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!

78 This is where time moves very quickly!

Morning all. Happy belated birthday to fluffydog!

My energy levels are slowly returning, hopefully that means I can soon crack on with the Christmas preparation again.

Get well wishes to all.

Lurgies abound chez Monkey too.
The only one not to succumb is DH, who has been ill maybe twice since I've known him..20 years!
No idea why...maybe it's the regular beer infusions? I'll have to give it a try.

Going to the small country sized Tesco near me today so will have a gander at their Festive Fare and try and restrain myself from buying any mince pies.

If you happen to notice they have their free from chocolate coins in, Monkey could you please let me know? I didn't manage to find any for the Christmas stockings last year.

Luckily Santa found some in the back of his handbag that had probably seen better days but were enough to satisfy the 3yo...

Morning!

I'm very glad that we got far enough up the milk ladder to be able to eat normal chocolate! We do try to get as much dark chocolate as possible, but they can eat milk now.

Must've chucked it down overnight as there are huge puddles everywhere, in places that only get puddles in monsoon season. The dog was happy as he loves puddles!

I'm really tired today. Not sure why, but there you go. I've not gone to the office as we have a rail replacement bus service for 11 days. Why they didn't coordinate actions to do the work at the same time as a bridge replacement the other month I have no idea!

I need to do a list of what else I need for Christmas, I think. Including stocking fillers. DD definitely needs a shower timer if anyone can recommend one?

DH is also a lover of ginger beer since his days working in South Africa - he likes Bundaberg when he can find it. (I tend towards elderflower cordial, and will be happy with Ilea's version with sparkling water but love a particular bottle I can't remember the name of from my local deli at home - in Ireland home - so I'm drinking mostly Ikea these days).

I went back for the second set of baubles on Sunday - plain but large navy ones. My colours for my new tree will be navy, silver, white and accents of turquoise. (And probably everything else thrown at it - realistically). But I also found a hockey stick decoration (DD loves hockey).

I'm debating checking a proper case on plane on Friday - dd wants me to bring home a few things, and I need a suit and some colder weather clothes. And I could bring back more things (like a few bags of Keogh's crisps and some M&S goodies, maybe even a pack of mince pies...). DH reckons I don't need it but...I'll have a ponder tonight when I finish emptying the tiny one and packing for this weekend into my larger carryon.

Fireflygirl
No chocolate coins but I did spy these...

Has anyone spotted any bargains in the amazon event? Nothing has caught my eye

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Morning!

I'm just back from the dog walk. He took me on a different route today, to a park he quite likes. I'm glad of my runners' light though, as everywhere is so dark though it doesn't stop me considering the likelihood of meeting a murderer in the woods! He found a scent, so we spent a happy 5 or so minutes following it.

Apparently more rain is coming this morning. Then sun and wind later. We will have washing ready to go out! 🤣

We got DD a Chromebook for school work, otherwise no!

No I was a bit disappointed with the amazon prime day. I did get a neals yard shower gel set for £14 but I was underwhelmed on the whole.

I got some Weleda skin food for £5 but that was it!

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We've got 3508 mph winds in London today so I'm definitely getting a wash out 😂

Looks like the rain has just stopped here for a while - sun trying to get through clouds but thicker ones still coming. But lovely autumn colour.

That was all fully green last week

Morning!

Happy Booths' book day! I've placed an order to get my collection slot, and will amend it later once I have the actual book to hand.

That sounds a wee bit breezy, Magnolia! Not as windy as our 16k winds though! 🤣🤣

Hope you didn't get blown away Fluffy!!

Please feel free to post lots of lovely pics from the Booths book so us down South can drool.

Ooh enjoy the Booths book @NoWordForFluffy! I made a couple of updates to my M&S and Sainsbury's orders yesterday.

My lurgy is refusing to go away. I am fine apart from a horrible cough and utter exhaustion after the merest activity. I just did a quick round of the village, a walk I wouldn't even usually consider a walk and I am now in bed to recover.

DS came second in his first cross country race yesterday so very proud :)

I managed not to get blown away in the hurricane force winds we have here today too.

I'm hanging on by my fingertips! 🤣 Or not.

Well done to your DS, Hoping!

I'll send photos later...any particular section you'd like me to focus on? 🤔

Why is the SantaHat Grin being changed to XMas Grin?

Hello everyone - I've lurked on this thread from time to time but now I hope it's ok to join in because for once I want to be organised & ahead of the game & actually enjoy it all!

So far ... I have a few stocking fillers, a beauty advent calendar for DD & "Christmas" PJs, which have a leopard design so as to extend the wearable period (not leopard print - DH may baulk at that or think I want him to go all Hugh Hefner - no thanks) Also all slightly different due to the impossibility of knowing whose are whose with the "family" pjs thing. Why I ever started the Xmas Eve shenanigans I will never know. I think it was Covid related madness.

No ideas for DH, or the 2 DSs, DD said makeup but nothing specific. Hoping you lot will inspire me and find miraculous bargains! Oh, and I've also booked a wreath making workshop :)

@BiddyPop Those trees at the bottom are lovely, what gorgeous colours.

I made one of my semi annual cakes for DC birthday - it was very dense. Tasted okay, but I’m sure MIL sat there wondering why I said no thanks to her making one, and then mine turning out like that. Her cakes are light and fluffy. I’m not sure whether I over mixed, or didn’t mix it enough. It looked great, which was nice. And I always make them, so it’s a tradition.

We've been to Booths! One of my favourite things is choosing my own eggs. 🥚

I'm part way through the book. Pics attached.

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Do they have boxes of eggs to pick from @NoWordForFluffy ?

How many would get dropped on the floor, people can be cackhanded (though maybe cackhandedness isn't allowed in Booths )

I need to pick up my DD pyjamas so I might track down the M&S ginger beer while I'm at it .

No winds here so far might change . BBC Weather has a "This forecast is wrong due a data error" banner so at the moment it is Watch'n'Wait Batten Down the Hatches !