Ho ho ho...here we go round again! Countdown to Christmas 2025, thread 1

[NoWordForFluffy]

365

Evening!

I'm tired after today, but the buffet was a success. Tomorrow it's dinner!

Everyone seems to love their gifts, which is always good. 😊 Bed soon as it's all go again from the morning!

I used Golden Eye drops once and they sent my eye badly bloodshot, so I must be sensitive to the active ingredient!

The ointment usually works, as I'm prone to styes.

310 Exciting day here - it's cold but sunny so I've put washing on the line for the first time in 2025 😁

Thoroughly enjoyed the freedom last night. I also enjoyed the film more than I expected to (new Bridget Jones) but thanks to my stupid hormones I got all teary in the cinema

Hope you're feeling better Fluffy
What cross stitch are you working on?

I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, Meeces, even if you did get teary!

Our washing was out overnight. Need to fetch the bits left outside still in after dinner. It should be dry as it's quite breezy!

I'm still stitching the Merejka one I started almost a year ago, returning to
it after my enforced surgery break. It's enormous (28x57.5cm), but I'm on the penultimate sheet (not including the dreaded back stitch!).

309 just for the countdown

308

Not a Christmas bargain, but have just booked tickets for an event in December so I already have something to look forward to

You can't leave washing out overnight Fluffy, it'll get darked on and you'll get chucked off mn 😂

LO is back in nursery today so I'm putting my break to good use (and using you as my inspiration Fluffy). I've looked at the jobs that need doing, done 2 small ones (washing on and kitchen tidied) then thought I can't be arsed and have been crocheting for the last hour and a half.
First time I've actually done any crafting since the start of December 😱

It's absolutely chucking it down here so won't be going anywhere this afternoon. LO is having a haircut at home and that's about it.

Chucking down here too @NoCheesesForUsMeeces . DS is having a haircut as well (because it's half term and I have time to take him) and I've just taken the washing to the laundrette to dry it

I've spent the entire half term so far siliconing the shower and for anyone who is thinking of doing it I've got a really good tip - pay a plumber!!! Never again. Just removing the old stuff took about 6 hours!! Looks okay though if you squint your eyes.

Next job wallpapering but I might wait till Easter.

Very damp here also.

Also wet here this morning. The washing is out now though, but needs to come in before bed as it's going to rain overnight. Meeces, we do well drying stuff overnight, I'll take being shunned by MN! 🤣

I let DH do silicone. He's a builder, so has the requisite skills!

307

Eurgh I've woken up with a cough , everyone round me at work seems to have had a cough or has a cough.
Collectively they've handed it over to me (the turds)

DH isn't well , We were all going out today (pub meal) but we're going to delay it . I'm ploughing through laundry then I'll head off to Costco

Edited to add the Countdown

Morning.

Fluffy you can join me in being shunned by mn - me because I don't bake, like hot cross buns and wash clothes and towels after every wash 😂

Magnolia I'm afraid to say I call my dad for any repairs/work required around the house (he's a jack of all trades builder and is great at it).

Hope you feel better soon 70

I've had a fairly nice morning. Went to get a patch test ahead of some pampering I'm having next week (massage and getting my eyebrows and lashes done), then town for a hot chocolate and mooching around (including the craft shop), then home where I've thrown a wash on, tidied up a bit and am now sat re-watching West Wing and crocheting.

Will be waving bye to the peace soon by picking LO up.

Costco was mad-busy . probably due to half term , loads of young kids , most not happy . ....don;t blame them. Costco is not my idea of a fun day out . Last time we went there was early December .

Bought a pack of HCB from the bakery as we work our way through them.
Tesco ones are a bit doughy and not much flavour .
Costco ones are shiney glazed .
I didn't buy their mince pies ,though they are supposed to be really nice . Maybe on the list next year .

Evening!

It's rather breezy here. It was rather wet earlier as well. We seem to have a windy old forecast for the next few days.

We had Costco membership for a year a while ago. It's a pain to get there though (Liverpool docks), so we didn't bother renewing.

306

Costco Hot Cross Buns are delicious

Soft but chewey without being doughy . sticky , spicey , bit salty , not too much fruit . (I;m not a fan off too much sultanas/raisins . Actively dislike currants)
I'll need to freeze some .
I've already warned DD and DH if they like these best then I don;t see myself doing a Pre-Easter Costco Trip so enjoy these while we have them .
(They haven't tried them , they might not be impressed )

70 I'm trying to wait till April before I start on the hot cross buns but I'm going to take notes from your tastings - a bit like the good hot cross bun guide - so keep them coming!!

305

By next weekend we'll be in March and into the 200s . Eeek , it feels like February has run away with us .
Still got a few days left of it though, not wishing my life away
Did some garden tidy-up stuff yesterday though it's going to be a while till I think about going out there to sit . Too cold for that and the lawn is a swamp .

We too have a garden swamp! The dog is persistently muddy when he's been out there. 😩 Thankfully he prefers to go to the loo on his walks, so doesn't go out too much!

I was thinking about how fast February has gone, 70. Unlike Jan which lasted forever!

Once we dip into the 200s, time speeds up. As it does again at 100!

Bloody miserable here today. Wet and 40-50mph winds. From the sodding south again, so blowing straight at our house. It's rather breezy indoors thanks to the shite window vents!

I wish that was case for us. Our garden is well.. a work in progress currently so it's a mud pit.

I have a Labrador who hates water .. but he loves rolling in the mud.. and trying to clean him is a nightmare

Ours is also a Labrador! He is fond of doing wormies, which have to be discouraged when it's muddy! Sadly he's not arsed by water, so we have to go out in all weathers. 😩

Got to love them. Always had labs but he's certainly a character compared to my previous labs. He's only 9 months old. He's now worked out he can jump fences so I'm unable to lock him out of the muddiest part of the garden 😢

What colour is he? Ours is red.

He's 2 colours. He's fox red but with yellow angel wings as we call it.

I knew you were going to say red when you said he was a handful compared to previous labs! So many people say that in the Facebook group I'm in!

He's not as dark as yours.
There was some confusion at first as to whether he was red or yellow. 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣

Omg yes. My previous black lab. Only thing i could fault was she was highly reactive with other dogs. But that started soon as she was attacked by another dog on a walk.

My yellows were not so bad. But him no he has a character. My children named him Chase.. he does live up to it 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣