Countdown to Christmas 2023: launching into summer with more Christmas planning (thread 2)

[NoWordForFluffy]

Here's our new thread. Almost missed that it was needed!

Can somebody add the countdown again please, as I've no clue! 🤣🤣

Did he say, 'It's August!' as he did so?!

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I bought some TShirts for DS ( to go in his Dec 1st Box . he wears with lounge bottoms ) and some skincare for DD (for her Dec 1st Box)

Made a start I need to make a list before I hide them !

Just been into London for school shoes for DS.
Finally found ones he likes in Liberty, can't believe they cost less than Clark's and such a lovely shopping experience.

@NoWordForFluffy yes indeed August was mentioned 😄

Liberty's is beautiful at Christmas , just sayin' .......

#Enabler

I bought DS some Ralph Lauren boxer shorts in the 'final reductions' round of the sales.

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Today I have gotten ahead on my HGP unexpectedly...DH was fixing bikes so I had access to the back of the shed and did some sorting and clearing out. 2 bags in the car for charity and a black sack of things in the bin. And the shed much neater again (including ALL the bike bits in 1 place, not scattered across all the shelves!). And I had already done an initial sort on work papers with a very full bag for confidential waste shredding at work.

I am going to DF's tmrw for the night (various siblings visiting and I have a meeting relatively locally on Wednesday) and plan a relaxed drive with a few stops en route, including the outlet stores in Kildare Village where I might get a few things to put away.

132 Morning! Starting my day scrolling the mn Christmas board - have you noticed how busy it's getting?

What part of Scotland are you going to Fluffy? We've done some islands this time and are going to make our way home via Loch Ness.
The midges are gits though, I was doing really well until the night before last but they got me - I have bites on my hands, neck and 2 on my face 😫

Morning!

We're going to Southerness on the Dumfries and Galloway coast. Hopefully no midges in October! 🤞 We will have the Smidge with us just in case!

I need to do the islands at some point. Also, the NC500, which a work friend is doing in September. Very envious!

@BiddyPop can you let me know how kildare village was ? I’m in Ireland next week and wonder is it worth the 1hr drive. Thanks.

@ColeslawSandwich do you know Banbridge or Chester outlets at all? It's quite similar but relatively high end shops (I'm going for Hobbs, Clark's and Ecco, I love LK Bennet but I'm outside their size range just at the moment, but dd loves spirts so spends a fortune in Addidas, Nike, North Face and Musto especially). It can be great or there's nothing we like. And I've got great deals in Le Crueset before as well. They have a website to see the list of shops - food is not great there but can be good shopping if the range of shops suits you. And it's usually very busy. (We are in Dublin and sometimes go just for shopping or stop on our way down the M7 to Cork or Clare). I'll let you know how I get on though.

Thanks @BiddyPop , sounds like our daughters have similar (expensive!) taste 😊

Fluffy I forgot my Smidge - kicking myself because there's a bottle in the cabinet on the landing that was bought specifically for this trip and in the chaos and stress leading up to it I didn't pick it up😡
Regretting that now - I'm itchy and the bites look terrible. Pretty sure you'll be safe in October though. Is that you, DH and the dc?

This trip was us finishing off the big(ish) Islands like Islay and Arran.
We also did a bit of the NC500 a few years ago and I know DH would really like to go back and do it all. It does look amazing - will not be coming back in August again though. Between the midges and how busy some of the bigger towns are it's just ridiculous.

DH has gone for a long walk so me and ddog are chilling out together. He's snoring and I'm crocheting. It's all very peaceful here - lots of birdsong but that's about it.

Yes, us 4 and the dog!

I currently have a bite on my leg which is increasingly itchy. 😭😭 Not sure when I got that, but it's driving me loopy.

Teens and their likes!

Or siblings and how they revert to childhood norms...(I and a couple of sibs may have downed an inordinate amount of wine once DF went to bed tonight...)

Someone else better do the countdown.:: I only have 5 hours to sober up 🤪 before I have a reasonable drive and proper work meeting...

How's your head @BiddyPop ? I had an amazing time at a family gathering last weekend and had a great catch up with some long lost rellies.

Oh it's 131 on the countdown too

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I had a fun day yesterday sorting out my pantry cupboard. I found an ancient jar of mincemeat. Next I want to clear out the utility room and cupboard under the sink (the glamour of my life is overwhelming at times!)

Ooh vintage mince meat think it is still useable?
I picked up some bits from the charity shops at the weekend that will be great for some stocking stuffers, a harry potter sweets book for DS and some brand new looking fluffy chick lit for my aunt.
I have also decided to make myself miserable and diet down to fit back in my favourite Christmas skirt, it didn't fit me last year and the year before i was preggo with DD. Its very lovely so worth the misery for a few months haha!

Yesterday was very long - a 2 hour drive to a meeting, lunch with a colleague who also travelled, and then 2 hours back - in blazing heat that I was very overdressed for and with every tractor and combine harvester in the south out on the roads! But it was a good meeting and dad was delighted I came back last night again (gave me jobs to do).

Now that DH woke me to chat, I'm getting ready for Driving back home today and plan a few more cupboard getting sorted when I get there too.

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Morning!

I don't even know when I last posted. Work is manic as I still haven't caught up from being off. Never will at this rate. 🤣😩

We've had some bright, but windy, weather this week. Makes a nice change to see the sunshine!

Constantly, I'm sure the mincemeat will be fine to eat. Sugar and booze are both preservatives. 🤔🤣

Constantly, I found a jar last year that I'd made in 2017 - it was sooo lush as everything had matured into each other and no issues with spoilage. So I'd use it for a special batch of mince pies or similar.

Don't tell me that biddy! The one I threw out was a mere 2019. I did keep the ancient puddings though- just in case.
It is pouring with rain here and I am procrastinating instead of getting on with 'inside' jobs!

I've decided on a few of my pickles for this year, need to get supplies this weekend. Nasturtium flower vinegar and pickled seeds are my first plan as we have millions and they will be bargainous to make.

pouring it down here too! Supposed to be nice next week though, hope so i want do get my bulbs in for the spring and I don't fancy doing it in the pouring rain!

Slight change of plan here and we're heading home a night early. No real reason, we're just going back to places we've seen already and I think ddog is struggling so we'll be home tomorrow evening.

Im quite keen to get back to my garden and see what state it's in as Im pretty sure my dad has forgotten about it as he's dealing with some pretty heavy family stuff.

Letting myself have a day or 2 to get home, get the washing done, get house on track etc then I'll be planning the winter garden and starting Christmas present planning