Hang onto your hats; we're on the home straight, sprinting to the finish line! It's the Countdown to Christmas, thread 10!

[NoWordForFluffy]

Evening all! I'm not sure if this will be the last or the penultimate thread, but here goes!

Nero, O2 appears to be working now (conveniently now I'm home and don't need mobile data!).

biddy that's great news! It must be such a relief. I hope you don't mind me asking a question and this may well not apply to your DD but we're going through the process of assessment for ASD for our eldest (suspected high functioning autsim at this point) and I was wondering if you've experienced any social issues, he has people that look out for him in school but because he stuggles with social cues he doesn't have any close friends let alone a best friend, I find it heartbreaking. I don't know what to do, he's very friendly albeit shy and is incapable of being mean, I wish I knew what to do to help him as I know he'd love to have a friend.(Again sorry if this doesn't apply to your situation!)

There's so much food in the hamper Biddy! Also a bottle each of red and white wine, a Lego advent calendar and a few other little toys. The teachers donated everything. I've thanked them on Twitter.

I hope your DD gets the support she needs.

Afternoon all. I feel like I've missed so much. Thank you all for DDs birthday wishes. I hope she had as good of a day as seemed to. This time last year I was sitting having newborn cuddles and now she's nearly walking and is talking away.

Mrs I'm glad your dad is feeling better

Acey I'm so happy for you and Paddy.

Wheel I hope your assessment goes well.

PSB you need to take pictures of your meals. They always sound fabulous. I follow a lot of food posters on Instagram
Ps enjoy your parties.

Fluffy enjoy your last day of work

Crazy I think you should do the stocking. I'm sure she would appreciate it. It's such a lovely gesture.

Biddy would you recommend Montessori? It was one of the places we were looking at for DS.

Seafood I hope the process for you DS goes as smoothly as it can.

Apologies if I've missed anyone.

That's really good news re your DD, Biddy. I bet she is relieved. My DBiL and MiL are diagnosed HFA and DH would be if he went for the tests. Good luck with the job, Biddy.

I've shelved my job hunt until I've been sewn back together as I get reasonable (for the private sector) sick pay here and they've said they will get remote access set up too so I can WFH while recovering. All very handy!

That hamper sounds awesome, PSB!

Seafood, I think they do make friends, but a bit later on once they've got their own coping mechanisms in place. My nephew has cerebral palsy and autism and once he got a bit older he really found himself, and friends. I think NT people do see it differently to non-NT a bit as we put the NT slant on it. It'll come good, I assure you.

Seafood I sent you a PM (I just hope it's not too confused!).

Nero DD went to crèche first, from 4 months to 2.5 years, moving through baby to toddler and older rooms. She was already doing some monti work in the older room, before moving into Monti for the preschool phase (2.5-4.5 years), she did 2 academic years there before going into Junior Infants (equivalent to Reception I think) - start of primary school.

She was an inquisitive DC, and monti is good for that, as it is learning but at the DCs pace, and yet structured enough. And there is plenty of different stuff to do, if it is properly set up.

It is awesome Fluffy! We've put things we won't use in the food bank collection point in Sainsbury's, is that ungrateful? None of us like Christmas cake or Christmas pudding, and we never have time to use cupcake mixes as DH cooks at different times from me, so they would be wasted.

Afternoon all, I’ve missed loads!. I’ll catch up when I can.

We’re all getting ready for Christmas, it’s the boys’ last day at school tomorrow so I’m planning a few Christmassy days.

I hope everyone’s doing well!

Speaking as a person with autism, yes, NT people do see the world differently, what's blindingly obvious to me doesn't occur to a NT person, and vice versa.

Fluffy YAY for your last day!! I bet you are so happy for a good break!!

Mrs I love having internet family! So consider yourself and your dad adopted. But I'm not adopting your Dsis or mom just fyi ;) They scare me a little haha

PSB Yeah. I meant to show you all the house last night but I came home and just crashed. I didn't want to but I was so sleepy and feeling sick from the cookies I ate! I'm sorry your DS1 has CF but it's also nice to know someone on here gets the disabled things like you guys do. I'm diagnosed as Autistic so I totally get it personally too.

biddy Thank you for explaining! We actually do that similar assessments so I know a bit of what you talk about. I'm glad your DD is doing good. My oldest has Autism Spectrum Disorder too. So I know how challenging it gets sometimes.

The system here is definitely very broken. If I lose my benefits? The only thing left to do is husband and I will have to divorce so that I can still get insurance and still be treated medically. If I lose my benefits all my health insurance goes away too. It's very scary :(

fiddle I'm glad your DD's day went so well :)

acey I'm sorry you woke up so achey and I hope you are ok now!

frange I bet you are so ready for the Hols break so you can have all your kiddos at home!

Here's the Christmas lights guys

It was so amazing! It was a little bit of a drive but very worth it!

Afternoon!
Just having a coffee break with my love! Really struggling today with my back and hip gah, what will be will be though! 😁
Haven’t had a chance to catch up yet as been non stop hella busy all day.
Wheelie - that video is so frikkin awesome! Damn I’m hella jealous haha! Addie started kicking away when I was playing it too!

Acey Glad you and Addie liked it! She's got good taste! My Calypso the unicorn came so I'm going to take some photos lol

Been on hold to my bank for nearly 40 mins because they’ve blocked my online banking access and I’ve no idea why 🤷🏻‍♀️
I’ve been number one in the queue for nearly 30 minutes 😂
Gah I’m grumpy!

acey That stuff always makes me grumpy haha I'm not good at being on hold.

Here's my Calypso the unicorn with my Calypso's photo and a Witzy blanket

Also more Christmas lights from last night

Aww your Calypso and Calypso the unicorn are both beautiful!
Love the lights too they are fab!

I have no patience I hate being on hold 😂

Paddy just handed me a pack of dreamies cat treats, I was like what you giving me these for? He says ‘because you are so dreamy and what dreams are made of’ 😂😂
I’m not grumpy any more 😂

Someone has been trying to access my bank account, tut tut. Have to wait for a new card and new details etc!

Picked DS2 up, had veg biryani for supper, DS2 was in bed by 6.30, DD will go at 7.50. 😋🍛😴

Awwww acey! Paddy is so sweet!!

Holy crap!! I'm glad they didn't actually get any of your money right? Just tried? Good on your bank for sending you a new card and such!

PBS Yay for DS2 being in bed so early and soon DD will be asleep too!

Apparently we were put on some groups Christmas Angel Tree list. I got a phone call from someone saying they are going to bringing us gifts for the girls tomorrow night. I have no idea why but I'm honestly so touched!

He is a sweetheart, always makes me smile even on my darkest days 😍
Aye they tried and failed to get my money, clearly they aren’t very good at it 😂 my bank blocked it straight away thankfully! Stupid stupid scammers!

Aww that’s so sweet that someone is dropping some presents off for the girls! You seem to leave in a lovely place with a wonderful community!

Going through old photos with my grandad and paddy. Here’s a pic of me when I was 3, I wanted to show you all my hair. It’s even curlier than that now and comes down way past my bum!

Everything is wrapped.
I've found the stockings.
I've started my Christmas jigsaw and I'm watching The Muppet Christmas Carol while crocheting the last 2 rows of my blanket.

I might just go and get myself something nice to drink 🍸

acey I'm very glad they didn't get your money. Last year we lost $450 that way and it was so hard to get it back!

Look at your gorgeous hair as a kiddo!! WOW

woolly WOOT! YAY for wrapping and finding stockings! I've still got to buy stuff for the kitties and find something for my nieces but we are mostly done

Wheelie - oh no, I’m sorry to hear you lost $450 that sucks! I’m relieved they didn’t get any money out, phew!
Thank you! It’s now even curlier as it curls all the way from top to bottom, proper ringlets! It looked nicer back then, it’s so much effort now 😂

Today is not a good day 😂 we’ve just had our Grocery shop delivered, all grand until we realised whoever packed it put our fresh beef joint in the bag with our fruit and fresh cream cakes, everything is covered in blood 🤢
We’ve requested a refund and I know it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, just so annoying!

I’m eating blackcurrant sorbet, oh my god it’s so nice 😍

Wooly - I think a drink is well deserved! Well done you!

My grandad has just informed me that he’s invited 16 of his friends for Xmas dinner here! I don’t mind as it’s people who would be on their own otherwise, and they helped him a lot when he was raising me and my bro’s. Just a wee bit more notice would have been nice 😂
We are going to have to get the kitchen table from paddy’s house as it’s huge and will fit us all in! 😂

Good job we got that bloody smoke alarm moved 😂
I don’t drink alcohol at all, not even before I fell pregnant, so my grandad is on charge of any booze he wants them to have!
We’ve got loads of nibbles and snacks etc and have a final grocery shop coming Sunday morning so all is good! Will have to add fruit and cream cakes to that shop as we had to Chuck the ones from tonight 🤢

I still have things to wrap, I want that done And dusted by Sunday evening! Maverick’s stocking is done, we just can’t hang it up as he pulls it down 😂
Will get some wee table presents for our extra guests tomorrow, it’s a good job I know them well 😂
More black currant sorbet is on the list too, it’s so good!

Bath time now with this awesome elf bath bomb 😁

wheels Calypso is beautiful and your unicorn is very cute.
That's a lot of money to lose :( I really hope that nothing will happen to your benefits, this really isn't a stress that you need in your life.

Acey Oh no that's a) disgusting and b) really annoying! if you wanted to be faffing around with bags and dealing with returns then you have just gone to the shop! when the kids were much younger I've had formula subbed before, who honestly thought that was okay? babies can't just have a different stage milk or a different brand! I've had hungry milk instead of regular formula sent once too.

I love your hair! it reminds me so much of my sisters, I had curly hair until I was a toddler, it was cut short and then they never grew curly again :(
biddy Thank you

wooly hooooray for wrapping being done! ooooh what are you going to have to drink?

philomena that sounds like an amazing hamper!

fluffy Thank you that's very reassuring to hear. .