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!

For Rudolph day I'm going to dig out the list I made after last Christmas of what food and drinks we really enjoyed and what we won't bother with this year.

That way, if I see any good offers on non-perishables, or items with long dates, I will be ready to snap them up.

I love my greenhouse @GrannyWeatherwaxsBroomstick and took great pride in it being square as I'm sure you will too. And your mentioning a greenhouse reminds me that I must tighten up some of the bolts and fittings before autumn, so that's gone on my end of summer to do list.

Generic Aromatherapy Associates code with a few exceptions, 20% off which is better than the new customer discount.

If you hit try £100 mark after that there’s a lively free gift too.

Thank you for the birthday wishes for DS. He had his ideal day: Lego and Hickory's!

I've done nothing Christmassy today, other than discussing vodka flavours with DH (I'm going blackberrying tomorrow at some point). We will soon start looking at offers on decent joints of meat though, and then also stock up on non-perishables from about Sept.

Sounds like your greenhouse is coming kn nicely, @GrannyWeatherwaxsBroomstick. Bit of a labour of love though!

I picked our first ripe chilli today (I bought 2 plants at Dobbies which already had fruit on!). We have quite a few others coming along as well.

I've been picking a few tomatoes a day as well. Only plum ones (baby plum) for now. The chocolate coloured ones are still small green bullets! We have 3 (count 'em!) beefsteak ones growing. That plant was rubbish! 😩

I actually bought a few things for my daughter’s birthday/Christmas today. Rudolph day combining with pay day.

Had my monthly blood test and collected my medication, you can’t say I don’t know how to live.

152

I braved Bluewater ( what with the major roadworks going on I knew it'd be a 'mare ) and told DD we wouldn't be going back till they're finished ( which is meant to be end Sept but who knows )

M&S have their sales on which will then clear the way for their A/W range .....and Christmas

But not right now .

Once dds bday is out of the way in September I can start planning.
Two dds, like chalk and cheese, older dd relies on me getting her "naice" undies, toiletries and clothes as she won't buy them herself 🙄
Dd loves sparkle and bling and anything artistic ✨️
I've noticed the A/W stock in stores and online this past week <happy dance>

151

We went to see Oasis at Wembley on Friday (bloody brilliant), and I got shitfaced and totally forgot it was Rudolph Day! Maybe next month.

Can't believe how rubbish the weather has got now its school holidays. Although I much prefer this temperature.

I have ordered a couple of things for dds bday.
She doesn't want a party so I might just take her for afternoon tea/cake or a meal.
I usually start looking at the sales in August but dd isn't as into make up as she was (I've had sime great bargains from revolution and boohoo in August over the years!)

150

Morning!

I have physio today, so I'm working in the office as it's easier to get to / from the hospital from there.

Seems to be a cooler morning and we couldn't work out whether it was grey weather this morning, or that the mornings are a bit darker already (seems to creep up on us after the longest day)!

We had a busy-ish day yesterday. We were meeting a friend in a dog field at 11, so the dog needed a bit of a walk first thing, as he wouldn't last til 11 without going out. So DH and I took him out for a stroll (I picked some blackberries while we were out).

I did some cleaning in between dog things, and also some cleaning afterwards as well. And I put the blackberries in vodka to infuse!

Poor DH had the dishwasher pulled out on Sat as it keeps beeping to say there's an issue with the water level when it's draining. He emptied the hose of some gunk, which was a bit grim. Touch wood it's stopped for now, but we're going to run more 60° cycles to try to prevent muck build up. Eco cycles seem to be counterproductive!

Oh, @Magnoliasunrise, I saw a reel of Oasis at Wembley on Insta. Were you in the mad bouncing crowd near the front? It looked epic!

Fluffy; Do you use dishwasher cleaner? I run mine with it once a month.

Morning. It’s been a busy start to the summer holidays here so I’ve just caught up on a weeks worth of this thread.

My only festive activities have been looking for things to book and cracking on with my cross stitch card. I almost have the bottom half complete which is maybe 70% of the penguin so I’m happy with that.
I did notice a lot of autumn stuff on the shelves when I ventured into Dunelm and Matalan last week. Am considering becoming one of those people who have seasonal decorative touches like cushion covers and throws…

Fluffy I hope the dishwasher is ok. I’ll take that as my reminder to run a hot wash on mine (I wash the filters in hot soapy water, wipe the insides then put a cup with some white vinegar in and run a hot wash and that seems to do the trick).
I do similar with the washing machine and need to do that today too (soda crystals are added to the mix for that). Rock & roll living over here 😂

We’re having a concerted effort to crack the potty training over the summer so today we’re mostly at home getting housework done and having LO get in lots of practice pulling pants and shorts up and down.
Then we have a swimming lesson and I’m going out for tea with a friend who’s having a rough time. So nothing too strenuous but a busy day of jobs and potching.

I've bought my first Xmas gifts today 🎄
A book for dh and some aftershave that was half price 😁
I only buy for dh, dds and my dn.
Other dns get cash.
I've got cards left from last year and I don't send so many nowadays.
I do need some nice gift wrap...

@NoWordForFluffy
I do a cleaning wash on the DW an MW around the first if the month (hard water here) otherwise I'd forget .
Our Eco-Wash is 50c , Chef Wash is 70c , more for pots/pans things.
We had the pump and spinning arms replaced last year -temperamental little things aren't they

We do use a DW cleaner, yes. But maybe not a hot wash often enough to dissolve all grease in addition to doing that.

We've just started to use a Calgon liquid in the WM and it seems a bit happier as it had a bit of a tendency to get smelly despite regular hot washes and the door being left open to dry etc.

The trials and tribulations of domestic drudgery!

Good luck with potty training, Meeces. I don't miss those days!

149 i spent this morning potting herbs in my new greenhouse.
Also, we are on into the 140s. Exciting

You've all inspired me and I cleaned my DW this morning 😁
I've downloaded some autumn/winter podcasts in readiness for the cozy days 🍁🍂

Fluffy I wasn't bouncing near the front I was bouncing near the back and yes they definitely were epic.

I noticed the change in the days more in the evening. Its so annoying as I feel that it was only 2 minutes ago I was moaning about being too hot and now it feels like autumn. Can we just have a nice 24 degrees please.

I've also been inspired by the dishwasher washing and also the blackberry vodka!! YUM.

Tip for potty training Meeces buy tonnes of cheap underwear and stay home for a few days. They'll soon have it cracked. I remember going out with DS while potty training and him looking me straight in the eye saying "I do NOT need a wee" while actually weeing onto the car seat.

I hate potty training. Worst part of the parenting stuff so far.
When we're at home he gets it. Will happily use a potty or toilet with the little seat on.
The second we're a bit busy or not at home, it all goes out of the window 😩 We've had lots of "no wee" then having one a minute or so later. Also today’s best kick offs have been caused by me saying “pull your pants down/up” and LO being adamant that I need to do it. FFS.
I know they're learning and they can't help it but it's testing my patience so badly.

Nothing festive happening here. We've been home most of the day ploughing through house and garden jobs and yet my house still looks a mess and my dm has just left. There's a slightly stressed/pissed off atmosphere here so both DH and I are separately chilling out for a bit.

@whoo what podcasts have you downloaded please? I listen to the same few (none of which are seasonal or festive) but I need to try some new ones

@NoCheesesForUsMeeces
I've downloaded; calm at Christmas, the rest is history (festive editions) and dead of winter audiobook for a spooky/pagan view.
There's also nigel slaters Christmas chronicles.
Much solidarity on the potty training!
It took my 23 year old dd quite a while to "get it".
I vividly remember very early (5am?) one morning her doing her "I need a wee dance" and I asked "do you need a wee?"
She replied "no, I need a hammer" (!?)
Before I could ask what she needed a hammer for she wet herself all over my brand new bedroom carpet.
I burst into tears 🫣😁

148

@NoCheesesForUsMeeces I know it feels like he was born 4 seconds ago my baby 😭 DD is 4 in feb too, nothing makes you realise how quickly time passes like having babies - we would love another but finances aren't playing ball atm - im only 33 so plenty of time!

Potty training is HARD - i feel like it is the first thing you actually have to "teach" your kids, like they pick up walking and talking by themselves pretty much, potty training requires actual teaching if you know what I mean - that being said mine cracked it in about a week I think the only real advice i have is buy 1000 pairs of pants, stay at home and be consistent but it takes some children longer than others!

We just had a week in Dorset with my aunt and then I had a hen-do in Liverpool we saw the dreamboys (quite the experience) and (I had 7000 cocktails

Driving has absolutely been life changing so much freedom now!

picked up DS Christmas present Monday - a giant hotwheels set off freecycle too good to pass up - no idea where the bloody thing will live!

Just a quickie - my local big sainsburys had loads of lego sets on sale. Ranging from car type things age 6 to the botanicals age 18+. Quite good prices, think one was half price.

Notino have some good prices on perfume and aftershave

I bought some gift bags (satin) for DD presents so I can wrap as I buy things and hopefully stop her finding things . I keep them in my wardrobe , she's all *I'll just put these socks in your drawer , oooooh what's this "?

147

We've got biblical downpours this morning and I'm off to the gym shortly grrrrrr.........

Washing, ironing and packing for me today as we're off to France on Saturday, yipppeee.