Countdown to Christmas 2020 (thread 7): To buy or not to buy a Balsam Hill Christmas tree (AKA: Christmas in July)?!

[NoWordForFluffy]

I just noticed we only have 20 posts left and I'm off to the allotment! So here is thread 7!

I used to make my cards, years ago. But then I got into the habit of buying them the week after Xmas (for the following year) in the sale. And saved myself some pennies. I did lose them one year so had to re-buy 🤣🙄

Sorry I haven't read whole thread - but I do have balsam hill trees! I have two of the half ones - save spacing! I love them!

Oh and weather wise here it’s dry, but not sunny, looks like it could rain but hoping it doesn’t! I have a load of towels I need to get dry and refuse to put the tumble dryer on in July!!

Fluffy I will pick up the hungover mantle today 🤕 DH made cocktails last night to celebrate and my parents joined us and well, at 35 I clearly haven't learned my limits yet.

I'm very ashamed I didn't recognise the roof most Apologies to you and your stitches

puss there are a surprising number of siblings / spouses in my workplace, lots who magically get promoted quickly once one of them has managed it 🤔

My Christmas crafts are decorations, crochet and cross stitch based. No cards, I send so many I buy them but I tend to embellish a nice one for DHs Gran because she loves doing and receiving craft things. I don't mind taking the time for her because she appreciates it.

It's grey but warm here. I've just told my team I'm leaving and they're being so lovely. I feel a bit emotional

Today is going to be a long day....

If I win the lottery I'll have the thread baby otherwise it's a no.

Morning.

I'm hoping that the app is working now. I keep writing stuff out then it crashes andI lose everything.

BH sent me a 10% off code but I don't think I'll get it this year.

Morning everyone.

Glad to hear your hangover has shifted Fluffy

Just been in town with DD as she is beginning her NQT year in September. She wanted to buy some 'Teacher bits'. Also went into Waterstones for her to buy some picture books for the kids, and for some calming time. Unfortunately the cafe wasn't open

Unfortunately my days of thread babies are far behind me. mournful sigh

Just been informed we have to go back into town as the dresses she bought don't fit.

Ooh, Crazy! It's a well-deserved hangover! I hope you recover more quickly than I did! 🙈😂

Does the new job mean your house hunting will change?

I only do cross stitch / baking etc for Christmas stuff. The kids make cards sometimes, but you don't want tips from primary school kids! 😂😂

Can she not walk, Marshmallow?

@70isaLimitNotaTarget no thread baby from me! Possibly in the next year or two

I actually work in online retail! Things will be very different this year no doubt, I’m still wondering how we’ll go about our ‘usual’ Christmas marketing. Although it’s around this time of year that we start getting a lot of festive stuff slowly trickling through. I love looking at it all.

I suppose if I won the lottery I could afford the dietician, fitness trainer and Dr's I'd need to have the thread baby...one year maybe.

Waterstones is £££ for school items marshmallow! The works or online tends to be much cheaper.

Fluffy is it bad that I had a giant mug of tea and 2 of the chocolate shortbreads as 'brunch' to help me recover?

House hunting will be the same for us as I've just been informed I don't have to wait to apply for home working, this job will be partly home based and partly split across offices and most are reasonably close to where we are now.
I know and like the areas we're searching in so we'll stick to this and I'll just travel the extra distance a few days each month to the offices further away. It'll be fine, I'll have to catch trains rather than drive but the new job will hopefully be worth it!

I've recovered somewhat now and I'm in a great mood headache tablets helped. I'm not being massively productive but I am planning a roast for tea and have done some work so that's something 😂

Fluffy if only, we live about 4 miles out of town, I would walk it but I don't think she would.

Yes I will tell her about the Works Crazy and she does buy a lot online. I bought her quite a few Christmas books in the Works last year, but sometimes their range is limited.I think she loves Waterstones as she gets a little anxious, and she tends to feel calm in there. Before all this she would get a bunch of books to browse through and sit in the armchairs away from the crowds.

Hello all,

Has anybody ever used Park to get ready for Christmas? I've always stayed away from it because I remember the Farepak debacle from years ago but at the moment I'm trying to get a tighter crop on my finances and I think this might be one way to help me. I could save but the financial burden of everything in the world is squarely on me in our family so if I put money aside, it gets pulled in other directions for bills etc so I like the idea of having a structure that I have to stick to. Any feedback or personal experiences you could share would be very much appreciated.

Afternoon everyone
Hope the drunkards hangovers have receded by now
Mum was a total cow today l won't bore you, except to say l coulda,woulda, shoulda strangled her.

I've never used park, sorry

I'm tired today. Had quite a bust day at work making spreadsheets look pretty and when I got home I made a low carb lemon and blueberry cake. I tried to get it out before it was ready and then burnt it a bit but it s tastes nice so I don't mind.

Evening

I've never used Park either, sorry. I tend to just buy presents throughout the year and save Morrisons savings stamps weekly for the Christmas food shop. Also save my £5 more points vouchers all year.

Think I'll stick with bought cards, may make some for the dc and my parents.

It's been cloudy all day here, my last day off work tomorrow, have had one nice sunny day on my week off, typical

About to do some cross stitch 😁

Evening everyone.

Never used Park before Cog, usually buy/save through the year.

Just returned from our walk, just found a batch of blueberries on our way, going to bring a tupperware for tomorrow, really fancy blueberry and apple pie.

Mrs you deserve it!

I may have done too much stitching in the last day or two, as my eyes are sore. Have put it to one side for tonight. DH has found some free footy to watch, so I might just curl up on the bed with the cats instead if they'll let me😹🥱

Someone near us has bought a 🐓it has no idea about time and hollers all day, starting around 3am.

I suspect one of the nearer neighbours will be having a roast dinner soon...

Oh god, Boots. There was a cockerel near us when we were kids. It lost its voice once and the owner blamed us. Hilarious! Bastard loud thing.

Mrs, do you need a new patio? Does Poor Bob? I'll be your alibi.

Crazy, the shortbread was just the ticket! Sounds like the new job will be interesting!

Oh, I've never used Park either.

I'm saving £20 per month onto a Sainsbury's gift card and also saving my Nectar points.

Triple post...Wreck, the cake sounds amazing. Which flour do you use? Is it expensive to use non-standard flour? And do you have to follow particular recipes?

Oh, quad post...bloody chilly here today too. I had to fetch DS' Fitbit from the local click and collect shop for Very. Bastard cold. This time 6 years ago it was boiling. And 7 years ago. It's all gone wrong!

My mil has a wild peacock 🦚 in her communal gardens

Fluffy I use almond flour, yes it's expensive and yes I follow special recipes

How are your Sains points coming on? We're at £131.99 which at the mo is 10 crates of fosters and a £1.99 bottle of Lambrini

How do you get malted milk biscuit crumbs out of a laptop keyboard?

Mmmm malted milk. Only bettered by chocolate digestives.

Turn it upside down and tap? I've got a nifty USB mini vacuum. It's not for the computer though - our kitchen table has got bloody stupid grooves that fill with crumbs and other debris. I look a right numpty hoovering the table with a laptop tucked under my arm.