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! 🤣🤣

Evening!

Another glorious day here today. I walked the dog then went to the allotment for a bit. I'm now in a dog walking field with the family giving doggo some off-lead time.

I cleaned the kitchen etc earlier, so at least that's done. I didn't do the usual dining room / hall, stairs and landing woodwork last time as I wasn't at home last weekend so it didn't get done until Tuesday. At which point I decided it could wait til today mainly as I couldn't be arsed at that point.

Evening. Scorching day here again, and forecast to continue. The heat is annoying me as certain rooms and my car are just unbearably hot 🥵

Garden is going bonkers though - the plants are massive and making me impatient.

Life continues to be stressful here. Amongst the more stressful things going on, my MIL is staying and there have been eleventy billion arguments between her and DH 🙄

I'm back to work tomorrow but honestly, I have no idea how I'm going to concentrate. I could sleep for a week at least

Morning all, it's a much cooler day here today. Of course, yesterday I made coq au vin and today we are BBQing sausages 😅. Typical.
DS back to school - I already miss him, but I'm daft like that.
Have a sports massage this morning so I'm posting now cos I definitely won't feel like it later. It's so painful but my legs feel loads better after.

Morning all, feels like summer here now for sure - I am "full time" at work as of this week but I am on strike this weds and on leave the week after that to take the DC to the seaside.

I've entirely lost my mojo with pretty much everything at the moment I am so bummed about being back at work.

DD is learning new words every day that I'm missing, DS learned to use his balance bike properly last week. :( just feel like I'm missing out on everything.

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Jusf squeaking in! Hope everyone is OK.

Sorry it's all a bit shit @HairsprayBabe. You do get used to working those shifts,

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It's cold and dull. I'm beginning to regret putting the summer duvet on 🥶

Hi - can I join you? I get really, really stressed about Christmas so anything I can do months in advance is so helpful.

@Thepleasureofyourcompany welcome

The Christmas boards are generally lovely safe spaces for Christmas chat. If piles of gifts (or the lack of them) and tales of hoards of relatives pitching up on Christmas Eve expecting to be fed and watered until Epiphany are what stresses you out then some of the other threads that start in October/November are probably best avoided.

This thread and the bargain thread run all year (new ones are started when the old ones are full). The bargain threads are great places to find gift ideas and people are very good about sharing bargain prices and offers.

This thread is a general chit chat that becomes more festive as the year progresses.

If cooking and decorating are your thing then the Poncetastic thread that starts in late September will give you some ideas.

Great thanks!

Rabbit The summer duvet has been on since the heatwave last year here. When we had snow and it was freezing I evened it out with winter pjs and fluffy socks bloody missed the thickness and coziness of the winter duvet though

Welcome pleasure 👋 What do you find stressful particularly? On this thread we're bound to be able to give you some tips

Feeling bloody rubbish today. Felt a sore throat coming on yesterday but today, if there was a competition for sneezing and/or most runny nose, I would 100% have a gold medal.

Although the sun was out I've been freezing all day so was thinking about Christmas crafts. Saw someone crocheting around a set of fairy lights in green then making crochet flower heads to be sewn around the bulbs - have saved the idea and may try it if I have time.
Could be like the pic but potentially multicoloured instead of white...

Hello all! Welcome @Thepleasureofyourcompany , I’m a lurker here but I agree with @DownTheRabbitHoIe - this is a lovely thread! I also follow the Christmas bargain thread. Last year was my first year doing so and I had all my presents sorted in good time for the first year EVER! Before that I was an ‘up until 11.30pm Christmas Eve panic wrapping’ kind of gal 😂 not to mention I spent less money as I got things through the year.

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The hundreds are so close now! <eek>

I'm stupidly busy at work, hence being quiet. I have my shoulder op on 26 June, so I have plenty to get done prior to that date!

The days have started cooler this week, but warmed up after lunch. Clothing choices are problematic.

I'm not surprised you're struggling, Crazy. Everything you have going on would test the patience of a saint.

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Thanks Fluffy - I'm perfectly ready for my life to go back to normal now but don't see that happening any time soon.

Cold here this morning but forecast to brighten later.
Hoping this afternoons sunshine pushes the handful of giant strawberry's in the garden to finish ripening as they are so so close and look tasty.

Had my first 'what are you doing for Christmas this year' conversation yesterday. My answer was "not sure but likely to be at home with DH doing dinner as we were away last year" and DH said "not sure, maybe we'll go away again"
Not sure where he thinks we're getting the money for that from!

Maybe he just wants to get away from everyone, Crazy! Understandable right now.

My new Christmas placemats / coasters arrived yesterday. They're these ones. I couldn't justify the cost of the Sophie Allport Christmas Dogs placemats (the design of our new runner), so went for those instead. I almost got Spode Christmas Tree, but decided they're a bit old fashioned for now!

My new tablecloth (white) arrives today as well, so I have my table sorted now (it's a new, rectangular, table, so I needed new stuff. I do need new chairs really, but they're ridiculously expensive, so it'll have to wait.

Crazy can I suggest four seasons in Hampshire? Have a Google for their Christmas packages!

it’s really warm here still/again. Dd managed three days at school but is unwell again now.

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Off today. Cleaning my house which is always exciting - not. Bit gutted I am working tomorrow when it is forecast as being 27 degrees. The ward is like a furnace in that kind of weather.

Into the hundreds now 😃
On our way back from Brussels. Bruge is such a pretty town it will look amazing at. Christmas so that’s my festive thinking for the day.
I’m not sure I could cope with a Christmas market anytime soon. The one in Bath was an experience but I’ve sort of ticked that off my To Do List. Though apparently UK Christmas markets just pale into insignificance compared to other places

I have a mountain of laundry and a couple of recovery days 😉

Morning!

I'm on a train to Liverpool. The chambers we use has a conference on, so I'm off to that. There's food, it'll be good! 🤣

Bruges looks pretty in the Colin Farrell film (which is hilarious, but not for the easily-offended!). I need to go at some point.

Why, you're going to melt. Sorry. 🥵🥵🥵

I went to Bruges on an early January break a few years ago. It was bloody cold but utterly beautiful. We did a brewery tour while we were there. The beer was fantastic but there were a couple of hairy moments including having to descend ladders backwards 😱

Enjoy Liverpool Fluffy. Will you be able to grab a beer at the Albert Dock before your train home? It's only sensible to let the Friday evening crowd dispel a bit before getting to the station.

We have been to Bruges Fluffy but you might not remember you were quite young.

Will you be able to grab a beer at the Albert Dock before your train home? It's only sensible to let the Friday evening crowd dispel a bit before getting to the station. You need to keep your fluids up, it's a warm day. 🍻😋

I didn't go to the dock. I am on a train home now though. Oops!

I don't recall Bruges, Why. Sunburn, Amsterdam and your duty free making me sick on the way there is what I remember!

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Bruge has many many chocolate shops Fluffy

I need to get my haggard ole carcass off to bed now . I've done 2 laundry loads ready to hang out early tomorrow .
Shopping delivery due
I'd like to think the cats missed me but I'm deluding myself .

At least the DC did (a bit)

we have 28-29c temperatures forecast , my little plants are doing well , DD has been watering them . Potter about in the garden day tomorrow

I can’t put my washing on as we’re out of washing powder. Ds has football in an hour, then I’ve got my click and collect. After lunch driving to my parents as they have a pool then back to here for DD’s hospital appt then back to my parents for a BBQ. Dh will meet us there after work. So warm already.

Oh, I recall chocolate shops. We bought fruit de mer chocolates! 😋

I have either extreme hayfever or a bad cold. Or bad hayfever combined with a cold. 🤷‍♀️ I'm very snotty anyway, with a sore throat, painful ears and a cough. I didn't get home til 12.30, and couldn't face walking the dog, so DH did that for me and I'll go tonight in the rain.

I'll go to Sainsbury's when I'm dressed, then clean the bathroom when I'm back. Exciting times! 🤣