Countdown to Christmas 2023: It's the final countdown (thread 3)

[NoWordForFluffy]

30

Morning!

It's the final Rudolph Day of the year! A month today is the big day!

I'm sending DH off to his parents' house with the kids so I can wrap today. I usually fail to be Christmassy on Rudolph Days! 🤣

I bought a laptop (much needed), a Christmas mug, moisturiser and a Christmas tree in the BF sales. I now have 2 mugs until my truckload arrives so can throw 1 in the dishwasher!

Potentially, fingers crossed, I may get out of temp accom the week before Christmas!! I won't worry about decorating but I should be able to get the truckload delivered.

Lots of lovely music, and hordes of slow moving shoppers, around the city Friday night and yesterday. Need to work today.

My morning coffee in the apartment

DH also announced "his" Christmas shopping is done. He has bought for DD and I.

Not his DM, DB and family (5), DSis and family (4), DUncle,let alone my extended family.

So I may have to have a very heavy suitcase coming home or else do a mad dash when I get there!

The white triangle in the photo is my "tree". It's actually cuter in person than it looks.

No Dec 1st box for DD this year, although I may relent and tell DH that there's enough nice toiletries for her advent calendar in Aa safe space at home...this is what happens when you plan ahead and plans change

Thanks, there’s a Christmas market to look round at the outlet. Shame it’s raining. We won’t be there long though as dd can’t manage it.

I’ve finished all the stockings now, just need to get ds’ main presents (Fitbit, basket ball, backpack - have already got him a new bike helmet that was £50 😱) and something for my sister and bil, just a token gift normally might have a look for something today. Maybe from whittards? Oh I may get dh a couple more bits too. Will see how I feel.

Biddy I love the little white tree!

70 wish you were my mum, your dc are very lucky.

Surely the answer is online shopping delivered to your DH to wrap?

🤣Fluffy now that is a great idea!!

We are spending Xmas with my husbands side of the family for the first time this year. It's overseas so they do all the christmassy stuff on the 24th and we'll have a quiet day of 25th just us and the kids.

Looking forward to it apart from the fact that we have to buy for 15 nieces and nephews 🥲
Carnage. And expensive. Argh !

Aww thank you Wreck
I'm sure deep down in a parallel universe that my DS appreciates me , he'd just never admit it without me holding his Fender Stratocaster to ransom !
DD tells me how she will use some of her childhood traditions when she has DC which is lovely .
My Mum didn't do Christmas , it was very low key when we were kids because it just was anyway . But when we were 10+ she made it clear it was too much effort

We didn’t ‘do’ much for Christmas either (or birthdays). Once we didn’t believe in FC we had to write a list for our stockings with a £25 budget. We didn’t even have stockings, we used a Tesco carrier bag… birthdays were no better. I don’t ever remember having a cake.

Had pre Christmas lunch with neighbours today.

DDs are both away at Uni, we’re all going to a Christmas market next week.

I’ve organised the presents, all on DD1’s bed. Will think about starting the wrapping this week but it means emptying the under stairs cupboard to get the box out.

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DM loved Christmas and used to make it special even on a limited budget. She even introduced Boxing Day presents (just two small gifts) so it didn't feel flat.
An update on IKEA trees: they are not selling real trees in The U.K. except in Scotland this year. I will investigate Homebase and B&Q. The ones in the independent garden centres are £££.

I guess IKEA didn’t sell many previously so have stopped. I agree the garden centres are expensive, we liked the one we got last year though as it was non drop slimline (they trimmed the lower branches so it wasn’t as bushy). I wanted to get ours next weekend but Dh is working Saturday and Sunday and it’s a struggle getting it on my own, maybe I’ll ask FIL if he can help.

Morning.

Our Christmas was a midpoint, I think. Not super special, but not too much bother either!

I'm in train chaos on the first day in my new job. Typical! Thankfully my manager was also affected so is expecting me to be in chaos (she was my manager in the job before my last).

Miserable weather too. And DD is poorly with a cough / temp. Poor chick.

Urgh, not what you need Fluffy. How is the rest of the day going? Is it this weekend you move?

I always remember having lovely Christmases, lots of time with family and friends. Nothing like what people do nowadays, but DDad's work used to do a kids Christmas party, and sometimes panto visits, and we used to have a party for our hobby group and for our youth club. DDad used to choose us new PJ's for Christmas Eve (DM did everything else!) When DSis and I asked about Santa, DM pointed out that if you didn't believe he didn't need to bring presents. The issue was never raised again... We still get stockings now 🤣

I’ve had a stressful day too. Main road was closed due to a nasty accident (which we must have missed by minutes coming home last night, smaller road near me had an accident, someone incompetent had made a mistake at work and removed me from accessing patient notes and it chucked it down when I was walking home. So pleased to be in my pjs under my heated blanket!

Next weekend, Firefly. Most important job today was: booking annual leave for the completion / move days. Plus one day at Christmas.

It was challenging to get on the IT system today. But we finally managed it and I've done most of the online training. Just a few more to do tomorrow. Then I need to go through any set up bits I've missed today.

I'm not sure exactly what my family did when I was younger but I remember Christmas being so much fun.
We had years where they had money to burn and some that were very tight, but they were always busy, chaotic and fun.

Glad you got sorted in the end Fluffy

My work day was meant to finish at 4 but I ended up at my desk until almost 6:30.
Means a few things I was hoping to do in the garden with the very last bits of daylight had to be skipped.

Am having my annual Christmas craft panic. This year it's because I need to finish 2 cross stitch cards and make a Christmas cushion cover in the next week or so but I'm so slow

What cushion pattern are you using Crazy? I've got a little bit of crafting still to do. One thing I'll finish in the next day or so and a hat to make by Boxing Day.

My last present should arrive tomorrow. I DON'T TWITCH so I will start wrapping after the weekend. Getting there 🤶🏻

I had lovely Christmases as a child. My dad loved Christmas and mum was a great cook.

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Morning!

Second day in the office. This will be the usual office day for me. Train rammed. Need to get my shit together to get an earlier train as this is bonkers!

Cold and sunny though, so that's nice!

Winter has arrived here. Bright and sunny (and dry!) day but OMG it's so much colder! I may be buying a decent coat and some boots before the weekend (truck with most of my winter gear is not arriving for another 3 weeks...)

Yesterday, I managed to deal with Minister visiting without any hiccups. And I got the paperwork for my lease and my bank account as well, so I'm making progress. Once I get those finalised I can start to settle here and also book my Christmas flights home.

I haven't picked a pattern for the cushion yet Buck - this is adding to the panic!

Fluffy will you be WFH at all for this job or are you fully office based?
I have to go to office a few times each month and I hate it. Not sure why, trains are busy but ok. I think after years of commuting, I now resent the wasted time.

Biddy are the Christmas markets up and running yet?
Glad things are coming together for you.

My decs are going up this weekend. It's the earliest I think we've ever done it but it's been a hard year
We've also decided to go away again this year for the same reason. I'm having some MH struggles (nothing major, overwhelmed mainly) so hoping a break will help.

I’m really sorry that you are struggling @CrazyBaubles. Massive hugs x

Glad your first day went well @NoWordForFluffy!

Decs go up here this weekend too :) Very excited!

I plan to start getting things down out of the loft tomorrow, once I've tidied up and cleared space for them to go do we really need a sofa and a chair in the living room?!?

Has anyone had the M&S offer for 20% or whatever off nightwear yet? DM has decided she wants 3/4 leg PJs for Christmas and that's the only place that is stocking them in bloody December, Mother!

Crazy where are you thinking for Christmas? Scotland again?