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!

@NoCheesesForUsMeeces looks sensational!

Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring the mood down - just a bad moment, I love Christmas really!

@Gardenalia hope youre ok??

@NoCheesesForUsMeeces those photos are stunning! Where are you?

I made the condensed milk flapjacks today........oh my goodness they're good! I added some chocolate chips to them and they are so moreish! I did weigh myself this morning though and I need to lose 8kg so these flapjacks are going to have to be a treat and not become a regular bake!! 🙈

Had some blood results back and my cholesterol seems to be getting higher and higher with every test I have. Thyroid still borderline so got to have another blood test in 3 months. Its been like this for a while now, underactive thyroid runs in the family so I dont know why I cant just be started on tablets anyway as its always 'borderline'.

Anyway! Back to christmas! Walked to Asda before and everything xmas has well and truly gone! I was awake early hours this morning though and managed to buy some sparkly trousers from the George sale online ready for next xmas/new year. They were only £4! We are abroad next year so I fancy a little sparkle for xmas day and new years eve.

I understand the January blues, im feeling its hit me as well whereas it doesn't usually.

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I suffer hugely from post Christmas blues. When I went to bed on Christmas Day night, I had a little cry as my favourite day of the year was over for another year. It's also linked with the DC getting older and the realisation that there might not be many more left like this.

I also have a Stranger Things hole in my life 🙃.

HOWEVER, - things to be thankful for - l love January frosty mornings, I've planted some hyacinths and scilla in little vases and pots on my "New Year" hall table with fairy lights, so I'm keeping my eye on new growth there, the bulbs are starting to grow in the garden, I'm loving the chilly walks, getting cozy under a blanket, with cozy furry socks on and lighting some nice candles, its quite a relief to have the house back to normal order and properly vacuumed. Doing some new classes at the gym and looking at new smoothie recipes.

And I got 3 boxes of Christmas crackers in the sale ready for my new Christmas cupboard 😊.

@NoCheesesForUsMeeces and @70isaLimitNotaTarget do you have any Christmas journal recommendations please? I have a 5 year Christmas Diary but it started in 2022 so it's nearly finished and lots of sections I don't use.

@ilovecatsandkittens love that you got sparkly trousers!!

Morning!

It's just started to snow here. Which means that somebody, somewhere, has got really snowy weather, as we only get snow when it's terrible elsewhere (NW coast for those who don't know my location). It's really heavy too!

I'm trying to work out what we are going to do for Christmas this year. I feel like I need to change it a bit as it's tiring having everyone for two days.

@Magnoliasunrise

I bought a pleather bound Fake Filo-o-Fax *Amazon) and do my lists

I've just removed all the 2025 ones to start afresh , still got loads of pages left , and I can get refills . I am far too ancient to do lists on my phone

I've decided to keep my wreath and buy a jaunty ribbon to hide the bit where the lights are dodgy - it's a battery op outdoor one
And I've used my Snowman loo roll so I'll need to search out another bargain

Lidl had snowman loo roll in just before Christmas.

Enjoy the snow @NoWordForFluffy

It's almost gone now, thank god. Sunshine doing its thing!

We still have 4 packs of the Snowman loo roll left. 3 years for a tenner is great going!

I vaguely remember the snowman loo roll, it was on a good deal wasnt it??

@ChopstickNovice oh they're going back sadly :( very obviously been worn over xmas/new year and returned. Sequins are all coming off between the thighs, they smell strongly and the trousers bottoms are dirty where theyve dragged along the floor. Never mind! I will keep an eye out for something else!

What a shame!!

I can report that the Cinnamon Buns I made and froze a couple of weeks back were delicious . I was dubious but wanted to try .
After the first rise , I did the rolled out flatten , butter/sugar/cinnamon mix then roll up in a spiral and slice up bit .
Half the rolls into a parchment lined tin and frozen then wrapped them in more parchment a foil . ( Ate the other half)

Yesterday I tool the frozen batch and let them defrost in the tin (lined) and have their 2nd rise . Kitchen was cold so put in the Futility Room where it was warmer .
They were really nice , rose well , puffy and pillowey .

I have many decluttering tasks this weekend . DD will be at work so I'll do the Traditional Greggs Croissant visit and see what else I can fit in.

All the Christmas things are bagged up to go in the attic now .
The tablecover has been swapped for the regular one

We've taken two trees down now, just one to go. Everywhere looks bigger but darker! I'll take the kids' tree down tomorrow. I need to shampoo the carpets as well, now all the guests have been and gone. Then I'll book an oven clean too. Well keep our outside fairy lights up for all of winter as they're nice to have during the dark nights.

We need to clean our carpet too. I did have a vax but dh chucked it out with out asking! It was old but was still functional. Same with our ancient Dyson which was useful for cars. Grr. We are now contemplating buying a new carpet cleaner, hiring one or replacing the floors 🤣

Oh , I need to do an oven clean too .
I have some foam that worked really well on the base and a kit with the bag and solution for the shelves.
Glass razor thingey for the door ( very therapeutic if tedious work)

We don't use the top oven much

<Puts on list>

I’ve put a reminder in my diary to get my Christmas clothes out to flog on vinted 🤣 the joys of loosing weight means they look horrific on me now.

We have a relatively basic Vax which is worth its weight in gold. Way more economical than renting a Rug Doctor-type thing.

What's the foam? I'm considering paying for a clean.

We have a pyro oven, I just wipe it out first and let it go. I might do that tomorrow.

Elbow Grease -
I started with the spray then tried the paste and the sponge/erasers which are good for painted surfaces like skirting boards and door/woodwork

I bought a bathroom foam from B&M but the liquid just dribbled out .
The oven foam seems to work though (on the oven )

I had a professional oven clean a week before Christmas. It was £75 for a double oven and it looks amazing. However, it was squeaky bum time for 48 hours as a bit of the cleaning fluid got in the fan mechanism and shorted out the electrics. I had to leave it for 48 hours for it to evaporate and try again - thankfully all good after 2 days. I had made plans for cooking Christmas dinner using my small top oven, a slow cooker and two air fryers 🤦🏻‍♀️

Oh sweet Lord NoWordForFluffy. You’re my new best friend!! Bring it on!

Hurray and hello to a fellow Christmas spreadsheeter! X

I've ordered some Elbow Grease (spray and shelf kit) on C&C from The Range. If that doesn't work, I'll outsource the work to somebody else!

We don't use our oven a huge amount, as we also have an air fryer, and I also clean the inside of the door every week when I clean the kitchen. The inner bits do need some assistance though!