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! 🤣🤣

Do you have those annoying little flies zapping about that appear when bananas are going over 70? They are really irritating.

Congratulations why 🥳 Is the new job going to be a bit easier on your health?

Buck thanks for the kick up the bum - I can't remember the last time I defrosted my freezers

I spoke too soon about things easing here. The stress is really battering my resilience and it's a horrible feeling.
I had to buy birthday presents for my niece the other day and since then I've been distracting myself with Christmas present idea research... I haven't told DH that, he's already worried about me and this may tip him over the edge!

Hi Crazy I am going to be working for the team I worked for before the wards making calls, but it is kind of different to previously and of course I will be sitting down which will help a lot. I am going from a band 3 to a band 5 which is a rare post that a non nurse can have. The interview was a bit difficult.

I have bought quite a few Christmas presents and my husband thinks I am losing the plot.

Congratulations, why!

Crazy sometimes, losing yourself in something you like (like Christmas) is good for alleviating stress! How's your garden coming along?

I had a total mum-fail tonight. DS is in the school KS2 play, 2pm and 6pm performances yesterday and today. All fine yesterday. Today, DD is ill and very needy. We picked DS up from school and he went and played quietly in his bedroom while I looked after clingy DD and made tea. I completely forgot about the 6pm show!! DH had been to pick up DMIL as they were both going to watch tonight and just happened to nip home to change his t-shirt at about 5.45, which was when I realised. DS had to eat his tea in the car and made it with about 2 minutes to change. If DH hadn't needed to change his t-shirt, he and DMIL would have been sat there for an hour and a quarter watching a absolutely terrible show which didn't contain our child...

Crazy planning and list writing is my stress relief. Would thinking about your festive food requirements be a useful exercise on a stressful day? Menu planning can lead to listing ingredients and planning food shopping. I have been known to print off a blank December calendar and fill in events/nights out and dinners that I'll be cooking so I can batch cook if possible and plan ahead that way.

Firefly oops that was close! Obviously the T-shirt gods were working in your favour.

Why that’s amazing! And an excellent progression.

it’s wet and autumnal here. Still 20°. Festival of speed is on which means the whole area is gridlocked.

Wow @Firefly that was very lucky.
It's pouring down here and DS is going to do raft building on a nearby lake. At least he won't get any wetter than being outside 😂
Sadly, I'm a cub leader and we are also going to the same lake for kayaking. Dreading the wetsuit.
Whose idea was the menu planning? Love that, going to do some now.

163 I need to empty the freezers before I can even think about batch cooking 🙄

We're in week 2 of 'freezer surprise' teas! We're not up to the weird and wonderful combinations yet, or eating chilli with pasta because I thought it was Bolognese, but we are at the stage of everyone is eating something different 🤣

How was kayaking, Granny? DS is in cubs, I invested in really good pairs of waterproof trousers and shoes!

Morning. I'm not sure what happened to me last night but I slept for a solid 10 hours which is unheard of for me!

why I don't know much about NHS banding but jumping from 3 to 5 sounds amazing! When do you start?

Firefly I'm so glad you managed to get your ds to his show (even if it was by the skin of your teeth)!
I will be honest, I haven't really done much in the garden over the last 2 weeks. My purple sprouting broccoli is finally starting showing some actual broccoli starting and I'm pretty sure my strawberries are done for the year and need to be cut back a bit.

Buck planning a menu is a good idea. I can't do dinner (except maybe stuffing) because DH does the whole thing, but starters, desserts, Christmas Eve and Boxing Day are up for grabs. I'll have to actually read my Nigel book

How was kayaking Granny?

Crazy I don't know when I start yet. HR do their thing (whatever that is) and I need to send Occupational Health my forms. I was a band 4 previously but then went to the wards where they don't have band 4's. Going back to my old team and have the promotion.

It's pouring with rain here yet again, I may need to build an ark soon.

Afternoon!

Crazy, I still need to read Nigel too. One day! 🤣

I'm tired today. I don't sleep well in the sling (funnily enough).

I got soaked on the dog walk this morning. Then damp again on my way back from town. 🙄

I've done some dusting and I need to clean the bathroom, which I'll do later on. Think I may have an early night.

@FireflyGirl and @CrazyBaubles it was cold and wet.
We had booked paddle boarding (I didn't know they were different) and my arse, thighs and shoulders hurt so much.
But the cubs had loads of fun jumping in and walking up and down the boards so it was worth it.

Hi everyone,
Still raining around here. It feels like summer is finished and heading into autumn. It makes me think of Halloween and Christmas.

I got some presents in prime day, and my partner thinks I am crazy.
Dd4 has her 5th birthday near Christmas and I want to spread the cost.
I did an advent calendar with mini gifts, rather than chocolate last year and I plan to do the same again, got some bits for that.
And I just order a second hand copy of Christmas chronicles! 🎄

162 🎄🎄🎄

I've got the Christmas Chronicles on my kindle. I love reading it but have never made any of the recipes. I'm envious of his little deli and farmers market lifestyle - our local high street doesn't have quite the same vibe although there are some great farm shops around.

Prime Day yielded a couple of presents and DD2's friend managed to get Taylor Swift tickets in the presale so I'm feeling pretty organised. I do my Christmas knitting/crocheting in the summer as they are usually small projects so I'm not sweltering under heavy blankets. I'm cracking on nicely - about halfway through my to do list.

Same here. The weather is definitely much more autumnal than summery.

If anyone is interested in Halloween (I know this thread is for Christmas), TK Maxx has a huge selection of Halloween and autumn themed items in at the minute. A really nice selection. Next, The Range and Matalan have also brought some lines out too (but I haven’t been in store to see their offerings yet!)

It won’t be long until Christmas arrives in TK Maxx as well, I’m hoping for August time to get some new decorations.

Dropping into this thread officially now as I have finally started to have my first thoughts on Christmas!

I am a huge Christmas lover, it absolutely takes over my life from mid August until the day itself (due to my job role I’ve ended up taking the lead on the sales on the Christmas/Halloween lines so I am absolutely consumed by it in work). Due to the nature of my job as well, December is an absolute write off month for doing very much Christmas prep as such. We have time to do some fun activities on our days off, but not much else. Which means I do have to start planning ahead quite early and make sure the bulk of Christmas is sorted by the end of November at the very very latest.

My job for the next two weeks is a huge toy and house de-clutter. Anything broken needs to be binned and anything that isn’t played with anymore needs to be donated. Once that’s done I’ll be able to see what’s left and start putting together ideas for gifts for the kids.

I also have some DIY jobs that I need to plough on with while it’s a fairly quiet time in work. Some rooms need a freshen up with paint etc- want to get this all out of the way asap.

161

Evening!

It's been quite a nice day today, other than 2 not-forecast showers one on my way back from school.

My physio seems to be working really well, which is encouraging. I am getting movement back, but need to work on strength. I assume that will come later on, once I can demonstrate movement.

@Cornchip, @70isaLimitNotaTarget is a Halloween fan, I think. 🎃

160

Yes to the love of Hallowe'en Fluffy though my DC are adults now . Hallowe'en is so much better if it falls on a weekend as I never know how many ToT we'll get in a school night .

I was on a bus journey over the weekend and once my kindle ran out of juice I started doing lists (for Christmas obvs ) but my writing on the bus was woeful !

My writing is generally woeful. On a bus, I'd think it would likely be totally illegible! 🤣🤣

Evening. I'm another who needs to do a huge declutter, but more for my sanity than for Christmas presents!

I've got a few bought already, though, and stashed in the loft. I'm currently planning our summer holiday adventures, but come September I'll start planning parties/menus/activities for Christmas.

DMIL is going to DSIL in London for the first time since DS was born 8 years ago, and we're hosting Christmas dinner here for my family (parents, DSis, DBIL and 2 DN's) as we now have the most convenient space, so we won't be leaving the house on Christmas Day for the first time I can remember 😲

How long do you think I'll last before I shove them in the garden and close the door...

159 Morning! Sunshine here (for now anyway)

Firefly will your family stay all day and evening when they come for Christmas? I enjoy hosting mine but only because they tend to arrive around 12/1pm and leave by 8

No real news here. I'm taking some Flex Time from work this morning to take dm to an appointment. Then probably going to need to work late because my to do list is so long!

QVC have Christmas shows dotted through Friday/Saturday/Sunday this week

I have ordered some decorated Lock'n'Lock storage tubs ( I will need food storage at Christmas , might as well be Christmassey)

Years ago I bought some festive storage tubs from Aldi ( gingerbread men) but they haven't had any nice ones back in stock .

I'll have an online browse (Saturday is Hotel Chocolat by the looks of things so I'll give that a miss)

158

Morning!

I'm off to hospital for a wound check today. It's lovely and sunny and feels like it'll be a nice day out! 🤣🤣

Firefly, are you excited about hosting? I do it every year and quite like it now. We have buffet food though; it's way easier.

157

Hope the wound check went well Fluffy (or "uneventful" as they say)

Shopping delivered and put away then a trip to Costco to stock up .

I watched a bit of QVC but they had pre-lit glass gold ornaments as the Todays Special Value so I'll pass .