Thread 24 -the one with a shitting flamingo

[Reastie]

Thanks @GoblinDaughter for the title

It’s nearly December, Father Christmas is busy putting the final touches to his toys on the workshop and we are busy elves preparing for a somewhat different Christmas this year.

please post any bargain info IN BOLD to make it easier to scroll through the thread.

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Just a reminder you can watch the thread by clicking on ‘watch this thread’ at the top of the first message. It’s much easier for everyone than so many place marking every time which can use up a fair chunk of each thread to scroll through

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Here’s Barbarara’s instructions from last year on doing clicky links:

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Like this
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Sorry realise they advice about Debenhams vouchers is equivalent to telling granny to suck eggs (is that the right expression??) for an experienced bunch of bargain hunters like you lot

Any idea if the Famous Five books are suitable for a 7 year old or if they are very dated now? (Lidl has box set coming in but not sure if they quite old fashioned now or not - we’re only just getting into chapter books). Thanks

Re Debenhams: I’d be wary as when Laura Ashley were going under they said they were unable to refund me for a faulty product due to being in receivership. But they were still selling stuff. Apparently this was all legal. Doesn’t seem right to me.

I’ve just had a thing through the post with a discount code for Beer52 - postage only. It looks generic so thought I’d pop it on here:

Head to beer52.com/AW4 and it should work

Thanks to all those who replied to my message about Taco Legend kits from the Spicery (I can't keep up with the threads!). In case anyone is interested, I managed to get it for £19 via Wowcher - it arrived on Friday and looks good.
I'm looking for some ski socks as a stocking filler from my DS who hopes to go off on uni skip trip at Easter ( we'll see...)
Happy to spend up to about £10 a pair - so not necessarily looking for the cheapest ones. No idea about skiing so any brands/recommendations gratefully received. Or any other ideas for ski-related stocking fillers please (does anyone actually use the mini hand warmer things?!) Thanks :)

@SparklingDinosaurs the newer copies of the famous five will have certain parts or words edited such as the names fanny and dick. () also some terms that are/were? Considered racist are now edited as well I think. Overall I think they're suitable if your child is an advanced reader at the age of 7.

@SparklingDinosaurs, my 7yo DD has actively asked for the FF books. She loves Enid Blyton (I think they've been updated a bit in content, but I don't know by how much).

Thank you @TummyTurtle and @LikeSilentRaindrops for those apron suggestions, off to have a look

@SparklingDinosaurs I much prefer Hama Beads to Aqua Beads, in my experience it's really hard to judge how wet you need them to be and they just always end up sticky and they don't set very well.

@beccarooney mountain warehouse have these in the sale, extra 10% off with BFEXTRA10

@SparklingDinosaurs DEFINITELY Hama beads. Aqua beads are just a sticky mess

@SparklingDinosaurs Hama beads are much better than aquabeads, in fact I'd go so far as to say don't get aqua beads they're slimy awful things.

My 7 year old loved famous five, above average but not genius reader and a bit sheltered

Wow you lot are amazing - especially when you all agree Hama beads it is then (off to bargain hunt now!) and FF is a go if newer version. He’s just getting reading so we’ll probably read with him then hope he goes back to in his own. I think he’s be capable but finds chapter books daunting so we usually my read together.

@SparklingLime I made the mistake of buying from an Amazon marketplace seller at £15-20, and could have sworn they were real silk, but after they made the eczema worse rather than better I did a chemistry experiment on them (real silk disolves in bleach, whereas polyester doesn't). They weren't silk, but were very convincing.

In the end I sourced some from Dunelm at £25, given they are much more reputable, and I didn't want to pay £45+ because I needed a few of them.

@SparklingDinosaurs I re read the series myself recently and it would be fine- maybe a few things have dated but generally they're obviously of a different time to now with children going on bike ride holidays alone at 10, 11 and 12. My 8 year old loves it when we read Enid Blyton together as its so different to life now.

This is the FF books in Lidl. The artwork looks quite modern so I’m going to assume it’s the sanitised updated versions. (Athough I’ll honestly miss Dick and Fanny ). They are £7.99 btw.

@SparklingDinosaurs dd loves aquabeads and we don't find them messy or sticky. But aquabeads are best for smaller creations and hama better for bigger creations in our experience

[quote RugsEverywhere]@SparklingDinosaurs Hama beads are much better than aquabeads, in fact I'd go so far as to say don't get aqua beads they're slimy awful things.

My 7 year old loved famous five, above average but not genius reader and a bit sheltered[/quote]
I agree, hated aqua beads, ended up a sticky mess and bits falling off. Dd played with Hama beads for many years (still does at the age of 14) though we did have to get one surgically removed from her nose when she was 3 years old 😂.

Does anyone have any cost saving ideas for buying a pair of Brooks GTS trainers, ladies size 5.5? I can’t believe they are so expensive! I’ve found a few cheaper but only available in very small or large sizes.

Thought I’d update you all on The Shitting Flamingo! I just watched someone buy the last one in The Entertainer 🙃 I’m in Birmingham city centre and have tried Argos, Selfridges, B&M and House of Fraser. All out of stock and really bloody panicking now. Have stock alerts set up on most of the toy websites that would let me and am stalking all the usual suspects. Really don’t want to pay over £50 on eBay for the sodding thing!

Anyone else finished there shopping and just waiting by the front door for stuff to be delivered? Today’s my day off work so I’m wrapping but I’m still waiting for 4 deliveries, ASOS keeps emailing to say they are running late with deliveries, Hype delivery coming today, Qwertee will be cutting it fine and a few Amazon items yet to come. Come on Mr postie 🤣

Dizzy my DH bought me these recently tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/Green-Ribbed-Stripe-Pyjamas-/137831032-Green?searchTerm=:newArrivals&searchProduct=Sainsburys

They are soooooo comfortable it's unreal. My 8 year old says I feel ' Like Flop'. Not sure how to take that, but I think he means it feels knitted as he had a knitted Flop when he was younger

I’m stuck for an idea for my sil. Under £10 but looks more expensive. She likes to look glam and loves her dog. Not toiletries because she’s allergic to lots. I’m running low on gift ideas

@GoblinDaughter

Thought I’d update you all on The Shitting Flamingo! I just watched someone buy the last one in The Entertainer 🙃 I’m in Birmingham city centre and have tried Argos, Selfridges, B&M and House of Fraser. All out of stock and really bloody panicking now. Have stock alerts set up on most of the toy websites that would let me and am stalking all the usual suspects. Really don’t want to pay over £50 on eBay for the sodding thing!

It's still available on Amazon Italian site

It's also on coops website

goblindaughter I might have been seeing things but i thought I saw one in my local Asda yesterday. Have you tried there?