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'm home! I've done almost 19000 steps which for someone with horrendous hips and other issues is no mean feat.

Kew was lovely, Oxford street was quiet but coven garden was heaving. The dc seemed to enjoy themselves although ds just wanted to go to a play park I'm going to bed now as I'm working again tomorrow.

Stockings I know DH twitched because nephew struggles and we all want to spoil him so the idea was sweet but ffs it didn't even occur to him it may cause a problem 🙄

Fluffy I know nothing about gardening so I was going to suggest herbs (mostly as they're easy to grow, attract bees and taste nice).
I Love lavender too - am planning to get some when we move along with a potted Christmas tree or 2, giant herb pots and some fruit trees

Sounds like a fun day Wreck but after your rubbish sleep you def need to rest!

I enjoyed my catch up with my friends, it's been ages since I've seen them.
It's been a busy day as I got home, was looking online at what I'd like for Christmas as I've been given some money and somehow ended up buying a new tv which we picked up from Sainsbury's. It's got some super duper HD something or other so we put Blue Planet 2 on to test and it's making my eyes go funny 😵

I managed to resist some Vegan Shoes in M&S ( I have four pairs of boots that I haven't even worn yet )
Then Twitched and bought some skincare items for DD Beauty Advent (for the 24th)
DH bought a mahoosive Cat Tower for the Stealth Panthers

And my tree is up so far it hasn'r caught the attention of Female Cat . We'll see how it goes . (Pre-lit just with white lights )
Lots of fake LED candles dotted about .

Lavender makes me heave , Fluffy it is a reflex reaction to back when I was pregnant with DS ( now 21yo but my body still reacts ) . I used to love lavender and had Hidcote Lavender in the garden.....had to hoik them all out

12

We're watching Hurt Locker; such a good film. I do need to go to bed, however!

Cross stitch is coming on nicely. I think it'll be close to get it done before Christmas mind you!

Morning. It's a grim old day today; no going outside unless totally necessary.

Sainsbury's is delivering between 9.59-10.59 (weird window, IMO!) and I've said I'll bake with the kids. They're currently watching last night's Strictly (and apparently trying to do the splits, from what I can hear!), so I'll mainline tea until then!

Ooh, and write Christmas cards / print postage labels!

Morning.

We're watching home alone this morning. Think we might go to the beach later on to try and tire them out a bit.

Morning. Not sure what's happening to the thread, we seem to have slowed right down

4 pairs of unworn boots 70?

DH & I decided yesterday to do Christmas presents (with a budget) now we know we're not moving this side of Christmas so I sent him some ideas (a nice diary / planner, cashmere socks and fingerless gloves, some cross stitch kits and a stocking because I've never had one).

Plan for today is to go to my parents for lunch, finish the snowman cushion for dsis (he's made, I just need to make the casing for the stuffing, stuff him, sew him closed then make the hat.
Will also write DHs class cards later as he has to take them to school tomorrow, quarantine them for a few days and hand them out before the school breaks up on Wednesday.

Crazy I can't leave the thread on 13 so I'll have to keep posting so we can get to 14 😂.

Gingerbread 'almost-everything including men'!

DS is being diabolical today. The build up to Christmas is really very tough! They're really knackered at this point though. It's been a very long term.

I love the look of the gingerbread. I would come round and sit on your doorstep Fluffy if I was local and sample some 😆

I am not doing much today. I unpacked the food shop that arrived 15 minutes early and I am going to watch TV and start the pom poms for mum's scarf.

4 pairs of unworn boots 70?

Actually it's five pairs Crazy but In My Defence :

2 pairs Chelsea Boots (black and mink) to replace my current favourite pair which are really getting tp the end ( bought a couple of weeks ago)

A pair of long chocolate brown riding boot style - to wear with non black leggings

A pair of cowboy western style - again need to wear not with leggings but I have new jeams so I will wear them.

And some hiking boots style for bad weather (which we haven't had yet )
and my currents ones are maybe 4yo been worn loads but not had any bad weather yet . I might re-cycle this pair , they still have them on the M&S site but I 've had them over a year so I cannot return them .
They're a light beige with faux fur

So all just waiting to be worn , and I don't need to be looking at any more but I do look out for replacements .
And I don't wear leather so M&S is a good searching ground for me .

I've been in leggings for a while (combination of my scar from last year and lazy buggeritus ) but I need to Think Denim .

I had some cookie dough in the freezer which I cooked this morning , (Martha Stewart Crispy and Chewy recipe) they are delicious but need far less salt that the recipe states .

Need to galvanize my DS into tidying the squalor that is his bedroom he's an adult but the paper pile on his desk is an avalanche waiting to happen .
I always give the cats a sandwich and an emergency flare when they go in DS room but I fear I might never see them again

Love the gingerbread too Fluffy

Looking forward to a pic of the scarf why

70 your boots collection sounds good. I'm in desperate need of a pair so added some to my Christmas list but I've been looking for ages and not found any I like. Will have a look at M&S now...
Jealous that you can wear riding type boots - my legs are too short and fat so they end up either restricting how much I can bend my knees or with me not being able to do up the zip

I pretty much live in leggings lol, I wear them under dresses instead of tights.

Had a lovely lunch at my parents. DSis, niece and youngest nephew came (we are apparently too boring for eldest nephew). Littlest ones are only 2 and 3 and so cute, and nephews speech today included some new words (caterpillar pronounced cat-eee-pla, 'blaws' which are apparently baubles and 'eight-deer' rather than reindeer). Sounds silly but with all the speech issues it's so nice to see him willing to try new words 🥰
Just about to write DHs class cards with my lights and Christmas Chronicles 2 on to keep me company

Crazy your day sounds lovely. I started my day with the family zoom call and my smallest nephew singing "Little Donkey" ❤️

I'm just about sorted. I have done the marzipan on my cakes and plan to ice them either tomorrow or Tuesday. All my cards and parcels have been posted and everything is wrapped apart from DD1's socks (3/4 knitted) and a picture (also for DD1) that is still in transit from the US but I've bought the frame and had the mount cut so I'm ready to go as soon as it arrives. My present plans are now moving slightly to take in DS's birthday in the new year. I'm going to Google that Martha Stewart cookie recipe 70 - I usually make shortbread with chopped cranberries and orange zest but am open to other suggestions.

10

Morning!

I think I may need to build a boat the way it's going. Wet and grim again today.

I failed at card-writing. It can be my lunchtime job! Crazy, did yours get done?

I did a fair amount of cross stitch yesterday, but went wrong so many bloody times. So much unpicking too!

My throat is killing me. I'll have to get DH to take a photo to send to the GP seeing as it's impossible to get over the threshold.

Forgot my photo!

Sounds like a throat infection or tonsillitis Fluffy.

I am working from home today, back in the office Thursday and Friday. My trust have tightened office covid regs so only a few can be in at a time.

Looks like it is going to be a nice day so going to fling the washing on the line whilst the hamsters in my laptop warm up.

You know me and my throat, Why! I'd assume infection, not tonsillitis, as that's pretty standard for me (or used to be). It would explain the longevity of my illness too!

We have dry weather tomorrow. Maybe you'll get our torrential rain?

Morning.

Woolly how old is your littlest nephew? A rendition of Little Donkey sounds so sweet and festive.

I got the cards done Fluffy - all 30 of them! Had no choice though as they have to go into school today so they can 'quarantine' before being given out on the last day of term (Weds).
Sorry you're still ill - fingers crossed you can shake it off soon!
The cross stitch looks good, the wreath is particularly lovely.

I haven't actually looked outside yet but I'm assuming it's wet as it sounds like rain.
My snowman cushion is almost done, I finished his face, sewed the front and back together (and stuffed him) and stitched the scarf on last night after I finished the cards. He just needs a hat now which will hopefully be tonight's job.

Morning
We took the bedroom (and the bed) apart yesterday and hoovered everywhere. No idea how a pair of my embroidery scissors got under there or half a strip of paracetomol. DH had to get a hammer to repair one of the struts in the divan base as the drawer kept falling of the runner and getting trapped/sticking out 2".
It took ages and has buggered up my shoulder and neck with all the lifting.
70 I've got 2 pairs of unworn boots - both Ugg-like, one navy ankle pair and one mid-calf black. I was saving them for when it gets really cold and icy as the tread is fab on them, but the wet not icy winters have consigned them to the wardrobe.
fluffy you need to move south there is blue sky and sun here 😎 Can you get to a chemist and buy some throat spray? I've had some from Boots when mine is bad.

I second a throat spray Fluffy, or gargling salt water if I don't have any.
I have a difflam bottle on standby because my throat gets sore a lot.

stockings we moved a chest of drawers yesterday (old tv is now in the bedroom but to be able to plug it in we had to reshuffle). I'm very to say we found a pair of 'long lost' flip flops, a coat hanger, a mascara and a lot of dust under/behind there!

Morning everyone. Bit breezy today, but otherwise nice and dry. Put our Christmas bedding on over the weekend and feeling really Christmassy today. Isolation finished so planning to go to town to get last minute few bits.

isawthat love your outside decorations they look fantastic.

Thanks for reminding me 70 that need to look for Winter boots

Morning.

I really should try and find a pair of boots for the winter. I'm an awkward size though so it's nightmare to try and find anything.

Fluffy I 2nd crazy's suggestion of gargling salt water if you don't have a spray. Could it be your glands? A left over from your cold.

Bil got his vaccine on Saturday. We're all waiting patiently till Dh can get his. Hopefully he'll get the first one before the end of the year.

I've wrapped dd birthday present this morning. So I think that's all of my wrapping done and dusted.

Neros when the other day you were trying to think of a Christmas name I thought of one for you maybe you would like.
Fiddlewith yourChristmasCaesar

It sounds like everyone is being very industrious. I'm not sure where my time is going!

I didn't manage to get any more decorations up yet, but I did get a bit more tidying up done. Also, finally finished the photobox order and slid across the finish line for last Christmas delivery. Did an inventory of presents and decided that the remaining AliEpress orders from November may not make it here in time for Christmas, so ordered a couple of back-up presents and will save the others for birthdays when they do get here.

I just need to finish a mamoth load of filing to clear the table, and then I can get on with wrapping.