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!

It's a beautiful day here too. Spent this afternoon potting up chilli plants.
DH WFH and has spent every break outside

Glad things are worked out with your MIL Cheeses

I got into the garden at lunchtime. I don't have any other breaks to go out there, sadly. I sometimes treat myself to a wee! 🙈😂

I'm glad your MiL issue is resolved, Meeces.

It has been beautiful here too - I got a wash out before I went to work and it was so lovely to come back to it all nice and dry.( I'm easily pleased.)

280

Morning!

Slightly chillier than I'd realised this morning! 🥶 But it was sunny, so it was fine. 😁

It's meant to be really nice later on, so I'm pleased I ended up having to swap my day off on Monday to today!

I'll pop to see the parents later, then do some housework and pootle in the garden.

I accidentally let one of my little Christmas trees by the front door dry out too much. It's looking a wee bit poorly. Hopefully if I'm careful with it, it won't die on me. Weirdly, the other is fine, and they were almost next to each other. Odd!

We have 2 olive trees in pots by our front door and wierdly one does well and the other just about hangs on.

Which side is the clinging on for dear life one?!

Why do plants do that Fluffy? We have 2 bay trees, literally a meter apart in the back garden. They’re both surviving fine but one is a foot taller than the other (bought at the same time and same size)
Ive also tried to grow lavender in the front and back garden. Back should do better as it’s south facing but no, I’m on attempt number 3 there. Front garden - planted 2 teeny plants when we moved in 5 years ago and they have grown massively and flower beautifully every summer.

Ive planted my chilli seeds today and went out and chopped away at anything that looked like it needed pruning.
Will plant onions and possibly potatoes this weekend.
Am also going to chuck in some garlic but expecting that to fail as it’s wrong time of year.

I’ve also done work, housework and soft play today so while DH is out I’m treating myself to painting my nails while watching the most recent Louis Theroux documentary.
Currently waiting for my nails to dry and watching the tv like this

Feeling sad today, mil has moved to hospice so definitely won’t see another Christmas. I was hoping we could do a Christmas summer but there’s no time for anything and it makes me feel so sad. Lots of bits of my Christmas ritual involve her so this Christmas will definitely feel quite different.

279

@FurForksSake I am so sorry to hear that. It must be very difficult for you. I am sending hugs.

Thank you. I’ve got some red cabbage in the freezer from Christmas; I think we will eat it tomorrow.

im planting seeds and planning my allotment so I can have home grown veg for Christmas. That feels nice.

I’m so sorry Fur
We are a few days away from finding out how successful an op was to remove cancer from one of my parents and that’s stressful enough. I’m very very sorry for your DH.

We have evicted the first bee of the season from the conservatory and I had LO helping me in the garden. We’ve planted onions and garlic, chilli seeds and moved some daffodils I forgot I’d planted in some pots from where I found them into an empty pot at the front. Also cleaned and restocked the bird feeders - I think DH thoroughly enjoyed the break.

And now I’ve dug out the hot glue gun so I can make an Easter bonnet with LO as there’s no way we’ll have time in the week.

Hopefully this will all mean a tired LO and stress free bedtime but we’ll see…

I'm sorry to hear your news, @FurForksSake. I hope you've got a good support network around you.

We've been out for lunch today. I'm stuffed to the gills! 🐷

I was going to clean downstairs today, but I can't be bothered now. I'll do it all tomorrow now!

What I have done is given the lawn its first mow of the year, and tided generally in the garden. There's some re-seeding to do to get grass back on the muddy patches, but we're having some extra paving added soon, so don't need to fill all the bald spots!

Good luck with the bonnet making, Meeces!

278

Morning!

It looks like another nice day today. Though there's the threat of rain at 1, apparently.

We need to get going today. Lots to do which we failed to do on other days! 🙈

Gorgeous day here too. But I have nothing to hang out!!! 3 empty laundry baskets for the first time in months.

Going to do some gardening, have sacked off the gym and church.

Bought DH a bike off Ebay for his upcoming birthday and had to cycle it back through the streets of London yesterday. It was too big for me and was terrifying, especially as loads of people were spilling off pavements drinking pints that I had to steer round!! My hands are sore from gripping the handlebars 😂.

Took the children to say goodbye to mother in law, it was awful. I’m glad of the beautiful daffodils and bits of sunshine.

I’m considering getting a turkey for Easter, not sure if anywhere is selling them.

277
Checking in from the gp waiting room today as I’m having some bloods taken. Apparently they need to rule out thyroid and iron issues before they fob me off with ‘every issue is peri related.’

It’s clear but cold today. Would probably be good drying weather but I don’t have a washing line and me and DH can’t agree the best way to put one in the garden…

My plan for today is to do the appointment, have my haircut, pick up LO, have a chilled afternoon where he plays in the garden (he pulled out his garden toys yesterday so they’re still a novelty for now) while I try and tidy up as the house is carnage.
Then he has club, home for tea, DH will do bedtime while I put new weights and rope stuff in the blinds that we finally rehung yesterday (vertical blinds that we took down for the extension - realised once they were up that every weight and the rope stuff is broken so more should be arriving today).
fun stuff 🙄

Fur that sounds like a very hard day. I hope knowing everyone has been able to see her has given you some peace of mind.
I wish I could help with the turkey but I haven’t seen any on sale anywhere.

Very sad news FurFork even if you are expecting the news when it happens for real it still hits you with a bump.
I have no idea re turkeys either . I would be wondering how long a frozen one had been hanging about and if it was kept in optimal conditions. You could ask your local butcher for an XL chicken , not the same but it'll do the same job ?

I think one of the frozen food shops would be the most likely places for turkey, so Farmfoods or Iceland. Sainsbury's has thigh joints, but not full birds.

I have checked our local Iceland as they do sometimes have turkeys in stock but they haven’t today. (I placed an order earlier).

276

Morning!

Dire weather today...wet and windy. 😩 Always the way on an office day. Though I have physio first, so have to trek to / from Broadgreen.

Its gloomy here as well but I keep thinking the sun is going to peep through.

Good luck with the physio Fluffy!

Gloomy and windy here, too. Mil passed away last night. Lots of memories of christmases and looking at Christmas photos. It’s one of the guaranteed times people will take some photos. We need to take more photos.

Oh that is so sad to hear FurForksSake

Hopefully it was as peaceful as the Hospice could arrange ( they are very good at ensuring this at End of Life ) and you were able to say your goodbyes .

Christmas will feel very strange as it cannot be the same now .
We don't take photos at Christmas , I think though we should do .

The hospice was fabulous, and everyone that was able to and wanted to indeed got to spend time with her.

i used to take loads of pictures when the kids were tiny, but not so many now.

Really sad to hear this @FurForksSake . I am glad you managed to spend some time with her at the end, I am sure it meant a lot to her.