Here we go again...Countdown to Christmas 2026 (Thread 1)

[NoWordForFluffy]

365

Evening!

I'm a bit tipsy and very tired, but it's been a good day.

Round 2 tomorrow with the roast dinner!

I know with holidays DH would always book months in advance , sometimes got the low deposit as an incentive . He loves all the planning .
Others do a last minute , if they're flexible where they go there are bargains .

Our 2026 holiday has been booked for months probably in 2024 !

Good afternoon. I am wearing Santa socks, incidently.

popped up to the allotment to check it over and pulled a few carrots. Mil stole my allotment and as this could be her last year I’ll continue to let her. But! I want parsnips, potatoes, carrots, cabbage and sprouts for Christmas. I’ll work out what she wants to do and work around her. I also want to get a dwarf apple in.

I managed to find a pair of trousers that DD had been looking for , they were OOS online but found one pair her size instore . So she was happy .

I'm on Low Spend 2026 (my daughter isn't ) but I bought a pale blue top as it's nice and soft and I like this colour (Primark bargain)
And just some boring stuff like toothpaste /

Happy Rudolph Day I had an unintentional successful one as went to Dunelm to collect an order and stumbled on the perfect size red and white stripes Christmas table runner and a set or red coasters on the bargain shelf, £3 for the lot!
And after a busy day I'm spending a bit of time updating the Christmas planner so I remember I bought them and don't buy more in November/December.

Thank you for the patterns Woolly & Fluffy. I have yet to start as this weekend was busy and I've realised my yarn stash is in the airing cupboard which is in LOs room - I'd rather defuse a bomb than risk waking him!

Magnolia I don't have the patience for holiday planning. I would 100% end up over paying but feel it would be worth it for my sanity.
Instead DH does it all and due to being tied to school holidays it's all done in advance.
Pre-LO we did huge long haul road trips but since LO it's been caravan parks and 1 flight over new year.

This year we've got a few caravan trip booked, a trip at Easter, one for summer and a short weekend one mid Dec (but DH booked them all as soon as the dates came out his organisation freaks me out )
What sort of holiday are you looking for?

333

This is a nice number 70

Meeces we are looking for Europe nice sandy beach and walking distance to bars/restaurants, not too touristy but not too wild. Probably a villa as DD and DS too old to share a hotel room. I fancy Lefkada but nobody else does. Might just go on my own 😂

How is it always Monday????

@VillageFete I make a.menu for the week and then a shopping list from that so I always know what we are eating.
I was traumatized by a very disorganized mother when I was young. She could fill a trolley and still think she had nothing in.

@GrannyWeatherwaxsBroomstick I’ve settled on chicken Thai red curry for this evening. I feel like i’m lacking inspiration. There’s only so many times I can cook a chilli and a spag bol 🤣

I work on a three week menu plan @VillageFetewith a bit of structure - Sunday roast or BBQ/steak etc in the summer, one pasta dish, one curry, fish & chips on a Friday - fill in the blanks with other dishes. It makes shopping and meal planning a bit easier without having the same meal on the same night each week like when I was a child.

@VillageFete if you don't mind sharing I would love your curry recipe!

We do a sort of meal plan
Pasta on Monday
Roast vegetables and rice on Thursday
Roast on a Sunday
Chips and whatever on a Friday

The other days depends a lot on when I get home . DH will cook when he's WFH but he's a very basic cook.

I really CBA with Valentines Day , ( I know , I'm such a Romantic ) I'll do a Nice Meal but I wait it out till Easter for the next event I get excited by .
And there were a few -just a few- Easter things sneaking into the shops last weekend .
We have a Tradition, I buy DD a bag of Mini Eggs when I first see them ( the crunchy shell Cadburys ones not Creme Eggs) .

She says "It's January " but she scoffs them

It’s valentines and then dh birthday, he can pick one for me to be nice ok.

I have done a five course meal before for Jim and the kids. That was fab.

I’ve got two bags of n&s eggs in the cupboard; the Swiss ones and the pistachio ones. We will see how long they last!

we did gousto for years as it was easier but the quality dropped too much.

we do

sunday roast
monday wraps or leftovers
Tuesday curry / stir fry
Wednesday jacket potatoes
Thursday pasta
Friday freezer food
Saturday - treat (usually home cooked)

it’s not exciting but it is easy!

Pistachio mini eggs you say .......
I have to go to M&S on Friday .....

I also suddenly have to go to M&S... :)

Ooh thank you for the meal plan inspo - will definitely take it on board. Will make life simpler.

@ChopstickNovice It was delicious but I can’t take too much credit as I used a jar of paste… I chopped up some mini chicken fillets, some green beans and baby corn, pan fried it in olive oil and fresh garlic, added a jar of M&S red Thai curry paste, added a can of coconut milk, and let it simmer until the chicken and veg was cooked through. Served it with basmati rice. It was really tasty.

332

It was proper "Build An Ark" today on the roads ! Puddles with puddles underneath them
This week we are doing some major clearing up ( well DH is ) then at the weekend I'll waft about with my secateurs like Margot in "The Good Life"

Oh yes, definitely Margot moments needed here!

I am considering buying the Spode Christmas tree dinner service. I’m also considering making my own. It won’t have as nicer pattern, but I’m going try making some plates in the next few months. It will be my big project for the year. Six plates, side plates and bowls. Range of different serving bowls. I can look for some transfers for them but I could carve them or something..

@FurForksSake eCookshop usually have decent prices on Spode Christmas Tree and there's an extra 10% off according to the website.

https://www.ecookshop.co.uk/ecookshop/m/search.asp?q=spode+christmas+tree

I was going to suggest this website too.

Fur I have a mish mash of the Spode Christmas tree collection (3 serving bowls, gravy boat, mugs then 3 x dinner plates, side plates and bowls). It has been collected bit at a time over the last few years, mostly by my dm and given to me as presents. I’d def say go for it, it’s a lovely set.
Although you mentioning it did send me googling Christmas crockery and I found some nice Sophie Allport collections.

I think I’m finally starting to get a bit better. I gave in to the need to rest and yesterday I spent most of my day off led down. Bloody office day tomorrow though which is going to be a PITA with the awful weather.

Love the ornaments! So cute.

I'm glad you're on the mend, Meeces. I feel your pain re the office day. I was in yesterday, when it was wet and windy. Grim. Today is far more pleasant here.

I love Sophie Allport. Very spendy though! I have 3 items: bee curtains, bee duvet set and the Christmas dogs table runner. I'd have loads more if I won the lottery had the budget!

I saw my physio yesterday for the first time since my fall. Turns out I appear to have done extra damage to my shoulder. Marvellous. I'm going back to the ortho clinic to see my surgeon / have an ultrasound.

Sorry to hear you've got further shoulder damage Fluffy, hopefully it wont need surgery.

I collect the Spode Christmas Tree crockery, I have 4 place settings, the water jug, gravy jug, water goblets, mugs, dip n chip server, then a few trays and a big serving dish. I really love it but promised myself this year not to buy any more!! (She says as clicking on the above link!!)

No Countdown yesterday !

So........
28th ( Wed) was 331
And today is

330

Bloody hell. Well rescued, 70!