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 to take the rest of my cake up to my Parents house ( if they spent Christmas with me then they took some home ) they did like fruitcake , though my Dad couldn't be doing with marzipan or icing .

If it is wrapped up well , it'll keep for ages .

I'd remove the marzipan and icing ( and eat this myself) then feed a bit more with whatever alcohol you used , wrap in greaseproof paper and foil .

Evening! I'm in my usual 'it's a new year so sort the house out and plan to be more organised and together' mode 🙄
Today I had a sort out of the airing cupboard and the random cupboard next to it that housed my crafty stuff and DHs outdoor stuff. We have some room in there now (and a few empty storage boxes )

I did half the pamper session yesterday (face mask, hair mask etc) but abandoned the idea of painting my nails. I was so tired I ran out of steam.

We went to Sainsbury's yesterday and found some Christmas cards for 50p - but I'd forgotten that I also bought some in town a day or so before so now I have enough for a year or 3.
And as part of my sorting stuff out I've realised I have enough wrapping paper for the next 5 years

That is my only contribution to Christmas 2025 but I do have an undated diary with a couple of Christmas notes pages running in the back which I'll update at some point, and an 'everything' notebook that lives next to my side of the sofa that will also have a few Christmas pages in the next few months I imagine. Not a very modern or streamlined approach but it works for me!

I have started doing this in a Christmas notebook I have. I did it after last year and it was good to have prompts for this year.

Good ideas for even just searching something to do for Christmas each month.

I've finally watched the documentary of the Making Of Do They Know It's Christmas. I really enjoyed it.

It was a really nice tribute to George (Yog as Andrew called him) and so nice that they were friends from school .

DD and I were amazed at the fashion from 1984 , thise long wool coats would've got soaked and weighed a ton.

You can see why puffer coats are the savvy choice .

(I wore my Superdry long coat on our Christmas Market trip , I had to keep zipping it up and pulling the 2 way zip open from the bottom otherwise the zip bit kept whacking the back of my leg when I walked .
I am supremely unstylish but I saw loads of people in the same coat .
<preen>

I got a christmas journal this year. I'm not sure if I will use it as I keep notes on my phone.
I've made a good start to Christmas 2025
I have a lot of nieces and nephews. Most of them I give money €20 or €50 if its a godchild. I buy money wallets and put money into them I only have 2 left to put money in. The younger ones I buy toys for 3 in total.

My dd I have got some bits for her
Cuddle cushion on sale €13 and matching fleece bedding €7.15
A light up sign with her name
Axolotl suprise toysx2
Axolotl soomthzee it was on sale
Wreck this journal
We our thinking of getting dd her first phone for christmas I will put money away for that.
I've already started to put money away for christmas I have €300 saved so far.

My ds I have
A new Oodie
Bluetooth shower radio
Keyboard and earbud cleaning kit got the idea from one of the christmas threads
A funny toilet timer (he lives in the bathroom)
I have a list of ideas I will get closer to the time
Power bank
Go Cube Edge an idea I got off one of the threads here.
Driving experience
Steam gift card for his PC
Beats studio earbuds or air pods he loves listening to music but only has cheap ones. If anyone has any recommendations I would be greatful for the help. Thanks

355

Operation De-decorate is on today, and if the snow does arrive, DD and DDog will no doubt want to go crazy in the garden.

Currently building up enthusiasm to get going...might just have another cuppa.

Hope you all have a good day 😊

@70isaLimitNotaTarget The bit with George was my favourite. Such a lovely man. I loved the bit when he was singing a short sample of his new single Last Christmas and said Do They Know It's Christmas was so catchy he was worried it would beat him to number 1 🎅 was just good to see how they recorded it and how George Michael and Boy George suggested changes and did their own style.

Yes to the fashion. Noticed the smoking in the recording room and then seeing all the children there as well.

Hello all, not been on here before but caught this thread as it popped up on Active.
We had a lovely quiet Christmas in the context of a stressful year. It was a little oasis of calm and happiness where I was so excited for everyone to open their gifts, which were really successful.

My DM has had a horrible journey with Dementia this year and the week before Christmas she was admitted to a Nursing Home. It's a beautiful place and her Christmas Day was busy and fun, but we were all trying to balance how to make her transition easier with our desires to see her.
Still, I got a haul in the Boots sale but discounts were poor this year I thought ! I just get smellies for additional openers/ bulkers. They were still 50%😁
Now don't slate me - but a real success for the two In Law families, was a Secret Santa App . Both wider families wanted adult SSanta for financial reasons and this thing organised everything. Absolutely stress free .

I definitely do too much for my girls - Christmas Eve Box , Stockings and gifts . They are 21 and 25,😳but they love them . Each year I resolve to cut back ...but 😳🥱🤣🤣

Did the tree yesterday - the house looks so bare!!

I've made myself a "New Year" table though - some fresh flowers, a scented candle, some photos in frames and some fairy lights around the edge. Its taken the edge off my post christmas blues. I'm also going to plant a hyancinth bulb and put that on it.

I was also disappointed with the sales - the Boots one often has 70% off but I had to make do with 50% 😂. I got 6 tartan crackers in Sainsbos for £1.80 and I will replace the green ribbon with a gold one also some nutracker christmas cards for 30p.

Afternoon!

I'm in recovery from my 2 days back at work (logged 10.5 chargeable hours yesterday!).

I got up late and ran with the dog. Then by the time I got showered and DH had been to collect emergency purchase wellies from Shoezone for the kids, there isn't going to be time to take trees down today, as we're off to a dog field at 3. Tomorrow it has to happen!

I'm dreading the lack of twinkly lights once they're gone.

It's so bare without the tree 🎄😔

DD found a present under the tree...hidden under the tree skirt, (only something little from us that we didn't notice on Christmas Day) she's thrilled and thinks it's a "taking the tree down present" that Santa hidden on purpose.

Definitely not going to make it a thing next year 😁

Our tree and decs are now all down. I hate it 😕

Every year I say get twinkly lights for December and leave the up January but I always forget. Do you get battery ones or plug in?

Our decorations won't be done till Monday.. the very idea of doing it when youngest is at home is very off putting.. she's of to school then they are coming down.

Had a lovely Christmas and particularly enjoyed Twixmas this year. Felt a bit blue since new year that it's all over again for another year so joining the thread to help that!

I am going to try and live a bit more slowly this year and something I would like to try is making chutney and pickles for Christmas, will try some recipes in January if I can find some time!

Edit - Major Tone Lowering Alert

Eurgh , I woke up at 5am with that horrible queasy feeling in my guts , went back to sleep ( Ignore it , keep my head up a bit on the pillow , should be ok ) .
Nope , I had to run to the bathroom to be puking into the bathroom bin ( solid plastic ) while sat on the loo .

DH brought me water , I brushed my teeth and slept .
Feel ok today , I'm going to drink plenty of fluid , but eat very little .

< Smallest Violin >

I think you already have! #christmasparentingfail

Oh no, 70. I hope you feel better soon.

Yes , feel fine now thank you Fluffy

It was one of those things I think . We had some nachos yesterday so not too high fat but my insides might've said "No " to the spice ?

@Magnoliasunrise I too have been disappointed with the sales! Popped into Boots today and wasn't that impressed. I've just posted on the bargains thread about it. Since when was a roll of Boots wrapping paper £5?! I couldn't believe how expensive it was!! But then again, I usually stock up in January when I can get it very cheap.

Asda had a few crafty bits very cheap I've bought and put away, son isn't massively into crafts but thought the elf could bring them and he may do them then!

Oh no, @70isaLimitNotaTarget hope you're on the mend? Plenty of water and rest is very much needed!

@MrsDilligaf loving the under the tree present 😂
We took everything down a couple of days ago. I said to DH "I usually end up forgetting to tidy something away but I think I've actually cracked it this year!" Well, I forgot the outside decorations I've done this year! 🤦‍♀️I'll put those in the shed later today then in the loft when I next go up there. Sorted the loft earlier on this year, did a big clear out and put everything into big plastic boxes with labels on. It's so much easier now! Finding the Xmas Dec's was so easy this year!

I use to be a big fan of boots paper but found it awful to cut.
I had some from Waterstones and it was amazing. Granted £2.50 a roll on sale but I preferred the quality of it this year.

I can highly recommend the Costco Wrapping paper, I'm sure one of you recommended it to me years ago when DD was a baby...

I bought a roll for her first Christmas, she's 9 and it's just about run out, so I bought a second roll just before Christmas - same pattern as before so she may still have the same paper when she's 18 😁.

The Costco paper is really good ( I don't know what it's like now as I haven't bought it for ages )
They did huge rolls of double sided so if you had 2 DC then 2 patterns .
I used to buy the pack of 4 rolls , they were designed so 2 went together and the other 2 went together ( if that makes sense ) so I could you them for DS and DD and it looked nice and co-ordinated ,
Thick paper and grid pattern on the back.

This year I bought some from Sainsbury , a brown paper with gingerbread men, for DD . I learned not to buy from Amazon when I bought her a coat but had no paper and had to panic buy some . It was dire .
Her Dec1st presents were in Christmas Cat paper .
DD likes her presents wrapped and the Dec 1st ones in a box ( TKMaxx are excellent for this ) .
DS just has his in his gift bag (same one every year ) and money in his bank .

The nicest papers I bought was M&S years ago it was navy blue with a snowy scene and a white mountain hare .
And one many years ago that was black with bronze/gold trees .

I don;t need loads of paper now , no Big Box Presents like when they were little ,
Though DD managed to persuade me to buy her training shoes ( I have a Blue Light discount ) they were out of the box and on her feet as soon as we got home !

She;ll probably have that paper when she;s 30 @MrsDilligaf their presents get tinier and fewer but much more ££

(Except DS got a big TV for his 18th/Christmas and an electric guitar+amp for his 21st /Christmas . I didn't wrap them !)

354

Morning!

Think we may have had a tiny amount of snow in the night (London) but looks like it pretty much melted. DH was like a child yesterday gazing out of window saying when is it coming?

Got friends over for lunch today then back to work tomorrow 😕No more eating mince pies and Cadburys heroes at rogue times of day.

DD said she wants to go to Costco but we aren't members anymore so maybe that will be a 2025 thing to join and then look forward to a big Christmas trip. We were members years ago which is where we got our light up reindeer and sleigh that spends December in the hall.

Going to look at Summer holidays today to cheer myself up.

Morning!

We have snow. Not a huge amount, but some. Rain is forecast later this morning though, so it's not meant to last.

Really do need to take the trees down today. Don't really want to though!