Can we have a general Christmas chat thread?

[Mortgageandmoney]

I'm sorry if there is already such a thread. I'm been (obsessively) checking the forum for the last couple of weeks as I love Christmas but I only have one friend (and DH) who can tolerate the chatter - friend is probably even bigger Mrs Claus than me!

Feeling a bit rubbish today and this forum has been pepping me up recently.

Again, sorry if there is already a thread which I've somehow overlooked!

I’m so happy today the extra treats have been ordered and will be delivered to in-laws 1st December sweets and Christmas pud from f and m, Wilkes stuff as well our cleaners present a pizza and burrito blanket, which was loved so brought. So everything is falling into place shortbread for Christmas cuboard.

I'm starting to feel like Christmas is coming too quickly now. I thought I had started relatively early, and the plan was to have everything done, presents packed etc ready for the start of December so I could just sit back and enjoy it. We started a bit of a Christmas clear-out and tidy-up at the beginning of November in preparation.

Well, somehow that has turned into us decorating the living room, bathroom and study next weekend. Hopefully that will all go to plan and then we can pop some twinkly lights and a few decorations up ready for the tree to go up mid december.

I have done most of the present shopping, but not wrapped anything yet. I have got the wrapping paper though (far, far too much of it! I got carried away).

Food shopping - I have booked a delivery slot. We will start getting some bits and pieces in over the next few weeks, but I have found if I get things too early someone just eats them.

Lights - I have some cotton ball lights and a star garland to go up in the hallway, which I will probably put up from 1st December if the decorating is done. For the first time, I have got some lights for outside which we will put up in the trees, probably about the same time.

@Chottie

Also a reminder that Kirstie's Christmas starts tonight on TV 22 November at 8.00pm Channel 4.

What do you all think of this? I could not see anything I would want to spend 5 minutes making let alone the 45 minutes Kirstie claimed.

The baubles with melted crayons inside were hideous as were the painted table mats, the ice lanterns mad, the fabric cards a dog's dinner. Gingerbread syrup sounded good, I wonder who stocks it.

Nice to see Phil though.

I've been wrapping some presents this afternoon. My 8yo DD wanted to get involved too. I showed how to wrap and how to make a cracker shape present. She then tied ribbon on lots and even made some snowflakes to put on the presents. Love her creativity and her aunty and cousin are going to get very fancy wrapped presents this year! It was lovely having my little companion wrapping with me as I usually do it alone!

Thanks for Kirstie reminder. I'm not very crafty but I might as well give it a go.

@SpnBaby1967 - I hope your mental health is improving...step by step, day by day. I had a breakdown 3 years ago now and it was so strange to go from a busy job (nurse) to nothing. Had to learn to relax! This is my 1st Christmas out of hospital since the breakdown and I am so excited!

@Aroundtheworldin80moves - my 2 have those little pots of snow in their stockings this year! Glad to hear it's good fun.

I started to listen to the nigel slater today, perfect although I was desperate to see the liberty nutcracker window he described. We made it to London Xmas eve and it was closed and boarded up!

UndertheCedarTree your first Christmas and you get this weird one in lockdown! I hope you and your family can make it a relaxed but happy one it sounds like your DD is quite the wrapper

I made 21 Christmas cards, more to send this year as I won't get over to the UK

Here's a gold one

I bought six pretty tins from Tiger yesterday to put the Xmas cakes in. And I bought some clear plastic make-your-own baubles to make for DS' friends. He has two friends from where we used to live and they go to a different primary school, we try to meet up every two/three weeks cos they have such a good strong friendship, never fight. We saw them last Friday and I took photos of them, I'm going to print one pic each and put it in a bauble with fake snow/glitter/Xmas crap and give as a gift. Im very good friends with the mums and the gifts go down a treat with them, alongside a mini cake.

I've noting else planned for this week, trying to keep my head down and get lots of work out of the way so i can have a relaxing December.

I'm aiming for the post office tomorrow morning to get my huge bag of stuff sent.

Christmas card photo [doh!]

@UndertheCedartree thank you for your kind words. I'm glad you are getting your xmas, even if it is in these weird times.

I am improving every day, it's hard work but I'm thankful that it hasnt been as bad as it could have been. I've had a lot of wonderful support.

I love that fake snow. It is very useful for making easy Christmas table decorations with candles and bits of greenery.
I have dark suspicions though that it is really decorators' Polycell paste, expensively packaged.

I heard the first Christmas music in a shop today. Band Aid Do they know its Christmas?
My last ordered present arrived today as well so starting to feel as though I am heading to Christmas now.

It's DD's 18th birthday on Sunday and traditionally she likes the tree up so that's the plan. Need to get some lights for the window. Then it's just wrapping which won't take long as DD has fewer presents now and a few special cards to buy. I won't be sending them in bulk. Looking forward to it.

@SpnBaby1967 - good to hear!

elQuinto. That's lovely 😍

@elQuintoConyo that's lovely, you are very talented.

Happy to have found this thread. I'm almost done on presents and need to make a start on wrapping. DS is at nursery three days and I'm not working at the moment so I've got childfree time to wrap. Think I'll put the tree up next Monday.

DS is 3.4 and is really understanding Christmas. We are abroad so feeling sad that we won't see family but we are somewhere with less restrictions than the UK so a lot of Christmas activities are still going ahead.

DDs currently making mince pies!

I hope there's custard in the cupboard...

I would love to get in full on Christmas mode but DP, inconsiderately, is having his birthday on the 3rd and DD’s birthday is on the 11th. I have finished their birthday presents (got to get DD’s card) and so now I can start thinking more about Christmas.

We will be having my sister and nieces with us at Christmas now uses have been explained so need to start thinking about making it nice for them. I went to ALDI today and have begun to stock up on all their goodies. Their snowmen hot chocolate figures had almost sold out but I bagged a white chocolate one for me and milk chocolate for DD. She will get hers on Dec 1st when she has her advent calendar.

What have others bought today?

Wish I got the "family" a heated blanket! Its so much more than I would ever spend but my rational is that should the boiler fail, we have heat
I also treated us - to rose and violet cream chocolates for xmas day and myself to a baby bliss hair straightener.

I don't do hair at all, I wash and leave it to dry naturally I have neck issues so cant blow dry for ages. So I am extremely hopeful that these tools will help to tame the back of my hair?!

In a zara clothes basket I have a shed load of clothes waiting for black Friday oh and a duvet from soak and something....

Aroundtheworldin80moves I love a mince pie with custard! It's my (almost every day in) December treat

I picked up the M&S snowglobe gin baubles today.

@elQuintoConyo your card looks beautiful!

@twilightstarbright the gin baubles are fab! I don't drink and I'm still tempted.

I'm so pleased I've found this thread!

We put our decorations up last night (having a bad week at work and thought sod it). I was worried about what 13 month old DS would do with the tree but so far he hasn't really bothered. I put a couple of felt decorations on the bottom branches and he's only interested in those so far. The tree is firmly tied to the wall though, just in case! It's 7ft so would flatten him.

I'm loving the idea of mince pie with custard. I need to try that!

Greetings all fellow Christmas enthusiasts!

I'm on my last day of self-isolation having tested positive last week so I've managed to get lots done.

Made Christmas cake, written cards, wrapped stocking fillers.

Will be putting up decs on the 1st as it's the kids' last day off school.

Had a Covid Christmas wobble last night when my parents told me that they were unsure whether they would come to ours for Christmas Day but I get where they're coming from and their health is far more important.

Going to try to get kids to finalise their Christmas lists. They keep changing their minds 😳