Countdown to Christmas 2022: it's s bit warm to be considering Christmas, but I'm doing it anyway! (Thread 3.)

[NoWordForFluffy]

Evening!

Here we go...unless we talk more, this will do us til the big day! 🎅🏻 🎄

We had rain for about 5 minutes but it had stopped now (and it's still humid albeit a little cooler).

No rain here! Likely to be tomorrow. Fluffy M has a fire with a protective case - We got them separately because we wanted something with a bit of longevity. Three years in, it's still going strong. The case is brilliant at protecting the tablet (it's just a pain to take off and put back on)

I did some Christmas shopping here a day or so ago. We went to the Jack Daniels distillery (my Dads favourite) so I bought him a bottle that you can only get from there and another that they stopped making so won't be able to get in a year.

Temps over here are ridiculous. 37° today 🥵 and we're heading south so May get even hotter.

That's good to know, ArrDee. I don't think much will change my mind over getting it now. Just got to wait until Black Friday.

I've created the rosehip vodka. It's festering infusing in the understairs cupboard with the rhubarb vodka and Christmas pud!

Also want to apologise if it seems rude I'm not reading along - I'm jumping on wifi every so often but it's been a bit patchy so not had chance to fully go through the thread!

That reminds me of when I was on a cruise with DH and DS a few years ago Crazy. WiFi on board was stupidly expensive so we didn't bother and every time we visited a port we didn't speak to each other for about 20 minutes while we all caught up with the world.

I’m going to get the Hotel Chocolat thing too, 70. I ummed and aahed for so long last year I missed the deal and I don’t want to buy it full price. Can you use cadburys in it? Don’t think DS will like the HC.

131 no storm means it's still hot and humid and I can't sleep!

I'm not sure what Hotel Chocolat delicacy I'll go for Beetr00t, probably the Elf Stocking.
They don't have sophisticated tastes so no new fangled flavours .

The Cadbury House Advent Calendar was about £9-£10 and seemed to have a lot of Chomp bars ( toffee) and weight wise , very £/100g

I put a HC TiddlyPot in DS Dec 1st Box , and he scoffed it

Hello, everyone. Just joining you all in your festive chat. I absolutely live for Christmas each year and love the build up! Will also be relieved when this hot weather subsides; it’s overcast and certaibly cooler this morning, so that’s something.

Has anyone else started thinking about advent calendars? I’ve got 7 and 8 year olds and fear they are too old for the Playmobil ones now 😢😢

Morning!

It's definitely cooler here today. I'm just waiting for the house to get the memo to cool down as well! 🥵🥵🥵

We don't do anything other than chocolate / traditional advent calendars. They're expensive, so I just don't bother.

We've booked a trip down to London at Christmas, so the kids can see the lights. Hopefully they'll enjoy it (even though we're not in their favourite Premier Inn!).

Ive just bought a Christmas present for my sister (I live in a different country to my siblings). It's a jacket from East, velvet with embroidered trim that I've had my eye on since last winter and it was finally on sale. I have part of my other sisters present. They are the only people outside my own kids/stepkids I actually buy anything for (I send my in laws a some Christmas flowers as in their mid 80s-90s don't need any more stuff).
My stepkids and I don't see that much (we're teens when my two came along and even though they lived with us then I was never super close to them). One has a child and the other will by Xmas. I always struggled with what to get the adults - would it be ok now to just get something for their babies? Much more fun to shop for! I'm a widow so it's down to me.

Oh 70 I confused myself there, it's the HC velvetiser I meant I wanted to get!

We all get silly advent calenders- I had a jam one last year which was fun!

Joining!

www.qvcuk.com/Hotel-Chocolat-Velvetiser-with-2-Tins-%26-Pod-Cups.product.809907.html?sc=SRCH

There's this offer on QVC at the moment Beetr00t its on 4x EasyPay . Trouble with QVC is the high P&P (and higher to return) .
I watched loads of videos on the Velvetiser last year but decided not to as it isn't dishwasher safe.

I ended up buying a milk frother that has a DW safe jug and whisk . I bought Knoops chocolate , HC powder ( DD and I use soya milk which is quite sweet and froths nicely )

There will be loads of Velvetiser offers round Black Friday too .

I've decided on HN and Cocoba for the DC this year ( there's a Cocoba Cafe in Bluewater and it smells flippin' AMAZING )

HC (Hotel Chocolat) not HN

DH doesn't want the velvetiser (even though I know he'd love it. I might just get a milk frother.
The20 I usually make my own advent calendar for DD.

130

Rain yesterday , very welcome
I started my Christmas Planner yesterday ( Notebook with Chrustmas 2022 in Sharpie pen. DH was

So I wrote a list of Things we need to look at for the recycling/dump as well

He's clearing the loft so there's bags of things to go through
Then it's the garage ( I will supervise)
Then we need to get it carted off
Then I can buy a new Freezer For The Garage

I am glad I'm not the only one who likes to get things sorted early!

I just got a PlayMobil advent calendar for my younger one, and for the older one I got some supposedly semi-precious stone/crystal hearts to put in wooden calendar, but they arrived and a bunch of them are glass, nothing like the image. So getting that sorted!!

I also checked when tickets open for a local farm park, I missed them last year and was really upset since they hadn't been for the two previous years thanks to Covid etc. Got a reminder in my phone to book them on they day it opens up.

Checking in....was sadly excited to see an advert for the weird fish sale. Lots half price and an extra 20% off at the moment. Bought some lovely winter jumpers for the weird fish affecianados in the family!

Morning all, woke in the night to torrential rain and it feels very autumnal today, I am wearing a jumper!

I am hopeless at getting organised in the holidays, we either have guests or are visiting people. Today I am getting everything sorted for DS’ Godfather to arrive.

I managed to get a few more things, added to the samples I already had at home, and have now got enough to do an M&S/Boots beauty style advent calendar for DD. Who probably won't appreciate it, but then again, she might. If I see any better ones, I can swop out a few things but at least I have 24.

And I bought a nice brightly coloured tote bag for 1 DSis (to bring marking to school). That's about all so far though. (I saw a lovely lamp that I thought I would be lovely to get for DM and another for DMIL in the summer sales - but never managed to buy them, need to be more decisive).

The temps dropped massively here over the past 2-3 days - it was 33 degrees in the car on Saturday, still 29 on Sunday and 25 on Monday morning, but 19 yesterday when I was coming in and only 12 today at the same time. DH was also commenting last night on how the sunset has come back so fast and needing the lights in the evenings again, so it's already feeling autumnal!

I've also got things sorted early! Got the DS's their Santa sack and Christmas Eve boxes off Etsy early to avoid the rush, and they were cheaper.

Managed to get a bomb cosmetic bath bomb advent calendar for half price for me. I have used Vinted to get some thick fleece blankets ready for the winter.

I am so excited. It's 11 degrees here and absolutely lovely. I can almost smell autumn !

Ive just booked santa for DD. I got the last December weekend slot for this venue.

Its August. And its only a garden centre.

I just hope he has a real beard. DD noticed last year .

This time last week my eyeballs were sweating.

Today I am wearing a cardigan 🤪 and because it feels like autumn, I started pulling together my Christmas Recipes. Delia (Saint Delia 🙏) has a chestnut stuffing recipe that I fancy trying; no-one eats it apart from me 😋 so I'll be having a LOT of it.