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!

ConstantlyCookingSprouts!

I have almost everything I need already. Just the fresh stuff to get in my delivery on 22.12. Plus the bits I've ordered to collect on the same day.

Is there any chance I could join in too? Our outside decorations went up today and DH bought the last few presents meaning I can sit back and enjoy the countdown without stress

As woke at 2am and I've been awake ever since. Really could have done with a good nights sleep before today

13

Morning!

I hope you got back to sleep, Wreck. I hate nights like that.

We're off to Dunham Massey later on for the lights trail. Hopefully it'll be nice.

I'm allotmenting first, however. Though the ground is too wet to do much as I'll damage the earth. I'll probably keep doing my bindweed removal task as that's not in my growing area.

Morning.
I pruned my clematis yesterday - it's already starting to shoot. The camelias are absolutely heavy with buds and nearly all the bulbs are coming up. It really needs to be colder to push everything back a bit and do something important to your garlic
Enjoy Dunham Massey, not been there for ages.
ConstantlyCookingSprouts is fab!

Morning 😀 love the name puss/stockings. I am a bit concerned that my kettle is making a strange whistling noise this morning. Sounds like the kettle gran had on her hob. I think I better look into getting another one.

why, that is one thing I always have a spare cheepo argos own brand of. It might just need descaling, but you can get a new one for a tenner.
I tried a couple of other combos, but stockings suits my swishy tail 😹

I love that you care about my garlic, Stockings! 😂😂 I did consider telling you all how pleased I was about the frost last week, but I knew that you'd already be pleased for me, ha ha. (It's growing really well this year; better than last!)

We have two emergency kettles. One cheap electric one and one that goes on the hob. I 'bought' a nice new one with my Nectar points on Double Up.

Thanks. I got back to sleep just after five and woke up about half an hour ago. Feel all groggy now.

Our Argos cheepo was bought with a £10 voucher we were given when we bought DHs laptop. I only had a month to spend it and didn't really want anything else.
I think my ornamental cherry tree may be on the way out. It's grafted on, but the trunk looks like it's splitting. At least I've a good excuse to buy a proper cherry instead I just need to keep DH away from it...🪓

Trees do need plentiful water though, so he'd be alright there!

Wreck, that's almost worse than not getting back to sleep sometimes!

You see, I knew you knew that...DH managed to kill the apple tree by NOT watering it.
Honestly, the man pulls up flowers thinking they're weeds and puts fertilizer on the weeds because they're "pretty" 🤦🏻‍♀️🤬

I think the best place in the garden for him is under the patio! 😂😂

Morning.

We're watching the CBeebies pantomime this morning.

Dh is driving to his dads house to drop of Christmas presents. 2 hours each way to stand in a field on a cold and wet morning.

We’re going for a national trust walk, then coming home to put some decorations up. I think we’ll leave the tree until next weekend though.

We may have a spare kettle somewhere, I will have a look whilst I am cleaning.

It is pouring with rain today, looks like it could be set for the day.

fluffy I may need to borrow your wheelbarrow...It's also gone very black, looking out of my bedroom window - I hope you don't get wet.

Nero make sure there's enough hot water for a bath to thaw him out.🥶

I'm just back from food shopping - we did The Big Shop today, so all treats, basics, to get us through to just before New Year with a plan for DH to go and pick up fresh stuff nearer the day (we have our Turkey and veg coming from a friend who owns a local farm).
It was surprisingly quiet.

I'm meeting 2 friends now for a walk and to exchange presents. It's clear, sunny but cold here so perfect weather for it.

DH twitched - he saw a toy lorry filled with mini dinosaurs on a deal so bought it for youngest nephew, which now means niece has less 🙄
As they're 2 and 3 they aren't going to notice, but dm will so now I'm trying to pull a present for niece out of thin air....

stockings I'm not quite sure how your DH has made it this far without you putting him under the patio tbh 😂

It's sunny here, Stockings! Getting cold now the cloud cover has gone though (it tipped down all night).

I only did 2.5 hours of digging and I'm heading home now as I'm knackered.

I'm very much a child today. I put bird food out as usual and I've been watching a pair of great tits eating the peanuts. It made me snigger somewhat!

I'm trying to work out what to do with the space I'm creating during my bramble and bindweed removal. Any thoughts? (Photo with tree in and shed to the right.)

Stockings, I borrow my allotment neighbour's wheelbarrow. I'm sure she won't mind though! I can lay a patio though!

Oh, I disturbed what I think was a vole today as something small, furry and FAST shot past me and ran to next door, where it had a pre-dug burrow entrance! Made me screech as I was so surprised! 😂😂

We put our outside decorations up. I’ve never done them any other year bit I’m going to do it every year from now. The DC love it so much.

Crazy your DH is both annoying and lovely at the same time. 😹
I might end up organising a working party to renovate my lawn/patio area...bring a shovel 😉

fluffy small raised bed with strawberry plants for summer? maybe chuck some bulbs in and have a rethink in March/April? I've never seen a vole. I suspect he was as shocked as you! 👀

He was in fear for his life as I disturbed his burrow with a fork! Poor vole. I laughed once I'd finished screeching. 🤣🤣

I've ordered 40 lavender plugs to come in spring to go in the bit I've dug near the patio (with a golden rod). Maybe I should just put some there too? I love lavender bushes and 40 is plenty to go round! (Photo 3.)