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!

263

Morning!

It's chilly here today. We've just done the Titanic experience. It was dead busy and far too people-y for us to hang about reading everything. It was interesting though.

We're wandering back into the centre to catch the bus back to the airport. Yesterday evening was a bit lairy in the centre. Lots of drunk people due to the bank holiday today! Standard town / city centre really!

dh took the kids there last February half term, they were astonished how busy it was!

It was rammed, even first thing.

I got a Christmas bauble though!

I dropped out of this thread as life got manic! Just catching up now. Quite a few pages to read!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.

Good Friday was spent in Church, then for a nice meal and some drinks.

Easter Saturday was breakfast with the Easter bunny and prepping Easter lunch

Easter Sunday was Church - which is always packed to the rafters and a real celebration, then I hosted. Finished the night off watching the Vicar of Dibley Easter episode with a glass of Champagne.

We have loads of leftovers so i’m doing another dinner. Sent DP for a fresh joint of meat and some more Maris pipers. I shall also be indulging in a couple of glasses of rosé

@FurForksSake Oh I am sorry to read your news re - MIL. Sending you lots of love 🌹

I love Easter, feels like Christmas without the pressure. We decorate for Easter, and like Christmas I never want them to come down!

Regarding holidays - we’re going to the States in October. A tad worrying given the way the world is going. Will hopefully get a night or 2 away somewhere in the UK during the Summer.

Time is just flying now.

@VillageFete thank you, and welcome back!

Which bauble did you get Fluffy? We have a titanic and a random Belfast clover.

welcome back village. Where in the states are you going? I quite like doing a road trip over there as there’s no much to see. Fingers crossed things are stable-ish when you go!

We spent yesterday with my family and today with ILs. Weather has been lovely so we went to the park, have had tea and most of them are out for a walk before pudding. Me, SMIL and SIL are staying behind to have a cup of tea and moan about them get pudding ready.
Will 100% have a wine or rum or something tonight as it’s back to the real world (and work) tomorrow.

Meeces, we got one bauble labelled Christmas, another 'first class' bauble and then a wooden Titanic on a ribbon!

@NoCheesesForUsMeeces Boston as a base. I’ve been before and found it to be a much cleaner, safer seeming City than some of the others. We’ll go to Salem, and a couple of other towns, too.

I’d love to stay longer and do some proper exploring but it’s got to work around school for the kids, unfortunately!

262

<Palindrome klaxon!>

And good work, people. We've managed not to lose count yet! I do try to keep tabs on it.

I do like the idea of going to Boston, @VillageFete, but I'm not going to the US while Trump is president.

The weather has been lovely today. I'm off to Grimsby to see a friend tomorrow. I'm meeting her baby for the first time (born at 29 weeks weighing 2lbs last July). I'm very excited.

@NoWordForFluffy Understandable- he’s unhinged! Would be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned.

Son (Age 7) Has started with a horrible sickness bug. Oh please don’t let it spread around the house!

He had a bad case of Norovirus about a month ago, so I’m surprised he’s unwell again, although it’s doing the rounds in our area.

Love those baubles @NoWordForFluffy

We are in Switzerland so I will be on the hunt for some Christmas baubles.

261

Morning!

It's a lovely day here...and I'm spending much of it on the train to Grimsby and back! It's worth it to go and see my friend and her baby though. ☺️

@Magnoliasunrise, surely there's a proper Christmas shop in the mountains for you to explore? How's the snow levels? Are you getting good skiing?

@VillageFete, I hope your DS gets better soon.

Morning. Nice baubles Fluffy
i think our titanic one is a metal version of the boat but I can’t quite remember because I have too many
Enjoy your baby cuddles today!

Boston and Salem are on my list Village. I’d assume there you’d be mostly safe but with the orange gnome in charge you never know. Awful that he’s made it so unsafe as it’s such an interesting place to go.
We need to wait until LO is a fair bit older before we go back as it’s such a long flight but I do miss road trips, especially when you see things in real life that you thought only appeared on tv/in films.

Magnolia hope you’re having a great time! And yes, def get a bauble or 3

Im on my way to the office this morning but I’ve woken with a hay fever induced cracking headache. Will be coming home as early as I can get away with I think

Oh no, Meeces. I'm having to remember to take at least one antihistamine a day as my hayfever has properly kicked off now. Between that, my hormonal itching, and flaring dermatitis I should buy shares in Piriton! 😩🤣

Same here Fluffy. Skin is kicking right off as I used sun cream (Nivea sensitive kids one like always do) while we were away plus hayfever and just random itches everywhere. I got DH to check my hair for nits the other day as my head was itching so badly 😩

Am going to buy an air purifier for my side of bed in the hope that helps, and invest in better antihistamines as even though I’ve taken one I still look like im about to cry and my throat is scratchy 🙄

No christmas shops and no baubles. How very dare they. Lots of overpriced chocolate though.

The snow is great and weather gorgeous, ive actually burnt my nose!!!

It sounds like it is also very warm in the UK? Hence the hay-fever troubles I guess. Hope the itching stops soon. Does calamine work?

260

it was windier and chillier today, but some sunshine. I’m not ready for a super hot summer, it doesbt suit me, but this is quite nice.

259

Morning!

It was a bit too chilly yesterday. It definitely wasn't sitting on our balcony weather! I think we're heading for the same again today.

I need to clean the lounge carpet today, and finish off the cleaning I started yesterday. I'm not pushing myself too hard to get stuff done! Pootling, more like!

Into the 250s
We have grey but dry , nothing-ey sort of weather for today and the weekend . Not even a breeze
But not raining <hoorah>

Last weekend DD and I sat out in the patio area admiring the plants that are trying to grow , drinking coffee , eating cake and half of one of DS easter eggs (to save him from himself you understand) then the Female Cat joined us so all the Laydeez Togther like Macbeths 3 Witches .

258

We were in London yesterday , I said to DD we should come back here at Christmas for a nosey about . We do look for somewhere new to visit especially if they have nice lights Last year we went to Leadenhall Market with the snow fall (it's a snow machine in the central atrium) , we've been to Borough Market , Camden Market . Oxford Street/Carnaby Street/Regent Street are a must especially nice on an Open Top Bus Tour .

Plan to go to CoalDrop Yard in the next few weeks and see if it's worth a return visit .
And Dennis Severs House at Christmas , I have not got round to booking yet .

Morning. I’m sat watching LO do (their teeny tiny pretend version) sport. Cute but a bit boring.

Im waiting for the local Santa train tickets to be released in the next few months as that was lovely last year. DH is a bit of a Grinch about the cost of things like light trails etc but my work sponsor things each year so I’m hoping to get cheap/free tickets for something through that.
We do have a weekend trip to Loch Ness in December. Plan is to search for Nessie and enjoy the early darkness and Christmas lights around the place (it’s one of my absolute favourite places so again, as much for me and DH as it is for LO).

Randomly, I caught DH pricing up Disneyland Paris for various points in the year last night 😳 as we have a loose plan to go in the next few years while LO is still young enough to believe in the characters etc.

Im also already planning Lapland (probably not until 2028). I keep saying it’s for LO to experience some true Santa magic but really it’s just as much for me I think

Anyway, weather is cold and miserable here but fingers crossed it brightens up later. I don’t have any big plans really. Seeing ILs and ironing probably 🙄

Morning! Dh took five kids to London yesterday and ran into Phil tuffnell 🤣

I think I’d like to take them in over Christmas (not the extras, just our two). That would be a nice thing to plan. Maybe late November when it’ll be quieter?

Morning!

It was really wet overnight, and quite grey / cold when we got up. The sun is currently out for a while, but we do have some rain forecast briefly later. It's nice and breezy, so a load of washing is on the go.

I took the dog out earlier and I'll visit the parents once I'm showered / dressed. I've a few errands to do while I'm out as well. The good news for me is that as I did cleaning during this week, the weekend is a cleaning free zone! 🎉

I've never found London to be quiet once the Christmas lights are up, Fur! We attempted that a few years ago and it was really busy, despite being early in the season! I'm taking DS to London in May half term, his choice.

I have to say that I always find Christmas light trails underwhelming at best. I don't think they're good value for money, personally!

We took our DC to Kew Gardens Lighted Walk the first year it opened . The fact it pelted down with rain didn't help , but we didn't get to go into the big glasshouse , it was extremely underwhelming . I think it has improved year on year though .
I wouldn't bother with Hyde Park Winter Wonderland now .
I got an email about a Secret Garden ( Chelsea I think ) which could be nice .

The Lights are nice enough .

DH,DD and I went to Glasgow last year and spent a day in Edinburgh , their lights were gorgeous but we were there as tourists so looking for touristy things .

Leicester Square is heaving round Christmas .
OpenTop Tour Bus is a good way to see the sights without crowds ,