Woa-oh, we're halfway there...Countdown to Christmas 2021 (thread 4)

[NoWordForFluffy]

Here is thread 4 this year. With an appearance from Mr Bon Jovi himself!

There always used to be new customer Ocado deals. How odd!

How long was your DD away for?!

One night apparently that was too much

There did didn't there? I've googled and googled and googled and nothing is working but I can't afford a full priced shop there.

I don't think we've had any in magazines recently either. I'm not sure if we're due a magazine yet either we're having a Gardeners' World saga where they keep sending it, despite us only paying for 6 months of it, about 18 months ago! as I don't keep track of delivery dates. Sometimes there are discount leaflets, I'm sure. There's 4.42% on TopCashback, but that's shit!

Hello Peeps , I've been away and I'm back .
Not the outer reaches of the Universe but no internet and it pissed with rain.

Took DS up to my parents' house , saw DMum,
Sleeping on a blow-up bed at my age isn't recommended (and DS said the floor was comfier than his blow up bed ) so we're back on home soil . I reckon he'll sleep for a week!

I did take my Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles book but ended up reading Jilly Cooper and Mary Higgins Clarke on the Kindle (not interlectually taxing I know )

Costco shop planned tomorrow , I make a list as I run out of things then it gets to the point I go .
They won't have Christmas things in yet ..but there might be Hallowe'en which is Good Enough

70 speaking of Halloween 🎃
Have you seen these lights ? sorry, not sorry

Oh, and they do Christmas ones too

136

Morning!

Puss, those lights are a dear do! 😱🎃

My only concession to it being Halloween is growing pumpkins to carve. Neither DH or I did Halloween as kids (religious parents!), so it's just not in our mindsets.

Not sure blow up mattresses are generally ideal, 70, bet you're glad of your own bed!

Morning

We don't do Halloween either beyond handing out sweets as our estate is massive for it. Last year I did a bit of autumn decorating with pumpkins

I really dislike Halloween. The only good thing about it is that as soon as it's over it's practically Christmas

Been to the gym and in a bit I think we're going to a chicken farm to feed chickens chickens aren't a novelty to us as my parents have always had them but it should be fun.

Oooh those Hallowe'en lights are gorgeous Puss , the glass pumpkins and the crow lights ...

But the Golden Tule of Hallowe'en Decoration (in my house) is we have to make most of it from random household tat .

I've done tombstones ( cereal boxes , paper mache , tin of grey paint , ivy from the garden)
Hallowe'en Tree - big painted twigs in a bucket (secured with putty) painted black and hang things from it ( I have loads of ravems )
Glo-Sticks in loo roll rubes with evil eyes cut in, hide in bushes and they look like litle demons loking out .....
Spider web -huge spider and a doll wrapped in tape and web as his prey
Pumpkins with rows of toothpick teeth

This year I'm planning cut out bats and arrange over the windows
And out gorgeous black cats sit on the windowsill adding glamour

My poor joints are aching after the drive , mainly my right hand from gripping the wheel

I'm just sad its one day , a lot of effort then its gone , but I might decorate on the Sarurday this year ....

We don't really do Halloween either, although those lights are beautiful puss.

I am exhausted today. We met up with MIL yesterday and today we spent some time at the lake (we're now over in Wasdale). DH and MIL did both kayaking and boarding plus some swimming with the dogs. It was complete chaos and even though the plan was for me to stay on land I ended up as wet as them as our ddog decided to try and swim out then got confused and I had to go up to my knees to rescue him 🙄

Have since had a hot chocolate followed by wine to recover and will be going for a meal soon.

I have bought a Christmas present though - a fridge magnet that is also a little puzzle with a funny cartoon of sheep on it for MIL

Oh no crazy! I bought my first Christmas present too, just some socks for ds' stocking. I saw them in Tesco, they're thick Nerf ones.

Oh bloody hell. The car failed its MOT today and the parts it needs are in short supply. And we're meant to be going away next Friday. We have a courtesy car, but it's too small to go away in (Volvo estate is ours, Honda Jazz is the courtesy car!). This is not good. 🙄 Sigh.

I've bought three Christmas presents: a Spicery mezze recipe kit for DH and some Christmas bamboo socks for the kids. Seems like we're all in the mood!

Oh no fluffy :(

I feel very left behind, am not buying anything until we move.

Puss, how's your weather? It just chucked it down here, but it's brightening now.

I've just parboiled my homegrown spuds to freeze for Christmas. So that's a job well done and ticked off the list.

I need to empty the freezer now and refill it to try to create space. Exciting times. 😂🤣

You got it wrong fluffy, starting them boiling now was of course the correct thing but you should have then left them on the boil until Christmas Day

Oh spuds!!! I read sprouts. Ignore me!

Fluffy I used to have a Honda Jazz. They are surprisingly roomy with a huge boot. Not Volvo estate big, though.

I've bought two presents already - three if you count the McFly tickets for the concert that should have been this month but has been postponed until next year.

Yes, DH said that. Really don't fancy a trip to the Highlands of Scotland in it though!

We've just separated the vodka from the homegrown strawberries for my Christmas vodka. The strawberries look minging (apparently they're like rocket fuel to eat!) and the vodka looks pretty!

That vodka looks fab Fluffy.

I have started nothing for Christmas prep and won't till the end of September but love reading about other people being organised.

My new cooker needed repairing today as when the grill was on the knobs on the cooker got so hot I kept burning myself and to add insult to injury it slipped my mind every time.

Is there any chance your own car would be ready before you go Fluffy ?
I've never driven a Jazz but the boots are big ( I looked at one but discounted it because it was an automatic)

DS and I came back from Scotland yesterday , stopped at the Tebay Services southbound for lunch

It was pelting with rain on the way up , my wipers were going like the clappers and I put my lights + foglights on as visibility was pants .
I have a White Invisibility Cloak Car .

most I put the sprouts in the pressure cooker in March then finish them off in the microwave on Christmas Eve , I like them a bit crunchy

I'm cooking a batch of pizza sauce for DS , it is damned nice too !

fluffy no rain here. If anything it's sunnier than it's been for most of the afternoon.
It's a bugger about the car. Are the garage part of a chain? They might be able to get the parts from another branch.

why hot knobs on your cooker is not good.

fluffy DH just asked, what happens if your car is fixed while you're away? Will they wait until you're home for you to return the Jazz or expect you to return it ASAP?
70 I thought you had to start the sprouts on Boxing Day, ready for the next year? And don't forget to put kisses on their bottom, or they're too tough! 😂

Ah no puss , Marvh is soon enough with a pressure cooker .

And of course , cut the Cross for Baby Jesus ( can you tell I went to Sunday School )

It's just that the part needed isn't in stock at Volvo, so the mechanic needs to wait to see what the lead time is. He knows we're going away, so hopefully he can pull strings with other Volvo specialists (there's a few round here).

They can get it done, if they can find the part. So here's hoping!

Sunny here now too. At least the allotment will be happy with the soaking. 😁

135

Morning! I slept 9 hours 14 mins last night. No interruptions. We don't have any plans today, it's a bit drizzly. Dd has homework.