Countdown to Christmas 2020 (thread 13): the one with(out) the M&S vanishing gin!

[NoWordForFluffy]

Evening!

New thread here. I'm pretty sure this one breaks all previous records!

I don't usually find stitching late a problem. I think it was something DH did / said that triggered it. Can't recall what it was though!

Morning. Lovely combination of cold (4 degrees) and rain here today. Paired with the lovely sore throat / cold DH has brought home from school I think it's going to be a rubbish day here.

I measured my knitting needles - They're 5mm not 4 but they're also 28cm long and it's the length that's causing me issues. I struggle to hold them comfortably (although this may just be because I'm a knitter).

I don't think I knew you knitted puss - what have you made lately?

why I did think I may be pushing it to ask about Pom poms on the day you picked up the Pom Pom maker 😂

woolly did you get much knitting done?
I'm quite pleased, I finished my second ice cream for my niece. Now I'm considering the best / easiest type of dinosaur I can make for my nephew....

Crazy, I've not really done any knitting for a while. I've been doing more Cross Stitch. The last big thing I did was a cardi. I probably should swap back to knitting for a while as sewing with artificial light is ruining my eyes.

Our 'feels like' doesn't get above 1° all day today. Brrrrr! 🥶🥶🥶

I think knitting needles do feel unwieldy until you're more used to knitting, Crazy.

Morning. We had some snow last night and the car was frozen over too. I think I'm going to need a hwb

I like the idea you thought there was the possibility that I would have sorted them Crazy so a proud moment for me there 🤣

Morning everyone. Haven't read the whole thread but hope you are all well. Have just been to get my Christmas tree this morning. It is the first time we have had a real one so am very excited. The man said to let it settle for a couple of days before we decorate it. Off out to town in a while to try and get remaining presents. Our school has now closed for Christmas due to the high cases there and in the local community. Was really surprised as our school has been open all through the pandemic.

Nightmare marshmallow. Our school always closes at 2pm on the last day before Christmas and that annoys me enough

I've wrapped dds stocking presents today. That was enough for one day.

Are you freezing Fluffy?

why I'm glad I made you feel proud 😂

Complete opposite here Wreck - there is a full on campaign by the majority of parents in DHs school to close a week early so no one had to isolate over Christmas.
I think DH is on the fence and isn't actually bothered either way.

I'm not long back from a very cold wet dog walk. I've changed into my pjs as my clothes were soaked through.
Looking for a dinosaur crochet pattern that's free - even if it's not perfect I'm open to adapting it, and that'll be my evening task.

Also - I received my first Christmas card today

Any of these float your boat Crazy. Not all of them are toys, there are hats, blankets and other stuff.

If you haven't already got one you should sign up for a free Ravelry account. I just typed in dinosaur and clicked patterns. I was then able to filter by craft (crochet) and availability (free). Lots more filters too.

I disagree crazy (I realise this may be unpopular) but my dc's education is more important to me than spending Christmas with y grandparents. Schools are already shut for at least two weeks so people could just go and see their relatives the weekend before they go back. I DO think people should have a choice if their grandma will be all alone otherwise and I also think teachers should have more safety measures in place and be priority on a vaccine. But I would be so cross if they closed schools just because people want to host a Covid party at Christmas

It's so dark here today I've had my window lights on all day.

That reminds me crazy I need to send out the few Christmas cards I send. Job for the weekend I think.

Thank you Woolly. I love Ravelry - I'll have a proper look after work.

Wreck as I have no dc I don't have any opinion on schools, I was just surprised that the parents don't seem to be split at all, they all just seem to be pushing for school to close early. Quite why I'm surprised I don't know because DH has had to make 2 separate parents leave his classroom in a week after they ignored all the rules to stay outside and just walked in after collecting their dc!

I'm posting presents and cards this weekend too - just need to pick up a delivery from WH Smith's first as it contains a book I'm sending.

Total nightmare Wreck cases just getting higher and higher.

Crazy, yes it was chilly. I had my blanket and fingerless gloves on!

I've almost finished my mice (just needs back stitching) and bookmark 1 is done. Onto 2 tomorrow!

I do hope we don't have to isolate before Christmas. I have cheese to collect! 😂 #priorities

I don't think schools should finish early at all. The kids have almost got through a whole term at 100% attendance. I don't want them to miss anything else!

We are promised sleet tomorrow so a lovely combo of rain and cold slush but at least it won't settle .

My DC are both at University both living at home so I don't have the worry of them being tested and travelling . They are doing lectures online , DS went in last week , his course has worked out a rota of 50% of the students are allowed in at a time .
I am so glad I don't have the school closures to worry about (though I did like the half day on the last day of term, it felt like legitimate skiving )

I have a List , how much of it will I be able to buy ?

It was terrible that our school had to close, but at the end it was a grave safety issue due to staff absence and higher covid infection rates.

21

THREE WEEKS!!!!

Morning!

Wet and freezing today. But no sleet / snow forecast!

My cold is still with me; ever faithful! 🙄

I really need to start wrapping soon. I'll get the second bookmark done and then we'll do it! And I need to locate the chocolate items! Buying early = chance to lose. 😂😂

Morning! Cloudy here today not precipitation forecast.

I've got to collect my food shopping (£40 over budget but I've got some Christmas bits), have a phone appointment with my diabetes near and dietitian and then I'm going for lunch with my friend. So excited I haven't seen her in ages. Since the John Lewis Christmas stuff came out whenever that was.

Own clothes day for the dc today in exchange for hamper donations.

I'm working in the toy shop for the next three sundays so the weekends are going to go really quick.

Good morning all! Posting and running as I have to organise cover for sick member of staff - luckily d&v rather than Covid

Who'd have thought that we'd be saying it's 'lucky' to have D&V?!

Wreck, are you tier 1? I'm pretty sure you can't meet indoors with people you don't live with if you aren't. Are you having a picnic?! 🥶🥶🥶

I wonder if cafes etc are asking if people live together / have a support bubble?

Sept 23rd for JL, I think!

Morning.

Love the mice and cheese cross stitch, and the bookmark Fluffy

Sounds like you have a nice day planned Wreck

Looks like it's going to be sunny but cold here today (5 degrees)

DH has brought a cold home from school - he's bunged up and I've started sneezing. It's made me sleep with my mouth open too so now my throat is sore 🤧

I need to wrap presents after work ready for posting tomorrow, and nag DH to get the Christmas boxes down from the attic so I can wear a Christmas jumper, find the books I bought last year as presents to give this year and sort out what gift bags I still have.

No we're tier 2. All the pubs here have sorted out heated outside areas, we're going to the one below. I think they must be asking because they'd get fined so much wouldn't they? Although you could just say you're having a business meeting! I know another pub I've looked at booking for dh's birthday said the outside area is reserved for mixed households only. If the marquee has four sides it can't be used for mixed groups but this one has three sides.

That looks like it's stretching the rules a bit, Wreck, but fair play to them; they need the revenue!

Crazy, I hope your cold doesn't last as long as mine. I'm so bored of it and the bunged head / sneezing now!

I need to make my final batch of chilli jam this weekend now I have some ripe Scotch Bonnets in the greenhouse! Then I can go to the post office with my posted presents. Which I still need to wrap!

No it's within the rules that's why they've all done it. I think they can have up to 2.5 sides closed that way you get air through it. We've only got 63/100000 cases here anyway (and that's about the level of population).

Rules here seem to be all over the place to be honest.
Oh and the council have announced schools won't be closing early. Announcement was made yesterday and people are kicking off, there's a petition against it that already has over 5000 signatures.

I've just checked our Covid numbers - 382/100000 so your numbers are amazing Wreck

Fingers crossed my cold doesn't last too long Fluffy, although DH picked it up a day or so before me and warned me that today he feels awful and to expect to feel the same this weekend. Marvellous!

On the plus side, as a thank you for working so well through the pandemic and the way everyone has pulled together, doing jobs that aren't strictly theirs etc, work have awarded everyone extra holidays as a one off, some of which can be taken in December or carried over to next year. I'm so pleased with that! Will possibly take a day next week to get decs up and keep the rest for next year.