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!

Gorgeous cushion Crazy. You've nailed that hat - it definitely wouldn't have as much character with a bobble hat.

Neros what could be causing your face to swell. Have you got toothache?

Lovely cross stitch Fluffy. I really like that Scandi style sampler.

I've got a Tesco click and collect for Monday that's got my Christmas ham plus food for the week up to Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve I've got my Christmas order from Morrison's to collect and that's got my turkey crown and party/buffet food in. I've already got my veg all blanched and frozen and I made two lots of stuffing and they're in the freezer too. I have to admit I'm a little anxious about getting to the shop on Christmas Eve and parts of my order being missing but I have the same anxiety every year 😂

Morning, slow but steady progress being made. I have the last parcel for posting with me at work today (1 day ahead of the deadline - go me!! But I have no idea if it will arrive on time...) and DSis is meeting me halfway up the country on Sunday to exchange packages from various households and have lunch before we both head home again. I managed to get most things sorted for that, but need to do some sewing on Saturday - but DD and I were in M&S last night so we got a few treats (& smelly cheese!) to add to the box for my DPs house (where 3 DSiblings, 2 OHs and a DGC will gather) for their Christmas celebration - they are not going to their city and there is no M&S near them. I have some nice Christmas coffee as well for that.

But we also had the wonderful news this morning that the boiler, which died yesterday, is non-rescusitatable (is that a word?) - so we need a new one ASAP and if we are lucky, that might be Mon/Tues next week (boiler repair guy looking to juggle things). Luckily we have the stove for some heat (will need more logs!) and immersion for hot water....and we had thought this may happen so had put money aside, just not quite expecting it yet...

Better go and get work done though, and try and get to post office while it's quiet (there's a good coffee shop in the one near my new office, so that means a mid-morning amble is acceptable, especially as caffeine is much needed...….)

I'm so pleased everyone liked my snowman. I have a feeling my mum is going to demand ask for one (like she's already done for the Christmas tree I have Mil). And def happy with the hat choice woolly, even if the mini holly was a PIA to make.

I've had to have the pic deleted as I left my name in it

Hope you have a lovely lunch today Wreck

I could have cheerfully smothered DH with a pillow today Fluffy. He had a long lie in but when I went into the bedroom to get dressed he started chatting, and when I said I need to get back to work he said ok - then kept bloody talking!

Oh Neros, any idea what's making your face swell - glands? I hope you feel better soon.

Sounds like the catch up with you dsis will be nice for you Biddy
Sorry about the boiler though - hopefully it'll be sorted sooner rather than later!

Government here are being rubbish as usual - agreed to 3 families to meet over Christmas, everyone made plans, now they're changing it to 2.
I'm staying in my extended bubble with parents and dsis and will be seeing them Christmas Day but it's going to effect ILs I think.

On the plus side, I finished the wrapping yesterday and DH opted to have sunglasses for his last Christmas present so we ordered those this morning - this means IM DONE!

I don't know what caused it to swell up. It's not sore or giving me any bother so I'll leave it alone.

Fluffy I don't mind if some of the stuff doesn't arrive. I've got the turkey and ham to collect from the butchers and have one dessert ordered from the bakery and I'll make my own triffle. We'll not go hungry.

Biddy in my old job we used to call it "beyond economical use". Crap time for it happen though. Hopefully you'll get sorted quickly.

Staying in tier 2 here. The Surrey district that isn't in tier 3 is the one we border so we aren't doing too badly here but cases are going up.

Our cases went back up yesterday too. We were back at 78/100,000, up from 68/100,000.

The Zoe tracking reckons our cases are actually 3 x that though!

Biddy, bugger about the boiler. At least you have some heat and hot water. My parents' boiler went one Christmas. I went back to uni early to escape the misery of no heat or hot water!

Sounds like you're pretty sorted, Neros. I already have our meat for the dinner on 27 Dec and most other stuff is pre-ordered. I need to go into M&S, after being lured there by Wreck! But they're top-up snacks, not necessities!

Evening everyone. Nice day today, went to town with DD and had lunch & starbucks. Bought quite a few of last min bits and will probably finish off tomorrow. Bit worried as well over 700 here.

Hope you are feeling better Neros It could be a touch of Bells Palsy but hope not.

Really like your cross stitch Fluffy

Sorry to hear about the boiler Biddy Enjoy your catchup with DSis.

Glad to hear you're not going up Wreck

Fluffy I keep adding more stuff to my orders for our Christmas Eve buffet. I've already got far too much stuff and it's only going to be me and Dh. It's tradition for dc to have a McDonald's on Christmas Eve but that's up in the air at the minute.

Marshmallow I do t think it is. Just a bit swollen.

Crazy I know it's a while off yet but I'd like to request some muppets Christmas Carol pictures for the end of thread.

We're going back into lockdown on Christmas Eve. I would have done it earlier because our numbers (NI) are getting really bad again.

I always over-cater, Neros. I can't help myself!

Oh, I'm currently doing an online focus group for Booths! It's very fancy! 🎄🎅🏻

Glad to hear that Neros, wishing you well.

7

ONE WEEK TO GO!!!!! 🎄🎄🎅🏻🎅🏻🎄🎄🎅🏻🎅🏻🎄🎄🎅🏻🎅🏻🎄🎄🎅🏻🎅🏻

Didn't get much cross stitch done yesterday due to my focus group. But I get £40, so it's worth it!

Last day at work before Christmas today too! I've finally caught up with myself so will do today's tasks plus all of next week's client updates today (I update all of my clients at least once every 28 days).

Wrapping day tomorrow. Whoop. Then we're watching the Strictly final with snack food. 💃 🕺

Good morning folks. Third long day of the week. Can't wait for that to be done. Me and my boss were planning our Christmas night shift aka snacks yesterday as it was only the two of us. Now there is three.

It is my birthday tomorrow so looking forward to a lie in and a takeaway.

Neros is it Boxing Day or Christmas Eve?

Crazy are you also lockdown after Christmas?

It's dh's birthday today and we're going to a nearby (ish) city to do some shopping and lunch. Will probably be busy as they'll be tier 3 after Saturday. Dc finish school at 2pm today.

Morning.
Got carried away with my cross stitch yesterday, so much so that my index finger is sore from gripping the needle 🤦🏻‍♀️😂
Did you get any rain last night? It peed down here.
Going to do some mince pies later, after I've cut DH hair 😱😉 luckily it's winter and he wears a woolly hat when he's out 😂

Happy Birthday MrWreck 🎂

Morning!
Have a great last day in work Fluffy

why does the third person on your shift effect the snacks?

Yes Wreck strict lockdown here starting 28th I think (but the rules seem to change daily so I'm not 100%).

I cut my DHs hair too stockings - it's the worst job and I'm not great at it but he's not fussy 😂

I may have flounced a bit this morning . DH woke up before me so within 5 mins of me opening my eyes he put the tv on and when I asked him if he really needed to watch that at this time of the morning (this was at 6:45) he turned the programme over when I meant for him to turn it off so I can come around.
Not sure what came over me but I may have muttered something about him being selfish and flounced off to the spare room where I sat in peace with Christmas lights on to wake up . Not a great start to the morning!

Happy birthday to MrWreck and to Nero's DD, I believe! 🎂🎉🎂🎉

It's been non-stop rain for ages here, Stockings. Even when it's forecast dry.

I love a good flounce, Crazy!

Maybe the third person wants influence on the snack selection?!

I had not thought about conning the third person into snacks although we are not supposed to share food anymore Crazy.

Thank you fluffy. Yes it's dd's 3rd birthday today.

Happy birthday to mrwreck.

Wreck it's technically Boxing Day at 00.01. Nothing is really open on Christmas Day so Christmas Eve is the last trading day.

Happy Birthday MiniNero 🎂🎈

Crazy I can act like that when I've been woken up before I'm ready!

I like today's number!!

I stayed up too late last night - I was wired from 2 EU meetings in a row and realised it wasn't JUST the physical travelling that makes me so tired when I get home from them normally (although you could say I travelled this time, as I went into the office(s) for both and that is such a rarity these days to drive a whole 12 miles each way - and 2 days in a row!!).

Fire lit, boiler apparently being replaced 1st thing Monday - at least that's before the temps really drop..and doing a picnic rather than pub lunch with DSiblings on Sunday as cases rising again. Might or might not get down to see DPs immediately after Christmas before we're locked up again. But DD needs to go to Dundrum for shopping before Christmas - essential clothing apparently....so I'm planning a late night foray with her.

Happy Birthday Mr Wreck and Mini Neros!!

Your poor finger Stockings, I'm under threat of doing DH's hair tomorrow again also (and he's threatening to do mine as I cannot get an appointment....).

Better go and revise the press release someone has drafted - we SHOULD finish everything up on Wednesday, all going well, but it's full on until then....