50 days to go and counting...time to get organised as the big man is on his way soon! Countdown to Christmas 2025, thread 3

[NoWordForFluffy]

50

Here we go...time to go go go all the way to the big day.

PSA: you need lots of batteries and sellotape, plus tin foil! #yourewelcome

🎄13🎄 Morning.

Fur a North Pole breakfast is stashed away on my list for when LO is older. It sounds lovely.

Well my plans yesterday were a bit derailed by having to pick LO up from nursery. He had 2 spots and they suspected chicken pox and wouldn’t have him back until he’d been checked by a pharmacist.
Spots have been there since he was ill a week ago and I’ve already had it confirmed as dermatitis but I still had to stop work for the afternoon to have him then pick work back up when he went to bed.
Pharmacist took one look, listened when I said we’d seen a dr a week ago, had cream etc, rolled her eyes and said it’s not anything contagious so he’s back in nursery today 🙄

On a positive festive note, DH did the Argos run and I spent a fairly happy (but late) hour wrapping some presents. Hasn’t made a dent in what’s left to wrap as these are all for LOs sports team but I feel like I’ve made a start.

DH also took pity on me and my stressed out state I think as he went in to the attic and got down the little white twiggy tree things we have and set them up so at least we have trees of some sort up now.

Today I’m doing a long work day (and using my lunch break to finish my mums cross stitch card) then I plan to get down the prelit slimline tree from the attic and find somewhere to plonk it. Will also bring down some presents to wrap while Im up there. I need to write some cards and do some more wrapping this evening.

Morning!

I also had a late one last night, watching Hijack! 3 episodes watched last night, and I'll carry on later.

I need to make my sodding cards and get some posted. I feel very behind!

Loads of Washing going on here
Cleaned the kitchen worktops which meant I had to move things around (actually physically lift them not just clean round them !)

Going up to London this evening so need to decide what I'm going to wear .
Tomorrow is doing decorations and some Cinnamon Buns

@ChristmasSparkles1 I miss having a cat, they're so mischievous!!

@NoCheesesForUsMeeces I was tempted to go into the loft this afternoon and get the tree and decorations down ready for Sunday but then quickly changed my mind. I hate going in the loft! I dont even know why I hate it, I just do! Glad your son hasnt got chicken pox, but so annoying that the nursery wouldn't listen to you and belive you when you first said.

@70isaLimitNotaTarget oooooo cinnamon buns! Delicious!! Do you top with cream cheese frosting?!

I went to a different Asda today and managed to get some bargain baubles, a winter bedding set id been hunting for but was out of stock in store and online and a xmas gnome for the in laws. I posted on the bargains thread as they had loads of xmas trees down to £6-£11. I'm gutted I didnt get an outdoor one, but trying to not buy stuff for the sake of it (even though it was a bargain at £11 reduced from £45).
Xmas cards all written and posted. Teacher presents nearly done, tried to finish today but home bargains had run out of the tins of biscuits I need so will pop back in over the weekend .

Seeing so many references to present piles - not on this thread.

An alternative, if you have a cat, is to wrap some open boxes. So the cat has some festive looking boxes under the tree it can sit in. Looks great and plenty of amusement.

If no cat I know someone who has elaborately wrapped boxes as part of their deco around the tree. Dark red velvet with big bows. It adds the wow factor without the crazy number of presents. My cats would probably wreck these.

I wrapped a few presents earlier and the cat was going nuts trying to get into one of the amazon packages and I realised it was the miaow catnip banana thing I bought him as his Xmas present so Ive had to shut it in a high up cupboard!!! At least he's going to love it.

Got family staying this weekend so I'm busy sorting towels, blow up beds, bedding, food, etc and I'm starting to think I might just run away and hide in my car for a bit.

We’ve had to pack away the cats present as she kept walking off with it. I assume it’s catnip based.

That's hilarious re your cat @FurForksSake

I'm glad I realised though - if I'd wrapped it and stuck under tree I reckon he might have ripped through a few trying to locate it. Him opening his present on Xmas morning is going to be very entertaining.

12

Brrrrrr. 🥶 Chilly out there. Doggo loves frozen ground though, so he's had a lovely time out there!

I turned my ankle while we were out. Ouchy. DH is going to drive us to the hairdresser now as I'm not sure I could do a hard brake. Hopefully it eases up as the day goes on.

Oh no! Hope it does ease up. DH has gone to the dump, Ocado are coming and then light trail this afternoon / evening before home for steak baguettes.

We went to see "Christmas Carol Goes Wrong" , very busy in London but strangely , not many Christmas lights ( though DH said the theatres were all lit up but that's their lights , not Christmas lights )

It's very funny , a couple of cast changes and they tweaked the story from the TV show of ACCGW

Not a hint of frost here , I've had a couple of scrape the windscreen mornings but otherwise clear . Hopefully we won't have , it causes mayhem <old codger alert>

oooooo cinnamon buns! Delicious!! Do you top with cream cheese frosting?!

No cream cheese , just a glace icing with lemon juice and vanilla drizzled on, I made one tray to go in the freezer ( before the 2nd rise) so I;ll see how they go.
Other lot were baked, iced , pretty much demolished but a couple of them have made it to an air tight tub for tomorrow .

I use Paul Hollywoods recipe

11

Dear god, it's wet out there. The forecast shows rain every hour until 11pm tomorrow night!

I went to Tesco to get cream and biscuits for the cheesecake I'm making shortly after going out with DH to walk the dog. The ankle is OK to walk on, but swollen and sore to touch over the bone.

I shall be productive once I've had a cup of tea and helped DS with his maths homework!

Sorry to hear you've got a sore ankle Fluffy.

Glad ACCGW was good 70. We've got it on the 27th.

BIL, SIL, and their respective broods just left so I'm feeling a bit post Christmas blues already. FIL staying tonight and taking us out to eat shortly to say thanks for hosting so that'll be nice.

So much planning/looking forward to and things are over in a flash 😕

We went up That Larndarn for a ponce about -
Early start to get to the station, Covent Garden, Leadenhall Market (they do a fall of snow -artificial but it's pretty- in the atrium), Borough Market , Millenium Bridge .
Over 10.000 steps , it was cold but dry , and very festive .
I am knackered now

10
Hope your ankle is feeling better today @NoWordForFluffy
Today I need to go shopping so I can make DS favorite breakfast. It's a sweet and salty bacon french toast on Hawaiian rolls

What’s a Hawaiian roll? Intrigued!

I have occupational health review, hydro and physio today. I’m also going in to Aldi to pick up something for the cubs Christmas party which I found out about yesterday. As my husband is the group lead volunteer for the whole scout group that’s a bit embarrassing 😳 He spent yesterday afternoon making a sparkly limbo poll for beavers. Of course

I'm also intrigued by the Hawaiian roll!

Just been into town to collect an order and thought I'd have a smell of aftershaves for DH then order online cheaper. Anyway, thought to myself stop dilly dallying and just buy from Boots as they had 20% off. I'm absolutely kicking myself as I bought a bottle of aftershave, there was a set next to it but the sales person just picked up the bottle. Anyway, turns out the set is only £6 more when ive looked online, wish I'd got that! She even pointed at the set when she was showing me them but it had no price on the shelving and she didnt tell me the price.
No point me taking it back and swapping as I will lose £16 worth of points i earned scanning my advantage card.
Sorry to moan, just frustrating as the aftershave was over £100 so the extra £5 for a shower gel and a travel bottle of the aftershave would have been much better value.

Then, got home and pyjamas for DH are wrong, completely different item has been sent to me so ive now got the faff of returning those and choosing something else as they are now out of stock 🤦‍♀️

I need some gifting positivity!!

Hawaiian rolls are slightly sweet soft bread rolls that I get from Costco in a pack of 12.

Cats I’m just back from returning DHs Christmas PJs to Morrisons. Luckily I bought him 2 sizes as wasn’t sure if their men’s clothes come up big/small - when he tried them on over the weekend he had a panic because the top of the Large size was like a tight vest - turns out the trousers were a large but the top was a Small even though they were packaged up together

It is wet and miserable out there today. It was hammering down when LO woke me at 5:45 and it hasn’t stopped at all.

It’s my ‘day off’ so I went in to town early, went to the bank, picked up a c&c from Dunelm, presents for DH from HMV and a random pair of slippers for my auntie. Then picked up LO, did Morrisons return, lunch in their cafe and a little wander around so LO could pick up some presents for DH (he did well - Ferraros, a smellies set DH will like, a random Christmas pair of socks and a Grinch tree decoration).

Now home cuddled up in front of one of the Mickey Mouse Christmas films with festive lights on. We’ve wrapped DHs presents already and now we’re so cosy I’m trying hard not to let us both drift off for a nap 😂

In my defence, our weekend was busy. We made a day of watching a film with a live orchestra which was great - their warm up and finishing 3 songs were Christmas carols that we were all invited to sing along to.
We also did an early family Christmas which was lovely but total chaos with kids from 4 months up to 16 and too many adults. Dinner was done in 3 sittings due to space

Tomorrow we're into single figures

This weekend

Need to finish off some of the decorations , mainly stick up on glass things .
I made flapjacks yesterday which are delicious .
Saturday will be a last minute look round (mainly FOMO )

Then finalise the Sainsbury shopping delivery '
Marzipan and ice the cake -
Last minute tidy and wash the bedding -probably Sunday as we have half price electricity .

9 🎄😱🎄😱🎄😱

Single figures, people!

I have finally got my act together and my very few cards are posted.

I'm in the office today, so might go and do some Christmas twitching mooching at lunch time. Then I'm going to a carol service tonight for school as DD is in the choir.

I don't yet feel Christmassy. Maybe once I've finished work and the house is sorted for guests I'll get there!

@NoCheesesForUsMeeces oh how annoying, but good job you checked! Love an afternoon nap as well, especially when its miserable and rainy out!
Christmas dinner with family sounds nice, good way of stretching out xmas as well. It makes me feel a bit sad that Christmas is just one day, I try stretch it out if I can. I think its all the prep, stress and anxiety that goes into it.

@70isaLimitNotaTarget i havent bothered with my glass sticker things this year. Bought them last year and didnt really like them so havent bothered this time, ive put up more lights instead! Love flapjacks, havent made any for ages! Might do some over xmas actually with son.

@NoWordForFluffy choir sounds gorgeous, although i'd cry as i find things like that so emotional! I knownwhat you mean about not feeling christmassy, i feel the same. I think because weve got birthdays in the family first. I've been watching that Sara Davies craft programme on itv catch up though which has helped with festive spirirt!

I got the majority of my christmas wrapping done yesterday watching a cheesy film. Only a couple bits to wrap today and I'm finished.

Need to walk up to the post office to post back the wrong order i received yesterday but I shall nip to Asda and buy foil and baking paper whilst I'm that way as I forgot it yesterday! Might also buy the chocolate and biscuit treats for our stockings today

Work tomorrow and Thursday i have an appointment with son. Then I should have a c&c order ready so will get that on way home then make my hidden veg cheese sauce! I make a batch of it and freeze as son loves it as macaroni cheese but also the only way he will eat cauliflower cheese! I'll save some for the xmas dinner as well.

Have a lovely day all! Much better weather today for everyone hopefully!

@ILoveCatsAndKittens

This recipe the legendary Soup Dragon Flapjacks

I do double ( so use a whole tin ) I don't add anything but the world is your oyster here.

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SoupDragon · 09/09/2023 19:59
250g porridge oats (the cheap type, not large ones),
150g Butter,
2 generous tablespoons (75g) Golden Syrup
half a tin condensed milk
baking tin, no bigger than about 18cm x 28cm
Method:
Preheat the oven to 160 degrees c
Line the baking tin with baking parchment.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat and add the syrup. Keep gently heating and stirring until all is melted and mixed.
Add the condensed milk and mix. Bring to the boil for about a minute. If I'm honest, I just bung the milk in at step 3.
Remove from the heat and gradually add the oats, folding them in. All the oats should be coated, and the mixture quite dense, but still sticky. Don't add so many oats that the mixture becomes dry.
Pour the mixture into the tins and spread about so that it lines the tin to a depth of 2-3cm. Don't squash the mixture in, just spread it evenly.
Bake in the oven for about 15mins. You should take them out when they just start to go brown round the edges, don't leave longer than this. If they're still squidgy in the middle that's fine, they set on cooling

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And
Single Figures