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

[NoWordForFluffy]

119 (for ease tomorrow!)

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

It's boiling here. Like summer 😎

It's sunny but breezy here. Warm enough for me!

I got my trackie bottoms back on as soon as I was home earlier! Not least because I clean the bathroom on a Friday lunchtime, which office wear isn't suitable for. 🤣

I had to do an LFT as well as wear a mask (care home). Exciting times.

I've got my laptop back. It's been taken apart and had some new bits don't ask what, I've no idea, but it cost £130 so hopefully I won't disappear again for a while.
Did I miss much?

Yes. We're booked to go to Knutsford Booths on 1 Dec, and have decided that you HAVE to come, @pussycatlickinglollyices!

@NoWordForFluffy

Yes. We're booked to go to Knutsford Booths on 1 Dec, and have decided that you HAVE to come, *@pussycatlickinglollyices*!

Yeah! You're coming *@pussycatlickinglollyices*

I really like the icicles, @fluffy I want them round the top of the house but we'd have to pay someone to come round with a big ladder and put them up!

How's the fuel situation for everyone? We drove straight onto a forecourt earlier (needed fuel!) in the city but elsewhere locally it's been bedlam apparently. Even the tiny stations that are ridiculously priced at the best of times.

@WreckTangled

How's the fuel situation for everyone? We drove straight onto a forecourt earlier (needed fuel!) in the city but elsewhere locally it's been bedlam apparently. Even the tiny stations that are ridiculously priced at the best of times.

Absolutely bonkers here. There have been reports of 30 minute queues, Traffic queueing back to main roads etc etc.

I have 3/4 of a tank so will be fine until next weekend (by which point I hope the panic will be over)

We needed fuel today and it was busy, but DH didn't wait that long. Apparently it was worse when he left!

What bedding did you buy / are you waiting on for your DDs Woolly?

Lovely lights Fluffy

Welcome back puss

Fuel situation is madness here. The supermarket garages are empty, just some of the smaller ones seem to have some left. Reports of huge queues blocking roads etc though.

I've got just under half a tank and barely drive anywhere so I'm hoping it's all over before I need any more.

I got the holly leaf bedding for DD1 from Matalan and I'm waiting on the gnome bedding for DD2 (also from Matalan)

I needed fuel last night and filled up no problem. DD2 is on her long teaching placement 30 minutes drive away and her light came on as she was driving home today. She filled up in the service station on the main A road - long queue and higher cost but she needed fuel for next week so she took what was on offer. DH picked DS up from school today and passed three petrol stations where the queues were holding up the traffic on the roads.

Absolutely blinking madness on the stations round here- I think they were all closed within a half hour radius by tea time. Herts Police asking people to only buy if they need it.

Just ordered the Bonne Maman jam advent calendar for myself- bit random, I'm excited though!

May have also ordered advent calendars for the dogs too!

DW currently perusing the internet to choose hers... she's a Lego nut so has the Star Wars one every year, but is considering branching out to a cheese one perhaps.

91

Time for sleep now! We've just stayed up watching Nirvana / Dave Grohl documentaries, but bedtime now. 🥱

Dh bought me my advent calendar yesterday. I have to hotel chocolat dark chocolate one as it's pretty low carb.

Busy day today. Dh's van is in the garage so I need to take him to work, come home then go and get my Covid booster and take dd to her friends house which is 16 miles away . I had decided to continue on and go into town with ds but then we realised my tyre was shot and my tracking must be off so I've had to book the car in for that. Have decided to take ds to the cinema as I couldn't get the car in until 2. Then we will have a late lunch, collect the car and then dd on the way home. Will have to get dh from work once I've been home for about an hour.

Oh I picked up some stocking fillers yesterday too. I got dd one of those long hot water bottles and ds a sloth one plus a primark fake oodie for dd. They only had pink in so will hope they get more in so I can get ds one too. Then I picked up some nerf bullets and a mini gun for ds.

Morning!

We're all ready for a productive weekend chez Firefly.

Hired a skip to get rid of the rubbish from having the building work done while we were on holiday, and are planning to have a good sort of the house to fill it - especially the spare room, with a view to finally moving DD back in there. DS is sleeping at DM's tonight, so we'll just have to occupy DD.

Haircuts this morning, swimming with DS before I drop him off, and then tomorrow is auditions for my am dram group. Haven't seen a lot of them since this all started, so am quite looking forward to it, even though I am only going to be in the chorus.

Right, back to scrubbing the bathroom

I pillaged B&M and Home Bargains for stockings fillers yesterday, Wreck.

They had a Biscoff version of a chocolate dip, so bought us one each of those, sweets for DH, little fidget popper things for DC, and the obligatory metre of Oreos for DH.

I've promised DSis that we absolutely will only do token presents from the kids (I say that every year, and then I buy something proper ). I'll let DS loose in the pound shop nearer Christmas - it's entertaining, if nothing else

I plan to do Primark soon for pants/socks, and then barring whatever DS asks Santa for, we're done. Given the impending shortages, though, I don't think I will give him the Smyths catalogue this year! The more vague he is, the easier it will be...

The lady in primark said their deliveries are delayed because of the lorry driver situation.

I've just seen that the road near my doctors surgery is gridlocked with people trying to get fuel so that'll be fun. I think I know an off track short cut though...

We haven't ventured out near a fuel station yet - that'll be interesting, as my car is getting low...

Fluffy was it the Lollipop website you signed up to test? I did as well, have placed my order this morning, but Sainsburys massively lets it down. Half the stuff for their recipes isn't in stock near me, and then some of the stuff I would usually buy from Morrison's, so I'm not wasting my time inputting my own meals. (This is always a problem, not just the current supply chain issues)

Fudged it a bit, and ordered my Christmas booze with the 25% off.

If they linked up with different supermarkets, I'd probably find it very useful.

Happy Rudolph Day

I've bought a couple of online things but not ventured out to The Real Shops to do Christmas Shopping .

Not needing petrol at the moment but I'll need to find somewhere next week . Hopefully the Binge Buying of fuel will sort itself out .

My DC are No Help At ALL DS wants a new guitar and some money ( fair enough , it's his birthday in Dec so his list is fairly easy ) DD has gone all "It's September" but she's got her mind on University so not thinking that far ahead. She'll do her list in November and hopefully I can find things . ( I have 8 more Advent Calender fillers to buy . At the moment 7 of them are nail polishes ..she does love a nail polish . I always put a hand/foot moisture glove/sock set and need a Dec1st skincare item and a Dec 24th WOW factor item. All Cruelty Free)

I'll just serenely paddle along like an old swan , work is getting busy , I have a few random days booked off which is nice and everything will gel.
My DC are quite low maintenance now but I think I need to think about trading them in.

Covid booster in one arm and flu in the other.

@WreckTangled

Covid booster in one arm and flu in the other.

Ouch! Hope you don't feel too uncomfortable Wreck

Just back from the butcher. I dropped off my Christmas order and collected this week's. I pass a small (more expensive) petrol station attached to a Tesco Express on my journey home. They were queuing back onto the road. I was either oblivious to any issues on my way there or it had just kicked off in the 10 minutes since I passed it on the way out.

I didn't feel a thing but I was having a good old catch up with the doctor. My Covid one was painful the first two but this time it was fine.

Ds and I are at the cinema now.

My Covid booster is next week (I'm not going to have the flu jab at the same time , that can wait a bit )
After , DD and I are going uo to That London (as DS calls it ) to make sure she's familiar with her route to University again ( in case they've changed things ) then I can bribe her along to John Lewis and Marble Arch M&S with the promise of lunch .

There are 2 Urban Outfitters on Oxford Street , pray for my safe recovery people .

It never rains...
so the toaster has blown the electrics downstairs (we think it's that - if not we're in real trouble), we've an extension lead from the landing to the garage for the freezer and fridge freezer, with another linking to the router and the TV aerial booster box.
The kettle is now in the office upstairs (with some mugs and a box of teabags).
Spark coming out later this afternoon.
Luckily I managed to get the washing done, so it's on a maid in the very humid conservatory as it's bloody raining for the first time in weeks... (it won't dry)
Yesterday, one of the cats was asleep in the conservatory (in the window) and fell out, waking her up enough so she's pretty much destroyed the blind to save her falling...she's ok, but her claws are much shorter. 😿

I need a beer...