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!

We’ve just put a few things in the living room, the read deer the pink Christmas tree now in the kitchen window,

Well, were still not decorated and although every year I say we do it to soon and then we get bored waiting for the actual day - I have to say I'm bored waiting for the decs to go up.

We have 3 advent calendars this year, I usually do handmade ones but felt guilty when I was asked if the calendar was going to be jokes again! I mean seriously! They are funny jokes.

Anywayyyyyy I ended up being seduced by Reese Advent calendar and I am now officially the best Mum in the world. I also did a homemade jokes/riddle one and back in September I was seduced by a cardboard cut out and build treehouse calendar. So far it looks magical. Smaller than I thought it would be but so pretty.

Making Christmas fruit cake and gingerbread on the weekend. We will also watch the second Chronicles of Christmas with salted caramel popcorn. We might also have a chinese takeaway - I feel I am owed it for my putting up with building and decorating at the time of year when I just want to shop and eat :) :) :)

@PinkJam it makes such a difference doesnt it. His excitement is making me excited!

@Laurendelight they obviously dont appreciate a good joke!

I went into a local gifty shop & spent £80 on socks - all presents for family (they're fab socks, quirky but warm & comfy). The owner was so happy to have paying customers.
Then this evening booked a table at Zizzi for our traditional Christmas Eve meal.

I love socks like this there’s a wonderful site I can get stuff from like this.

I’m going to start writing Christmas cards tonight. Earlier than usual for me but I want to write a little note in for the people that I don’t speak to often.

I hate writing cards and I hate getting them. Before DH retired we used to get cards from every school, worthy institution, councillors and MPs in the vicinity. Thank heaven those days are gone.
I only post cards to those whose email addresses I do not have and who does not live locally, everyone else gets a Jacquie Lawson e-card, much frowned on by MN, but a great convenience.

I absolutely love Christmas. Definitely my favourite time of the year. Christmas cards are done (feel like I wrote hundreds!) but not sent yet

Same Chocolate, cards written but not sent. Had a bit of a boring uni lecture yesterday so spent that time wrapping the kids presents with it on in the background.

Cards written, presents wrapped, Christmas cake made, scratch cards bought.

Things left to do:
Food
Drink
Crackers

I love this thread! A bit late to the party, but hiiiiiiii everyone! 🎄

Presents bought & wrapped ✔️
Cards written (posting them on Monday) ✔️
House decorated ✔️
Drinks bought ✔️

Left:
Food

I'm incredibly festive for 2020, but I love Christmas so much! 🎄

reading I love Christmas too and, despite my parents not coming this year, I still want it to be lovely.

I need to buy my stamps but I prefer the Christmas ones which I think only the Post Office sell.

I have a tesco delivery today, probably our last one until the new year as im struggling to get one now! (We dont have a car so deliveries have been really handy rather than carry heavy stuff on the bus!)

So i ordered most of our christmas food (apart from fresh) it felt weird being this organised but also nice! Now just need to not eat it all before christmas!

Took DC to a Christmas Grotto experience yesterday. It was on a farm, there was a live nativity that the children took part in, a tractor ride, an animal petting experience & finally a visit to Santa where they each got a small present. Was lovely - even if Santa had a Perspex screen hanging in front of him. The animal encounters were a huge hit with DD & DS (who adores 🚜) loved the tractor ride.

Furious with Hermes.
On Friday an Amazon delivery arrived at 6.17pm, no problem. Then an email from Hermes telling me they had tried to deliver their item at 6.10 and no one was at home.

The fact that there was no card through the door indicates it was a complete lie.

Their online assistant will only offer set answers from a limited range of questions. Their phone line does not work.

I am expecting a large item from Lakeland, DS's Christmas Present, and sadly they are sending it with Hermes.

Hermes is a bad choice of name, not much in the way of winged heels.

@APurpleSquirrel That sounds a fab day!

@TrickyD I am also having an issues with Hermes.
They sent me an email yesterday saying that I wasn’t in and so they had posted the parcel through my letterbox. Firstly, I was in all day and secondly the item is physically big so no chance it would fit through a letterbox. And there was no note posted through! Have checked with neighbours and they haven’t been given it.

PinkJam, you really wonder why reputable companies like Lakeland use them. Though they must get so many complaints, presumably they are very much cheaper than other deliverers.

We've had such a Christmassy Day! We've put the Christmas duvets on, got the Christmas towels down, to put out as I clean the bathrooms, I've found all the Christmas candles and diffusers, and dotted them round the house. Daughter came out of being in her room tutoring, sniffed, and said 'it's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas', rolled her eyes and went back in her room. I mean, that's practically love bombing from a stressed and tired 17 year old, right?!

I'd bought a pre-lit Christmas Garland to wind around the stair bannister, and it looks fabulous! I dotted little robins on it, and now the cat finds it irresistable.

I've put garlands and wreaths up behind DH's work station, hauled out previous years Christmas jumpers.

We went through what we've got for Christmas Eve boxes, the girls' advent calendars, and got them in order, and also what we've got for them, making a list and checking it twice. . .

And I love that DH gets into it all with me and does it for me and alongside me.

Hermes are telling my my Lakeland parcel will arrive tonight between 7 and 9.
What are the chances?
I will believe it when it iI see it.

It is here! In fact two parcels. All is well.

mbosnz, what a lovely day you all had. May these happy times continue right through the season.

Christmas film here better than I hoped very little slapstick, going to watch Christmas toys program on channel five, getting so excited now, nice things turn up not this week but week after next, presents and my Christmas cake.