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! 🤣🤣

14 sleeps...

61
Morning. It's bloody freezing here today.
I'm taking a couple of hours off this morning to take dm to an appointment, then it's work, going to see FIL, doing a few bits in the garden (if it stays dry), changing bedding and yet more washing. Riveting 🙄

70 Asda had some nice Christmas stuff, as did Dunelm.
I'm categorically not allowed to buy more as we have too much, but I do have my eye out for a nice, wipe clean table cloth (and possibly placemats) for Christmas.
The tablecloth we have now is lovely but it's cream with gold stars and it's only a matter of time before it's ruined.

How did you get on with de-stashing your ds stuff Fluffy?

Morning!

Freezing and misty here so far. It's going to be a lovely day by the look of it.

Biddy, we freeze the chillies and use them in cooking. These ones are pretty hot so one should be enough in everything we make!

Crazy, it went well. He's not noticed. Phew!

Oh, eBay for a wipe clean table cloth!

Happy Rudolph Day.

I cannot share this information with DH , he’s on holiday mode 😁(I don’t have the proper emojis on the iPad and it keeps doing random fulll stops/capital letters).
And adding extra letters!

I always forget Rudolph days as I rarely know what day it is!

Happy Rudy Day!

I'm also not allowed but more Christmas...I had quietly bought a small bag in the colour way I wanted this year - and that will be put on a new tree when I get my apartment 🤣 so DH will probably not know until I move home again and I can blame it on everything smashing when I moved so I had to buy new...(I just hope they do all survive the crossing!).

60

sixty 😁days

getting ready to leave Lisbon, they said the seas were rough - oh joy. Still thems the breaks on a ship.

59

Biddy Brussels always comes up on 'best Christmas markets' lists. Am very jealous of your move!

How was last nights sailing 70?

I'm gearing up for a Christmas focused weekend as DH is away. Plan is to spend Saturday making a big dent in present shopping then I'm having my niece overnight. She's very excited about this because I have both Netflix and Disney+ and she has informed me we'll be watching The Grinch and 'Kevin' (Home Alone).

And on Sunday we're going to the Christmas factory shop nearby that only opens Oct-Dec each year, meeting sister, nephew and mum there. It's going to enjoyable chaos

Now, just need to get through work today...

Into the 50s now 😄

it’s rough today crazy , but tonight from 11pm is the worst bit. I don’t drink alcohol so I’ll be clear headed even though I’m queasy.

Brussels is lovely Biddy
we’re going next year to Bruge Christmas Markets, I went in June nd imagined how lovely it would be. In full on Christmas mode

Afternoon!

I had barely any sleep last night so I'm running on fumes today. 😴

I walked the dog first thing, then went into town after breakfast. I went to so many shops. Like you, Crazy, getting on top of presents. I want to post a parcel home next week, so needed to crack on with it.

I need to take the kids to Max Spielman to have photos taken. They do a bundle which will be good for grandparent / aunty gifts and it's only a tenner. Way cheaper than school photos! I'll have to buy the card frames, but I found some reasonably on eBay.

We have Hobbycraft opening here next Monday. Dangerous. 😬🤣

@70isaLimitNotaTarget, I feel very 🤢 thinking about your sailing!

Have you watched In Bruges? It's a Colin Farrell film. Not for people who don't like dark humour / swearing!

I wish we had a place like the Christmas shop, Crazy. We have an online Christmas shop based here, but nothing else. They're going to start click and collect, so I can buy stuff without postage charges. Wooooooo!

Sorry I have been absent from the thread. I started a new job in September and it's been full on! DH and I are now away on holiday, so it will be full on Christmas prep once I get back. I have ordered 2 advent calendars today - so can tick those off and will get some bits for DD's calendar while we are away.
Crazy- the Christmas shop sounds fun. 70- the cruise sounds great - although I find it slightly disconcerting to go away in Oct to somewhere warm and then jump straight into 'it's almost Christmas!'.
Biddy- I had missed hearing about your Brussels adventure. I spent a summer there as an au pair a few years ago (realises it was almost 40 years ago and hides head in hands)

58

Afternoon!

It's not too bad here today. Dry and pleasant when the wind drops and the sun is out. Chilly edge otherwise! Our washing should dry anyway!

Clocks back tonight. Where did the last 6 months go?!

I've not been amazingly productive today. Might not manage it at all! 🤣

DS wants a BBQ dinner. Happy to oblige, but we're eating inside! 🥶

Constantly- the weather hasn’t been as warm as I thought.
DH checked online leading up so we could plan what to take.
We didn’t get to Spain as it wasn’t possible to get into port.
Two days in the Canaries we had rain, really heavy on one day . Then again in Lisbon.
Lanzarote was warm.
They’d had nine months of dry hot weather and fires, so we’re looking forward to rain for the crops. The guide said you can tell who are local and who are tourists 😂

We sat on deck it’s been warm but very windy. Good drying weather. ,!

Lots of Christmas Shops on the Canary Islands too.

I tempted to buy some Cactus Jam for Dd but settled for sending her some photos

I did a click and collect at Tesco this morning. I can definitely go round sainsburys for less time, money and stress than that. Never again. Now I’m really grumpy 😅 also the road on the way was flooded, was a bit worried for a minute but saw an electric car get through so knew I’d be fine. Quite warm but more rain forecast. I want cold crisp weather! Loving seeing all the leaves change though.

There's a part of me that's very glad my nearest Hobbycraft is 20 mins away Fluffy as I'd spend loads.

Dunelm is opening in our town next week though and their Christmas stuff is lovely - DH is very worried 😂

I'm looking forward to the Christmas shop tomorrow. It was amazing when I was little then went really downhill but last year they've really stepped it back up. They have a big train the kids can play in and do photos, an Instagram frame for photos and often have Santa wandering around talking to all the children, plus there's a section that's curtained off and dark for the lights and nephew loves it.

Where are you Constantly?

Have you enjoyed the cruise overall 70? Not sure how you've coped with the rocky seas 🤢

I've been very lazy today. DH is away and he accidentally woke me as he left at 5am. It's thrown me off plan as I was awake until 6:30 then fell back to sleep.

I'm abandoning my trip to town, it's always so busy I was meant to leave first thing. Plus it's freezing and wet outside.
Instead I'm going to pop to Asda to pick up a c&c order later (including niece and nephews Christmas jumpers) and will mooch around in there.
Going to spend my afternoon online Christmas shopping on the sofa instead

Oh bloody hell, Crazy. Dunelm is almost more dangerous than Hobbycraft for me!

I approve of how you're spending your day. I'm on the sofa now and will carry on with my cross stitch shortly!

The weather has turned since my last post. Washing now in!

I'm quite lucky and Hobbycraft doesn't hold much interest for me. I do like Dunelm though. I did some online Christmas shopping last night. I got the three for two at Boots and 'accidentally' got myself some nail varnish as I can wear it at work now I am not on the ward.

I really like Dunelm, ours is next door to hobbycraft but I don’t go in there much.

Wr got some new furniture from M&S and I’m really impressed. Dh built it and didn’t get cross once, even he was impressed 😱

And you successfully navigated the Boots' website. Impressive!

I downloaded the app it was far easier. I got ratty on the website it is so glitchy!

We're in the US Crazy / so enjoying some OTT Hallowe'en decorations!
Hobbycraft is dangerous for me because I want to start projects but often don't finish them!
We have Dunelm nearby and B&M has just opened a store as well!

57

just enjoying the extra hour but going for a shower , packing the last few items, some coffee / breakfast and disembark

Woke up to the news that Matthew Perry had died . I’m not a Friends watcher but Dd loves it and has watched the Christmas and Thanksgiving episodes recently.

Evening!

Such sad news about Matthew Perry. I didn't really watch Friends much, but I read the BBC obituary this morning and felt so sad about the demons he carried with him. Just goes to show that money isn't always able to bring happiness.

I've not done a huge amount today: walked the dog and cleaned in the main. I have added a few ingredients for the Christmas pudding to this week's delivery, which I will make next weekend.

Maybe we'll get good news on the house front this week. Can only hope!