4.30pm Christmas Eve, how’s it going so far 🫠

[Kickinthenostalgia]

Went to work this morning, 12.30 came home, sorted Yorkshire mix out, quickly ate something, took the dog for a walk, tidied the kitchen after dd13 kindly sorted all the veg. Bless them dd & ds17 put the gammon on as my mum had to pop out unexpectedly. Bloody thing took ages to boil finally in the oven. Finished the yorkies. Mix made 27 4 accidently fell into various mouths hoovered until the battery died half way. Arranged the presents under the tree nicely so they weren’t all just in bag for life. About to order my mammoth Chinese. Picking it up then coming home and doing absolutely nothing until I go to bed 😂
how’s your Christmas Eve going 😂😂

I still have lots to do. Dd2 has the flu and has set up camp on the sofa (watching Christmas stuff on tv). I cooked my Turkey crown this morning so we can have sandwiches tonight, we have beef for Christmas dinner. I haven’t peeled any veg or potatoes and haven’t done the house work (just need to Hoover and mop floors).

Up at 6.30am, in the gym by 7. Popped to Tesco afterwards for toothbrush heads and toilet roll. Showered, then out again for Slimming World weigh in. Home, changed and bus into town for a wander. Back home and made a hotpot for dinner, currently in oven. Nothing to prep for tomorrow as been invited round and been told I don't need to bring anything. Once I've had dinner I think it'll be time for pyjamas, yule log and TV!

Had a lovely slow morning with a couple of coffees. Popped to supermarket got last minute bits with DD. Did some wrapping while DH took kids out. About to have wine and pizza and watch Christmas movies after just a little tidy round the dining room. Merry Christmas OP.

Feels like it should be later than half 4 😂

I’m a widow on my own so it’s just another day.

I think I’m fighting off a bug as I’m EXHAUSTED. Trying to be present for DS but dearly wish I could go to bed now.

Watching spongebob with DD. In bed. Heading to central London for hand pulled noodles in 45 mins.

Had a mild (major) panic this morning that 26 hours in the fridge wouldn't be enough time to defrost the turkey crown...it's only 2.1 kilos but felt like a solid brick coming out if the freezer.
It's been sitting on the worktop in a cold kitchen all day to speed it up, and I'll pop it into the fridge in an hour or so to finish off overnight.
Prepped veg, written a list that keeps getting added to for tomorrow morning, but now I'm shattered and chilling under a cat.

Woke late.. today after pain insomnia last night.. so ready until 3am.
Had my shower and into clean new pj's.. made a cheese n ham toastie and fed the cat.
Whatsapped both daughters and sister n eldest Grandkids..
No cleaning to do.
Taken 5 big bags of presents down stairs
. Ready to take to daughters tomorrow.. where l will spend the day.. boxing day with other daughter .
Watched Sister act then the Snowman.
Deciding on my tea.. do l have egg n chips or a takeaway?
Will decide later.

I’m all done for a change!

Just going to meet my friend for a drink at our local pub before home for a Chinese and Christmas films!

Merry Christmas all x

Everything going really nicely until the oven decided to stop work at around noon. Shit. Have come up with an alternative plan for food on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Determined not to be stressed! Thank goodness it’s only nuclear family tomorrow so not hosting hordes of people! On the up side I’ve wrapped all the presents !

I made some colognes sauce for Boxing day lasagne, husband has made tonight's dinner and prepped for tomorrow's breakfast and dinner

Family watching Christmas films in the living room whilst I make a roast ham Christmas Eve dinner (to be made into a pie on Boxing Day). Slightly shattered after a lot of work the last few days but pretty prepared for tomorrow (I think / hope)

I tidied the bedrooms and sorted the presents that were up there, then put all the washing away. I then tidied the kitchen, made 25 Yorkshire puddings, a trifle and a salad for the fridge for tea tomorrow.

DH does normally pull his weight, but her went with BIL to register their DM’s death so he gets a pass today. Though he has hoovered and mopped the house this afternoon.

Tea is in the airfryer (freezer fish and chips), out to mass shortly, then chilling or trying to u til the kids go to sleep and we can get the presents out.

Busy morning with visits from neighbours, a last minute pharmacy run, a dentist appointment and a second attempt at making some white chocolate and raspberry desserts.

Now I'm putting my feet up. Just had a nice bath with a face mask, now having a glass of wine, watching a very cheerful crime documentary and doing my Christmas nails.

I'm watching Calamity Jane and waiting for the turkey to finish cooking. 15 minutes to go. The rest of the family are out at the moment, so it is nice and quiet. I've even had time to get the Nativity set out and put it on the hearth.

We’re at SIL’s for lunch and presents as their nationality celebrate today. They’ve bought toddler DS the exact same ‘main present’ as we have, but obviously given it to him first. I’m gutted that we don’t get to build it and surprise him with it all ready under the tree tomorrow, and I’m furious that they’d buy such a substantial gift for someone else’s kid without checking (it’s a big thing, think play kitchen / doll house kind of level). And obviously we no longer have a ‘main gift’ for him for us. Nowhere else I can rant really but I’ve been trying not to cry for the past 2 hours and can’t wait to get out of here.

Last few presents wrapped & sorted into various family groups.
Forgot to take the unsalted butter out of the fridge this morning so have been unable to make buttercream icing for the toffee cupcakes yet - that'll be done later.
Waiting for partner's Dad to come round - he was meant to be here at 4:30 so we'll see what time he actually arrives. He's awful for being late!

I’ve been awake since 5:45 so I’m tired! Not deliberately, I needed to be awake at 6:30 and my brain seemed to have some sort of internal alarm going on.

Food prep all done, gravy in the slow cooker. Drinks chilling outside as it’s as cold as a fridge out there and I have no space in the actual fridge! House is nearly all clean and guest ready. No overnights, luckily but am hosting family tomorrow. We’ll have ten adults and three children from 12:00.

I’m finally sitting down having a break and have sent DH (who has been helping but is now annoying me trying to start random jobs that do not actually need doing!) to make festive biscuit kits with the children.

I’m hiding upstairs with a ln icy glass of wine, considering running a bath and getting in!

More to do later but can’t do any of the Father Christmas stuff until the children are asleep!

We are driving two hours home after a day of visiting family.

Once we get back, we will do the various Santa bits (NORAD, stockings up, leaving food out) and attempt to get kids to bed. DH has a Gabby’s Dollhouse to construct and we need to get all the presents from their secret hiding place (under a sheet at the top of our wardrobes) and put them under tree. Then bed with a book and try to get some sleep before the inevitable early wake-up.

It’s just the four of us so not bothering with any food prep tonight, will deal with that tomorrow!

Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

Worked until nearly 3pm, came home and went for a walk. Gym closed at 4 which didn’t give me enough time to get there from work and do my workout!

Had to prep my meals for tomorrow too because I’m working a long day tomorrow. Now chilling on the sofa, will have some wine and watch muppets Christmas Carol this evening.

Not feeling festive at all really, just be relieved when it’s over and everyone goes back to normal! 😩

My condolences

Been to church and the pub this afternoon to get in the spirit! The elves delivered an Xmas eve box of new PJs while we were out.
Kids are building a gingerbread house right now :) Gammon, red cabbage and jacket potatoes in the oven for dinner tonight. Mince pies are cooling on the side.

Washing, ironing, hoovering. Quick yellow label shop. DS1 still in bed with hangover, DS2 at work (takeaway, busiest night of the year usually). DH has just gone out for pizza and I’m sat MN with a Diet Coke and watching Carols from Kings feeling melancholy.

Drinking fizz and watching Carols from Kings