Season of mist and mellow fruitfulness...and ramping up those Christmas preparations! Countdown to Christmas 2024 (thread 3) (title edited by MNHQ @request of OP)

[NoWordForFluffy]

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(Saves us checking the old thread tomorrow!)

Here goes, folks. New thread to see us through autumn!

And Iceland and Poundland too I think.

I'm predicting DD will have finished hers by lunch on Xmas day.

Haha Fluffy my lack of wrapping talent is infamous!!

Ours may make them last longer, purely because they have lots of other chocolate to get through! But only because of that. 🤣

I've seen them on Iceland online, so I might go there. Decided I'm not leaving the house tonight. It's dark and I can't be arsed; it's now a weekend job!

My tree is up next Sunday! Can't wait!

Yard of jaffa cakes sounds good. I may start that tradition for mine!

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I have finally dealt with the ironing pile - shortly before it acquired its own postcode. I could tell there were at least four different wash loads in there and I only iron the absolute minimum. DH does the shirts every week so I can let this build up a bit.

Evening!

I haven't ironed today god forbid; that's DH's job, but I have put a MASSIVE amount of washing away. God knows where it all comes from, but I then got another load in from the line. Never ending!

I can't be doing with ironing either Fluffy , and my DH is the one who usually does it .
I did buy a handheld steamer as my DD has some Uniqlo blouses that do need to be smoothed so wafting the steamer over them when they;re on a hanger is an "ok" compromise .

I am cracking on with my Christmas Clean-a-long tomorrow , loads of washing to put away , and I'll get the vacuum cleaner out and do the stairs and hall .

I need to check in TKMaxx tomorrow so I'll have a look at their Christmas offerings
I need a couple more things for DS Dec 1st Box and then check what still needs done .

I've bought DH some Green & Blacks tonight (every year he gets these and some Toffifee for birthday / Christmas), as well as some coffee he said he likes (which I found a 50% off code for, so it's a real bargain, as it's normally dead expensive). Just my nieces (on DH's side) to go and I'm done!

I'm considering a heated throw for mum's birthday, so I'll be on the hunt from now on!

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I'm off to bed now , one of those busy days but too wired to sleep .

@70isaLimitNotaTarget what brand is your hand held steamer and would you recommend it? I've been looking for one.

I don't mind the ironing though - normally sunday afternoon with a coffee and renovation nation on the telly. I can manage a couple of hours of ironing and quite enjoy it.

I have finally dealt with the ironing pile before it acquired its own post code 🤣🤣

My ironing too is on the verge of acquiring its own post code and slot if it is summery stuff from the holiday which I'm really loathe to get involved with....

Onto more exciting CR (Christmas-related) tasks...today I'm going to:

*Put my dried fruit into a huge bowl and drown it in Amaretto for the Christmas cake.

*Get down my gorgeous Christmas jigsaw to start tomorrow.

*Watch Christmas episodes of Virgin River (again). Cheesy, predictable but downright essential festive viewing.

*Begin writing gift lists with ideas for stocking fillers for DCs.

And that is how to successfully avoid the Great Southeastern Ironing Mountain.

Morning. Very sick house here still. LO is slowly on the mend but I have what feels like mild flu but with an added sickness bug 😷
Very lazy parenting on my part for the last 2 days but DH has apparently been spared so he's picking up the slack.

I did put in c&c orders to M&S and Argos yesterday and am probably 30-40% done with the Christmas shopping so far so I have made progress.

I don't iron unless I absolutely have to so I usually do a few of my own things every few weeks (takes half hour max).
DH is very picky and probably spends an hour a week doing his own and mine sometimes because he knows I hate it and luckily my lovely step-MIL is doing all of LOs ironing for us so we don't have to worry about that for now.

Not sure of plan today. I'm hoping I'll be allowed to rest a bit but no one else is awake yet. We'll see....

Get well soon @NoCheesesForUsMeeces
Hopefully this means you'll all avoid bugs/illnesses around the Christmas period.

My 3 DCs are between 16 and 26 now but I can remember many Christmases of yore when cancelling events was more common than actually going to them!

Morning!

Get well soon, Meeces. The problem with sleep deprivation is that it affects the immune system as you're run down because of it.

I'm glad it's Friday today. Busy old week! Only haircuts and cleaning planned this weekend. Going to try to fit making more mince pies into that as well!

Get well soon @NoCheesesForUsMeeces

We are the same here still. DD has missed school all week, some nights she’s had 2 hours sleep. She seems a bit better now, I’m really hoping she is. Sick so many times. It’s been a bloody nightmare.

Philips Handheld Steamer 3000 Series, STH3010/76 | Costco UK

I got this one from Costco Magnolia , it does the job I need ( quick waft to blast out creases ) but it's not a substitute for an iron for cotton .
I have very low standards with laundry , as long as it's clean and smells nice I;m happy .

Rest up and get well Meeces ( I am always disappointed when I'm ill that I don't lose any weight , apart from a couple of years ago I lost a stone but I was dog rough !)

Thanks for that 70 I'll check it out.

Hope you're all feeling better soon Meeces and Jennifer.

I've taken a bit of time off xmas shopping recently but am off to Spirit of Christmas tomorrow so will get some bits there hopefully.

Hope you are better soon @NoCheesesForUsMeeces and @JenniferGreenHat.

Busy week for me here with family visiting so apologies for not posting. Happy belated birthday to @NoWordForFluffy!

We are still without a car and are now putting in a complaint to the insurance company as they say they don't have any courtesy cars to give us.

Have had to rearrange my birthday meal to one in the village which is a shame but at least we do have a nice restaurant in the village.

I finalised my Sainsbury's and M&S food to order orders yesterday. Will probably do an online shop for some gifts for DH today.

I have bought the £10 litre of Baileys from Sainsbury's 😂

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I'm rather gutted that I bought 4 bottles at £13 now. My one coming on Monday is the £10 one!

Hoping, courtesy cars are a minefield and are often credit hire at extortionate rates which you're personally liable for if they can't recover it from the other side. I'd contact the other vehicle's insurer yourself and ask them to provide you with one, as they're always paying for it then!

How long until yours is repaired?

We have haircuts today, then I'm going into town to get a few more Christmassy bits.

DD and I went to Bluewater yesterday evening , it was lovely , not too busy . Decorations were up .

We had some festive coffee in Costa ( probably the only one I;ll have there , I;ll try Starbucks next but it isn't something I'd buy on repeat )

Going to sort out and wrap the presents I have , but I cannot find my tape dispenser ( might be in DS room, I need to take my Brave Pills and have a look in there )

DD and I are having our Pre-Festive Haircuts next week , I'm debating how much to have lopped off .

@NoWordForFluffy just in case you haven't sorted jaffa cakes yet. My Food Warehouse has party rings, oreos or reeses by the 'yard' measure but no jaffa cakes

I've not. It was meant to be today's job, but is tomorrow now. Thank you for the intel!

I've cleaned all of downstairs today (hallway skirting / doors / other woodwork; loo; and kitchen, including all woodwork) and made mince pies.

I've brought some washing in and put some out. We apparently have rain tomorrow. I'll believe it when I see it!

I wrapped some presents - not my favourite Christmas task but got it done .
DS has his Dec !st things ready to go in his gift bag - not wrapped as he's not bothered by this malarkey . Little Savage that he is

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I've ordered some window decorations , already got some with tiny battery lights in them. ( I remember to take the batteries out before storing them )

DH and DS went to the cinema , DH came back saying "They've got loads of Christmas Lights up in town " which is nice - I didn't think we'd have lights this year .