia.

Thank you wreck, it’s good to know that he isn’t affected by it.

I’m trying not to stress Mrs - it may well be nothing so time to think positive! Sorry to hear you are going through so much with your parents my lovely. They are lucky to have you. It must be frustrating for you and also so worrying too! Take it easy lovely

Chips - I’m sorry to hear about what you’re going through. I really hope things get better for you

Heavy - love your baby name shortlist they are all brilliant!

I’m doing grand thank you seafood - I hope you are too! How many weeks are you now?

All settled in and unpacked thank you biddy! I hope things calm down for you soon, you are always so busy!

Apologies if I’ve missed anyone off, just briefly checking in and will catch up properly later! I’m craving a samosa big time, so I’m off to go and get one

Have a lovely evening everyone!

Hiya,

I am so sorry I am running in again and sending love to you all.

I got my choccies... that means it must be getting close!

It's absolutely glorious and sunny here, temperature is in the 20s!

I had been planning to put the winter quilts on, don't think I'll bother yet!!

I have strawberries and raspberries in the garden and the spring bulbs are coming through! And they're promising 4 months of show... The world's gone mad!

I bought a 3 foot high wooden reindeer for the garden from Home Bargains today. I will 'surprise' DH with it at a later date, if I can find somewhere to hide it...

*snow.

4 months of show could never be considered a bad thing

Where is a good place to hide a 3ft reindeer?! 🦌

Was it the Express predicting the snow? They do it every year! I suppose it may be right at some point. ❄️ ⛄️

We've had lovely weather today. I'm going to the allotment tomorrow, so I'll see if my bulbs are up to anything unseasonal! All 500 of them!

I'm now off work, woohoo! 😁

Wheely, where have you been?!

It looks like it's going to turn cold after Sunday. Still not got the heating on 🙌🏼🙌🏼 and the weekend is going to be nice enough for me to put the washing out (as I am lazy and tend to use the drier!).

We've not used the dryer yet this autumn. Everything's been getting dry, or dry enough to finish on the airer. The heating is on for an hour a day though as our bathroom is freezing so it's nicer for the kids' bath.

Picked DS2 up, had mince hotpot for supper, DS2 did his reading and was in bed by 6.30, DD's doing her homework and will go to bed straight after.

We are guilty of just bunging stuff in the dryer, but I managed to get a load out this afternoon. Put it on the clothes horse, and have moved it inside overnight to finish.

Currently the reindeer is in the boot of my car. I am still working on a plan for the next step... Debenhams have these festive llamas - I think DH's got off lightly

Our reindeer (makes roger after dh's late grandad) is in the airing cupboard  he's not 3ft though!

I use the drier quite a bit but not as much as I used to. It helps warm up the kitchen anyway 

The dc have an inset day today so they have to come food shopping with me but I've said we will go to John Lewis for coffee and cake afterwards if they're good.

Hmm my emojis aren't showing. There should be a grin after cupboard!

67

I'm off to Booths today as it's Christmas book launch day. I'm meeting friends for tea and cake in the cafe!

The food online is going live too.

Morning
Fluffy have the most wonderful day , it sounds lovely!
Fur that looks like a fabulous choc stash you have there , l admire your will power , would eat the lot and have to buy it all again
Wreck is that free coffee and cakeys ? Fluffy & l are great fans
We succumbed to the heating last night only for an hour but l was too hot , never satisfied .Am loving the sound of Roger too lol.
Firefly, love the LLamas OMG on 3 for 2 sooooo bargainous
I dry out if l can , managed to dry a load yest but tumble is on most of the Winter because DH hates me putting clothes on the rads he says it makes his chest bad poor lamb
Acey , baby Lorelei is such a lucky little girl to have a lovely mumma like you my dear
PSB your DS2 has the best of tastes in movies lol , l so hope DD2 is better now, it is a shame abut the DS but another will come along very soon l am sure .
Wheely hope you are better today and your Christmas prep is coming on well m'dear
Nero hope the house of sickness is well and truly now the house of wellness, when my DDS were poorly we loved Rosie & Jim and fireman Sam , there wasn't much online or tv then so we had thousands of videos lol !
Crazy Seafood thank you so much l have rang 2 of the charities and they have agreed to stop sending the letters , l will do it with the rest of them. I said l was their Daughter and they didn't argue with me or ask for their permission or anything so l think they must be used to ppl like me ringing up
Wreck they have new Halloween emojis , l bet they were changing them when you tried to put emojis in , Am loving them!!