Don't be an April fool, get your Easter eggs in a row and countdown to Christmas Thread 3

[NoWordForFluffy]

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New month coincides with the need for a new thread!

The last one kept us going for over 2 months, so let's see how we do this time!

Woolly I'm so glad your friend liked her nativity. I've decided to add a nativity to the centre of the wreath I'm making for my friend.

MrsMad romanticising about someone after they've passed is definitely a thing. My whole family do it about my Nan, who was lovely but they talk about her being soft and loving when actually, she wasn't physically affectionate. She was stubborn and strong but more battleaxe than cuddly grandmother.

Congratulations to DD2 🥳
I know change can be a scary prospect but I think she's right, she may never get this chance again, it's her passion and worst case scenario, she makes new friends & connections then has to get a new job in a few months.

Biddy I don't fully understand DLA / DCA but I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
If the system is similar to ours it sounds unnecessarily complicated (DSIS is in the middle of applying as my nephew has CP but it's like the goal posts are moved all the time and it's doubly hard because she's dyslexic and struggles with the forms).

Fluffy I know you have a lot of love for ladybirds but I have a terrible phobia of them. The idea of them landing on me makes me feel physically ill (I know that's irrational and stupid and I'm not like it about anything else). I just wish they would stay in places that they're useful and away from me!

AnyFarrah Welcome back and sorry you came across such a miserable poster last year! Here Christmas prep is welcome and if you choose to watch Christmas Chronicles on a random snow day in March like I did that's fine too

Fedora no dc here so no Christmas Eve box. DSIS has 3 children and does one big Advent box on December 1st. At the mo 2 of the dc are babies (will be 1 and 2 at Christmas) and the third will be 9 so I think it has festive PJs, a giant Christmas fleece blanket, a film or 2, a book, advent calendar and a bath bomb for the eldest.

I have been so busy - work is manic as we're being audited, I'm doing overtime still and my dad still needs a bit of extra help. I've spent this weekend visiting my friend overnight (Friday), housework etc yesterday, out last night and hung over today but I've said I'll pick dad up so he can have lunch here.

I think I'm going to book a mini cruise to a Christmas market for next year, I'm so excited. My friend suggested it, I just want to double check the cost.
As for Christmas prep, I have ordered a custom made tree skirt (I've admitted defeat, I'm never going to get around to making my own), and am still crocheting away at my wreath.

Crazy thiss* is a lovely crochet nativity pattern. Your wreath will be amazing.

MrsMad how lovely that your DD2 has got the job. Sometimes we just have to follow our dreams - this life isn't a rehearsal.

Cish MIL lives in St. Helens - DS and I got the 10A to Liverpool One on our trip

We don't do a Christmas Eve box but only really because they weren't a thing when my DDs were young and we had already established our Christmas Eve routine by the time DS came along. We do cinema and an early dinner before Mass and then home for champagne while we put out the stockings and watch Elf then the DC open one present before bed. Traditionally this was my mum's presents (always pyjamas) and I continued it last year after she died so I can only assume it will be expected ad infinitum.

Hello ladies, I am back :) Was redgreen (live in Newport if that helps jog memories).

How is everyone doing?

It's rainy today and I have a sudden urge to get my Christmas planner out :)

I updated a few months ago to explain that I had found out that DH has secret debt. We are working hard to pay it off but need to plan well to ensure that we keep spending under control for Christmas.

I expect we will be hosting the ILs over Christmas itself and my parents a few days after. Will have to do a lot more homemade food rather than buy from M&S so will probably start in the autumn and freeze.

woolly i use that bus quite a lot. Emrys welcome back I remember you. I hope things are less stressful for you now. I use my Christmas planner quite often for this reason.

Just had DM round for a coffee. She was very complementary about how the house was coming on but then ended it with "you need to clean your bathroom windows they are filthy. oh well cant win them all.

Great to see that so many do the Christmas Eve box. I’ve read some threads on mumsnet about them and it seems like people think it’s a load of rubbish..but I thought it was a great idea!.

Cish it’s a great age isn’t it, it feels like I have a proper little person now and not just a baby. I’m loving it.

Emrys I’m only new so won’t remember you but welcome back

We’ve had a chippy for dinner, the boys are having a cup of tea before we go for our walk (DS2 is having a teabag dipped in milk) and then they’re off for bath and bed by 7:30. I’ve got some work to catch up on, I’ve let it spiral out of control and now I’m in over my head. I’m hoping to get most of it done tonight and then I can have the week to rest. Hope you all have a good evening

We do a Christmas Eve box Fedora. It contains the same The Night Before Christmas book every year, a new pair of PJs which I would buy at some point over the winter anyway, some chocolate coins, some reindeer food and a Christmas DVD :)

Hi Emrys, good to see you back and working through things with your DH.

I think some CEBs can go a bit overboard, but it's all good fun really!

The DC are very happy as their pumpkin plants have flowers on. 😁

I spent about 3 hours weeding the brassica bed, under the netting! It looks fab now. For about a day, no doubt!

And the garlic harvest is in. All 52 bulbs. Our bedroom smells rather garlicky! 😂

Fluffy brilliant work well done m'dear
Did you see the delicious black garlic they showed in escape to the country programme this afternoon? Yummy!
Emrys Emrys OMG l have missed you sweetie , where has she been? Was it me who put her off? so pleased to see you back m'dear I am so sorry bout your DH debt but we all do daft things, it's good you are on it and owning it and sorting it out and it will make you stronger than ever l am sure

Cish brilliant that your house is coming on sweetie l am so pleased for you , it gives me hope l may be able to do something with mine it's 15 quid here for blinking window cleaners and it isn't even that big a house
Fedora you can't beat a naice cod n chips . Yummy !
Woolly than you m'dear re the DD2 congrats re the job
Yes to keeping the traditions up every Christmas, we don't do CEB but we always have the Christmas duvets and jamas on for CE
Crazy your work sounds hectic m'dear! The cruise sounds wonderful , l am thinking of copying you mwahahahahaha , l won't but l will have a look at them now!

Hi, is it ok if I join in ?
I used to love Christmas, but with losing a relative suddenly before Christmas several years ago, it's hard to get in the spirit.
I've decided this year, I'm going to try and get it back.
Nobody else here, DH, DS25 or DS20 are really into it, apart from Dec 24th and don't listen to any of my plans or ideas.

We just had our first “it’s not bedtime, it’s not dark” of the year 😒. All the more reason to look forward to Christmas.

Cish thank you for the reassurance re DD2 job , l am so sad she is leaving her job in Waitrose, so is she, not just me lol , it is like a little family there
Crazy , it seems daft for my Mum to be going on like this abut my Dad but like you said it is a common thing to experience , it is just such a different person she is describing, which is strange because
Mum had visitors yesterday and the man Chris said to me about my Dad's funeral,
'it was lovely but l couldn't believe l was at your Dad's funeral, it wasn't a bit like him or what he would have wanted, he was so uncomplicated and wouldn't have wanted any fuss at all. l haven't said this to anyone else but l really couldn't believe what l was seeing'.
l honestly couldn't have put it better myself!
Anyway all water under the bridge but it did make me realise that others who knew Dad , felt the same way as l did .

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your dad Mrs

Emrys thank you Sweetie it's cheered me up no end to see you here honestly

205

Morning! It's lovely here today. Albeit rather windy! The washing will dry very well. In minutes! 😂

I clearly had too much sleep on Saturday night as, despite being bone tired from the allotment, I couldn't get to sleep last night. I'll be knackered later!

Going back to CEBs and including stockings, we're trying to reduce what we buy for environmental reasons, so will buy things that are longer-lasting or easily recyclable etc. Last year's pyjamas were massive, so they'll get used again this year and the go into general pyjama use after that (I kept them back for that reason after last year). We're going to be more conscious about plastics etc.

Mrs, at least you know you were right about your dad's funeral, so that can be of comfort to you.

Hi all!

Don't know if anyone even remembers me I probably haven't posted in about 5 months!
Hope everyone is well I will try and catch up but I don't want to get sucked into a mumsnet vortex of doom!
I promise I will try to keep up to date with posting now too!

Morning everyone.

Gosh, 205 days, it’ll be the 100s soon!. Fluffy I didn’t get much sleep last night either, but Sunday’s do that to me.

I’m going to my mums for an hour or so without dS2 until it’s time to get DS1 for nursery. Then we’ll go into town for lunch. Hope everyone is well.

Hi Everyone (sticks head round door). Hope it's ok to come back

I tried to cut back on all my Internet/screen time but I have been feeling a bit Christmassy lately and missed the chat. I'm going to try to check in just once or twice a week.

I can't believe it's June already! I am feeling relatively organised and I bottled my Sloe Gin last week (which tastes really good and I am chuffed to bits with!).

Hairspray! Jen! Where've you both been?!

Hairspray, tell all re married life. 😁

Isn't it funny how getting to summer tips us into Christmas mode?

It's still windy here. So while it looks warm, it's not overly unless the wind drops.

I'm having my usual lunch time walk now. 😊

Hi Fluffy!

Not married yet - the big day is Oct 26th so I am in planning mode everything is expensive and I can't seem to make may people happy but oh well!

We have basically everything booked now, the reception venue is about 25mins drive from the church and I don't know if we should put on transport or not - £700 is a lot of money for a one way coach and I don't really want to pay it if I can avoid it!

I had it in my head it was last year!

Don't bother re transport. Ours were a similar distance apart and I just got involved in arranging lifts / car shares where needed rather than put transport on. It worked fine!

Also don't worry about making others happy. They actually won't appreciate it if you do!

MIL to be has complained that everything is too far away [rollseyes] church is literally a 10 min walk from her house and reception is like I said a 25 min drive from there - not sure if she wants me to get married in her living room or something!

So far we have sorted
church
bridesmaids dresses
flower girl dress
grooms suit
food
photographer
florist
my dress
registered intention to marry
honeymoon

we are still on track for staying in our budget too so that is good :)

Woolly Thank you for the pattern. I have adapted it slightly to make it the correct size but am basing mine on that. We have a Jospeh body so far...

Welcome back Emrys, so nice to have another Welshie among us
How are things with your DH now?
We do a strict Christmas budget every year purely because it stops me buying unnecessary things which won't get used / eaten. If you need any help I'm sure we all have suggestions.

Fluffy Am jealous of your garlic haul! FIL grows some and makes sure he saves me loads. It's unbelievably strong though.

MrsMad I wouldn't be offended if you copied me! I think the cruise sounds amazing.

Welcome back Hairspray & Jen

Hairspray wedding planning can be a nightmare. I think you have to accept you're not going to please everyone so do whatever you can.
We didn't arrange transport for everyone either, and it was slightly bigger distance between ceremony venue and reception than yours.

My tips (if you want them) - 1 - try and organise a few intervals when it's just you and your DH - one of ours was the drive between venues(!)
2 - Arrange to have some snacks in your hotel room incase you're too excited / nervous to eat properly.

I am doing more overtime today as I'm this close >< to being on top of things at last!

A few of you have mentioned Christmas planners. Are these notebooks etc you've altered or actual, designed-especially-for-Christmas planners? If the latter, can you please post pics? I have a read leather bound notebook but I dream of a beautiful but practical planner...

Will post in more depth after DS is in bed but this is my Christmas planner Crazy. Lasts five years.

www.amazon.co.uk/BusyB-5060022556065-Busy-Christmas-Planner/dp/B01J1N4ROQ/ref=asc_df_B01J1N4ROQ/?hvlocphy=9045652&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=231961302195&hvpone&hvlocint&th=1&hvpos=1o1&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-535687430065&hvrand=4479977507192048124