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!

iLove I was in the north of Norway. Am sadly in the car on the way home from the airport now though.

magnolia I had the Rachel Ellen one gifted to me (pic).
It's really nice but not here practical for me as it has a lot of space for recipes and I don't generally do the Christmas cooking. When it runs out I think I'm going to get a little Filofax type thing and just create my own like 70 - I want a crafts page etc.

What sort of changes are you considering Fluffy?
In a few years we're planning to take LO away for Christmas every few years.

When we get back all our decs will still be up and I'm considering only removing the gaudy lights tomorrow and doing the tree next weekend. I only have tomorrow off, me and LO are going to be knackered and we need to do food shopping, unpacking, washing etc before it's back to nursery and work for us.

Fur we have a basic Vax too. Clunky bloody thing but does a great job (and added bonus here is that DH loves it so I barely ever need to use it)!

Also, almost ashamed to admit but I mentioned needing to clean the oven to my mum and she did it for me

Oooh that's such a pretty planner @NoCheesesForUsMeeces

354
I'm back home, well at the gym. We booked flights to Berlin to see the Christmas markets in December. Will look forward to it all year.

@NoCheesesForUsMeeces I have the same one!! I agree it isn't so practical. I've enjoyed using it for the last 4 years but I think I will also be getting one like 70.

My friend had her oven cleaned last year and raved about it but it cost her £250!!! The joys of living in London.

Back to work today <sigh>. I'm invigilating though so its a bit of a change and a later start thankfully.

Very frosty and icy here and I've just fed the ravens - about 25 of them congregate in the garden early doors. They are having rice and bird seed and the cat is watching them behind the bush(terrified).

Morning. We (me and LO) are being lazy. He slept in with me and woke at 9:15 so we’re still in bed. Currently watching cartoons and eating a mix of fruit and biscuits in bed. Poor DH is back in work and messaging me to moan about some boring training he’s doing.

granny I’m jealous of your Berlin trip. There are several European Christmas markets I’d like to get to and that one is definitely on my list!
We’re going to Scotland in December but doing Loch Ness area so there’ll be no Christmas market in sight sadly.

We must have brought the snow home with us as we’ve woken to a (thin) sprinkling but sun is out so it’ll be gone soon I think.

Plan for today is unpack, do 2 loads of washing and cook something nutritious before doing a food shop.
My lovely dm has been while we were away - she dropped off a c&c order she’d picked up for me, delivered bread, milk, eggs, orange juice and sausages, put the bins out and tidied up so I don’t have much in the way of housework to do (I’m aware for a lot of MNers this would be seen as overstepping etc but she asked if I minded and I honestly don’t, she’s just making my life easier).

Evening!

Very cold again today. I did the 'icy route' with the dog this morning as it was icy / slippery in places. This route has lots of grass / grass verges / rough paths so you can get traction.

DH took the dog for his annual check / jabs this evening. I arranged it to coincide with walk time, as going there and back is a decent stroll for him. The vet thought he was great (which he is!).

I'm in the office tomorrow and it's set to be 🥶🥶🥶 again. Can't wait! 😬

Evening! The kids go back to school tomorrow and dh is off to the office.

im determined to get on top of my drawers and storage before Christmas so its easy to tidy and get ready for Christmas.

We almost packed the kids off today, til they told us it was an inset day! 🤣🤣 We went to see my parents instead then walked home and chilled out.

I've cleaned the bathrooms today but not taken the kids' tree down. Maybe Weds lunchtime for that!

Meeces I haven't been to any Germán Christmas Markets but they are supposed to be the Best

We have booked a weekend in Leeds for our Pre-Christmas Break , not been there for a few years but they have shopping ! for DD .
DH will find things for us to do , he likes to plan things .

I have ordered a heated throw for DD , she feels the cold most out of all of us .

Work today , not such a shock to the system as I worked last week and Christmas week (some days)

@70isaLimitNotaTarget oooh which heated throw? I also love to be warm.

353

Morning!

It's bloody lethal here. Can't even get down our path without having to contend with ice (even though the path was gritted by DH last night).

He takes the dog on a Tuesday, and took me to the station when he got back. I was lucky, as I got there as a train which had been delayed by 20 minutes was arriving, which I'm on now. Time will tell whether I get to work, as it could still break down yet!

Hopefully others have less problematic weather conditions!

Safe journey, @NoWordForFluffy !

Fluffy fingers crossed you make it to the office ok this morning!

70 my Christmas market list includes Bruges, Prague, Salzburg and any of the German ones.

It’s my first day back to work today and I feel like I’ve forgotten how to do my job 😂
Ive so far been through emails and teams messages and now have a long list of things that need doing. Going to make a cuppa and prioritise the tasks before my first meeting at 9:30.
Also, it’s bloody freezing here so am putting fleece on bottoms on over my leggings. Will have to make sure I don’t stand up/move while my camera is on!

@NoCheesesForUsMeeces Brugge Christmas market is lovely. Also, it's the home of some of the best chocolate shops anywhere. If you go on a Saturday there is a market in one of the squares and huge lorries cooking rotisserie chickens with the chicken fat dripping down to cook potatoes. Those potatoes are delicious.

Oh my goodness those potatoes sound heavenly!!

Hope everyone is coping ok with this weather. The roads seem clear here, its the pavements that are very slippy!

Went through the present drawer today and have sorted a couple birthdays coming up. Ive got loads of gift bags as well which need using! I come to use one though and think "oh its too nice" and dont use it! Same with the gifts as well! So this year its my mission to dwindle the stocks down as realistically I don't really have to buy for many anymore.

It was minus 5 in SW London at 7am, very buurrrrrrr!!!!

I do the same @ILoveCatsAndKittens with gifts and giftbags - I have a couple of drawers stuffed full of random things and giftbags. If I haven't gifted it all by Summer this year its all going to the charity shop. I've got a feeling 2026 might be a big decluttering year.

I'm also just about to make an appointment for a slot at the tip.

Hello all.

New here so apologies for butting in. I've just posted the below on the thread about Christmas music ending early buy wanted to post here too if that's OK.

I've always found the post christmas period hard but have managed well in recent years. This year it has hit me like a tonne of bricks.

Everything is SO festive for 1-2 months then very suddenly the rug is pulled out.

It's not even particularly the lack of christmas per say. I dont't feel the need to 'hang on' to any parts of it now that the decorations are down, for example. I think it is the sudden change that just knocks me for six and carries over into my 'regular' life.

Is anyone else struggling mentally this new year? I think the very cold, windy weather isn't helping. Apologies if I'm bringing the mood down!

@TheWickerHare I feel a bit cross and disappointed every year that people have moved Christmas. Christmas is now from mid November 1st to December 26th. To me, Christmas finished on Monday!

im already planning next year and seriously considering booking to go away for a few days in the in between times so that we can really enjoy it.

Im trying to hold on to the bits we enjoy, playing games together, family walks, indulgent dinners and weaving those in when I can.

352
Sounds like a good plan Fur I want to try and hang onto the good bits. Not easy when everyone is back at work/school. Eating dinner together is a nice one though.

@furforkssake I agree!!

I'm considering a UK break actually at Christmas, if I can find a suitable cottage somewhere (dog friendly does not = dog safe, it seems; so many without secure gardens! 🙄). But I'm not sure!

I've hosted for so long, I feel guilty for wanting to change it a wee big bit!

Bought cards from charity shop at £1 a box. Put them away with the decorations otherwise I wouldn’t remember!

I got some wrapping paper for 15p a roll today. I got 8 rolls to put back for next Xmas. I also got the posh crackers usually £10 a box of 6 for £2.50. I got 2 boxes.

I am not organised enough to buy wrapping paper this early , I would lose it !
There was some nice paper in Waitrose and I could wander along there and see if there's any still lurking about ......but I'd spend loads on White Chocolate Ice Cream , So maybe not .

I drove past a house on the way home with a Christmas wreath on the door and a lit up tree in the garden. Either they want to hang on a bit longer or they've gone away and forgotten them .

My wreath will be up till it dies. It is a winter wreath and I will die on that hill.

We also have lights around the door still.

I bought a very cheap wrapping paper storage bag several years ago and it lives in an ottoman and contains all the wrap, cards and tags. I feel very accomplished.