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Christmas

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Countdown to Christmas 2021: the one where autumn starts (and Strictly - whoop!). Thread 5

999 replies

NoWordForFluffy · 28/08/2021 07:47

119 (for ease tomorrow!)

Here we go. Couldn't think of a witty thread title. Soz!

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CrazyBaubles · 20/09/2021 01:13

96 🥱

Fluffy I've asked my friend who lives nearby if she's having the same problem because it seems so strange. Our old house backed on to woods and stuff but it was never this bad. I thought it would be better not worse here!
I'm hoping it's a freak season and it won't be like this every year.

Finally back in bed and settling down now - fingers crossed there aren't any more!

NoWordForFluffy · 20/09/2021 07:56

Morning!

First morning done...though the cross trainer right handlebar came off and needed reattaching after 15 minutes. I've messaged the company to ask for new bolts instead of rejecting the machine, which is my statutory right, on the condition they'll let me reject if it doesn't work, but goes beyond the 30 day rejection limit. We shall see what they say!

Anyway, with a brief break for rebuilding, I did 22 minutes, which isn't too shabby.

Maybe you need a cat, Crazy? I'm not a huge fan, but useful ones dispatch spiders. The worst bit is that yours got into bed with you. Hideous!

It's sunny outside, but there's that definite autumn chill in the air. 🍁 🍂

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WreckTangled · 20/09/2021 08:01

Crazy that's horrible! We definitely have fewer spiders since having WreckCat. Not sure why though, he literally sat there doing nothing when a mouse ran over his head once.

I've got to go to Brighton this morning last minute. Hopefully work will be ok about it as I didn't find out until 6pm Friday and I'll have to leave before anyone starts. Looks like it'll be another nice week.

WreckTangled · 20/09/2021 08:03

Autumnal here too fluffy. Good going on the cross trainer. I didn't go to the gym this morning as thought it would be too much of a rush so have managed to hoover and fold the washing. Ds is easing as slow as possible but he's ready otherwise. Dd forgot her pencil case and she ran up to the bus stop just in time to see it driving away Grin

BiddyPop · 20/09/2021 09:04

Morning all,
M&S email on Saturday (the usual marketing blurb), came with disturbing news. There will be no "food to order" for us in Ireland for Christmas this year due to "supply problems". That is a very bad sign, especially as their shelves have had lots of big gaps in the last few months and choice has dropped significantly.

NoWordForFluffy · 20/09/2021 09:07

I'm considering going out to buy my Christmas meat this evening and sticking it in the freezer (while we aren't in Ireland, the CO2 shortage is concerning re meat packaging). Do you think you'll do similar, Biddy?

It's a grim situation.

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Celestiel · 20/09/2021 10:11

I’ve barely seen any ‘Christmas meats’ out atm as I was thinking the same! I guess I could pick up a chicken for the freezer in the worst case - I have no idea how the whole process of Turkey to supermarket is going to work this year!

WreckTangled · 20/09/2021 10:28

Asda don't have any Christmas clothes out. Also the fuel station is closed and I've hardly got any left Confused

I'm not worried about meat. My dad is a gamekeeper so worst case we have rabbit, pheasant and venison 🤢 I hate venison. Oh actually my brother is a cattle farmer so that might work better Grin

BiddyPop · 20/09/2021 10:35

I still don't know if we will be here or travelling for Christmas...DH has refused to talk yet (usually he'll at least make that decision by now), and there's still so much uncertainty, but if we are to travel I never again want to be stuck, crammed into DMIL's house along with DSIL and her family, and made to feel guilty about going to see my DPs for a couple of hours or wanting a short walk....which has happened a couple of times.

But while we do like turkey, I don't think we'll worry too much about the meat at this stage as DH and I would be happy with any decent roast, and DD probably wouldn't want a roast dinner anyway. It's other things that seem to be in short supply here generally (outside of M&S at least), rice and other world foods mostly, and some short life salad items that are imported.

(And the fact that DD has "her" shelf in the freezer completely crammed full, and has taken over so much extra space elsewhere that she has more than another full shelf filled, I actually don't have any freezer space to put it....despite using up a lot of "interesting" single portions and small tubs in the past month!!! Angry ).

Celestiel · 20/09/2021 10:38

Our town is regularly running out of fuel in its 3 fuel stations, so we are cutting back on journeys out too!

The village I live in has 3 dairy farms surrounding it, and a ‘milk station’ that also has local meat that doesn’t travel too far, but is very expensive…

Last year we got a turkey at 70% in Aldi on Christmas Eve. I’m not expecting that that to happen this year Cake

NoWordForFluffy · 20/09/2021 10:46

The problem with the CO2 issue here is that it's used for packaging, so there won't be any options if they can't pack it, regardless as to whether you want turkey (we don't).

I think I'm going to get a couple of nice joints in and then see what happens later. Worst case is we already have something there then!

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CrazyBaubles · 20/09/2021 11:32

Well done for cross training this morning Fluffy. Was it hard to get back to it?

I've never had a cat but if spider season is going to be this bad every year I'll consider one (after ddog).
I'm still shuddering from the one last night. I don't know where it came from but it definitely landed next to me because I heard it 🤢

To be fair, I think we may have had less spiders before because the dog was great at eating them but he's crap now because he's pretty much blind.

😂 at your non hunting cat Wreck

That is rubbish biddy - do you have any alternatives nearby?
Also, what does your DD have on her shelves of the freezer?

You've reminded me to check with DH if his colleague is supplying turkeys this year (she lives on ger husbands family farm and last year they raised turkeys so we ordered ours from her). Fingers crossed she's doing that again as that gets around the co2 issue.

WreckTangled · 20/09/2021 11:47

We don't have turkey either. I had a turkey crown once, none of us are that fussed by it so doesn't seem worth it.

NoWordForFluffy · 20/09/2021 12:06

Crazy, it wasn't too bad really. The better bedtime helped, I think. WFH means I'm often inclined to stay up way later than when I was commuting, but tiredness saps energy, so it's not good for exercise purposes!

I'd have preferred to do a full half hour, but the breaking machine scuppered that. I'm waiting on a response from the seller as to how to sort it out!

Those spiders definitely need sorting. I think I'd die if one landed on my pillow!

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BiddyPop · 20/09/2021 12:09

Crazy while we stay with family any other time of year, we used to rent a cottage to go "home" for Christmas since before DD was even around. I tried last year but the price was extortionate for 1 we'd enjoyed before and DH just got cold feet about covid so we stayed here. There are others popping up on some sites which might be ok, or a DSis would let us stay as she's not taking sharers for the other 2 rooms in her house (that she rents, but landlord is very accomodating, as it is DF!) also due to covid - and that would be a far quieter house!

DD's shelf is various chicken and turkey meals, bean mixes, potato wedges that she will eat, sugar free ice cream, some fish, lots of fruit for smoothies, thin bagels, ....she has got very fussy about food, won't eat red meat and thinks my cooking is dreadful as I use oil and butter, sometimes cheese and cream, and don't use anywhere near enough chilli and spice...so if she will cook for herself, I am happy to facilitate within reason - it's just going beyond reason at the moment. (There is a tonne of fruit in the fridge, and various meals as well, for her...but in true teen fashion, there is "never anything to eat in this house" Hmm ).

I just remind myself, very frequently, that "A (girl) Guide smiles and sings under all difficulties" (just don't ask me what the other 9 parts of the Law are...I usually only remember about 3 of them Grin).

BiddyPop · 20/09/2021 12:10

Ooh Fluffy, that sounds disappointing on the first use. I need to get back into better bedtime routines as well, we start to ease back into the office next week...

MeredithMae · 20/09/2021 12:51

@crazy you poor thing. What a horrid thing to happen!! We live right inside a park so spiders and every other creepy crawly are rife in here. Me and DW both hate them but she is slightly braver than me, so the catching falls to her! Blush

MeredithMae · 20/09/2021 12:53

Just had a stressful time in M&S. Went for a bra fitting with a very lovely lady. Tried on about 12 bras and not one fitted me ok- they kind of gape at the top because my post-breastfeeding boobs are like saggy socks with clementines in now. So droopy. She got her colleague in and the pair of them tried so hard to find The One but eventually we had to settle on The Much Better Than I Currently Have But Still Not Quite Right bra. Sigh.

WreckTangled · 20/09/2021 12:57

M&S are shit. They don't even sell bras small enough in the back to fit anyone smaller than a size 12. I remember having a right hissy fit in there looking for a nursing bra (I needed a 28F man I miss those boobs) but of course no suitable sizes.

CrazyBaubles · 20/09/2021 13:48

Fluffy from my shout and thud as I jumped out of bed I think DH thought I'd been attacked and was dying Blush

I'll try for an early night again tonight 🤞🏼

Ah biddy I remember being amazed my mum could spend so much time writing lists and shopping and there never being anything to eat 😂 we had a huge fridge, 2 freezers and cupboards full of food, my complaint was that what I fancied was immediately at hand 🙄>

I used to like M&S bras but for big boobs like mine they can be £££.
Tu in Sainsbury's is quite good for bras.

I'm struggling with work today. It's sunny and hot outside so I've cleared the washing basket, but it's too bright and warm in here to concentrate. Roll on cool weather and darker days!

NoWordForFluffy · 20/09/2021 17:56

10 is a 34" bust, Wreck. I've definitely seen a bras smaller than that in there! Maybe they're low on stock bra and meat crisis incoming?!.

It's been nice today. Hopefully the towels are dry. They were in full sun, flapping about, at lunchtime! I'll have to see how hot the greenhouse got, seeing as I don't open the door much now I'm trying to get the damn chillies to go red!

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WreckTangled · 20/09/2021 18:12

No a size 10 is a 30"! M&S work in old fashion sizes that don't fit many people properly. Although I've just checked and it seems they've really broadened their sizes so that's good as I used to only be able to buy in Debenhams or online. Not that I wear a proper bra anymore Grin

NoWordForFluffy · 20/09/2021 18:20

Not according to all the U.K. websites I looked at first! 🤷‍♀️

And I've still seen loads in that size in M&S before.

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WreckTangled · 20/09/2021 18:42

I think that you probably can't match a bra size to a dress size as it isn't accurate enough but the boob or bust method and places like bravissimo and John Lewis (I think) measure in a more up to date way rather than adding on 4" which isn't necessary since bras are now so stretchy. There's loads of threads in style and beauty about it. I'm an 8-10 and wear a 28 or 30. Can't say I've looked for bras in M&S in the past 8 years though but it does look like they've improved their range, it's just their measuring that's awful.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 20/09/2021 18:52

I think I've been to F&M once in all my days .
Selfridges food hall is nice though .

I probably wont get near Booths , I'll need to ask my DBro what its like (he's in Yorkshire)

I don;t think our cats are Spider Wranglers . They like Daddy LongLegs and happily catch them, moths, butterflies .
One bird from MaleCat
He's got his sights set on a squirrel that patrols our garden (don;t think so SonnyJim)