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!

Yay! She has similar germs to me, by the sound of it!

I raided the Tesco free from section this afternoon, so we are all sorted for Christmas stocking/present chocolate. Hurrah.

Also picked up food porn the M&S food mag, which I'm planning to read once we've finished bedtime with the kids.

There's a feature on my phone 'this time last year/2 years ago' etc, and it's showing pictures I took of Christmas stuff in stores eg Primark, but I was in on Tuesday and other than a couple of sets of pyjamas, there was nothing Christmassy! Hope that changes soon - I love a wander through the Christmas sections!

I think the stock in the shops is a lot less than other years. I'm hoping it picks up a bit soon.

I don't shop in Tesco, so will have to see it everywhere else has their free from coins. No doubt they're all from the same place, so hopefully stock is filtering through.

I need to go to Next this weekend anyway, so can pop into Asda to see if they have theirs yet. If not, I'll try Sainsbury's at the weekend, as they're not showing online yet.

I forgot the M&S food magazine. DS waffling at me meant I couldn't think!

The lady in primark told me that their deliveries have all been delayed due to the lorry driver shortage.

Fluffy I think it does sound the same. I hope I don't get it. It does mean I don't have an excuse to not go to the gym tomorrow though, if it had been Covid I would have stayed away. I haven't been since Thursday and now I can't be bothered.

I've not been on the cross trainer since last Monday. Really don't feel well enough. Not sure when I'll get back on it. Hopefully by Weds. I need to start feeling better.

Nobody else in the house has my germs. I have ALL the germs. 🙄

I picked an order up from Next yesterday. It was absolutely mobbed - there have been pieces in the news about them being particularly affected by the HGV driver shortage so I think everyone was panic buying slippers and pink perfume.

The next in my nearest big town is closing down. Not surprising when the rates are so high.

We have two Next stores. No idea why!

82 dark and wet here this morning. I've got my first day of shadowing today, will be nice to be in the office.

Hopefully dark and dry here as our towels were out overnight! (Because the forecast was dry!)

I still feel hideous. 😭😭 It needs to go away!

It was so cold here this morning the heating clicked itself on (we've set it to come on if we get below 17° 🥶

Fluffy have you done a Vicks steam? That always helps me.

Yesterday passed me by very quickly. DH was a star and brought me warm croissants and a cup of tea in bed to cure the hangover then he did most of the house cleaning while I half heartedly sorted a pile of stuff we'd accumulated on the spare bed.
We went to my parents for lunch before coming home for our usual Sunday evening (spent separately - DH watching sports and marking books & me crafting / Christmas planning). All I managed was to watch Silent Witness and look online for Christmas lights / decorations that I don't need before calling it a day and going to bed

DH is out tonight so I'm planning to get the sewing machine out and attempt to make the lining for the Santa bag... I have no idea what I'm doing so I'm going to just jump in and bodge it if I need to

Morning.
DH has cleaned the windows...he'd got as far as the 2nd kitchen window before it started to rain. Bloody BBC! It wasn't on the forecast but the rainbow was lovely
Crazy I suggest you think "pillowcase" then just size it accordingly. Disclaimer - I've never done one, but that's what I'd do.

Crazy could you follow a YouTube tutorial for a simple tote bag or will it need a gusset?

We have sun and a breeze. I hope it lasts as I've got washing on the line including DS's cadet uniform. Not looking forward to ironing that lot.

I second the Vicks suggestion Fluffy - perhaps combined with a hot toddy after your working day is done. My personal preference is hot lemonade, whiskey, half a teaspoon of brown sugar and a slice of lemon. I think I've mentioned before that my DM used to add a Beechams Powder to that but it's probably not recommended.

Morning. It's a glorious autumn day today.

DD has a cold and is coughing like she has a 40-a-day habit, so we are snuggled up at home. She's sleeping and I'm watching murders on TV

I have vacuumed the hall and pulled the hats/scarves/gloves/winter coats out from under the stairs, so we're not being completely lazy...

puss I think I've shot myself in the foot with the bag - my mum sent me a link for a square one but as it's a santa face, I've done it as a circle which I'm now realising means of a bit of a PITA

Woolly my plan at the moment is to cut 2 circles, hem them then stitch them together 2 thirds of the way around and leave a third open and have the crochet Santa hat as the way you open / close the bag (by putting it forward over the face to close if that makes sense) so no gusset required - which is good because I would have no idea how to go about it!

Nothing wrong with a lazy day Firefly.

My work allows 1 duvet day per year and I'd really like to use mine soon - it's been so full on I think a day at home just relaxing would be amazing. Struggling to find a day I could use it on though... 🤔

Could you make a fabric tote bag anyway and sew santa on as an embellishment?

A dedicated duvet day is brilliant, Crazy. Do they encourage you to use it, as well?

I was looking at wooden advent calendars and found this - holds full size wine bottles Can you imagine drinking a bottle a night in the run up to Christmas - 'What did you get for Christmas this year?' 'Cirrhosis...'

Ha, yes. You'd be pickled, wouldn't you, Firefly?!

I've not done any steaming with Vicks, no. I've taken cold tablets though! I'm wiped out, which is my biggest issue, I think. Other than the lightheadedness and feeling sick, I suppose. 🤷‍♀️ I'll recover eventually!

I want a duvet day. Wish we did them!

Woolly I didn't want to lower the tone by mentioning gussets although that was my first thought
Crazy Why don't you use white/black or even a festive green and "square the circle" in crochet. It won't have to be that accurate as you're backing it with fabric and then you can sew a gusset 🤣🤣
Whatever you do, the "poncing" thread will name a day after you. 👑

Firefly it looks amazing, and I'm tempted...but...DH would fill it with the same brand Rose-ay (for some reason I can't get the / over the e?)...and it would need fairy lights too, to light the contents.
If you paced yourself, it would last at least until Epiphany 🥴🍷 🤞

I think for the bag I'm going to bodge it. I like the tote with the Santa embellishment on it but my mum has a specific idea in mind I think so I'm trying to make that work.
As it's only the lining I should have some leeway for hiding my mistakes!

puss I may post the bag on the poncing thread when it's done, although it's very 'low brow' compared to the wreaths / garlands made from greenery gathered on walks, embossed gift tags and perfectly iced cakes over there!

That advent calendar makes me feel queasy after Saturday night 🥴

Firefly they do encourage us to use the duvet day. I get reminded in my monthly 1-2-1 that I haven't used it yet - I know others have though.
My boss is very big on diverting work away if it shouldn't sit with us and making sure we use every benefit to have the best work / life balance we can.

I think I'll talk to my manager about it this week and see when I can shoehorn it in to the calendar - ideally on a cold miserable day and I can spend it watching Christmas films and making myself cosy

Thundering here!!!

Bright sun here, Puss! I've just put a load of darks on, so it had better stay dry!

I may have said loudly at the sky "Is that the best you can do?" just before an almighty flash of ⚡⚡
DH found that very entertaining
It only rained for about 20 mins, but rumbled for twice as long. It's lovely now.

@lachy, 1 December is booked off! My manager emailed the bloke who administers the diary today, so it's confirmed!

It's coming over cloudy here. I'm hoping it doesn't rain yet so the darks get a bit longer out there!